Jehovah Rohi
The Lord is my Shepherd…Psalm 23:1, ESV
In this Bible Study, I attend we have been reading the book The Power of God’s Names by Tony Evans. The Study has been phenomenal! A few weeks ago we covered the name Jehovah Rohi, which means God is our Shepherd.
In Ezekiel 34, God tells us that he is our shepherd and he takes care of his sheep. The shepherd feeds the flock, strengthens the weak, heals the sick, binds up the broken-hearted, brings back the strays and seeks the lost. When anyone accepts Jesus Christ as their personal savior he becomes their shepherd. He takes over taking care of all their needs.
As believers it may seem like God is not taking very good care of us. When we fall into sickness, disease, trouble and problems we wonder, “Where is our shepherd?” But God is not far away. The Bible does not say that the shepherd will stop us from getting sick, or even prevent us from having problems, but he will be there to take care of us.
Actually, scripture tells us that this world is full of sin and we will have problems John 16:33. It even tells us that because we are of Christ, the world hated him so they will hate us John 15:18-19. We are not to be surprised by the challenges that come in our lives, but with every problem we are to bring them to our shepherd.
In Psalm 23, David makes a declaration that God is his shepherd and he shall not want. It does not mean that he had no problems or that he was not in need of God’s help, it means he knew that everything came from God and therefore because God was his shepherd. There was no need for want because his God had it all!
It is the same for each of us. We can make the same declaration as David, that God is our shepherd and he has promised to take care of every one of our needs! Therefore we shall not be in want! Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Never Down
Within a couple of weeks of each other, our cell phones would not work and then our internet had gone completely down. Our cell phone carrier had been hacked and they were working fervently to get their system back online. We learned that the same thing had happened to other internet carriers. I told my husband that it looked like someone is testing the vulnerability of our nation’s network systems to see if they could take them over.
During the time our system was down, we were doing everything possible to get things working again. While sitting at my computer, I heard in my heart the Holy Spirit say, “I am never down.” He said, “All of these systems will fail, but I will never fail you. I am with you always and forever. I am always here in your presence to assist you at anytime.”
The Holy Spirit was sent to us by Jesus Christ as the guarantor of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is a person, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Therefore, he is never in need of rest because he does not have a body comprised of flesh. Being the third person of the God-head, he is always available and ready to serve the believers of Jesus Christ.
I have heard it said that there are two things guaranteed to everyone on earth; taxes and death. But I beg to differ! There are three individuals that are guaranteed to never let you down and that you can always depend on: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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God’s Instruction
God has this way of getting his word directly to you when you least expect it. I was in Carmel with my husband celebrating my birthday, when I received a phone call. A dear friend of mine had called, but I did not pick up because I was at the counter of a coffee shop ordering a tea. When I got an opportunity to look at my phone I saw her missed call and that she had left me a voicemail message.
When I listened to the message, she said that God told her to give me a one minute sermon. It was literally one minute and 52 seconds. That message could have been preached for a year and I still would not have unpacked all that God had said in it!
I had been pondering some of the things God told me to do in his message through my friend. I thought about what the consequences would be if I did not do what he had instructed. I learned that when I am not obedient to God, I give Satan room to build an empire against me. I lose protection while I am pondering whether or not I’m moving with God. Satan is strategically planning his next move. He is counting on me not moving as God instructed so that he can build his empire against me and all those I love.
When Jesus was sitting with his disciples at the last supper, he told Peter that he would deny him three times before the cock crowed that night. Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat. Jesus knew Satan’s request, but Peter had no idea. Jesus told Peter that he had prayed for him and told Peter to pray that he did not come into temptation. But Peter fell asleep while he was supposed to be praying. We have no idea what Satan is up to, but we can bet money it is not good! When God gives us instructions, no matter how hard it seems, we must follow and do it immediately!
This reminds me of Abraham. When God told him to go and sacrifice his son Isaac, he immediately left the following morning to do it. Although his son was spared, this was a test of Abraham’s obedience to God. He made haste in obeying God and so should we!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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He does What He Says
It always amazes me when people say that we have a loving God who is not going to judge people. They believe that because he is so loving, no one will be going to hell. I was reading a story about King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel Chapter 3 of the Bible. King Nebuchadnezzar had built a golden image and he commanded everyone to bow down to it when certain music was played. If the people did not obey, they would be thrown into a furnace of fire.
There were three Hebrew men who loved God and had been working with the king for a while. In truth the king had conquered their country and took them from their homes and then hand selected them to serve before him. He changed their names from Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedenego. When the king commanded everyone to bow down and worship the golden image they refused.
When the king was told that Shadrach, Meshach and Abedenego was not following his orders, he became angry and called them in. When they came before the king he offered them another opportunity to bow down to his image. But they responded, “O’ Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then king Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression on his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He ordered that the furnace be heated seven times more than what it was usually heated. He also ordered them to be bound and cast into the fiery furnace.
If we know that king Nebuchadnezzar did exactly as he decreed, and he is merely a man made by God, how much more will the God who created and owns everything not do what he says to what he created! God’s track record has proven that he will do exactly as he says! He told Saul that he would make him king, and he did. Later on, Saul became disobedient and God eventually took the kingdom from him. (1 Samuel) God told the people of Israel if they obeyed and kept his commandments he would prosper them and if they disobeyed they would be conquered by their enemies (as stated all throughout the Old Testament). The angel told Mary that she would give birth to a son through the Holy Spirit and she was to call his name Jesus [Luke 1:2]. Listen! What God says he will do, he will do! “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” [2 Peter 3:10]
Let us not be deceived by what others say, God is coming soon and we want to be ready. Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Up
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…Matthew 14:23, ESV
I was having a discussion with a dear friend about the scripture above. And she was saying in her study time that the Holy Spirit pointed out to her that Jesus went up into the “supernatural” to pray. It made so much sense as we talked about it, but I never had that revelation before. Later in the week I was reading Genesis 1 and the word “up” floated across my mind again. I asked the Holy Spirit, ”How can I miss what is right in front of me?” He said, “You are too focused on what you want to study, or what you are trying to understand that you do not give me the time to tell you what I am saying.”
I was just about through the first chapter of Genesis when I was having this conversation with the Holy Spirit again, I said, “Should I start over with reading this chapter?” He said, “Sure.” Immediately as I started to read the first verse he started speaking to my spirit. He said, “Everything is embodied in me.” I wanted to make sure that I understood what he was saying, so I looked up the word embodied. It means: one that embodies something; include or contain (something) as a constituent part.
Everything came from God and he spoke what he wanted to come out of him and into the world for his creation to learn, experience and enjoy. He said, “It does not matter if people like it or not, understands it or not, everything comes from him. I asked for an example, and he said, “Your writings, they come from you. It does not matter if people believe you, agree with you, like you, or what you wrote. It is your truth and it comes from you.” I just sat and meditated on what he had just dropped into my spirit. Revelation was opening up in my mind. He was teaching me!
I thought, “Wow! No one has to believe what he said is true, but it is his truth. No one has to believe that he is the one and only true God, but he is!” Everyone can do and believe whatever they want, but his truth will always stand; just like my truth and your truth will stand. It is embodied within us and as we release it, it speaks.
I said to the Holy Spirit, “Just a few minutes ago when I read the first chapter of Genesis, I did not get any of this.” He said, “It’s because you had your own agenda. Had I not let the simple word “up” cross your spirit you would have missed this again. Take the time to let me tell you about me. Come open and ready to receive; because I am ready to give.”
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Mark 10:15, ESV
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Ways of Life
A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them. A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],
But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them. Proverbs 16:9
I had just written the words above when the Holy Spirit reminded me of something he had me pray and write about. When I had finished praying I knew that there was something he said, but I could not remember what it was, however, he reminded me of it later on.
I was praying about the season that I was in and I was giving thanks to God for everything: the good, difficult and hard times. All of it! Everything that I had been experiencing I was giving him thanks. He then reminded me of the many people I had come across within the last few days that were in their various seasons. I just began to pray for every single individual that I saw.
He then said these words, “There is no situation that I do not see, no heart that I do not hear, no need that I cannot meet, no pain that I cannot heal. I am God! I began to rejoice because at that moment I had a deeper revelation about my God!
Everyday we are going to experience something different. Our situations and seasons change as we move through our days, months and years. Our relationship with God changes. Sometimes we may feel close to him and other times he may seem far away, but that is a part of the journey. He never leaves us, but just like a parent with children there is a time to be very close and a time to give some space.
He has ordained our journey and our path lead us to intimacy with him. Many times when we look back over our lives we never would have expected to be put in this place and relationship with him. I know all the crazy things I did, the trouble I caused and situations that happened to me that were pure evil, yet God still kept me and used every one of those situations to grow me into this space with Him. I cannot explain how the unfair painful things that I went through helped me get to this space, but I now know each one of them drew me closer to the answer.
Whether you are in a situation where you cannot pray and there are no words that come, God is there and he has you covered. If you are in a place where you are angry with God for what has happened to you, or your loved one, he knows and feels your pain. He will comfort you. Every situation of pain, sorrow, brokenness, he is the fourth man in the fire. Scripture says the Lord is my shepherd which means no matter what season you are experiencing, the shepherd is going to take care of his sheep.
Father, thank you that we get to call you our Father! That is what you said, “you are our Father!” Hallelujah! There are paths that we are experiencing that are hard, difficult, painful, unfair and everything else in between and we sometimes feel that we can’t make it. Thank you for the reminder that you are here and you are directing our paths to a quiet, peaceful, joyful place full of abundance in you! Hallelujah! To you be the glory and praise. Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Invitation
It was in the very early morning when the Holy Spirit woke me up. My body was so tired, I did not want to move. It seems to me that the Holy Spirit comes when you are receiving your best sleep! I laid there talking to God and fighting what my body was feeling. I was truly trying to find a way to go back to sleep. My spirit wanted to be with God, but my soul and flesh wanted the bed.
I finally said to myself get up and move! When I got up I felt energetic enough to get to my prayer room. Once I was in the prayer room I started my prayer with a slow tired praise. I heard the Holy Spirit say God has invited you early in the morning to sit with him and this is how you respond? Listen! Everything in me changed. Elohim had waken me up early in the morning to sit with Him. What?! This was a divine appointment for me and Him! All of a sudden praise took over and that tired body was gone!
God revealed so much to me in those moments of praise and sitting. My spirit went into this song that I had never heard before. All kinds of beautiful songs and prayers lifted off my lips and I knew it was Jehovah praying through me. What a wonderful fellowship I experienced at the throne of God! Listen, if you are reading this, God is speaking to you. He wants you to come to his invitation. He wants you to know that the invitation may be a challenge for you but come. He has made special arrangements to sit with you!
Father, I magnify and glorify your name. Thank you for choosing me to have this privilege at your throne right now. I pray for strength to overcome my will so that I can respond with gratitude and praise to your invitation to sit with you. I look forward to our quiet time together. I thank you in Jesus’ name amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Step by step
…O you of little faith… Matthew 6:30, ESV
I was sitting at my desk, it was late January and I needed to finish writing devotional messages for March. I did not have an editor on staff and I could feel all this anxiousness in my spirit. I needed these messages completed right away and needed an editor on staff before February to give them time to edit the messages and get them back to me so I could have them ready to publish for the month of March. I remember praying to the Holy Spirit asking Him for some help and I heard these words in my spirit …therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will put on…Matthew 6:25, ESV I thought okay, but I still need these things.
Later, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “You are concerned about an editor and you do not have everything ready to give to them. First, finish what is in front of you and then the provision will be provided.” I thought about Abraham and how he took his son to be sacrificed. While he was moving, the provision was moving toward him. When he reached the top of the mountain and prepared to make the sacrifice, a ram was waiting in the thicket Genesis 22. Many times we get ourselves worked up by focusing on things in the future when all we need to do is focus on what God has put in front of us.
I did exactly what the Holy Spirit said, and I began to finish up the writings. He told me to light a candle, relax and enjoy the moment of writing with Him. It was an amazing time! He just kept pouring into me what to write and bringing revelation as I looked up the scriptures. My time was full of joy, peace and exuberant praise! When we surrender and let go of what we think we have control over, his presence moves forward and leads us like the shepherd leading his sheep! Amen. Hallelujah! Let go of what you think you need right now and focus on what he has put in front of you. That is all he wants you to do. He will give you direction on what is next when it is time!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Illusion
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as a apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, ESV
Illusion: perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misrepresentation of its actual nature.
It was Friday night and I was in my office working when my husband walked in and said, “Let’s go out!” I was in the middle of writing and I looked at him and said, “Where?” He was like, “I don’t know, but it is Friday night and we need to go out!” The excitement in his voice and the way he stared at me told me that he was not leaving until I moved.
We ended up at this really nice restaurant downtown for dinner. I was actually surprised we got in without reservations; as the place was really packed. He said that he prayed and God opened the way for us. I was happy that the hostess was able to find us a nice spot. While having dinner I noticed the candle light on our table. There was a little lamp shade over this light. When I glanced over the lamp shade to see how it was lit there was a tea light. I thought it was interesting that it was not burning the shade so I took a second look. This time I noticed that it was a fake tea light. It gave the illusion of a tea light, but it was not the real thing.
Early the next morning I went into my prayer room and I noticed that I had left a candle lit all night. It was a blessing that the wick was down so low that the flame was contained inside the glass. When I sat down, the Holy Spirit said that the candle was not an illusion, but the real thing. It gives off a beautiful essence of its own. I sat for a few moments and watched it. Because it was dark outside, I went to turn on my light switch so that I could read, but the Holy Spirit said, “No.”
He began to minister to me that I had to be aware of what was counterfeit. He said that it would present itself as being real and give the illusion that it was the real thing, but it would be fake. The focus was totally on the candle, but I knew he was speaking about false teachers. He said the counterfeit candle appeared to be real and seemed to do everything that the real one could, but it could never transform itself. When a real candle is lit by fire it takes on a transformation. The wax melts and if lit for a long time, everything will become liquid. He said that this is what happened to you as you absorbed the Word; a transformation occurred from the inside out. A fake candle could never take on real fire, or transform itself into the real thing.
He reminded me that the truth in me will always bring transformation to myself and those around me. You can tell the real light by its source. The illusion will pretend to focus on kingdom building, but the ultimate goal is for selfish gain. As I was listening, I thought about when I turn my light switch on, it outshines my candle. He reminded me not to be concerned that the “illusion” seemed to outshine the “truth.” False doctrines will be exposed for what they are and brought to justice. He said that we must stay the course because those who follow the illusion, will be broken and they will need the real thing to guide them to the truth.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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God
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1, ESV
I had been meditating on some scriptures from our Bible Study on the Holy Spirit. In doing so I wanted to read and sit with the scripture that said, “…and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” When I started reading that scripture I heard the Holy Spirit say to me, “Are you so focused on what you want to research that you overlooked the first verse? Do you want to spend some time with me while I tell you about this setting?”
Immediately, I remembered what He had spoken to me some time earlier that month. He said, “You missed what I was saying in scripture because you move too fast; focusing on what you want to get out of the scriptures instead of letting me speak to you.” I stopped and said, “Okay Holy Spirit I am listening.” He took me to Genesis 1:1 and he said, “Look up the phrase, “In the beginning God created…”
As I looked up that phrase the Holy Spirit began to lay his words upon my heart. God! I thought I understood those words, but he brought so much more clarity to the meaning of each word. The word “in” used as a function word to indicate inclusion, location, or position within limits, to or towards the inside. He shared that when he says in, he means within, the location of what I am about to tell you. The beginning, the point in which something begins, so within this point that this started there was GOD, ELOHIM, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. He said that I was so focused on what the scripture said that I missed the most important part!
Before the beginning, before God spoke creation into existence, He was here! No one else, but him! The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit they have no beginning and no end. God exists outside of space and time. He has always been here. I knew that, but there was some revelations moving in my head. I sat and just let him speak.
Overwhelmed, I looked up the word created and the Hebrew word for created is bara (baw raw) which means to create, to make creation out of nothing, from previous non-existence material. He began to show me that in man’s mind nothing is non-existent, but in him everything exists because it is within God. Did you get that? He is everything so creation was made from something, it was made from within him!
As I let those thoughts flow in my mind, he said, “Everything that you have need of is in existence because God is here.” The need that you have is waiting for you. It has always been there!
His Glory
“Have you commanded the mornings since your days began, and caused the dawn to know it place.” Job 38:12, ESV
I went to a meeting to make a presentation about partnering with a company to sell my cookies. I thought I had it all together and that I was ready for the presentation. I found that I was totally unprepared and did not realize it until everything was over. When I started to analyze what I had done, a feeling of heaviness set in and somehow the situation played over and over in my head. I found myself trying to get out of that rabbit hole.
I started praying, but I was consumed with what I had done and it didn’t seem like my prayers were going anywhere. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Get your Bible and read it!” I love how God brings us into focus. I had no idea what to read, but he said, “Open the Bible and I will direct you on what to read.” My Bible fell open to Job 38 and I began to read. When I got down to the twelfth verse, I stopped and just listened to God. He began to speak to my soul. I read that verse over and over again.
“Have you commanded the mornings since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place.” Job 38:12, ESV As I sat and meditated on that scripture I felt all the pressure leave me. I felt all the worry leave me. I felt complete peace. My situation had not changed, but I realized that he knew what had happened and he had already fixed my problems. This meeting was to teach me what I still needed to do and where I was lacking. How could I have known if I had not gone through the exercise? I was being taught by God. It was a training course so that I would be prepared for what was to come.
God reminded me that in everything the I AM is there! He is in the midst and in every situation, he knows the outcome. This year God has me writing about his glory and this message once again directs us to the place of magnifying his glory! Amen! To God be the glory!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Hand in hand
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27, ESV
We were all created as a complete package with greatness within us. When we were conceived in our mother’s womb there was nothing lacking for us to do the impossible with God. Just like when you put a seed in the ground, it is complete. There is nothing lacking for the seed to produce it’s fruit; except from working with the elements God has placed in the earth to assist the plant. We cannot add anything to the plant to bring forth its fruit. The fruit is within the seed.
God said that he made man in his own image. When we look up the word image we find that in the Hebrew it means the essential nature. God created man in His own image reflecting some of His own perfections: perfect in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, and with dominion over the creatures (Strongs Concordance). We all have what we need to succeed with Christ. While meditating on the first chapter in the book of Genesis, the Holy Spirit showed me that just like He pulled everything from within himself and brought it forth to the earth, we all have that same ability within us.
When we think of some of the great people in the Bible such as, King David, Daniel, Samuel, Queen Esther, Noah, Mary, Ruth, Elizabeth, Abraham, Sarah we find that they all tapped into the greatness within themselves. King David as a shepherd boy walked hand in hand with God, but kingship was already complete within him. Mary the mother of Jesus was ready to be a bride to Joseph, but before marriage she was already a mother to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was conceived with the motherhood of Jesus within her. All of these individuals came to the earth the same way we did, with the same kinds of obstacles we face in our own spirit. Yet, they walked on their body of water that God had called them to.
Just like Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water, each of us has our own body of water to walk on. The assignment that God has put in your heart may appear to be impossible and you will fail if you try to do it by yourself. Peter showed us what happened when he took his eyes off Jesus. Matthew 14:30—33 David could have never made himself king, Esther could not have become queen on her own, Abraham could not have become the father of many nations without God’s hand working within him. If you are not being stretched, or not saying, “The only way I am doing this is because of God,” then you are not walking on your body of water. You haven’t stepped out of the boat. So what am I saying? It is time for you to get out of the boat and walk on the body of water God has already placed inside of you. He is waiting for us to take up our position. The reason that we are here is to produce the fruit that is within us.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27, ESV
Great Jehovah!,
Thank you for moving upon my heart. Thank you for placing your greatness within me. I repent and ask for forgiveness for choosing to not trust you and walk in fear. I don’t want that life anymore. Please help me. I ask you to do whatever is necessary so that I will jump off the bridge into the water hand in hand with you. I want to do all you have planted inside of me. In Jesus’ name amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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Search Me God and Know Me
This is one of my favorite Psalms written by King David:
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Amen. Psalm 139, ESV
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Who Am I?
So many people struggle with these common questions: Who am I? What am I supposed to do? What is my purpose? We have become so obsessed with these concerns that our market places are saturated with self-help books, leading people in every direction, looking for fulfillment. If you truly want to know who you are there is one person to ask and one book to read - Jesus Christ is the person and the Bible is the book.
The Bible says God created the world and we are created in His image. I know that seems like a very generic answer that gives little context to the amazing brain that you have and being that you are. But God in His complexity gives simple answers to get us started in knowing who He is. And knowing who He is helps us learn who we are. If you can think back to when you were a child, you might remember always asking questions like, “Where did this come from? Where did that come from?” All those questions were prompted from the spirit inside you, to guide you back to God so He could teach you who you are. Unfortunately, many of us were led in other directions, rather than back to Christ.
So now that we are older, how do we know who we are? 1) The Bible says you came from God and you were created in His image (Genesis 1:27). 2) You have a spirit, a soul, and a body. God does not have a body. He is a spirit and He put His spirit in us when He gave us the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Our spirit lives inside our body so we can live on earth and do the work of God. 3) God gave us our own soul which includes our mind, personality, will, and emotions. He gave us individuality so we could choose what we wanted to do. Each of us have our own souls that are apart of God, like a unique expression of God living inside of us.
In the Bible we learn of David whose occupation was a shepherd boy until God appointed him king. Mary was a young virgin who was engaged to be married to Joseph until the Holy Spirit impregnated her with Jesus. Matthew was a tax collector who was hated by the Jews until Jesus came and made him a disciple. Saul took Christian’s to be murdered until Jesus called him into being an Apostle for Christ. Moses was Pharaoh’s son until God moved him into being the leader of his people. What am I saying? Wherever you are and whatever occupation you are doing, be content in that space. Love and embrace who God made you. Don’t spend so much time trying to figure out all the things that He has already taken care of. When God is ready, He will bring all that to you.
When you spend time trying to figure all that information out, you become more confused, depressed, and unhappy. Live in the moment that God has given you and let Him show you how to enjoy the blessings He has put right in front of you in this season. Don’t be so anxious to move out, get married, get the career - just take every day one step at a time and I promise if you live like that, everything else will come to you. The Holy Spirit will prompt you when to move. Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
The Battle Is Not Yours
The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword. 2 Samuel 18:8, ESV
The scripture above is about the battle between King David and his son Absalom. Absalom had decided that he wanted to be king and so he conspired against his father, deceived the people who his father ruled, and stole their hearts over to him. Once Absalom felt he had won the people’s favor, he eventually took over his father’s kingdom. Now because King David had no idea that his son was doing these things, when word came to him that Absalom had declared himself king and the hearts of the people had turned toward him, David, his servants, and his army left Jerusalem. His son was coming with his army, planning to kill his father.
Over the course of time Absalom’s army took up war against King David. King David’s army was outnumbered by Absalom’s, but God gave them victory. The battle was fought in the field of Ephraim. Scripture says that the loss was great that day for Absalom’s army, in which twenty thousand men fell in battle. Whenever you are standing for God, He will fight your battle. The scripture says that the forest devoured more people that day than the sword (1 Samuel 18:8). I don’t know how a forest can devour, but I do know who owns the forest and He will cause everything to work in your favor when you are on the Lord’s side.
When our children were young, we wanted to put them into a nice private school in our area. We had to fill out paperwork and put their names on a list. At this school, if you were a member of the perish your name would normally go above those who were not. And because we were not members, we fell to the very bottom. My husband and I prayed and asked God to open the door if this is where He wanted our children to attend.
A week after we put our names on the list, we received a phone call telling us there was space open for our daughter and inviting us to have our children test for the appropriate classes. Both children passed the test and because our daughter was now a student in the school, our son moved up on the list and was placed within weeks of her acceptance.
I love how God will let you know that He worked out a miracle for you. What we learned later was that two of the students that attend the public school our children previously attended had their names on the list at this same private school. They had been on the list for years and were members of the perish. The mother asked me how my children were accepted in the school when our daughters were in the same grade. I told her I had no idea; we just received a call that they were accepted. Later I learned that a new principal had started at the school. When we came to apply, we applied with the new principal. The original list of people waiting to get into the school had fallen behind on her desk, so when we went in to apply, our children’s names were first on her list. God had provided a miraculous way for our children to attend this school. He is always fighting our battles and making a way for His people!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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The Simple Love and Care of Jehovah
…I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3, ESV
Over my life I have witnessed God do so many miraculous things that I know it was no one but God! We have the opportunity to read the testimonies in the Bible of the amazing miracles Jesus did for so many, but I love when God does the simple, little miracles just for you, showing you His love and confirming your faith in Him.
My sister lives in Texas and she was having surgery. She had asked if I could come and help her as she recovered. I said yes and off I went on a flight to Texas. When I am on the airplane, I love the window seat. I just look out and talk to God. Now my husband always tells me that if I am going to take a window seat, I should not drink too much hot tea when I get on the plane because I will have to go to the restroom. The flight to Texas left at 7:00am so I made sure to have very little to drink before I loaded the plane. I even took a visit to the lady’s room before boarding.
I, of course, had my perfect cozy window seat and I begin to nod off. When I woke up, I had to go to the lady’s room. I was sitting in a row with two other men who were sleeping, and I did now want to bother them. So I started praying and asked God to just give me the strength to hold this until I can get off the plane. By the time I finished my prayer the gentlemen in the aisle seat clicked his seatbelt, got up, and headed to the restroom. Then the gentlemen in the middle seat looked at me and said, “This is a good time for me too”, and he headed to the restroom. I was like, “God did you just do that for me?” The whole row was empty and I got up and walked across my row and down the aisle and to a vacant restroom. When I returned to my seat the row was still clear!
I asked God for help so that I would not disturb anyone, and He did something greater for me. He poured out His love though His power and opened a door I would have never imagined. I did not have to say one word to the passengers next to me. The Bible says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son to die for us so that we could have eternal life. God not only cares about our eternal life but our every day, every moment life! His love is so precious that He would clear a row for His daughter! That is the dearest love that a father has for His daughter. When the Bible tells us that God will take care of His children, He does just that when we ask Him for help. Every day we can rest in the love of Jehovah.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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Stand in Love
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7, ESV
“Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him…” (Deuteronomy 30:20)
“…God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7)
“…if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12)
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us, God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16)
We have all been concerned about the war in the Gaza Strip. We hear all the news reports and read about all the devastation happening in that area. We see images of the war and we listen to commentators give their points of view - who is right and who is wrong, and what should be done. We see all kinds of protests happening regarding this war. And depending on whom you are listening to will determine which side you believe is right.
However, there is only one side that a believer in Jesus Christ should be standing on and that is God’s side. Scripture teaches that God is not the author of confusion and if you are confused it is because you are listening to another voice. War in the Gaza Strip and anywhere else in the world is not a surprise to God. It is not our job to try and figure out who is right and who is wrong, because we are all wrong according to God. We were given instructions to love.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7). In other words, if there is anything else inside of you except love, it is not from God. Listen, loving is the minority not the majority. Jesus was a minority. As soon as He started preaching and teaching love, He was a marked man and the leaders of the church sought to kill Him.
The greatest command God has given us is to love. “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).
When Jesus gave the sermon on the Mount, He specifically told us how we are to treat our enemies: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:43-45).
God consistently demonstrates to us how He loves His enemies; all we have to do is look back at our own life. We were born His enemy and yet God sent His son Christ Jesus who died for every one of our wrong doings before we were even conceived! Hallelujah! Our position during this season and forevermore is to stand in love.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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What Can You Purchase for $35.00?
Nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:37, ESV
Over the years, I have been blessed to know so many wonderful people. One of those dear friends is Paula Bryant-Ellis, a very powerful women of God. Every time she speaks the Holy Spirit just pours out of her in such profound ways. If you get the opportunity to hear her speak, don’t miss it because you will be blessed! One of the things I have heard her say many times is that you don’t need to ask God for material things. He already has everything you need handled. I was reminded of that when I wrote the title of this message.
Another dear friend of mine Elder Shelia, another powerful woman of God, who will slay you with the Word, shared with me one of her testimonies:
She was divorced and living in California. The tenants in the lower level of her apartment complex smoked weed and the fumes would rise to her place. She was concerned for her health and for the health of her grandchildren when they would come to visit. She prayed and asked God for help. She told God that she would like a house fully furnished in a safe neighborhood for her and her grandchildren to live in.
She has a cousin who is a prayer warrior that lives in Texas. She called and told him what she was experiencing, and they prayed together. They always ask God to answer their prayer in three days - they believe if God raised Jesus from the grave in three days, they could expect an answer in three days. After the prayer, her cousin started looking on the internet for houses that would be in a good neighborhood for her. He found a place the next day and told her to go look. She was hesitant but went to see the model homes anyway.
When she arrived, the salescerk was busy and told her to go ahead and take a look. Elder Shelia did as the sales lady said and when she returned to the office, she was told they were sold out of the model she wanted. The salesclerk was busy and told her to take her time looking at the model home because it would be up for sale.
Elder Sheila went into that model home and loved it. She prayed to God and said, “If this house is for me, give me time to anoint it and bless it right now.” She had so much time that she not only anointed the whole house, she fell asleep on the couch. When the salesclerk returned she asked Elder Shelia if she was ready to purchase the home. She said yes!
When she sat with the salesclerk, she noticed a referral incentive card. If someone referred you to the home and you made the purchase, you could fill out the card and they would send a reward to the one who referred you. As they started the paperwork the salesclerk told Elder Sheila she would need to put down $5,000.00, which she did not have. The salesclerk said okay, to take this house off the market they’d at least need a check for $35.00 and would worry about everything else later. Elder Shelia gave her a check for $35.00 and the sales clerk started processing the paperwork.
That evening Elder Sheila called her cousin to tell him how things had worked out and about the $5,000.00 down payment for the home. He insisted on wiring her the money that evening. She received the money and took it down to the sales office for her home. She also turned in the referral incentive card since her cousin had referred her to these homes. She was later told that the incentive reward for her cousin was $5,000.00.
When everything was completed, Elder Shelia had a fully furnished model home that she paid $35.00 as a down payment for. The incentive had paid her cousin back and she walked into her new home carrying a set of sheets for her new bed!
God is not concerned about your credit score or how much money you have in the bank. He already has a plan for everything you need. You just have to trust Him and remember that nothing is impossible with God.
Everything made by Him, came through Him, and is for Him Colossians 1:16-17.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
A Heart After God
Scripture says that David had a heart after God, (Acts 13:22) however, scripture also says we were born in sin and shaped in iniquity (Psalm 51:5). What was so different about David that God would tell the Prophet Samuel to go and anoint the son of Jesse “…for I have found in him a man after my own heart and who will obey his will” (1 Samuel 13:14)? We know that David was a shepherd, and we learn through reading 1 Samuel that David faced all kinds of tribulations.
In the story of David, we learn that David’s father Jesse sent him to the Valley of Elah where the men of Israel were fighting with the Philistines. He wanted David to get an update on the war. While David was there, Goliath was challenging the men of Israel and cursing their God. David became offended at the challenge Goliath made and he volunteers to fight Goliath. When King Saul questioned him about his ability, David said,
“Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God” (1 Samuel 17:34-36).
Just in this conversation we learn that David had a genuine heart for God’s creation, he had to fight his attackers, he saw God’s hand give him victory, and he developed a deep reverence for God. He knew Jehovah personally. As we read further in scripture, we learn that the more challenges and difficulties David had in his life the deeper his relationship grew with Jehovah.
David’s life experiences are what germinated his growth and personal relationship with Jehovah to produce the exceptional fruit that we read about. The Holy Spirit showed me that when we ask to walk in greater love, to be humbler, to love our enemies and to have a heart after God, we do not realize that this does not fall out of the sky - it comes with experiences.
See, when we give a request to God, we are asking for experiences that will generate that fruit. Now the seed has to go through a germination process before it can break through the soil to even start the journey of producing fruit. Our prayer request for change is the seed, the answer is the germination process, which are the experiences we go through in life. Just like the seed has everything it needs when it is planted in the ground to break the soil, we have everything we need as well. The Holy Spirit would not prompt you to ask for something until He has made you ready for the experience. Your experiences develop the fruit of reverence that you have towards God. If you just take a moment and look back over your life, you will see that every challenge, the good and the bad, produced in you something you did not have before you went through it. There is purpose in everything. ELOHIM uses it all for the good of those who love Him and are called unto His purpose. God knew David had a heart after Him because David had shown Him through his experiences. Every day, all day long we are being tested and it reveals to God and to ourselves our heart posture towards Him. Everything that comes to us has a purpose and its goal is to transform our hearts after Christ.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
Facing Fear
Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land. Exodus 1:10, ESV
Fear will always prove to be a snare. In the scripture above Egypt was the most powerful region in the land, yet they feared the Israelites. They feared being overtaken by another nation. The Israelites had lived among the Egyptians in their land for years and they had never done anything according to the Bible to provoke fear in the Egyptians, yet the king of Egypt feared them because of their large number.
The promised covenant that God had made with Abraham was now coming to fruition. He was making Abraham’s seed into a nation. In all the years prior Pharaoh never thought to put the Israelites under any kind of oppression but now that God’s blessings were manifesting in them, Satan settled in with the attacks.
When God is moving us into the promised blessing there will always be some kind of pushback. Satan is not standing around cheering us on, he is always strategically planning a way to bring us down. He does not care who he uses, he is just looking for the opportunity to break the cycle.
Many times, Satan uses the individuals closest to us to bring hardship. The Egyptians were the closest to the Israelites at the time and Pharaoh lead by fear was the vehicle Satan used. Fear, coupled with pride and arrogance, removed any humility from Pharaoh’s heart. And his hardened heart is what caused his nation to crumble.
Scripture says that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Anytime we are operating in fear, defeat is not too far behind because fear is not from God. We overcome fear by studying the Word of God, knowing who our God is and believing the truth about who we are in Him. Scripture says “…for we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]” (Ephesians 2:10).
Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
Because God did not give us a spirit of fear, we can walk in full confidence not matter what we face. Adonai our Lord and Master has already worked everything out.
Affirmations; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My recently published books are now available at:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss