Tag: Photography

The Rapture of God’s People

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christian Blogger, Christianity, Faith, Family, Personal Reflection, Praise, prayer, Relationship, Testimony

The time draw nears.

Revelation 16:15
English Standard Version

15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

He will take us up onto the clouds.

High above the earth we will gaze into our Lords eyes, and be comforted.

Joy

The time to prepare is now.

As this day draws near, Lord guide me to talk to those around me. Let me sing and shout with joy, “Jesus is coming soon.” “Get ready!”

The time to put my to my house in order is now!

Family! Friends! Strangers!

Repent!

Jesus forgive me for all my sins past and present. Most of all, help me recall the sins I have forgotten.

I pray that the hand of Jesus is upon each of us, as we prepare for the return of Jesus. I feel in my heart the time is near – days, months – it is very soon.

Am I ready? Yes! I want to be with Jesus! I worry about my children and husband, and I pray for God to open their hearts so that they can be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Trust in Jesus.

I remember as a youth asking Jesus to come into my life, and since that moment, He has never left my side. He has guided me throughout the course of my life. There were many times I didn’t listen to Him and went astray. God has always guided me back. He is the Shepard and takes care of his herd. God has always placed people along with serendipitous situations in my life and guided me back. I am continuously awakened by the Hand of God – to walk the path of His light and not fall onto the path of the wicked.

5.Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6. In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Dear Jesus,

I lift my prayer to you today so that you can open my mind and heart to your will. In the coming days show me all the sins that I’ve forgotten so that I can repent each and every wrong I’ve committed. Let my sins be cleansed with the blood of Jesus.

I pray for my loved ones. I pray for The hand of God to open their hearts and mind. That in the coming two days they will feel your Holy Spirit awakening them to your love and grace.

Jesus, I pray that no loved one is left behind.

I also pray for those around me – friends, colleagues, acquaintances and strangers. I pray for my nation. I pray for my world. Please open all hearts to Jesus. Awaken all to walk towards the Light of God.

Please help me reach out to them with sincerity and love through this blog, through my words.

It’s not too late!

Out of the depth I call to you, Lord God hear my prayer!

Amen

After writing this blog post, in my quiet time with God, I was directed to this verse:

In Christ Jesus, we are

being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:11 EVS

I am given the strength by God to endure my day with joy in my heart. I praise God for his mercy and everlasting love for me. Let me give thanks to God.

I pray for those who have caused me pain. I pray dear Lord that you let me put these people behind me. That I move beyond the hurt, and walk in joy and freedom. I pray for blessings upon who have hurt me. I pray that you may open their hearts to the joy of our Lord Jesus.

Praise be to God!

Amen, Amen, Amen!

The above study arose out of my quiet time with the Churchome app.

Embracing Joy and Peace

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christian Blogger, Christianity, Faith, Family, Personal Reflection, Praise, prayer, Testimony

As wonderful as it is to be with my family the past several weeks, let me admit that it has been challenging as we adapt to – “being together”. I have literally not gone out except to walk the dog. My son went out one day to “run” and hasn’t since. Whereas my daughter has kept a routine of doing her school work online and exercising. My husband is working – essential services. Being together in a confined space can lead to flaring tempers, as well as general grumpiness from time to time as we adjust to our individual personalities and uniqueness.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

I was personally disappointed in myself this week. I lost my temper and raised my voice the other day. I think the volume resonated throughout my neighbourhood – why? It was for the most stupid thing – a misunderstanding about my daughter not throughly reading one of her teachers’ email.

After the tears, we walked through her teachers’ email to realize she was having difficulties. We email and talked to her teacher via telephone and worked together to resolve the issue.

I felt like such a terrible mom for not being a better role model. I was disappointed in myself for losing my temper. I know that in the midst of my anger I felt the hand of God on me – an inner voice telling me to stop. With tears in my eyes, I held my daughter and told her how much I love her. “I am sorry”, I sobbed.

It’s been a few days since this incident, and I am thankful for the power of God. Through His Holy Spirit, He guides me to reflect, and hence have a deeper understanding of who I am – my shortcomings, and, of forgiveness.

As I was walking the dog this morning, I also thought about the power of love which resides within. There was a beauty this morning as I walked Candy. The sun is bright as winter turns into a nippy spring. There are buds sprouting on bare trees, and it is a wonderment to feel His amazing grace in all around. I thank God for opening my eyes and heart. To see and feel His living creation. There is an understanding that it is only through the living power of the Holy Spirit I have joy and peace.

Moments such as these are Gods’ hands in our lives as He awakens us from our slumber. He wants us to see the beauty beyond the negative emotions and bad deeds of this world. It is Christ living in us through the power of the Holy Spirit:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Despite the challenges, disappointments, pain and all the negative that can befall, I need to remember – through God we received joy! Through God we receive peace! Through God, I have the life energy of the Holy Spirit.

I pray that Aleeza, Mathieu, Daniel each receive the power of the Holy Spirit and be energized.

I pray all those around me – my extended family, friends and colleagues, are filled with the Holy Spirit and live with joy! I pray they have peace within their hearts and be energized!

I pray that those in my great community, and my readers feel the blessings of the Holy Spirit as they walk in Christ Jesus and be energized!

Joy and peace in the Holy Spirit!

Amen

Follow Me

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christianity, Faith, Poetry/Lyric, Praise, Testimony

There was a time when I thought myself unworthy 

as my soul moaned my lost of innocence 

my journey into the fringe drew me deeper into a dark journey

How can I explain to you that despite the shadows of death – there is hope
That with just a glimmer of faith

Jesus was right there with guiding me out of my misery

Like a tapestry with interweaving thread, a medley of people and circumstances intertwine and weaved their way into my life and guided me out of my self destructive path.

In hindsight, Jesus never forsaked me, and He watched over me and walked with me until my eyes could see him.

He is patient 

He is Grace

He loves me 

How can I explain that once I cried out to Him to be my Saviour – That all the bad decisions I’ve made in the past stays in the past – my life took a 180 turn away from my old life.

“Follow Me”, is all He asks of me.

Thank you Jesus for reminding me this past Easter weekend of your sacrifice for me❤️


Notes:

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:30-32 | NIV
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 

Luke 9:23 | NIV