APRIL FOOL'S | Fuel For The Weekend

Welcome to the end of another week. We have entered a new month as well. The first quarter of this year has literally flown by and if you blinked, you just might have missed it!! Today is a holiday, though it does not get a lot of attention. No candy is marketed for the holiday, no rush to buy gifts and exchange them, and no party will be planned around it. Rather, it is a day of practical jokes and pranks. I am talking about April Fool's Day. I once heard that atheists complained that they had no holiday to celebrate and so this day is made for them. PSALM 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

I was taught in school about the Big Bang Theory and how the world in all its beauty and splendor came from gas explosions in the atmosphere. When I challenged what made the gases no one could answer me. It seems they are content in believing that gases always were, atoms have no beginning or ending. It sounds like they are confused. God has no beginning and no ending. He is infinite. Our finite minds cannot wrap around a God who always was, who is, and always will be. We live in the realm of time. It takes a great deal of faith to believe the human body just came to be because of some cosmic blast. Our minds are such complicated things that even science has yet to tap into all the intricacies of it. We are intelligent beings, able to reason, to think, to choose, and you will never be able to convince me that we are some miracle of the elements. There is absolutely no way!

GENESIS 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. It takes faith to believe that God created the heaven and the earth and all that is in it. If you read the first few chapters of Genesis the Word of God declares that God made everything. He speaks to the Word, which is Jesus, and they created man in their image. GENESIS 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. The devil did not like that and so he tricked Adam and Eve into sinning and we were separated from God. Sin entered in. The good news is that Jesus' blood atoned us. ROMANS 5:10-12, 19 (10)For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (11)And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement. (12)Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (19)For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.

PSALM 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell in therein. This is very clear to me. The message is that God owns the earth and everything in it; the world and those that live in it. Many choose to believe that universe is a power in and of itself. They have such great faith in something like that but cannot wrap their head around the Truth that God created all that we see, every man, woman, boy, girl, bird, animal, plant, tree, everything! It definitely takes a lot more faith to believe that deception than it is to put your trust in God our Creator.

JOHN 1:1-5, 10-14 (1)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2)The same was in the beginning with God. (3)All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. (4)In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. (5)And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (10)He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. (11)He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. (12)But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; (13)Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (14)And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Jesus is the Word made flesh. He was with God in the beginning when God created the world. We know this because of verse ten. He was in the world, and the world was made by HIM! The world He created did not know Him and His chosen people did not receive Him. From the moment He was born, the enemy tried to kill Jesus. They had no room for Him in the Inn and they had no room for Him in their hearts.

There are two camps of people in God's eyes: the righteous, and the ungodly. The ones who trust in God and put their faith in Him are the righteous. They that look to God's Word as a guide for their thoughts and behavior. The ungodly are the fools who say there is no God. PSALM 1:1-6 (1)Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2)But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. (3)And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (4)The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. (5)Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (6)For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. I did an entire Bible study on this first chapter of Psalms and you can read that by clicking HERE.

In closing, I will share the words of Joshua in the Old Testament. The people were facing a choice. Today we face the same choice. We must make up our minds and settle it in our hearts whom we will serve. JOSHUA 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. The choice is the same today: You can choose the idols your ancestors worshiped. You can choose the god of money, fortune, and fame that are in the land we live in today. Or you can choose the God of heaven who made all of creation. You must decide for yourself. No one can make up your mind for you. As for the Owens' household; Paul, Bridgett, Kadesia, and Javan will serve the LORD.

I pray you choose Life. Jesus is Life. There is no other way to get to God. JOHN 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me. As you embark on another weekend, I pray that you will make the decision to follow Jesus. If you already are a servant of the LORD MOST HIGH then I pray you will share the Gospel with others and use this silly holiday as an opportunity to share your faith. God is a loving, good Father and He wants all of His children to be with Him for eternity. Let's not miss heaven for the world!

May something I shared on this blog today be strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Change of Plans | Fuel For The Weekend

Welcome back friends to another blog post to fill up your tank this weekend! Are you running on empty? Have you been feeling a little low on energy, a little discouraged or unsettled? Do not fear! God is with us and He is helping us and He is for us! We are going to talk about how our plans may change in big or small ways but God's Plan will always remain. His plan does not change and He knows every detail of every moment of every single day of your life. What an incredible God we serve! Amen?

My childhood friend lives far away and this week she is here in Indiana. We wanted to see each other so we planned to meet for supper one night and that did not work out, due to an illness in the family. We rescheduled for breakfast with just the two of us and that did not work out either, due to another illness in the family. As much as our plans said we wanted to see each other, if only for a quick hug, it just was not going to happen. And that's okay because we are still friends and that will never change. We communicate regularly, pray for one another and our families, and sometimes in life, our best laid plans just do not happen.

Here in southern Indiana, we had some cold weather, ice, a little snow, and a lot of rain. The temperatures are hovering around freezing, but it is not too bad. I decided to go get myself some breakfast this morning after I dropped my son off at school. I knew I had a lot to do today and I need to get some work done this afternoon for the company I work for, so I stopped at Starbucks.

I got a delicious breakfast sandwich, a chocolate croissant, and a mocha cookie crumble frappucino.

I will be working on my frappucino for a little while. As I eat breakfast and sip on my frappe I am just meditating on God's Word and how sometimes we plan good things, like a breakfast out with a friend, and it doesn't happen, or (and honestly this part is what I am thinking about this morning) how we plan our future, assume the job will work out, the finances will be there, and then when it doesn't happen, it is easy to become angry, frustrated, insecure, and then doubt sets in. I don't want to operate from a place of fear or insecurity so I have been talking to God about my current job situation and what my future will look like after mid-March!

God reminded me of Joshua. God gave Joshua a big job to do. Let's read it together:

DEUTERONOMY 31:23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel unto the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

In the book of Numbers, we know that God told Moses to send men out to search the land of Canaan that He was giving to the children of Israel. So Moses did that and Joshua and Caleb were two of the men that went to spy out the land. We read this in Numbers 13:1-16. Joshua and Caleb were the only two men who had a good word to say about the land. The rest of the men were negative and complained.

NUMBERS 13:32-33 (32)And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. (33)And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers,  and so we were in their sight.

They had already decided it was too big of a job for them to take it on. They failed to remember the signs and wonders and miracles God had already performed for them. They were so upset that they wanted to go back to bondage, and be slaves once again in Egypt. Numbers 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. Aaron and Moses fell on their faces. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes. This was treason against God! They knew what He had done for them and when they are face to face with the promised land, 2 of the 10 men were excited and said, "Let's take it! It's ours!" And the other men were cowards and fearful, so they complained, "It's too big of a target to hit!" But Joshua and Caleb thought, "No! It's too big to miss! Let's take the land!"

NUMBERS 14:22-23 (22)Because all those men which have seen My glory, and My miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted Me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to My voice; (23)Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked Me see it.

Moses was so sick of dealing with those stiff-necked, hard-hearted people. They never would surrender to God's Plan and just let God be God. Moses tells them the only ones who were going to the Promised Land were Caleb and Joshua and their children.

DEUTERONOMY 1:27-38 (27)And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, He hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. (28)Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. (29)Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. (30)The LORD your God which goeth before you, He shall fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt before your eyes; (31)And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. (32)Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God, (33)Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day. (34)And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, (35)Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers. (36)Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD. (37)Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go thither. (38)But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.(34)And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, (35)Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers. (36)Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD. (37)Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go thither. (38)But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.(35)Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers. (36)Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD. (37)Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go thither. (38)But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.(37)Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go thither.(38)But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.(37)Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go thither.

So we see that Moses is stern with the people. He told them that all their murmuring and complaining cost them the Promised Land. Their fear and doubt and lack of faith cost them their inheritance. They wanted the past and the familiar. So now they were given a choice and they did not choose to believe God could deliver them out of the hand of the Amorites. After all God had done for them. God still has a plan to bless the children of Israel though. He is not blessing the complainers and the doubters. They will never walk into all God had promised them: a land flowing with milk and honey. Even Moses was not able to enter that Promised Land because of his disobedience to God.

NUMBERS 20:7-12 (7)And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (8)Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and it shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and beasts drink. (9)And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as He commanded him. (10)And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? (11)And Moses lifted us his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. (12)And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

We may remember how Aaron caved to peer pressure and made a golden calf for the people to worship while Moses was up on the mountain with God. And now God has instructed Moses to speak to the rock and instead he gives himself the credit for giving the people water and he hits the rock twice instead of speaking to it. So instead of demonstrating to the people that the water came from God and it was His provision yet again, Moses made it about himself and Aaron. "Must we fetch you water out of this rock?" They were not able to do anything apart from God. So God told the brothers they were to lead the people to the Promised Land but they weren't going in to possess it and neither were the complainers in the camp.

That means that time has to pass and years go by. Joshua is getting old but he remained strong. And God was with him. 

JOSHUA 14:10-12 (10)And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. (11)As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. (12)Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

 A score of years is 20 years, so fourscore and five years means Joshua was 85 years old. He said that at 85 years old he had the same strength he had when he was 45 years old. God preserved his strength. The Bible tells us clearly in Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Joshua is a living, breathing example of that. He has waited for all of these years to do what God told him he would do. He is ready. He has been waiting well. He has not gotten ahead of God's timing and look at it paying off.

I do not fully understand what all is happening right now in the spiritual realm in my life and with my job and everything God is doing to shift some things. I do have perfect peace and I am trusting God. In this time of waiting, I have been actively serving God and serving others. I am busy with God's call on my life and I do not have time to think long or ponder much about where God is taking me. I am walking by faith and not by sight and the further He takes me, the more I know I can trust Him.

You see the complainers had seen God's provision time and time again. God said they provoked Him 10 times! He was long-suffering with them. He was patient and did not destroy them the first, second, or even ninth time they yelled in His face that they were mad He freed them from slavery and delivered them to a land of promise. Imagine! He has been a pillar of fire by night and cloud by day to show them which way to go. He protected them from danger and look at the strength he preserved in Joshua, an 85 year old man, fully ready to go to war and take the land he had been promised.

Let's get our resolve back. Let's forget what things look like and sound like. Are we going to focus on the giants in the land and the high walls of the city? Or will we shift our eyes to the giant slayer! Great God Jehovah is on our side and there is no wall high enough to keep Him out. There is no giant big enough to stop our God Yahweh! Whose side are you on? Will you see yourself as a grasshopper and allow others to discount your worth too? Or will you be like Caleb and Joshua who said, "This is a sure win! God goes before us and we will get the victory!" Your life, your choice, choose well.

I am excited to know that things change, but God does not. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Our plans may change. Our days and weeks and months and years may not go as planned. We may have mapped out the perfect idea of how things should go, but when we ask the Lord to order our steps and lead us, we may find that we have to throw our itinerary in the garbage. Trust me, God's plans are ALWAYS better than our own!

This weekend, let this sink in. Think about these passages and dig a little deeper into what God was trying to teach the children of Israel in the wilderness. What is He trying to show you this weekend? I hope something I shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm Chapter One | Bible Study Wednesday

PSALM CHAPTER ONE BIBLE STUDY

Verse one says those are blessed who choose not to live their lives after ungodly advise. Blessed are those who choose not to spend time with the ungodly. Blessed are the ones who do not sit and fellowship with scorners. The book of Proverbs tells us in chapter four, verse 14, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men."

The Psalms are written by David, Moses, and others. My Bible does not say who wrote this first Psalm but it is one of my favorite passages to read. It is packed with wisdom; real-life, timeless knowledge that has remained true through the ages.

So if the blessed person is one who does not do those things, what should they be doing? Verse two tells us that they delight in the law of the LORD and think about it day and night. These people are actively pursuing the things of God. They check in with Him before they make decisions or go about their day. These are the ones who have focused on putting God first in their lives and the Bible calls them BLESSED. In Joshua chapter one, verse eight it reads, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make they way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Staying in the Word of God is key to being successful in 2022.

The promise of God to those blessed people, (which includes you and me if we are doing those things), is found in verse three. You and I will be like a tree planted by a water source like a river. The roots go deep and are watered by the river. We can plant ourselves in the center of God's Will. He is the Water of Life and we are to drink freely. He sustains us. He nourishes us. He refreshes us. In time, in the right season, we will produce fruit that shows we are rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus. The things we say, the way we do anything, the way we treat others will all reflect back on our relationship with Jesus and we will bear much fruit. 

The Bible says our leaves won't even wither. This is huge!!! The scorching sun beats down on the plants and when it hasn't rained and it has not been watered, the leaves dehydrate and shrivel up. If we get away from the source of life-giving water, which is Jesus Christ, then we will dehydrate. We will become sick, and dry and we will collapse. The Christians who crawl through troubles and tribulations are those who have been disconnected from the water source. They need refreshing from the well that won't run dry! If you can relate and you say, "2021 drained me dry," then I have great news for you, get up, crawl if you must, but go to the source of the living water. His name is Jesus and call upon Him. Ask Him for a refreshing and watch Him do it.

We get disconnected from the life-sustaining water source when we take our eyes off Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith. When we grow weary in the waiting, we look at the circumstances and temporary situation we are in. This distraction has now caused us to worry, doubt, fear the future, and lose hope. We start to dehydrate. The situation God placed us in for a time, but not forever, has now become a source of despair and with the disconnection to the well of Living Water, we are now collapsing beneath the weight of the worry and sorrow we have allowed to take up residence in our hearts. If we had remained connected to the Living Water, we would have been unmovable. Have you ever seen a tree near a river? Those things are huge! They are strong and you cannot budge them an inch! They are steady and unmovable. That is the way God wants us to be: strong and unmovable regardless of what is going on around us. Snow and bitter cold may be near the icy stream but you cannot knock that tree down! Extreme heat and dry ground may be around the tree but the roots are down into that river and it is not going anywhere!

Jeremiah chapter 17, verses 7 & 8 read, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green: and shall not be careful (or anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." The key to producing fruit when others are not, when the circumstances around you says you should be failing, too, is remaining connected to the God who can never fail. How do we do that? We look to God, hope in His Word, and trust Him to see us through. We understand that things are tough and less than ideal, and maybe even scary, but we know our God is bigger and capable of bringing us out better than when we entered.

What about those who choose to live life on their own terms? We were given the choice to follow God or to say no and do our own thing. God will never force anyone to serve Him or love Him. He does not desire robots to do His bidding, but rather desires a relationship with His children that He loves so much. The Bible has a promise for them, too. Verse four says that these promises are not for the ungodly. They are life chaff, not much substance to them, and when the wind blows it scatters them. They are not steady, they are not secure. They are blown away and separated from the familiar and what once held them together. Job 21:18 says it like this, "They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away." Isaiah paints a vivid picture of what this look like. In Isaiah 17:13 it reads, "The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind." Chaff is the unusable part of wheat. It gets discarded. We are to be like the wheat and not the chaff. Let's remain rooted in Christ so we can be useful to Him and not blown away when life's storms threaten us.

One day God will return for His people. We all face the judgment seat of Christ. Some will see that they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and are wearing the righteousness of Christ. They will receive the crown of life that has been promised to them. Others will stand before God as judge and jury. He will have Jesus sitting right by His side and they will be without excuse. The perfect Lamb of God offered them the gift of eternal life and they refused. Verse five says this, "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment." Remember the way the leaves collapse without water? These trees were never rooted and grounded. Their leaves always dried up and withered and were unable to stand erect. These people are unable to stand in the day of judgment. There is nothing they can do but bow the knee and confess Jesus Christ is Lord, though they will forever be separated from Him. Verse five goes on to say, "Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous." God will separate the sheep from the goats. There will be no sinners among the congregation of the righteous. The righteous made a choice to follow Jesus and live for Him. There is no fellowship with sinners because they do not want to hear about the things of God. They do not want to praise God or talk about His goodness or read His Word. So they will not be found in the congregation of the righteous. Why would they be? They do not desire to be among God's people.

The sixth and final verse says that the LORD knows the way of the righteous. In Psalm 37:18 & 19 we read, "The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." What an incredible illustration of how good God is. When the rest of the world is starving, God's people will be not only filled, but satisfied. They will have more than enough! The end of verse six is this, "but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Today is the day of salvation. If we are rooted and grounded in Christ, we have promises to be: sustained, satisfied, helped, refreshed, renewed, and bear fruit. If we are not, we have a chance today to get connected to the life-giving Living Water of Jesus Christ. If you once were rooted and grounded but you feel yourself slipping away, leaves withering, collapsing beneath the load of care, it's not too late for you. Plant yourself in the Word of God and allow the fertile soil to give you nutrients you are longing for. Stay by the River of Life and allow your roots to be hydrated by the source that will never run out. Come back to the refreshing stream.

I want to pray with you all before we end our Bible Study session today,

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for my friends and family that read my blog. I do not know every single person You lead here but I am thankful for them just the same. Lord I am asking that You bless my brothers and sisters in Christ who are planted by the streams of Living Water. I ask that You continue to bless them and nourish them like only You can. Father God, I am asking that You would show my brothers and sisters who were once deeply rooted and grounded in You, how to make their way back to You. Your arms are always open and You love them so much. Help them plant themselves in Your perfect will and help them to heal and refresh and renew at Your healing waters. Raise them up God so their leaves never wither or dry up. And God I am asking that You would save those who do not know You. You love them so much You sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross of Calvary to give them eternal life. He died but You raised Him from the dead and I ask that Your resurrection power would quicken the spirits of those who do not know You. LORD I pray that they would forever be changed and would begin to grow roots that will ground them to You and Your Word in the precious name of Jesus. Amen

I hope something you have read today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way.

God bless you,

Bridgett Owens

Siblings Pray Together Stay Together | Thankful Thursday

I walked into the kitchen as I was getting ready for work. I wanted to make sure my son got on the school bus with no issues. My daughter was just leaving for work. When I stepped in the kitchen I saw my children holding hands and Kadesia was praying for Javan. She was blessing him and praying for protection and a good first day and so many wonderful things. Javan was just receiving it and this momma's heart was elated!

The Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) I taught both of my children how to pray when they were very small. This verse is so true because when someone is hurt or something doesn't go the way we expected it to, one of my kids will suggest for us to pray. They both know the power in prayer and they both pray out loud very well. It is an honor to raise them to love and respect God. I am so thankful they know they can call on His name anytime.

We read in 1 Timothy 2:8, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." No matter where we are we should be in a position to pray and speak to God in faith. Kadesia shared a post yesterday about the situation she was in and today God took care of the entire problem. It was awesome to see Him working out every detail.

We are reminded in Psalm 34:1 "I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall be continually in my mouth." There are times that it feels so bad or hopeless and it seems impossible to praise God, but that is when we must push past our feelings and just do it anyway. If we can get past how we feel, and praise God for who He is and for how worthy He is to be praised, our whole situation will turn around. Praise breaks barriers. 

The walls came down when Joshua and the company with him shouted at Jericho.

Joshua 6:15, 16, 20, 27 (15)And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. (16)And it to came to pass on the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. (20)So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. (27)So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

Gideon and three companies of men shouted a praise and they won the victory without fighting!

Judges 7:19-21 (19)So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew their trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands. (20)And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. (21)And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

Paul and Silas praised their way out of the prison cell and shackles!

Acts 16:24-26 (24)Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in their stocks. (25)And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (26)And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

I don't know what situation you may find yourself in today. You could be looking for a victory and all you feel is defeated. You may look around and feel outnumbered and helpless, but God in heaven is capable to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. (Ephesians 3:20). God is on our side. He always wins! He is giving victory to every one of His children. If you are born again, that means you are victorious through Christ Jesus. His blood paid it all!

If you are not born again, you can ask Jesus to save you. Confess you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. Confess that you believe Jesus is the Son of God and died to save you. Ask Him to be the Lord of your life and watch Him do the impossible for you! He is a loving God and He wants you to be His son or daughter. Choose life! Choose Jesus.

This Thankful Thursday I am very thankful for the victory we win in Jesus. I am thankful for the gift of prayer. I am thankful God hears and answers prayer. I am thankful my children do not have to be told to pray, but they see an opportunity and they take it! God is so good! I am thankful that my children choose to honor God. We do not always know if what we are teaching them sinks in, but it's moments like this that make me smile and I know it is all glory to God. He takes the credit for this!

I hope something I shared today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you.

~Bridgett Owens

The Truth About God | Fuel For The Weekend

Some people still believe there is more than one way to heaven. Some people believe in many gods. Some worship statues and idols. Even though the intricacies of nature, the miraculous human body, and the awesome wonder of the constellations shout His majesty, many people refuse to believe in the one true God.

There is no other religion that has ever existed that compares with God. He is love. He is light. He is pure. He is holy. He is righteous. He is perfect. He is just. He is merciful. No other religion can say that about the false gods they serve. What other religion has the God of all creation, so in love with His creation, that He pursues them relentlessly with His love and power and grace. He gives blessings to us daily and yet many do not even know Him.

PSALM 14:1-3 (1)The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (2)The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. (3)They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

It says the foolish person says there is no God. The people who make these claims have done detestable things. None of them do good. One may argue that not believing in God does not mean that they do not do good things. I argue that how could they even know what is good? God is good. He alone is good. We have a sinful nature. The core of who we are is sinful. Eve wanted to be like God so she ate the forbidden fruit and shared with her husband Adam. Together they violated God's law and sin became our nature. We were born and shaped in iniquity, which is sin.

PSALM 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

We are lost and undone without Jesus saving us. If we have not come to God the Father through His precious Son Jesus then we are not saved and we are not good and we can never be good enough. Jesus had to be our sin sacrifice because none of us were ever good enough. We could not even keep the law of God. Jesus fulfilled the law. He did not break the law. He did not do away with the law. Look what Jesus said in Matthew.

 MATTHEW 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

And then read His words in John.

JOHN 17:1-5 (1)These words spake Jesus, and lifted us His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: (2)As Thou has given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou has given Him. (3)And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. (4)I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do. (5)And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.

Jesus did everything God sent Him to the earth to do. He fulfilled the law. He loved, healed, forgave. He sacrificed His very life for the sin of the whole world. He says in verse five how that He had shared the glory with God, His Father before the world was. So, now the people on the earth, that was created by God, who say there is no God, have no idea what they are saying! God is Elohim. He is our Creator. He made everything and nothing was made without His design. He did it all. He is real. He alone is the true God.

God is not in competition with anyone. ISAIAH 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even My witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. God has no equals. He has no rivals. He alone is God. He is all powerful, all-knowing, omnipresent. He is everywhere all the time. There is no place where God is not.

JOSHUA 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

I am with Joshua. You can choose today whom you will serve. It can be a statue, a dead person, a false god, an idol, but my choice is to serve God and the risen Savior Jesus Christ. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. We do not need to stop and think about it. We do not need more evidence. We do not need to have a meeting. We serve God and we will serve Him until the day we die. He is all we need. He is all we want. He is our all in all.

In the book of Acts, after Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in prison, which was unlawful to do because Paul was a Roman, and they rocked the jail house with their praise and worship service. God set the captives free LITERALLY! The jailer was going to kill himself thinking all the prisoners escaped but there was not one who left. Let's read:

ACTS 16:29-31 (29)Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, (30)And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31)And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

It is that simple. Salvation is a gift from God but it is not truly free. It cost a lot more than we can ever imagine. Jesus paid the price of our salvation with His blood. We will never know what that felt like. We will never know what He endured because of our sin, our unbelief, our disgrace. He paid it all. No one made Him. He laid His life down and He had the power to pick it back up again. He is the risen Savior. He did not just die and that's the end of it. He died and rose again so we can have eternal life. Choose life. Choose Jesus.

1 PETER 2:21-25 (21)For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: (22)Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: (23)Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: (24)Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (25)For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Father God, I pray for every single person reading this blog post today. LORD God, I know that You love us so much. You demonstrated Your love by giving us Jesus, Your only begotten Son. Jesus did not love His life to the death. He was obedient even to the cross and with His precious blood we are saved. We are made new in His death. We are born again. I pray for every person reading this today that they may know You and come to You through Jesus Christ. I pray that today would be their day of salvation. I pray for the ones who know and love You already. I pray You would strengthen them for their journey, and equip them unto every good work. I am confident that You who have begun a good work in us will continue until the day of Jesus Christ. I ask a special blessing for all my readers LORD God and pray that all would come to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. May something I have shared today be strength for their journey and light for their way. In the precious name of Jesus, amen!

God bless you! Have a wonderful weekend friends!

~Bridgett Owens

Guaranteed Success | Wednesday Bible Study

Today's Bible study topic is on trust. We may remember Gideon as a mighty man of valor. We may remember he was the head of the army that God used, only 300 men, to defeat a mighty army that waged war against them. We remember the triumph and the favor, but Gideon was not always a champion. When God called him from under an oak tree, Gideon was insecure and doubtful that God could ever use a man like him. We may not be able to understand what it looks like to have success and favor on our lives like Gideon, but can we relate to feeling like we are not smart enough, strong enough, or good enough to be used to do mighty things for God? I certainly can. I have battled insecurities for years, but God has been teaching me that I don't need to have confidence in myself and my abilities. I need to have confidence in God and what He can do through me. Let's read the text.

JUDGES 6:11-24 (11)And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. (12)And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valor. (13)And Gideon said unto Him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all His miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD has forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. (14)And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? (15)And he said unto Him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. (16)And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. (17)And he said unto Him, If now I have found grace in Thy sight, then shew me a sign that Thou talkest with me. (18)Depart not hence, I pray Thee, until I come unto Thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before Thee. And He said, I will tarry until thou come again. (19)And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto Him under the oak, and presented it. (20)And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. (21)Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. (22)And when Gideon perceived that He was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. (23)And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. (24)Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezerites.

The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. This chapter opens up telling us that the children of Israel were not concerned about God, but now that they are suffering the consequences of turning their back on God and they do not like it. Now they need Him! The Bible tells us in verse six of that same chapter that Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites. Because of their circumstances, they cried unto the LORD to deliver them from the bondage. 

The first thing we see in this passage is the angel of the LORD sits under an oak tree. He sees Gideon. He does not announce His presence with a trumpet or loud fanfare. He sits beneath the oak and observes Gideon hiding out by the wine press, trying not to be noticed by the enemy: the Midianites. He has a job to do, but he cannot do it in the open. He is hiding. 

The angel of the LORD appears to Gideon. Note the greeting Gideon gets. "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!" He was greeted in the way God saw him. Gideon had no medals, no shiny armor, no big following. God called him a mighty man of valor. The salutation is that "God is with you, Gideon." I am here to tell you that God is with you today, mighty man or woman of valor! It does not matter who you think you are, God is with you and with me. He calls us men and women of valor.

What is valor? It means to have great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle. Gideon did not feel like a brave man in the face of adversity. We may not feel brave either, but God called Joshua to be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might and He put the same call on Gideon and on you and me. (Joshua 1:9)

Gideon's jaw must have hit the ground! He no doubt turned and looked behind him. He couldn't believe that he was the one being addressed. He was no war hero. He was no one special. At least those are the lies the enemy planted in his mind.  And immediately insecurity rears its ugly head and makes him doubt. Friends, do not doubt your worth and potential inside of you. If you are a child of the Most High God you are a child of THEE CHAMPION and you have no other choice but to be victorious! It's in your bloodline!

God gives a declaration of power and truth to Gideon and he is so beat down by the enemy, so oppressed by his circumstances, he cannot receive it. He says the same thing many ask today when things get hard. "Where is God?" He says, "If God is really with us then why are we suffering?" Are you looking at your situation and your circumstances and asking, "Where is God in all of this? If God is with us why are we in this pandemic? If God is really with me then why am I sick? Why did he let my loved ones die?" Gideon said, "Our parents and grandparents told us that God performed miracles and freed us from slavery before when we were in Egypt. But now God has forsaken us and we are at the mercy of these awful Midianites."

Do you remember what God has done for you in the past? What about in January this year? What did God do for you in January? Can you look back and see God's hands all over your life and how He delivered you from addiction and bondage and slavery to sin? Maybe like Gideon you can see great in the rear-view mirror but when you look out the windshield of your life you don't see Him anywhere. You see the roadblocks, the dead-ends, the danger and the despair. God already answered this question when He greeted Gideon. He said, "The LORD is with thee." That is the same answer He is telling you and me today. God is with us!

God did not repeat that phrase to Gideon. He did not put His arm around Gideon's shoulder and tell him how important and special he was to Him. No, God gives him a job to do. He reveals Gideon's mission. We do not need a pep talk. We need to know what our assignment is. What are we here for? God tells Gideon to "go in your own strength and save Israel. Am I not sending you?" He is telling us the same thing. Use the strength and the energy you have and you will be successful in the thing I am calling you to do because I AM sending you! I AM is sending you and I AM is sending me. We have been told to go and do the thing that God has put in our hearts to do. What is He telling you to do?

Gideon did not grab his weapons of war and rush off to the battle. He did not stand a bit taller and throw his shoulders back, ready to face the Midian army. He did what you and I often do when we are asked to do something we don't think we can handle. He made excuses. He talked about his flaws and shortcomings. He asked God, "How can I save Israel? I am from a poor family and even in my family I am the weakest, the youngest, the least important person. Why would You choose me to do something so important? I will fail." Don't we do that too? Our first reaction is to check our toolbox and see if we have what it takes to do the job. When we see the toolbox is empty or full of things we don't see value in, we shrink back in fear. We tell God, the creator of heaven and earth, that He is wrong! He picked the wrong person. We have the audacity to argue with the King of kings and Lord of lords and tell His Majesty that He is asking the wrong person to do this job.

God is telling each of us to do something right now. It might be to talk with a friend or neighbor. Maybe it's to forgive someone who hurt us a long time ago and we are still hanging on to and nursing old wounds because we cannot forget. God might be asking us to use our skills and abilities to help someone else. Maybe it's to go on a mission trip, or give some money to an organization that desperately needs it. Maybe it's to help someone by writing a book, creating a video, starting a blog, doing the podcast, hosting a Zoom meeting. What is God telling you to do? Do not look at what you have and think you are inadequate. He told Gideon to go in his own strength and if he goes in obedience then God is going to give him the victory. It is guaranteed success. The same powerful promise is ours if we will just pick up the pen, dial the number, drive to the house, write the check, turn on the mic! God will guarantee us success. We will reach who He wants us to reach and we will not fail!

God responds to Gideon's list of Reasons I Cannot Do It by reminding Gideon that he is not alone. He promises him success. God said, "Surely I will go with you. I am not sending you alone. You are not doing this by yourself." He is telling us the same thing. "Go but do not think I am saying go alone!" God said, "Without question I am going with you!" Do you hear the heart of the Father in this? He wants to partner with us on a major undertaking to further His Kingdom on this earth. He says to us that He is going with us. We are not going to face this by ourselves.

He tells Gideon that he will defeat the massive army as if it were only one man, one opponent. God is telling us that the spirit of fear we face is our opponent and we are going to overcome fear because God did not give us that spirit. He gave us power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) We have everything we need to succeed. God just wants us to be willing and obedient.

Let's recap for just a moment. God came down to talk to Gideon and He manifests His presence to him. He declares who He sees Gideon as. He gives him a big task that Gideon would never have thought of doing. After listening to Gideon's fears and excuses of why God should find someone else to do the job, He encourages Gideon. He promises to be with him and to give him success. Now Gideon says to God, "Show me a sign You really are talking to me." He actually said that to God. He said in essence, "This is all too incredible for me to believe. Can You please show me a sign that this is really from You God? Can You please just give me proof that You are actually picking me?"

It's easy to pick on Gideon for doing that, but don't we have tendencies to do the same thing? Holy Spirit drops an idea into our heart and we think about it and we dream about it and it seems impossible and scary but exciting at the same time. Then we start asking God to prove that He really is the author of this big idea. When in reality we could never think it up for ourselves. So then Gideon tells God not to leave so he can give Him a gift and our Heavenly Father is so patient with His children that He says to Gideon, and to us, "I will wait."

Gideon comes back with some meat and unleavened bread and broth and takes it to God under the oak tree. God tells Gideon what to do and he immediately obeys. God tells Gideon to set the gifts on the rock. That is so important. When we are bringing our gifts we need to display them on the Rock - that is Jesus. We need to make sure our gifts are on that sure foundation! And when the LORD touched the gift with the staff in His hand, on the sure foundation of the Rock, the fire was ignited! Fire out of the rock! It consumed the gift. We need to make sure the Holy Ghost fire of God consumes our gift. We must do exactly what He tells us to do with our gift. If we drop the gift on the ground it is no good. If we forget the broth or spill it before we can pour it, we are missing the mark. We must carefully follow God's leading with our gifts and that will ignite His power within us and  consume us!

Now Gideon's supernatural eyes are open! He sees that it is God. And then instead of remembering this is the sign he asked for, fear grips his heart again. He thinks he will now die because he has seen an angel of the LORD face to face. But God has not come to kill Gideon. God has called him to do a mighty, valiant work for Him. In the love of our Heavenly Father, He says to Gideon, "Peace be unto you. Do not be afraid. You will not die." God gave Gideon peace and He gives us that peace, too. He is saying to us, "Do not be afraid. Here is My peace. I am giving it to you. You will not die. You will not fail. I am going to do big things through you!"

Gideon named the place Jehovah-shalom. Literally it means The LORD Is Peace. That is true, too. God is love. God is light. God is peace. I cry out to Jehovah-Shalom when I need peace and He has NEVER failed to give it to me. Friends, let's go back to where we first felt our inferiority, our anxiety, our fear, our failures. Let's go back to that awful place and let's rename it, THE LORD IS PEACE. Let's receive the gift of Jehovah-Shalom as He offers us His peace and quiets our fears. And instead of listing all our flaws, let's rename ourselves a mighty man or woman of valor. Declare today, "I have great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle!" Then suit up according to the Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20. God is with us. We will not fail. He is going with us. We will not go alone. We must go in our own strength and trust God to give us the victory because we know we cannot do it alone. We cannot succeed in our own strength, but when we have done all we know to do, we must stand and see God work!

I pray that something I have shared in this week's Bible study post today, has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

How To Be Sure We Heard From God | Fuel For The Weekend

God told me to share my faith on Fridays and call it Fuel For The Weekend. It's my desire that the posts I put up on Fridays will give you something to think about, ponder, consider, and reflect on throughout the weekend.

I would like to talk about how we can be sure we heard God even when others doubt. God has a plan for our lives. He tells us that repeatedly in the Scriptures. He has a plan for everyone's life, including His only begotten Son, Jesus. Often we think of Jesus as a little baby in a manger. We find it hard to believe that a great and merciful God would plan for Jesus to die the cruel death of crucifixion. If we think in the natural, we can understand someone questioning that. Jesus was more than a good man. He was God's own Son and so we cannot think logically, we have to think about God's plan supernaturally. The Bible is very clear on what God's plan was for Jesus. Let's look:

ISAIAH 9:6-7 (6)For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7)Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

MATTHEW 1:21 And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. 

ACTS 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

ACTS 5:30-32 (30)The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (31)Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (32)And we are His witnesses of those things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him. 

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-21 (20)Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead (behalf), be ye reconciled to God. (21)For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 

JOHN 1:1-4 (1)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2)The same was in the beginning with God. (3)All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. (4)In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

JOHN 3:16-17 (16)For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (17)For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through Him might be saved. 

JOHN 17:3-5 (3)And this is life eternal that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent. (4)I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do. (5)And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. 

REVELATION 22:1-7 (1)And He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (2)In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (3)And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: (4)And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. (5)And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (6)And He said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the Holy prophets sent His angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done. (7)Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of this book.

It is clear from today's reading that God's plan was to redeem fallen man by sending His pure and Holy Son Jesus to die for our sins. He has a place prepared for us and He is going to bring His people Home one day. Yes, the crucifixion was an unimaginable horrific sacrifice for you and for me, but it was needed. We would all be lost in sin and would be separated from God for all of eternity if Jesus didn't do that. All we have to do is believe that He did that. He did the very hard part.

The devil hates God and he hates God's people. He hates everyone! There is no love in him. He wants to confuse us of our purpose because he knows if he can get us distracted we can be tempted to go away from God's plan and step into his deception. Please understand it is important to know his tricks so we can be watching. He has no new tricks. He uses the "You sure?" tactic. He used it on Eve in the garden of Eden and he used it on Jesus in the wilderness. He still uses that tactic on us today because often it works. We get confused and discouraged and we give up. Let's look at what happened in Eden and again in the wilderness. We have to follow Jesus's example of how to handle the questions the devil plants in our minds.

GENESIS 2:16-17 (16)And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (17)But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 

GENESIS 3:1-6 (1)Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (2)And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (3)But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (4)And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5)For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (6)And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat. 

GENESIS 3:21-24 (21)Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (22)And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: (23)Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from when he was taken. (24)So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. 

MATTHEW 4:1-11 (1)Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (2)And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered. (3)And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (4)But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (5)Then the devil taketh Him up into the Holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple. (6)And saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. (7)Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (8)Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (9)And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. (10)Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. (11)Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him.

The devil questioned Eve in the garden. He twisted the words of God and asked if God really told her not to eat the fruit of any tree. God was very specific that they could eat of any tree in the garden as much as they desired except they could not eat of the tree in the middle of the garden. She listened to him and got confused and mixed up and then the deception began. He started to lure her in by promising she would have wisdom and be like God. He didn't mention that eating the fruit would be in disobedience to God which is sin which leads to death. He conveniently left that part out.

The devil questioned Jesus. He wanted to make Him question His identity. He kept saying "If you're really the Son of God..." He does the same thing to us. We are not exempt from this tactic. He wants to get in our minds and bind it up so we cannot think clearly. We forget what God told us as we listen to his lies and deceit we are tempted to stray from the path God put us on. We must not listen. Jesus fought the devil with the Word of God every single time. It is written. It is written. It is written. Do you hear the swish of the sword as He hit the devil again and again and again.

The devil will use people you care about to make you doubt. He will use your friends, your family, your pastor! He will use anyone he can to make you question if what you know you heard from God is really what God said. This happened to us when we were moving to Alabama. It sounded crazy to leave everything we knew and leave it behind. We left family and friends, a church we served faithfully in, and jobs we were promoted in. Our children left friends and family and schools. We went to a part of the country we never knew before. It was 16 months of God's plan unfolding before our eyes and He took us on a journey to change us. It's extraordinary what He did in that time frame. Yet, before we left we had people laughing at us, telling us we were crazy, that God doesn't talk to people anymore, and that we didn't hear God say that. They accused us of being irresponsible and selfish. Some even said they were praying against us that God would stop us from moving!

God will use people too. Even though we were fought hard, we knew God had told us to move, because it was definitely NOT our idea! God gave us great friends in the church and some of our family members who were encouraging, quick to pray for us and with us, and even blessed us financially and other ways to make the journey easier. I will never forget them and their kindness and I hold them dear in my heart.

We were questioned by some of those same people who didn't want us to go to Alabama when God lead us back to Indiana. He gave us a purpose of why we were to come back and what we must do. Just like the devil again tried to plant seeds of doubt in our mind through others who asked, "Are you sure you heard God? I thought God told you to go to Alabama. You better ask God what you did to deserve coming back here!" But God uses people, too, and He allowed us to have praying family and friends who were encouraging and kind and supportive; who gave us provision and prayers for the journey back and it was so amazing how much He has done for us since moving back, which was NOT our idea!

So now we know that God had a plan for His own Son, Jesus. We know He has a plan for us. We may even know some of the things God wants to do with our lives right now and maybe like Joseph we share those dreams and we are attacked. We are forsaken by our family and friends. They don't believe God talks to people anymore. They think you are a fanatic or have lost your mind. They question if you are sure you heard from God. So what can we do? How can we be sure we have heard from God?

There are those who desire to do something for God so much that they get ahead of His timing and His plan and then disaster happens! Then they question if God ever told them to do anything. The devil is quick to pour seeds of doubt and confusion into our minds and before long we give up and quit doing anything for God. Please know that there is a perfect time and season for everything. We must wait for God's direction.

We can be sure we heard from God when we read what the Bible says is God's plans and thoughts for us. We pray and ask God to show us what He wants us to do. Then we get quiet as we listen for His voice, read His Word, and obey what we have been told.

God doesn't want us left in the dark, wondering aimlessly through life with no sense of direction. We can find out God's plans and thoughts concerning us by searching the Scriptures.

PSALMS 139:17-18 (17)How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (18)If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee.

JEREMIAH 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

When we pray to Him, He hears and answers us. He wants to talk to His children. He enjoys hearing from us and He has a lot to say to us, too. Prayer is powerful because it prevents us from being tempted by the enemy. We are to lift our hands in sweet surrender to our Lord and Savior. We have to let go of anger and doubt because it does not please God. Sometimes we have to wait when we pray but we know He listens and hears our prayers.

JEREMIAH 29:12-13 (12)Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. (13)And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.

LUKE 22:46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

1 TIMOTHY 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up Holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

PSALMS 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 

Let's ask God what He wants to do in us and through us. If we need wisdom, all we have to do is ask the giver of wisdom and He will generously give it to us. When we ask, we must have faith and not doubt because we won't get anything from God if we do not trust He will provide. We need to ask Him to check our hearts and motives. Are we lining up our will with God's or are we asking Him to change His plans for us and follow where we lead? It is best to surrender to His will and His plan because He sees the end from the beginning. He wants to bless us and give us good things. He is a wonderful Father and He only wants to give His best to His children. Have we poured His Word into our hearts? Does His Word abide within us? Are we abiding in the True Vine? Are we seeking God's approval, or are we wanting His permission to do our own will? We can ask what we want from God and will get it when we have God's Holy Word in our hearts and allow it to guide our decisions.

JAMES 1:5-7 (5)If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6)But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (7)For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

PSALMS 139:23-24 (23)Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (24)And see if there by any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

MATTHEW 7:7-11 (7)Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (8)For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and he that knocketh it shall be opened. (9)Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? (10)Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (11)If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

JOHN 15:7 If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

We must listen for God to answer us. Do not believe the lie that God does not talk to His people anymore. Of course He does! He does not change. He communicates with His children and He is our good Shepherd. We know His voice and another we will not follow. He tells us to call upon His name and He will answer us. It is very plain to see that He wants to tell us things, answer our questions, and give us insight for the plans He has for our lives.

ISAIAH 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

JEREMIAH 33:3 Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

In the book of Ephesians we are told that our spiritual sword is the Word of God. If we want to sharpen our swords, we must study God's Word. We cannot let someone else read it for us, or tell us what it says, because they could get it wrong. We need to study ourselves and learn and grow in the Spirit by feasting on God's Word. We cannot survive on natural food in the Spiritual realm. We must feed our Spirit God's Word. Open the book and devour it yourself. It is so good!

JOHN 8:31-32 (31)Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; (32)And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

2 TIMOTHY 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

MATTHEW 4:4 But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

JOSHUA 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 

We can be sure we heard from God when we recognize He has a plan for our lives. He thinks about us and plans things, experiences, and opportunities to help us grow and mature into the man or woman of God He designed us to be. And once we recognize that He has enabled us with gifts and talents that align with His purpose and plan for us, we can then pray and ask God to help us use those gifts in a way to honor Him. It isn't about getting the accolades and the high-fives of this world. We must look to God for His approval. When we become still we can hear His voice, as we remember what His Word says, and we start behaving in a way to obey Him, we will be blessed and walk in the fullness of our purpose.

ROMANS 12:1-2 (1)I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2)And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

PROVERBS 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

JAMES 1:22-25 (22)But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (23)For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24)For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25)But who looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Don't listen to anyone tell you that God has stopped talking to His people. It is a shame more of us are not seeking Him and listening for His still, small voice. As we put these things into daily practice we can be sure we heard God's voice and no one can tell us otherwise. No well-meaning friend or family member, no doubting spouse or significant other; and definitely not our enemy can discourage us from following after God if we remain faithful to our King Jesus. I pray that you are encouraged and strengthened as you seek out His purpose for your life. Trust and believe He has big and exciting plans for you and He wants to tell you about it!

I know this was a lot to unpack. I hope it is something you can take the time to study more on your own over the weekend. Take your time looking up these verses and others as Holy Spirit leads you. Do not get discouraged. You can know for sure that Your Heavenly Father is speaking life over you and to you! God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens