a good word.

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Happy Thursday! I'm a week late in sharing this post but not really because God's word is relevant ALWAYS! This past Friday I received a text from a friend in Nashville, TN. She faithfully sends me a verse a day and I do the same. At exactly an hour later, another friend in Miami, FL shoots me a text with a verse carrying the same promise and truth. I was overwhelmed with much needed peace and joy. The Lord is perfect in His reaching out to us... always timely! I pray that they are perfect in reaching you. 

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:5, 7

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit: to put in trust or charge; 

entrust; to put into place to be kept safe or be disposed of. 

"and peace I give as a gift"

Are you in need of peace? Peace of mind? Peace of heart? 

Perfect peace which surpasses all understanding is made available to us because the Father longs to give it freely to us, through the Word which is Christ, and produced by the power and work of the Holy Spirit. No positive thinking will ever produce perfect peace. No yoga, meditation, or getaway can give it to us. No messenger of God can fully produce that which only God can do. For any and every situation the Bible is our peace maker, so let's stop seeking our own solutions and go to the source of peace: 

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:8

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Psalm 9:9-10

The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11

Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. Psalm 119:165

People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace. Proverbs 10:10

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones. Proverbs 14:30

Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict. Proverbs 17:1

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. Psalm 16:33

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:33 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:6-8

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 
He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.  
He renews my strength. 
He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.  
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.
Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. 
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.  
Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

Go on, do a word search on peace and be filled. 

Sentence Tuesday

The truth you store up in silence comes back to you in the storm, and it lifts you away as on a life raft from the fears and disappointments that would otherwise pull you under. When you abide in His Word, He abides in you. -Christine Caine, Undaunted.

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in the battlefield

Miami, Wedensaday 7:30pm

Hello Lovelies. A very quick post, on the go to share an update and a word of encouragement.
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Two weeks ago from today, my Mother felt a throbbing pain that circulated her right eye, ear and nose. Thinking it to be sinus tension she took meds and to no success. Four days later she was in the hospital and diagnosed with an acute glaucoma attack which caused her to lose her sight. Last Tuesday she arrived to Miami from Dominican Republic and we took her immediately to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Since then she has undergone 4 laser procedures, 1 eye injection, 2 eye drops every four hours, 1 every hour, 1 before bed and medication. Yesterday she was told that the only option left is surgery. A physical exam was done and preparations for Tomorrow's surgery are on its way.
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Unexpected, unprepared and unbelievable are words that can describe this trial. But the Lord has been so faithful, loving and present. He has sustained us through the prayers and care of the Christian brothers and sisters in our lives. His Word has become and beacon of hope and an anchor for our faith. And so it is my duty to pass on to you, as you are found in the battlefield of a fiery trial, the encouragement that has been poured on us through His Words.
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The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:14
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Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now. Joshua 23:8
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Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. Joshua 21:45
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Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 
Psalm 61:2
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The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
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Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
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But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:10

His banner, my banner

Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi 

(which means “the LORD is my banner”). Exodus 17:15 

I received Teacups Full of Treasures by Mary Grace Birkhead as a gift. This tiny little book contains 30 names of God from both the Old and New Testaments. I am taking in each name rather slowly. Every Monday for the past three weeks I have read only one name and for the following 6 days I studied other scriptures that mention that specific name. Jehovah-Nissi is this week's name.
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 I looked up Exodus 17:15 and this is what my study bible commented: This banner was a battle flag. In Isaiah 5:26, God lifted up a banner to call the nations to war against Israel. In Isaiah 11:10,12 the Messiah would be the banner calling the nations to bring His people home. 
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This immediately painted a picture for me. During my trip to Italy I saw many tour groups. There were groups with matching shirts, others wore matching caps or lanyards with the group's name. The tour guide either carried a flag or a sign. If the guide moved, he or she would wave their flag or sign in the air. Members of their group could easily recognize where their guide was and followed them in the right direction. This is our God. He raises His banner, guiding us in the best pathway.
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Upon our arrival at Tel Aviv Ariport we were to be picked up by a gentleman whom none of us knew. Imagine searching an entire airport for a man you did not know but was your only way out. All we were told was that he had a sign with the name of our team leader. The search became easier. We soon found him because of the sign, a sort of banner. This too is our God, Jehovah-Nissi. He holds a banner with His name, ending the search of our hearts for deliverance and acceptance.
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If you are far from God or have wandered away, call to Him and He will raise His banner high and He will guide you to the right path. In the midst of the battle you are in, He is your mighty warrior and His banner will lead you through the battle and victoriously out. 
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Psalm 60:4 You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. 
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Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 

sentence tuesday

No teaching can replace the inward power of the Holy Spirit.

-Jim Cymbala

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