Blessed Is She

"And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord." (Luke 1:45)

Are you a woman who BELIEVES God? You have a promise that God will come through. God calls you blessed!

"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." (Isa. 43:10)

What promises has God given you in the past? God has given us "exceeding great and precious promises." (II Pet. 1:4) Have you kept track of these promises? Do you mark them in your Bible or keep a spiritual journal of how God speaks to you?

It is a wonderful blessing when you look back and see the promises that God has fulfilled! A few years ago I read a book called God Can Make It Happen by Russ Johnston. He illustrated a prayer list idea of which I had never heard: Keep track of specific prayer requests—even seemingly insignificant things—you are bringing to God, along with the date you began praying for it. Johnston suggests a three-month prayer list: put a date heading to your list and review it every three months; then make a new list. When you review it, go through and highlight or circle in red ink all the requests that God has answered.

It is quite amazing to look back and see how God has worked in your life over a three-month period! So many answers to prayer we take for granted, merely because we forgot that we ever asked God for them!

How much more of a promise could a woman want than "...there shall be a performance of those things..."?!

A few years ago, I entered a crisis in my life that I never dreamed I would face. The bottom fell out of my world, and I felt very forsaken and grieved in spirit. I was a youthful wife who was refused, just as Israel was when God spoke to her as a nation in Isaiah 54:6.

At that time, God gave me Isaiah chapter 54 as a promise of what He had in store for me. In verse four, He promised me that I would not be ashamed, that I would forget the shame of my youth, and would "not remember the reproach of [my] widowhood anymore."

It is thrilling to look back through my journals and see just how God has come through with that promise! It is exciting to look at my life and see how God has fulfilled His promises to me, just as He promised me in verse one that I, the barren woman, would sing because I would have more children as a woman who never had any children of her own than the "married wife" would have.

How I thank God that His Holy Spirit enabled me to BELIEVE Him! I claimed those precious promises, and now I am blessed with many spiritual blessings, as well as a wonderful husband, three children, and a grandbaby. God did not give them to me the way that I would have planned, but the further along I get in life, I realize that His way was the best way. I notice just how He has worked "all things together for good" (Rom. 8:28).

Is God asking YOU to BELIEVE Him?

Our blue-eyed beauty at almost 5 months!

Grandbaby Kyla Nichole doesn't stop growing!

Cutest pootie lip ever!

My grandbaby, Kyla Nichole.

Be Still

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)

After you read your Scripture for the day, take some time to sit quietly and just listen for God's voice... not an audible one... He speaks in your heart.

Psalm 46:10 tells us to "Be still and know that I am God."

Have you spent time being still lately? Take some time to bask in His presence... there is pure joy and such pleasure! Such that you can find nowhere else! Not even your husband can bring you such joy and pleasure as your Lord can! This is not to put down your man; it is to encourage him! He does not have to hold you up emotionally; it's not his job.

If you just spend time sitting in God's presence, the benefit will be yours--and the experiences are out of this world!

Rejoice, Daughter of the King!

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

Think of how carefully a bride and her groom dress themselves on their wedding day! How excited they are! How much delight they take in making themselves ready for one another! This verse says that in this same way God HAS ALREADY clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness!

He did it carefully. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" (Colossians 2:10).

He took delight in doing it! Psalm 18:19 says, "He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me."

He has done this for me so I can be viewed as righteous as Jesus! "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross... you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" (Colossians 1:20-22).

It makes me rejoice! It thrills me and brings me such joy in Him! Why? "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)

Rejoice, Daughter of the King! You have a reason!

Things I'm Learning

Here's the most beautiful baby in the world! Kyla Nichole Guenther was God's gift to us this past year though our daughter Chrystal. When you look at her picture, please pray that she will come to know Jesus at an early age.

Recently, I was able to go with my husband to the Antioch Baptist Jubilee in Bristol, Virginia. There were many messages that encouraged me, but one stands out. It was a message given by Evangelist Tom Hayes. It was entitled, "The Lord, Our Righteousness." Jehovah Tsidkenu is the name for God in Hebrew which is translated, "The Lord is my righteousness." What God suddenly revealed to me is a simple truth that He has been reinforcing to me over and over again the past 10+ years. I accepted HIS righteousness as mine in order to get saved, yet in my pride and flesh, I try to live for Him in my OWN righteousness! How silly when He IS STILL my righteousness! Philippians 3:9 "...not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith..."

The same way I accept His righteousness for salvation is the same way I must accept His righteousness to live through me every day of my life! What a simple but profound truth! I have no righteousness of my own! I only have any good through HIM! As I YIELD myself to Him and allow Him to live through me, I have HIS righteousness flowing out through me! I do not have to conjure up any goodness! Its already there through the Holy Spirit, freely given to me at salvation!

Here is a list of all the names of Jehovah. This was a blessing to me as well. Just think of all the things that God is to YOU personally through these names!

Jehovah's Name

Exalting the Name of Jesus Christ

Jehovah - The Lord - Exodus 6:2-3

Jehovah-Adon Kal Ha'arets- Lord of Earth - Josh 3:13

Jehovah-Bara - Lord Creator - Isaiah 40:28

Jehovah-Chatsahi - Lord my Strength - Psalm 27:1

Jehovah-Chereb - Lord the Sword - Deut. 33:29

Jehovah-Eli - Lord my God - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-Elyon - Lord Most High - Psalm 38:2

Jehovah-Gador Milchamah - Mighty in Battle - Ps 24:8

Jehovah-Ganan - Lord Our Defense - Ps 89:18

Jehovah-Go'el - Lord My Redeemer - Is. 49:26, 60:16

Jehovah-Hamelech - Lord King - Psalm 98:6

Jehovah-Hashopet - Lord My Judge - Judges 6:27

Jehovah-Helech 'Olam - Lord King Forever Ps10:16

Jehovah-Hoshe'ah - Lord Saves - Psalm 20:9

Jehovah-Jireh - Provider - Gen. 22:14, I John 4:9, Philip 4:19

Jehovah-Kabodhi - Lord my Glory - Psalm 3:3

Jehovah-Kanna - Lord Jealous - Ex 34:14

Jehovah-Keren-Yish'i - Horn of Salvation - Ps 18:2

Jehovah-M'Kaddesh - Sanctifier - I Corinthians 1:30

Jehovah-Machsi - Lord my Refuge - Psalm 91:9

Jehovah-Magen - Lord my Shield - Deut. 33:29

Jehovah-Ma'oz - Lord my Fortress - Jer. 16:19

Jehovah-Mephalti - Lord my Deliverer - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-Metshodhathi - Lord my Fortress - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-Misqabbi - Lord my High Tower - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-M'gaddishcem - Lord my Sanctifier - Ex 31:13

Jehovah-Naheh - Lord who Smites - Ezekiel 7:9

Jehovah-Nissi - Banner - I Chronicles 29:11-13

Jehovah-Rohi - Shepherd - Psalm 23

Jehovah-Rophe - Healer - Isaiah 53:4,5

Jehovah-Sabaoth - Lord of Hosts - I Sam 1:3

Jehovah-Sel'i - Lord my Rock - Psalm 18:2

Jehovah-Shalom - Peace - Isaiah 9:6, Rom 8:31-35

Jehovah-Shammah - Present - Hebrews 13:5

Jehovah-Tsidkenu - Righteousness - I Cor 1:30

Jehovah-Tsori - Lord my Strength - Psalm 19:14

Jehovah-Yasha - Lord my Savior - Isaiah 49:26

Jehovah-'Ez-Lami - Lord my Strength - Ps 28:7

Jehovah-'Immeku - Lord Is With You - Judges 6:12

Jehovah-'Izoa Hakaboth - Lord Strong -Mighty - Ps 24:8

Jehovah-'Ori - Lord my Light - Psalm 27:1

Jehovah-'Uzam - Lord Strength in Trouble - Is 49:26

Thoughts on Pride

Pride is a belief in one's own abilities; this belief at times overrides a person's view of God and his recognition of the need for the grace of God. Pride has been called the sin which spawns all other sins.

Why you give in to it: Many times it’s because the world, TV and other media, and many well-meaning people tell you to "believe in yourself."

P.R.I.D.E.

P-Presenting or portraying myself as someone I’m not, Rom. 12:3, Jas. 1:8, Gal. 1:10, Eph. 4:15

Portraying myself as better than I really am indicates that I want others to believe I’m better so they will like or accept me. Portraying myself as worse than I am is also pride, in that I desire someone to say, “No, no, you’re better than that”—I am still driven by the desire for someone to like or accept me.

R-Ruling or controlling others, Mt. 11:16-17, I Kings 21

I can try to control others in an obvious way, by telling them what to do or condemning them in a condescending way when I think they’re wrong. Or I can control others by manipulating them subtly, making statements that will make them feel guilty so they will do things my way. This is pride because I put myself on the throne. I want to be in control.

I-It’s all about ME, Eph. 4:32, Phil. 2:4

When my attitude is that everything has to be my way, or about me, or I want people to feel sorry for me, I am at the height of selfishness. I come across to everyone as “It’s all about me; you don’t matter.”

D-Down on myself for sins God has already forgiven, Gal. 5:1, Eph. 2:1-10, Heb. 8:12, 10:17, Jer. 31:34, Rom. 8:1

When I continue to beat myself up for sins that God has already forgiven, it’s as if I’m saying, “God, the death of your Son wasn’t enough for me; I can do penance or pay for my own sin by beating myself up.” It’s pride because I’m putting my own efforts to atone for myself before GOD’S free offer of forgiveness!

E-Envying someone for something they have for which I’m unwilling to work, Pr. 24:27, Gal. 6:4

Envying something someone else has, yet being unwilling to work for it—or desiring everything to be handed to me on a silver platter, as it were, is also pride. Why? Because I think I am better and that God should reward me for being so good.