Happy Thursday to you all. I hope you are full of joy and peace. My heart is full this morning. God is so awesome. There is not a day that goes by that I dont want more of God.
Deuteronomy 28:1-3
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
28 “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth;
2 and all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God:
3 “Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
Happy Tuesday morning. I greet you in love and I pray that you are growing more and more, in Christ, every day.
As a business owner, one of the wonderful things I have the honor of doing is working alongside my husband. Our business, Sacred Journey Services, LLC, offers premarital counseling, wedding officiant services, baby blessings and dedications, house blessings, and mobile notary services. What I love, more than anything, is walking this journey with my husband, as we walk together with God. God knew that it would take both of us to bring His vision to life.
When we counsel couples, in preparation for marriage, it is so important that my husband and I are equally yoked and in agreement with what the Word of God says, especially about marriage, so that we may lead the couples in the correct manner and in order with God’s Word.
Why is being equally yoked so important. Equally yoked means you are of the same mind and heart in your faith walk with Christ. As Christians, it is important because being equally yoked allows you to grow and move together. Yes, there will be some seasons where one person may mature faster than the other, but the time period is usually short.
Being equally yoked, spiritually, is wonderful when both parties know how to come to God together in prayer, worship and unity.
Yesterday, my husband and I prayed, before and after we submitted some paperwork. Our desire is for good news, but our prayer was for God’s will to be done. We understand that we sit everything at God’s feet. Our Father wants to bless us exceedingly and abundantly, according to His will and the calling that is on our lives. God also wants the same for you as well.
Ephesians 3:20-21
New King James Version (NKJV)
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I hope all of the dads had a great Father’s Day weekend. No matter what role you play in your children’s life, you are appreciated and needed.
Today’s devotional scripture is actually the verse that The Sacred Journey Devotionals is founded on.
Psalm 119:105
New International Version (NIV)
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Father God,
We praise you and thank you for your Word, working in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, to lead and guide our steps. May we be ever faithful to continually rely on and follow You.
This morning, I just feel like dancing, clapping, and giving glory to King Jesus. There is no other name in heaven, on the earth, or below the earth, that as much power and authority.
Matthew 27:45-54
New International Version (NIV)
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,lemasabachthani?”(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
This morning, I’m screaming our worship chant!!!! I cant stop crying…
Y’all, God didnt have to love us this much, but he did. He did it because he wanted Relationships with us.!!!
This morning, I just let today’s worship song pour over me. While I sang, along with the song, the Holy Spirit whispered in the background this scripture passage:
Jeremiah 29:11
Living Bible (TLB)
11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Today’s worship video is entitled, “Not Lucky, I’m Loved.” The words reiterate that God has such an amazing love for us. We are loved and blessed by God, not by mere circumstance, but because we are His.
The blessing, of God, truly begin to pour out when begin walking in a place of surrenered obedience. Whenever we let go of something that we are in bondage to and we turn our hearts back to God, He quickly comes in and says,
“I am so glad you decided to call me, to help you get free from that person, place or thing that was pulling you away from me and my dwelling place. Now that you are free, I have so many things that I want to show you and bless you with. I’ve had a plan for you this whole time. I created you just so that you could fulfill this part of my plan, but it only works if you stay close enough to me to hear my voice. Come up here, in the divine thinking, kingdom-minded, realm and look what I have to show you.”
Now family, we have heard verse 11 quoted like the above scripture, standing along by itself. However, if you read the chapter and verses before verse 11 you will get more clarity of the full picture and it goes in line with what God spoke to my heart this morning.
Jeremiah 29:10-14
The Message (MSG)
10-11 This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
12 “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.
13-14 “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.
“Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”God’s Decree.
“I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you”—God’s Decree—“bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.
I hope this Wednesday morning finds you well and refreshed. It is Hump Day!!!
How are you spending your summer?
A lot of people and families are on vacation right now. Students are out of school and enjoying the break. A great deal of students, whether entering Pre-K, Kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school or college, are facing a change, with the coming new school year. The new school year could bring several new things like new friends, new classes and maybe even a new school. I know some of us older adults, we may also be transitioning to something new. It may be a new season in life like a new career, retirement, a new baby, a new relationship or maybe even saying goodbye to one.
I know that change can sometimes be a little scary, because of the unknown and newness of it all. As children of God, we know that God walks with us every step of the way. So trust that as you seek God and seek His heart that he will always lead you in the right direction. All we have to do is Follow…
Psalm 63:1-8
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 63
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Today’s devotional song was my theme song from my late teens to early twenties. Listen carefully to the words and enjoy Rich Mullins’ interpretation of today’s scripture reading from Psalm 63.
The one thing I keep hearing this morning is, “Part-time Praise.” Trust me, I had a blank stare on my face, when I first heard it myself. Of course, I had to ask the question, “Father, what are you wanting me to hear?”
There are times when we go through hard times. Life’s circumstances is one thing we all have in common. If we are children of God, even on hard days, what should our response be when hard times creep into our lives?
The bible is full of examples of hardship, suffering, pain, imprisonment and even death. How are we to respond to God during those times? Does God expect us to break-out into a cheer of happiness when we lose our job, or face other disappointments? I would say definitely not. I do believe that he expects us to continually look to him. It’s about how we RESPOND to those difficult times.
Let’s look at Paul and Silas:
Acts 16:22-34
New International Version (NIV)
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
Look at how Paul and Silas used their hardship to bring others to Christ. The first that we must all know, as Christians, is this.
1. People watch how we as Christians respond to hard times.
2. Based on how we do respond, it will either push people away from Christ or pull them closer.
This walk we have is not a part-time walk. It is a daily, 24 hour, full-time walk. Our walk is sacred and divine. Every step has a meaning. Every response is an act of worship, based on our relationship with God.
I love you with an amazing and everlasting love. Go in peace, WHILE SERVING the Lord.
Good morning, to my beautiful family of fellowship of believers, followers, lovers and disciples of our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer Jesus Christ. We magnify the Divine Trinity that includes the God who created us, the God who Redeemed us, and the God who walks with us.
This week, we have truly gone inward!!! We had a thorough spiritual tune-up.
If you missed any part of this week’s devotionals, I invite you to go back through and meditate on them.
If you dont remember anything from the devotionals from this week, remember this:
Matthew 22:37-40
Living Bible (TLB)
37 Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’38-39 This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’40 All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others.”
Ok, let’s get our praise on!
Have a wonderful and blessed day and a safe weekend.
This week of devotionals has been focused on our personal relationship with God. Every once in a while, God has to do a wellness check, to make sure we are on the right trajectory to living our best life in and with Him.
Today, the Holy Spirit brought to mind a song that goes along, very well, with the theme of this week…getting our house (temple) in order.
Meditate on today’s scripture reference and then go in peace and SERVE the Lord.
Galatians 5:16-25
Living Bible (TLB)
16 I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to. 17 For we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures. 18 When you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you need no longer force yourself to obey Jewish laws.
19 But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine, 21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws.
24 Those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross and crucified them there.
25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit’s power, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
When we ask God to help purify and sanctify us, what does it mean? Yesterday, God called us to be holy because He Is holy. However, the Word of God also tells us to sanctify and consecrate ourselves. Apparently, that means there is some work that we have to put in as well.
Romans 12:1-2
The Message Bible (MSG)
Place Your Life Before God
12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
I’m going to share something very personal, in regard to consecrating my life for God and to God. About a month ago, I was having my prayer time and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “Remove everything from your house that dishonors me. Get all of the pictures and statues of Buddha out of your house.”
At first I was very confused. Images of Buddha evoke feelings of calmness and tranquility. I asked the Lord, “Why, Lord?” He clearly said, “Because, I ALONE am ENOUGH. You do not need to look to anything or anyone to be your peace except for Me. Marcia, there are blessings I want to give you, but I cannot release them until you fully consecrate your home and your life to Me. I have already prepared a GREATER PLACE for you, Marcia, but you must know that it was ME AND ME ALONE that poured out the blessings and favor.” In that instant, I called home, told my husband to throw away everything. I didnt want ANYTHING between me and God.
You are welcome in this place, Jehovah God. Purify this (pointing at yourself) temple. Not only the buildings made of stone and metal, but the temple that contains my heart, mind and soul. You are welcome in “this” place.
Sacred Journey Devotionals - Where Christianity and Metaphysics Meet 