Morning Prayer:

Father God, I greet you this  morning with love and thanksgiving. Thank you for every hour today that we have the opportunity to listen and obey. Walk with us today, as we walk close to you. Thank you for guarding our mouth gate, our ear gate and our eye gate. Please allow us to be a light to all we meet. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

The prayer said this morning will set the tone for our day today. The Holy Spirit may lead us to do something that our mind or ego may not like, but as followers of Christ we are His instruments. Just as Nehemiah told the people of Israel, in verses 10 of Nehemiah, not to be sad when they heard the Lord’s instruction on how to live holy, so should we not be sad when we read what the bible says on how we should live today. The Bible was not written and inspired to make us feel like we are missing out on life, it was meant to bring us long life and joy.

Nehemiah 8: 5-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. ⁶ Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

⁷ The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there.⁸ They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear  and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

⁹ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of theLord is your strength.”

Please enjoy today’s worship video by VaShawn Mitchell entitled, “Joy.”

There is a song by Debroah Joy Winans entitled, “The Master’s Calling.” Every time I hear it my heart flutters because the song speaks to my biggest fear, as a worshipper, which is not being able to hear God’s voice.

The most precious part of my life is my relationship with God, followed by my relationship with my husband.

Being able to hear the voice of God, through the Holy Spirit, is immeasurable. Nothing can replace my relationship with God. Being able to be close to God, every day, is as important as the air I breathe.

If you are desiring a more intimate relationship with God, ask Him to speak to your heart. Ask God to show you how to come closer to Him. Very soon, after you invite God into your heart, you will begin to get nudges in your spirit. When that happens just listen quietly.

As a Christian, the very best way to get know God is through His Word. A few moments before you begin to read the bible, ask God to speak to your heart and teach you and give you understanding, through the Holy Spirit. I promise, as you read you will gain supernatural understanding.

Guard your heart from things or people that may want to pull you away from your relationship with God. What is their motive and why does the way you live your life make them want to change you?

If there is anything I can do to help you in your spiritual journey, please let me know. I would be honored to walk with you on the path.

Please enjoy the worship video for today by Debroah Joy Winans.

There are many examples in the bible of when Jesus brought peace to a situation. Whether it was a woman being accused of adultery or whether he was bringing peace to the storm, Jesus was a peacemaker.

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus tells us and shows us how to live a blessed and peaceful life.

Matthew 5

New International Version (NIV)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Please enjoy the worship video this morning. I love gospel music from all over the world. This video is for my brothers and sisters from the islands.

When I have my morning devotion with God, I always start with the Lord’s Prayer. The reason I start with the Lord’s Prayer is because it sets the tone and the atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart clearly.

I recommend reading the 6th chapter of Matthew in its entirety. The Lord’s Prayer can be found in verses 9-13.

This is how I dissect, and make personal, the prayer that Jesus told us to pray.

Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed (and holy) is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth (and in my life) as it is in heaven. (Father allow my life to come into alignment with your Word as you have decreed and declared it in heaven).

Give us, this day, our daily bread (Father, I know that everything I need today, You have already provided. I know that at your table is the fullness of Joy, Peace, Prosperity, Safety, and Wholeness).

Forgive us, as we forgive those who have sinned against us (in thought, word and deed).

Lead us not into temptation, but deliever us from evil (Father, deliver me from ANYTHING that would take me away from your presence. Protect me from all of the enemy’s plans, schemes, and hidden agendas against me and my family. Help me to see anything that may cause me to stumble).

For Your’s (Alone God) is the Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory, Amen.

Please enjoy today’s worship video by Andrea Bocelli as he sings, “The Lord’s Prayer.”

The act of bowing is a sign of respect. For me, as a Christian, I bow when I am in deep prayer and worship to God.

Why do I bow? It tells my circumstances, my mind and body that there is One who is Greater than I. Bowing tells my situations that the God of the Universe is the head of my life. Bowing also tells my heart not to worry or fear, because I have just placed it ALL on the altar of God.

Psalm 95:1-6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Praise to the Lord, and Warning against Unbelief.

When is the last time you bowed in submission to God. What is keeping you from giving all your cares to the One who cares the most for you?

I pray that you enjoy the Worship video today. It is a beautiful song from Michael English entitled, “I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy.

This morning’s devotion is dedicated to my beautiful Aunt who gained her new body yesterday.

2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Temporal and Eternal

5 For we know that if the earthly tent [our physical body] which is our house is torn down [through death], we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our [immortal, eternal] celestial dwelling, ³ so that by putting it on we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened [often weighed down, oppressed], not that we want to be unclothed [separated by death from the body], but to be clothed, so that what is mortal [the body] will be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection]. ⁵ Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise].

⁶ So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]— ⁸ we are of good courage and confident hope, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

Today’s worship video is a classic gospel song by The Caravans and Albertina Walker entitled, “Lord Keep Me Day By Day.”

Yesterday, I was praying about a very serious situation in my life regarding my health and well-being.

The loving Holy Spirit whispered to my heart that God had already given me victory in the situation.  I cant explain the level of love I felt when God used His word to confirm that I shall live and not die.

The beautiful encounter reminded me that God loves me and loves US. When I pray,  Im able to come into agreement with the word of God with confidence and assurance.

What is this post about today? It’s about trusting God with everything and letting Him take the lead.

Give it to God. Stand on the Word. Study the holy scriptures so that when you pray you can come into agreement with what God’s will is for your life.

Proverbs 3:5-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

Life, bills, traffic, work, alarm clocks are all a part of our daily routine. Sometimes it is so easy to go in autopilot mode.

The one thing that we must maintain, nurture and be vigilant about are our relationships. Whether it’s with our parents, siblings, children, friends, spouses or God.

Relationships bring support, love, growth, encouragement and a sense of community and oneness.

God knew that it was not good for us to be alone. We were designed to be connected to each other.

My prayer for today is that we cherish all of our relationships. Let Love be the driving force behind our actions.

Love will help us remember who we are and who we were created to be….

Remember who you are….

Trust Love. Trust God.

Colossians 3:18-25

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Christian Home

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for^[a]you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Enjoy today’s worship video from Rickie Byars Beckwith.

Have you ever experienced a time when someone walked into a room and the entire energy of the room changed? I have experienced this many times, both positively and negatively.

I call the phenomenon a person’s “karmic fragrance.” What invisible scent trail is setting the atmospheric tone of a room?

In Luke 7:36-38, Jesus was invited to eat at the home of a certain Pharisee. There was a sinful woman who came to the home where Jesus was invited. As she began to come closer to Jesus, the sinful woman began to cry. The presence of such holiness and love caused the woman to spotenously change the fragrance or scent of the Pharisee’s home.

What a powerful statement the presence of Jesus made. Oh, to be in the presence of such Love, so far from what the sinful woman had known.

What fragrance are YOU leaving when walk into a room? Does the atmosphere change, for the better, because of your presence?

Luke 7:36-38

New King James Version (NKJV)

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

³⁶ Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. ³⁷ And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸ and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

Please enjoy today’s worship video.

Most people would agree that Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Im speaking of pure, untainted Love.

There are many circumstances I can think of when love stepped into action on someone else’s behalf.

Love, grace and mercy work very closely with each other. There are times, with God’s help and guidance, I was able to share and show true Love. The person is always so shocked because most people would not have reacted the same way that I did. Whenever people are shocked by my response, I always say, “That’s what love does.”

As followers of Jesus, The Christ, we experience Love everyday, even when dont deserve it. Let’s look at the day Jesus was crucified.

Luke 23:32-34

New King James Version (NKJV)

³² There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. ³³ And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. ³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

How easy is it for us to love when others show us love? Very easy, I would say. The true challenge is when we want to react and lash out, because of how we were treated, but instead we choose to go higher.  The gift of Love, in it’s highest form, is to show Grace and Mercy instead of retribution and anger.

I challenge each of us to walk in the office of Love. How will the world around us change, for the better, if we show Grace and Mercy more often.

Please enjoy today’s  worship video. It is one of my favorite hymns, “Love Lifted Me.”