This is real.

Young or old, we are all alive and breathing. The thing to realize is that we are God's children, living in His world. Look around, all you see is from Him, including you. Be amazed, Be awed, Be thankful.  

Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verses 18-20.

Well, one thing, at least, is good: it is for a man to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, accept his position in life, and enjoy his work whatever his job may be, for however long the Lord may let him live. And of coarse, it is very good if a man has received wealth from the Lord, and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and to accept your lot in life---that is indeed a gift from God. The person who does that will not need to look back with sorrow on his past, for God gives him joy.

Wow, is there any better way to say it? We are here, and who we are is not what counts but that we have received the love of God through Jesus the Christ. God is the one who gives us our joy. 

   Each day we are faced with tasks to do. And each day we are bogged down with stress and worries. They wear us down and exhaust our strength. You are the one who has to deal each day with how you feel. It is ok to take time to heal and to take the time needed to refresh your energy, but beware that you do not become lazy. It is an easy place to fall into and can be very hard to climb out of. 

   1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 14-18 say, "Warn those who are lazy; comfort those who are frightened; take tender care of those who are weak; and be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else. Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

   What a gift life is. It runs by us so quickly. Yes there are hardships and yes there are attitudes to deal with, but your place with God, who has placed you in His home to live, with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, takes first place over anything this world can throw at you. Pray to God about everything. Listen and watch for His guidance and reply.

   In Acts chapter 16, the apostles were traveling preaching the Good News of Jesus and the Kingdom of heaven. It says as they traveled along they were told by the Holy Spirit the direction in which they should go. And each time they wanted to go one way they were told to go another. Then, one night Paul had a vision. In his vision he saw a man in Macedonia, Greece, pleading with him, "Come over here and help us." Well, that settled it. They were to go to Macedonia, for they could only conclude that God was sending them to preach the Good News there.

   Have you ever struggled with finding the answers you need? You know to understand and have the direction that guides you to make the right decisions? Sometimes those answers come to us right away and we are thankful for the outcome. At other times the answers may come to you while you are resting and refreshing. And still there may be times, when time has to take it's coarse and patience becomes a challenge. 

   God is supposed to be your place of refuge. Your place to trust in Him to provide the answers you need. Your place where the praise is given for the most amazing and astonishing guidance, beyond anything you would have come up with on your own. 

   In numbers chapter 11, Moses is feeling overwhelmed with everyone's concerns. God told him to gather some people together and He would install the Holy Spirit upon them so that they would know what it means to bear others burdens. They even began to prophesy, and others could not understand that they along with Moses could do this. Moses says in verse 29, "I wish that all of the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them all!"

   God has done that for us through Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah and He has made it possible for us to see our place as God's children. You are not alone to deal with your emotions and the challenges of everyday life. Have you heard His voice? You probably have and maybe you have recognized it or maybe you just thought it was a thought you had on your own. 

   Amos chapter 8 verse 1 says, "Then the Lord God showed me, in a vision, a basket full of ripe fruit." What has God shown you? 

   I'm someone who has their fair share of issues with finances, health, relationships and understanding death. Lots of times I try to find the answers I need  and lots of times I make crazy mistakes. Some are costly and some can have lasting affects. But I have learned not to trust in my own guidance but to seek out God and my place with Him.  

   In John chapter 8, Jesus is being questioned about who He is claiming to be. Verses 25-27 say, "Tell us who You are," they demanded. He replied, "I am the one I have always claimed to be. I could condemn you for much and teach you much, but I will not, for I say only what I am told to by the one who sent Me; and He is Truth." But they still did not understand that He was talking to them about God.

   How much of your time is taken up by worry and wondering what the outcome will be? We like to be in control. We like to be the ones who are making the decisions, even if those decisions turn out to be the wrong ones. It takes a lot of control and trust to let God be the one who knows the outcome long before you ever will. So why not let Him who knows what is about to happen, be the one who is guiding you.

   That is when you see the results and that is when you believe He is real. And that is when everything changes, for you want to trust God with the decisions to be made in your life. Does that mean you will not try to follow your inclinations? Sure you will. But the more you trust God the more you will see His touch upon your life and the more you will trust in Him. You will call upon Him and worship Him for His love for you. And that all leads to peace and contentment. and that opens up the door for God's love to work through you. 

   In Exodus chapter 3 Moses is struggling with doing what God is asking him to do. And God replies, Just say "I Am has sent me!" We are to replace our worries with "I trust in God" 

   In Matthew chapter 6 verses 33 and 34, Jesus tells the people, "And He will give them to you if you give Him first place in your life and live as He wants you to. So do not be anxious about tomorrow, God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time."

   What an amazing feeling of peace that we are now leaning upon God to guide us through our day. That is not easy for us to do, and God knows it. That is why we see clearly His touch upon our lives. Which in turn leads us to pray about everything, confident that He brings us the guidance we need. Leading to a joy filled life of thankful hearts that reflect His love for us. 

   Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for the reality of Your love for us. 😊  

Philippians chapter 4 verses 6 and 7.

Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and do not forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.   

       

Luke chapter 10 verses 20-24.

Jesus speaking to the disciples said, "The important thing is not that demons obey you, but that your names are registered as citizens of heaven." Then, He was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the intellectuals and worldly wise and for revealing them to those who are as trusting as little children. Yes, thank You, Father, for this is the way You wanted it. I am the Agent of My Father in everything; and no one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him." Then, turning to the twelve disciples, He said quietly, "How privileged you are to see what you have seen. Many a prophet and king of old has longed for these days, to see and hear what you have seen and heard!"    

Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, they are to give you a future and a hope."

Romans chapter 8 verses 36-39.

For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate from His love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels won't, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are---high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean---nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for us.  

2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 18 and 19, 21.

All these things are from God who brought us back to Himself through what Christ Jesus did. And God has given us the privilege of urging everyone to come into His favor and be reconciled to Him. For God was in Christ, restoring the world to Himself, no longer, counting men's sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others. For God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins. Then, in exchange, He poured God's goodness into us!