Don't close your eyes!

Savannah, my daughter, always sends keen messages to me. Messages that remind me I am a daughter of God.

The other afternoon she and I were at our new church. It was after a luncheon given to those that are new to the congregation. She grabbed my hand, and said, "Mom, I have a surprise. Close your eyes and hold my hand." I instantly replied, "I can't close my eyes or I might trip!" She said back to me, "I will hold on to you." She then led me into another room, had me open my eyes and then pointed to a baby crawling in the foyer. She said, "See. Look!"

It was the cutest thing. Of course Savannah loves babies. Who doesn't. But the message that hit me here was when I said, "I can't close my eyes or I might trip!"

This is so true! I have been battling many spiritual warfare and even slipped some away from the Gospel because I have been shutting my eyes rather than keeping them open where I can remain in a cautious state of mind.

But Savannah's second message occurred to me...that even though my eyes were shut, Christ still held my hand all the way through. Leading me and making sure I didn't fall!

I thank my Heavenly Father for the gift of His son and the Holy Spirit for always being near and reminding me of the Gospel so that when I don't "feel" near I remember my faith and am given a renewed hope to continue forward.

John 14:17 (Amplified Bible)
"The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you."

John 14:26 (Amplified Bible)
"But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."

Another message that has struck me well this week after my Bible reading is of how can I expect God to remain near me when I am not near Him?

James 4:8 (New Living Translation)
"Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."

Thank you Lord for your word and your guidance through Christ and your Holy spirit! I pray I will remain obedient and thirsty for your life and love. May the enemy have no power over me!

Sunday

I woke up this morning feeling empty. I reminded myself that I need to take time out to "commune" or fellowship with God. With our upcoming move and all the details and preparations there are to do I have been so busy concentrating on daily tasks that I have put aside my daily time with the Lord. So before I arose from bed this morning, I said a little prayer asking God to enter my mind, spirit, and heart before the day truly starts.

It used to be that Sunday was just another day off and I did what I wanted with no thought at all to the Lord - the enemy always made it enticing to do so too, yet I never realized this until now. When I was a child I looked forward to it to spend time together with my family doing "Sunday" things. Even though we went to church there wasn't much impression on me about anything I heard or learned there. What I loved was being together afterward eating a Sunday dinner, taking a drive, or playing board games and watching television. But now things are different. You know what I love about Sundays now? All the troubles are forgotten and I find I spend my day focusing on God more than any other day of the week!

Today is Communion Sunday - I am focusing on Jesus Christ dying on the cross for us so that our sins could be forgiven and that we may have life. I never understood this before but as I continue my walk with God my testimony of His Gospel is increasing in me and I am finding that I am getting richer and richer in not only coming to know who Jesus is, but coming to love Him.

Yes, I am getting to the point in my relationship with God that I have not been in before! Before my newfound walk and love with God I wasn't really sure about who Jesus was and why He was so important. I knew of Him, I knew He had a big part in why I even knew God in the first place, but yet I didn't have a personal relationship with Him. Until now. I recently read the book of John for the first time in my life and I had no idea I would get to know Jesus on such a very personal level.

I want to thank the Lord for His gracious abundance of blessings and love for not only me but for all of us! I want to thank Him for sending His only son to us and giving us this precious gift of life! I praise the Lord God for beckoning to me so long ago and being patient waiting for me to respond and now that I have he has given me ears to hear His voice and eyes to see His work so that I may know it in order that I will recognize Him and continually seek Him. I am so grateful to be a child of God!