The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is the coming together of all people of faith to unite with purpose, compassion and hope. Through the power of God’s love we will educate every American about HIV [...]]]> We Believe in the Power of Prayer and Education!!

The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is the coming together of all people of faith to unite with purpose, compassion and hope. Through the power of God’s love we will educate every American about HIV prevention facts; encourage and support HIV testing; advocate for the availability of compassionate care and treatment for all those living with the disease in every community in America; and love unconditionally all persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

We stop for a moment and take stock of where we are in relation to [...]]]> So Lent has begun. We have embarked upon our 40 day journey with God. A Spiritual walk in which we set aside those things that encumber us and entangle us and exchange them for those things that empower and enhance us.

We stop for a moment and take stock of where we are in relation to where we want to be. We look at ourselves, not in comparison to anyone else, but in comparison to the best self we want to be. We make an honest assessment of our personal inventory: what habits we are proud of, what positive qualities we possess, and what areas need improvement. We acknowledge our weaknesses, our shortcomings, and we commit to making a change. We decide that this is the moment for us to eliminate and to eradicate them once and for all.

As we take a look within us, we take stock of some of the old worn-out beliefs, ideas, and thoughts that have been hampering our overall happiness and well-being. We notice that there are some habits, thoughts, words, and actions that just don’t suit us anymore. They don’t match up with the highest Spiritual part of us that we know God wants us to be. And we come to the conclusion that in order to feel best about ourselves, we must become, and consistently be, our best selves.

We also realize that some, if not all, areas for personal change are going to take drastic, if not miraculous effort. And we begin to understand that all real, permanent, and positive change has to truly take place within our heart, and then our mind.  The easiest, and perhaps the only way to be assured that actual permanent change will occur, is to sincerely seek God’s help. Peter found that out when he asked Jesus,”Then who in the world can be saved?” and Jesus replied, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

So after we make the decision to change, to grow, to evolve, we elicit God’s help. We know that if we’ve tried and failed in the past to make the necessary changes to our character, then it’s very likely that we’re not going to be any more productive at it now. So we then surrender our own compulsion to do it on our own, we admit that of ourselves we can do nothing, that we need the Creator of the Universe to step in and take control. We relinquish our need to fix ourselves, and we release our grip on the fix-me tools.

Just as a doctor can’t perform surgery on his/her own heart, neither should we attempt to do so. And, that’s perfectly okay. It doesn’t make us any less of a person to know that we need help from outside of us. And considering God is so able and willing to give it, why not take it and make it easier on yourself in the process?

So the next step is to sit still in the presence of God. To say to God that we want to be changed at our core, within our innermost being, at the very heart of us. For whatever reason that our heart has been dumped on, or whatever has been accumulated there over the years, it now can be  cleansed, renewed, refreshed. Now is the time for us to let God take hold of it, to take it into His gentle Hands, and to dust off all the small and large particles of  hurt, pain, distress, disappointment, remorse, guilt, resentment, shame, sorrow, criticism, blame, judgment, lack of forgiveness, and any other negative feelings.

We pray and ask God to create in us a whole new, fresh, vibrant, totally clean heart. We pray for a fresh start, a new beginning. We, like David, who acknowledged his human failings, also acknowledge that in order to be our divine self, we must call upon the Divine to make our heart anew. David was known as “a man after God’s own heart”–meaning that David wanted a heart like God’s. A heart that loved everyone, including himself. So when we want the same thing, we also pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 NLT)

It is time for us, over the next 40 days, to “clean house.” To go through every room within us and search out all the old, dusty, worn-out, useless thoughts, feelings, beliefs, ideas, and unnecessary junk that too often fills our mind and time. It’s time to clear out those things that no longer serve us or enhance us. It’s time to make our heart and mind spic and span. For it to be open, empty, and ready for new, refreshing, inspiring,  and bright hopes, dreams, and realities to step in. It’s time to invite the cleaning crew in and to watch the transformation take place.  So much can  change in such a short time, when the Master Cleaner steps in! It won’t take long, just 40 days or so.

2.       Dear God: I have a problem. Sometimes, it’s me.

3.       Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

4.       There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

5.       Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

6.       Do [...]]]> 1.       God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

2.       Dear God: I have a problem. Sometimes, it’s me.

3.       Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

4.       There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

5.       Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

6.       Do the math: Count your blessings.

7.       Faith is the ability to not panic.

8.       Laugh every day, it’s like inner jogging.

9.       If we worry, we probably didn’t pray. If we pray, we probably don’t worry.

10.     As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.

11.     God does not promise a comfortable journey, only a safe landing.

12.     When we get tangled up in our problems, be still so God can untangle the knots for us.

13.     We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.

14.     Temptation will give you many second chances; opportunities won’t always do that.

15.     It’s Good to be a Christian and know it, but it’s better to be a Christian and show it!

When we look up into the heavens, especially on dark, starlit night, and see all the stars in the [...]]]> God is so big, vast, broad, and so huge that words could not describe all that is encompassed within Him and His Kingdom. The power, the majesty, and the magnificence of God is too much to comprehend.

When we look up into the heavens, especially on dark, starlit night, and see all the stars in the sky, we get just a small glimpse of just how big and great our God is. When we consider the universe, the many galaxies that we will never explore personally, we get a slim idea of just how expansive God’s world is.

Yet, that is still nothing compared to how high, how long, how deep, how wide God’s love is! It is nothing compared to the depths of the deepest valley to which God would go to reach  any one of us in our time of need. It is nothing compared to how far God would go to find one lost person, to lift one person up from underneath the heaviest load of care, to carry one person up out of the pit of despair. It is nothing compared to how hight we can climb, how far we can go, how much we can see upon God’s shoulders as he carries us above all of life’s circumstances. It is nothing to how far God would go to prove His love for us. He is willing to sacrifice everything to save even one soul.

It’s good to know how far God has cast away our mistakes, weaknesses, our faults, our failings, our shortcomings, our sins. It wonderful to know that as far as the east stretches out to the west, the earth stretches out to the heavens, that is how far God has stretched out His arms of love to us all.

To know that the God who made heaven and earth, who holds the stars in the sky, who tells the oceans how far to touch the shore, who keeps the universe in perfect order, also keeps us in the palm of His Hand. How safe and secure we can all feel knowing that the God who made order out of chaos in the universe, can also make order out of the chaos of our lives and our world.

How peaceful we can all be, knowing that even when we, and everything we see or hear around our world, seems out of control, God is still in control. And, if we’ll surrender our will to God, give Him control over our lives, and admit that we cannot control anything anyway, and we trust God to do for us what we cannot do, what peace of mind we can have!

God has so many names by which we call Him, because God is so many things to us and for us. Whatever we are looking for, or need, God provides. No person, place or thing can encompass all that God can or is. God is so big to the Jewish people that they spell God “G-d” because the hyphen contains so much that God is, and the letter “o” would just limit God too much!

When we realize that whatever we need or want we can find in God, then we can never fear going without anything. We can find that all we need is available to us, 24-7, 365 days a year!

So here are the Names of God that not only describe His character, but all I hope you will know that G-d can be for you:

Jehovah: I AM Who I AM

Jehovah Shalom: My Peace

Jehovah Rapha: My Healer

Jehovah Melech: My Sanctifier

Jehovah Shammah: My Sustainer

Jehovah Rohi: My Shepherd

Jehovah Jirah: My Provider

Jehovah Seli: My Rock

Jehovah Nissi: My Victory

Jehovah Yeshua: My Savior

Jehovah Barra: My Creator

Jehovah Magen: My Shield

Jehovah Ori: My Light

Jehovah Kabodhi: My Glory

Jehovah Izoz Hakaboth: My Strength

Jehovah Palet: My Deliverer

Jehovah Gaol: My Redeemer

Jehovah Melekh: My King

Jehovah Tsidkenu: My Righteousness

Jehovah Emmanuel: God with us

El: Mighty, Strong, Prominent

El-Shaddai: All Sufficient

El-Elyon: Most High

El-Kadosh: Holy One

El- Olam: Everlasting God

El-Gibhor: Mighty God

El-Berith: God of the Covenant

El-Sophia: God is Wisdom

JESUS: Derived from the Hebrew “Joshua” (Y’shua) or “Je-Hoshua” meaning JEHOVAH IS SALVATION.

CHRIST: is equivalent to the Hebrew ‘Messiah’ (Meshiach), “The Anointed One.”

Other New Testament Titles for Jesus: Shepherd of the Sheep; Master; King of kings; Lord of lords; Bishop and Guardian of our Souls; Daystar, Deliverer, Advocate, Last (or Second) Adam, Ancient of Days, Branch, Chief Cornerstone, Immanuel, First Born, Head of the Body, Physician, Rock, Root of Jesse, Stone, Potentate; Chief Apostle; Great High Priest; Pioneer and Perfecter of our Faith (or Author and Finisher); Lamb of God; Lamb Slain before the Foundation of the World; Lord God Almighty.

Names for the Holy Spirit: Counselor; Comforter; Baptizer; Advocate; Strengthener; Sanctifier; Spirit of Christ (not the same as the spirit of Christ); Seven-Fold Spirit (Rev.); Spirit of Truth; Spirit of Grace; Spirit of Mercy; Spirit of God; Spirit of Holiness; Spirit of Life.

Symbolized in OT and NT by (l) breath or wind; (2) fire; (3) water; (4) oil; (5) light; (6) a dove.

ALPHA AND OMEGA: The First and the Last, The Beginning and The End

Enough said!

In times of trouble, I need not despair, because I have my God with me, to protect me, to help [...]]]> I put my faith, trust and life in Him, in His Hands. No one, nothing can harm me there. I am at peace, peace of mind and heart. I am safe, secure, knowing all is well.

In times of trouble, I need not despair, because I have my God with me, to protect me, to help me. Before I even call on Him, as my heart and soul cry out, God is there. How safe and secure I am and feel, always knowing I am always in His Presence and care.

God never leaves me. I am never alone. I always have Him beside me, within me, guiding me , loving me. My God, my Shepherd, my Care-taker and Care-giver is always with me, always there for me, to meet my every need.

I am at peace. I am secure. I have the power to do all things through Him who gives me the strength I need to accomplish all I need to do. How wonderful to know that my God will never leave me, will never abandon me, will always be there for me, and, above all, will always love, forgive,  and accept me, no matter what!

What a true friend I have in Jesus! How I love Him! How I thank God for His unconditional, permanent, and eternal love!