Happy Thanksgiving 

 As Americans we have rich history of godly leaders who founded our nation with truth and faith. We can never forget our roots! Please take time to read some of the Thanksgiving proclamations from our presidents past. I cant wait to shake President Lincoln’s hand in heaven and thank him for all he did for our country. His proclamation is just as true today as it was then, do you see the similarities? We need a President Lincoln for our generation!

Here is an amazing article of what the true meaning of Thanksgiving is for Americans.

https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2015/11/the-true-meaning-of-thanksgiving

Washington, D.C. October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State 

IMPACT 

What impact can we make in the lives of others?

By spending time with Papa God His fragrance mixed with a heart of love and obedience will impact more unintentionally than intentional actions done without the presence and love of God.

Blow on the dreams of others

There is nothing that compares to watching a friend who had no confidence in them-self, after encouragement, blossom and product fruit in the areas of their life where they didn’t think they could ever do it. That is pure joy!

Come follow us on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Live-Life-Out-Loud-For-God/1415537198746593

“Blowing on the dreams of others leads to inconceivable joy as you watch them step into the reality of their fulfillment.” – Rachelle Layzell

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The most ignored commandment

Check out this interesting article.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/most-ignored-commandment

This article is good, EXCEPT, for the flawed ideology that “God walks out once a week to meet with us”.
It is this mindset alone that is the foundation of a “pew sitter Christian”, verses a child of God who knows their Papa God intimately because of their constant daily connection and interaction. This article definitely brings to light the lack of desire people have of meeting together corporately, which is one of the most encouraging things I get to do all week. “Just one of us can put a thousand to flight, but two of us can send legions fleeing” its not only about fulfilling our “duty” of a commandant. In the New Testament laws are written on our hearts. It is taking a legalistic rule and transforming it into a desire of the heart. David said in Psalms, “obedience is better than sacrifice”. The Lord looks at the heart. He wants relationship with us, not just rules. But if you have an extended family who you love to be with, would you rather, know they are out there living or come together for a feast and party? That is what church is like when you are apart of the one God calls you to. Sabbath is to many just going to church. If this is your mindset, than we need to see that God wants to dwell with us every second of every day. Church is the time we gather all we have received from God during the week and thank Him corporately, worshipping Him giving Him praise for all He has done and all He is doing. We enter into times of intercession for others and our world. We train our children in the ways of the Lord and provide time for them to learn how to walk in their spiritual gifts.

For the medical side, sure rest is important. But it is not the most important reason. People in other parts of the country walk for miles to get to their gathering times. The church/ Christians in the West & Europe are going to face a wake-up call very soon which will prove where their loyalty lies. I only pray they understand the importance of developing an intimate relationship with the creator so they know how to lean on him when times get hard. It’s possible we could soon be in a place where we do not have the freedom anymore to worship as we choose.

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God Said it- I Believe it – That Settles It

My life is held together by God’s promises. There have been so many times in my life where God has spoken so clearly. In those times, I have to make sure I listen because I know I will have a decision to make. I can either take the word or promise He gives me and throw it over my shoulder, or I can stand on His word and believe it with all my heart. So often when I am faced with challenges, I revert back to His words and hold them up to God with Isaiah 55:10-11 in my mind and say, ” God YOU SAID….”. As I do this, a sense of determination comes over me to hold on to His word and promises like it is oxygen.

What do you think God’s response is?? I believe it is pride in His daughter standing on His word and realizing she is going to make it. He showers down strength, love, hope and peace. I am then energized and refocused on the solution and the answer to what I am crying out for. When we stand in a place of prayer declaring what God is already in the process of doing, we are pulling our future into our present. We don’t have to see the tangible answer in front of us, we need to see the promise God has made and hold Him to HIS word that what He has said He will do. As we align our hope to our faith it propels us into our destiny faster than if we just sit and wait for it to happen.

My husband spoke to the Fathers on Father’s Day last year at Destiny Christian Fellowship. It was a powerful word talking about us having to give God something for Him to work with. Here is the link to his message: We are made in His Awesome Image.
https://pogoplug.com/s/n4mxBv6wRjA/

I know without a doubt that my husband and I would not be in the place we are in, especially with a growing and thriving business if we did not take a hold of God’s promises and declare them in the hard times. We give Him all the glory for the things He has done, what He is doing and what He will do!!

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Sometimes it is easier to see the “Son” through the fog

Have you ever looked at the sun through the fog and can actually see the shape of it. When most times the brightness of the sun would blind us as we look at it in a clear day, the shape of the sun is revealed clearly on a foggy day. This morning I begin to realize how the foggy times in our lives cause us to look to the Son, And we see him more clearly than we do on the good days.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

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The word of God never comes alive more than when there is fog in your life. It is like every verse you have read your whole life has new meaning and jumps off of the page. Those moments where a verse seems highlighted in the Bible is not a coincidence, that is the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Many people think they do not hear the voice of God, but I can guarantee you, if you are one who finds yourself drawn to certain verses in the Bible, you hear God’s voice more than you think.

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Instead of burring your head in the sand in hard times, Look up to receive the love of the Father like you have never known before. He will never leave you or forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5-6 God has said,‘ Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence,‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.What can mere mortals do to me?’

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PARENTS: YOU are a Worship Leader

worship with your kids

There is nothing like the sweet presence of Jesus filling our home as we worship! I just sat down at the piano which I dont do very often, and began playing from my heart a few songs that flowed right into each other. This morning I have been singing I Surrender All. So I started with that, then a song God gave me in High School. Next I exalt Thee and I love you Lord. When I was done I looked and David was curled in a ball crying saying that was the most amazing thing I have felt and heard. I told his it was the presence of Jesus. That when our worship goes up to him, He comes down and spends time with us. We dont even have to sing any words, he knows our hearts.

Elicia was crying on the couch in the other room because she was sad about her missing kitty. She said when she heard the music she felt peace and stopped crying. 

 Oh, Jesus we love You and Your presence. Take over our lives, let our children experience the outpouring of your presence and the filling of your Spirit. Take control and consume us with only you. ‼️

 

His Mercies are NEW every morning

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:22-26

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What does that verse mean to you? To me it means that every day the past is wiped away and I get a new chance at living and receiving an abundant measure of God’s grace.

The understanding of Lamentations 3:22-26 FIRST has to be coupled with Romans 12, where it talks about transforming your mind. I talked about this in a previous blog “The Mind Of Christ: Thinking about Thinking)
(https://livelifeoutloudforgod.com/2014/09/25/the-mind-of-christ-thinking-about-thinking/)

If we do not purpose to have our mind renewed by the washing of the word of God, by focusing our thoughts on God and who HE is, there’s NO WAY that we are going to receive the fullness of the “New Mercies” that are promised to us every day. We will end up thinking about the past and the struggles we have gone through along with the things that maybe tormenting us in the present. God is faithful and He will never leave us, but it is very hard to feel His Love and Grace when we are only focused on all the bad in our lives.

Today, allow God to bring you new mercy, grace, strength and comfort. His word is true…..”For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord.

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Where does my help come from?

There are times in life when nothing makes sense. Times when you are so desperate the only place to turn is God and His Word.

Then you see the stupidity and depravity of humanity…..Just today I saw a news article where two parents gave their kid dope in its bottle just to watch its reactions. Tragically the baby died. Or when you hear about a child being molested by their own family member. God have mercy on that child and the family that was destroyed because of erroneous actions. Or to the person who is falsely accused for something that never happened and now sits in prison with no hope in sight.

BUT GOD!!! I have to believe that despite all that we don’t understand, God is good. His character never changes. He is a God of Purity, Truth, Justice, Peace and Love. I believe in the infallible God breathed Word of God, the Holy Bible. However, there are so many scriptures when we are walking through a deep valley that are very hard to understand.

God is timeless. He always was and always will be. When we read the Word we have to keep in mind that it was written for us in the perspective of our whole life. When you read through Psalms 121, when you are hurt, you might say “this didn’t work for me”. BUT again, God said His “Word wont return void, it accomplishes what it sets out to do. ”

That is where faith and trust comes in. We need to hold on to the character of God. Hold on to the fact when he said, “He will never leave us or forsake us.” That he will. He can not lie. It is impossible.

If you are walking through a dark valley, know that “He who began a good work in you WILL complete it.” He will give you a “peace that surpasses all your understanding and will guard your heart and mind”. We don’t have to understand why, we just need to know where to get a hug and receive the only hope that will last for eternity.

Weeping may last for a night BUT Joy comes in the morning. Hang on, find people to pray and support you. Nothing compares to finding a solid church family you can trust.

You don’t have to walk through this alone!!

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