SOCIAL DISTANCING... a time to come SPIRITUALLY CLOSER to GOD!

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SOCIAL DISTANCING... such strange words in a difficult and different time... since the last time I wrote in February... who knew that all this would happen between then and today...

My last blogpost was 'Are you ALL IN or are you IN AT ALL??' With SOCIAL DISTANCING, we may not be doing the 'norm', or we may feel that we aren't in it at all...  but for many of our essential workers, they are giving their all... thank you to ALL essential workers, but especially our healthcare workers.  The rest of us who are quarantined at home, only to go out for the essential and we have been given the gift of TIME! How are YOU using this TIME?? 

Some of us yes, still have to work from home, or do our schoolwork... but think of your EXTRA time... How are YOU using your extra time? 

Are you...

* Spending time with family (in your home, on the phone, or on social media); 

* Staying connected with extended family, church family and friends on social media (or e-mail, snail mail or porch drops, etc...) 

* Staying busy focusing on some hobbies (crafts, reading, puzzles, video games, cooking/baking, etc);

* Relaxing and watching TV or NETFLIX or MOVIES (either alone or with family)

* Doing nothing much... trying to keep from going crazy, and being depressed.

* Staying busy and catching up on chores & sanitizing your home (laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.);

* Cleaning, organizing, purging your home;

* And more... 

SOCIAL DISTANCING requires us to spend time away from those who do not live in our household. We need to stay at least 2-6 feet away from others if we go out of our home. BUT, social distancing doesn't include GOD. NOW is the TIME to get CLOSER to God. ONE STEP in any direction takes us into the arms of GOD. Even IF you are NOT a believer... He is HERE with YOU! You just need to TAKE a U-TURN and come to Him. He hasn't moved away... it's only us who move away. NOW is the TIME to take time out for GOD.  Social Distancing brings Spiritual Awakening...

We may have to stay apart from each other, but NOW is the time to grow CLOSER with God! However you want to do that... however you want to START... DO IT! It could be as simple as listening to WORSHIP music... listening to ONLINE services (yes there are MANY out there on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram - my church Faith Tabernacle London's YouTube channel is found here and our FACEBOOK is here)... BUT the most important is spending TIME in HIS WORD (The BIBLE) and PRAYING to Him. PRAYER is the way you can communicate with GOD, and THE BIBLE is His way of communicating with you along with PRAYER. His WORD is what will stand true in these difficult times! There are THANKFULLY online Bibles if you don't have a physical hard copy at your home. (BibleGateway.com online or the YouVersion APP are my fav's)

GET CLOSE TO GOD! Draw near to God and He will draw near to you! 

"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." James 4:8 NLT 

"For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God." Hebrews 7:19 

"You are only as close to God as you want to be."

So on this GOOD FRIDAY, celebrate the GOOD... that Jesus came to DIE FOR YOU AND YOUR SINS... God had a PLAN to RESCUE and SAVE us.  Jesus only had to die ONCE for ALL! Continuing in Hebrews 7 v24-28 "But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honour in heaven.[f] Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever." 

MAKE SURE YOU AREN'T SOCIAL DISTANCING FROM JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST!

Remember, inviting JESUS in is as easy as ABCD...

A - ADMIT you are a sinner (we all are - only JESUS was perfect! See Romans 3:23)

B - BELIEVE that JESUS died for YOU (His death paid for our sin! See Romans 6:23)

C - CONFESS that SIN and REPENT (and CONFESS that you want JESUS to be the LORD of your LIFE and YOU will be SAVED. See Romans 10:9&10)

D - DECLARE you are a CHILD OF GOD (See John 1:12)

Now, as I have said before, being a CHILD OF GOD doesn't make your life perfect, nor does it take away all your STORMS, but now you KNOW for sure that GOD is WITH you in your STORMS and can SAVE and PROTECT you!

Be blessed in this TIME! Be Blessed to Be a Blessing!

"A Book Unlike Any Other"

DAY #103 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." Psalm 119:105 HCSB

Out of all the books in the libraries around the world, and even just my own home library, or even just the books that I have read, there is no other book like the Bible. Each time you read it, God can and will give you new revelation into the words. It is alive and the living word of God. Every other story book in the library is the same. There may be some parts that you never caught in reading it the first time, but the words will always remain with the same meaning. The same beginning and end. The Bible's words have the same beginning and same ending... yet the words in between can take on a whole new meaning each time you read them. Sometimes the Words of the Lord are just what we need, and someone else can read the same scripture, and receive a different revelation of the word of God, through the power of Holy Spirit. God's Word is truly a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. In His word is the answer to every problem, circumstance, trial or discouragement, etc... that we may face. We just have to 'look for it'. Problem is for most of us, we don't want to 'do the work', we want God to just give the answer, or tell us ASAP.

His Word is our 'Sword of the Spirit' in battling the enemy and his lil' demonic powers. We must have the Word hidden in our hearts as well as having it in our hands. (Psalm 119:11 -"I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.) God's Word however can be used in 'good' and in 'bad' times in our journey of faith. There are words of affirmation, yet also of love & discipline. There are words of encouragement reminding us that God will never leave us or forsake us, or that God gives. Yet there are also those words reminding us that He also takes away. There is a time for everything. (See Ecclesiastes)

His Word gives us direction and instruction in the path we are to take. If we TRUST in Him, He will lead, guide and direct us, and we will grow and learn according to His Word. He doesn't light our WHOLE path, He shows us where to go one step at a time. We need to step forward in faith.

As we were reminded tonight, the 'red' words are the MOST important as they are the words of Christ. We need to have a 'red-letter day'... check out the song by Newsong.


So get into the word, and let it get into you!"The balance of affirmation and discipline, freedom & restraint, encouragement and warning is different for each child and season and generation, yet the absolutes of God's Word are necessary and trustworthy no matter how mercuric the time." ~ Gloria Gaither

Day 20: October 20th, 2009 - - John 1:1 & Isaiah 55:11

“POINTS TO PONDER” – Day 20
Written by M. Hall
Please feel free to agree or disagree with points made, and feel free to comment if so desired. If you would like, you could write your own thoughts on the verse of the day, and include that in your own comments below. Thank you and may you be blessed!! =)
*Editor note: Thank you to our 'destest duddy' Pastor Jason who graciously gave me the following 2 scriptures for today's devotional! May you be blessed as well, and receive NEW revelation through the power and annointing of the Spirit!*
“In the beginning there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” ~ John 1:1
“…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” ~ Isaiah 55:11

Well, I guess God wants us to continue on with words, the Word, and His Word. There are several meanings behind the one simple word, ‘word’. However, the funny thing is when you click dictionary.com, and look up ‘word’, it says ‘no results found’. In the Greek, one of the translations is ‘logos’, which is message; the spoken word; and is also used to refer to Jesus. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." God has always been, and therefore so has Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God spoke everything into being, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit were right there with Him. In John 1:14, it says, "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us". Need more proof? Check out Genesis 1, and please do not fall for the gap theory or the theory of evolution. God CREATED the world and everything in it. He spoke the light into the world (physically and spiritually). Jesus is the light of the world. Whatever words come forth from the mouth of God will have power and His promises and declarations are all true. 2 Peter 1:4 says, “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” His Word frees us from the bondage of sin. “I have hidden your Word in my heart, so that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). We need to always be in the Word, and meditating on it, so that it is in our hearts, minds and spirits. We don’t hide it as a dirty little secret we hide it like a special treasure, one that brings life. We also don’t hide it from others. Sometimes our lives are the only Bibles that they will read. WOW! That’s sure an eye-opener isn’t it. Therefore we need to be reading, meditating, speaking and living the Word.

When we use God’s Word (as in His Scriptures), it’s like throwing a boomerang. We speak forth the Word, and it comes back to us, and blesses us, and He answers our prayer requests and petitions. His Word does not come back empty though. Another way of saying it, in a different translation it uses the word void. His Word will be sent out, and come back fulfilling the promises that it set out to do. It will not and cannot be voided. The verse in Isaiah 55:11 above, says that it indeed will accomplish what God desires and achieves the purpose for which He sent it. WOW! How awesome is that truly? Think on that truth for a moment. What is it that you have been praying for? What do you truly believe that God desires for you? Are you seeking His will, or your own will? Are you asking in faith, or are you a doubting Thomas? Are you delighting yourself in the Lord? Remember it says in His Word, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart”. AMEN & AMEN! Thank you Lord for your promises! Are you trusting in the Lord, or trusting in men? Are you lacking faith due to unanswered prayers? Did you know that it is in God’s will to leave some prayers unanswered? I thank God for unanswered prayers. I’m sure throughout our lives, there isn’t one person who hasn’t thought or prayed idle words to God, and then got upset at God because those words didn’t come into being. (For example wanting to date a high school crush, and not being able to) But God did answer, just not the way we wanted, because they didn’t fit into God’s divine plan for our lives. But now in the present you can thank God that He didn’t answer those prayers, because you wouldn’t have all that you have now. Garth Brooks sings a song called, “Unanswered Prayers”, and in it he sings,

“Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers”

The man in the song is married, and went to his high school reunion with his wife, and they met up with his old flame. He was reminded in his thoughts, of the times they had together, and was reminded of the prayers that he had prayed for them to be together, and that he wouldn’t ask for anything else, if God gave her to him. However, in looking at the ‘flame’ that day, he realized that she wasn’t all that he thought she was, and what he prayed for. He then looked at his own beautiful wife, and thanked God for not answering that particular prayer, but in reality his wife was the answer to his prayers.

We have to be careful of what we pray for or wish for. People say that a lot in jest, and teasing, but it is a true sentence. God knows our hearts & motives, and also our desires, but most importantly He knows what we need, and when we need it. He created us in our mother’s wombs, from conception to delivery, we were alive with Him. (that’s also another devotional all on its own) We don’t always get what we want, but God sure does provide what we need. Again, our words need to be ‘chewed’ before we speak them – especially to God. Remember to use words of life. For God’s Word is also alive…

In Hebrews 4:12 it says, “God's word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.” WOW and double WOW! The Word is God-breathed, and new things can be revealed each time you read it. Each person in a youth group could read the same verse in the Bible, and each one could have a different revelation about that verse. (Same as these devotional verses, when you read them here, you get my interpretation, and what the Spirit is telling me, but He may be telling you something new and different. That doesn’t make this view wrong, or your view wrong, He speaks to each of us in ways we can understand, and in ways that we need to hear.)

Again, this verse brings a song to mind, but not a scripture song, a song by Casting Crowns, ‘The Word is Alive’ – “this world and its glories will fade, but His truth it will not pass away. It remains yesterday and forever, the same. The Word is alive!”




May you be blessed as you read the Word, have relationship with the Word, and speak the Word! Spread the message of life to the hopeless!

Prayer: Father God, we thank You for Your Word, the living Word that we can put our full trust in. Thank You for Your Son, who was there with You in the beginning. Thank You Lord that we were even part of Your plan, at creation. You spoke everything into being. Your Words have power. Help us to never underestimate the power of our words, and the power of our prayers. Thank You Lord for ‘unanswered prayers’. Help us to desire what You want us to have in our lives. Help us to fulfill our destiny in You, by using the gifts and talents that You have given to us to share with the dark, dying and hopeless world. Use Your Words and speak to us now, teach us to listen for Your Spirit. I thank you Lord, that when we speak Your Word, that it will not return empty, but will accomplish what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it. Help us God to resist temptation using Your Word, as Your Son Jesus did in His fight against the devil in the desert. May our hearts, minds and Spirits be filled with Your holy Scriptures. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. We ask all these things in the name of JESUS, AMEN!

WORD OF GOD SPEAK – Mercy Me
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say…



Be blessed, and be a blessing as you Shine the Light into the dark world!

Day 12: October 12th, 2009 - - Deuteronomy 32:46-47

“POINTS TO PONDER” Written by M. HallPlease feel free to agree or disagree with points made, and feel free to comment if so desired. If you would like, you could write your own thoughts on the verse of the day, and include that in your own comments below. Thank you and may you be blessed!! =)
“He said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.’"Deuteronomy 32:46-47 NIV

Idle words - - - we are all guilty of using idle words. We will be judged for each idle word that we use. God’s Word is not full of idle words, as it says in the Scripture. God’s Words are life, and give life. If we are to follow Christ’s example, our words need to be filled with life too. In a previous devotion, we discussed using words of life. But this is an important issue that God wants us to seriously pursue and understand. This Scripture in Deuteronomy says, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you… so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.’ Children here, does not just mean children as we know it. It refers to the next generation, which in some cases is the children, yes, but also the next generation of believers. New believers, and others ‘behind’ us, need to recognize the truths found in the Word of God. They need to start declaring the promises found in the Word, and they need to start declaring words of life. We do too!

Jesus said, ‘I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE’ and He meant it. He is the way to get to God, the only truth in this world, and He gave us eternal life. We need to speak words of life, success & positive thinking, not words of death, failure and negativity. God is so amazing that He has shown us time and again that we need to take Him at His Word.

A funny yet, God moment, happened this weekend for me and my family. This Thanksgiving we sat down to play a family game, Phase 10 (the new version, Phase 10 Twist). My Dad was tired of runs of 7 and runs of 8, and he was now on runs of 9, and he was complaining about having to get another run. I told him that we have to be positive, and speak words of life (as I am trying to practice since one of my last devotionals). My husband told him, “hey, maybe you can get 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and then you can say, ‘In your face Mark’.” Well, we only have 10 cards, so we said we couldn’t get 12, just 10. So I proceeded to shuffle, and deal 10 cards to each player (or so I thought). The game began again - - my Dad was to the left of me, so he got to start the round. He picked up a card, and then proceeded to lay down, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12 and then he discarded and went out to end the round We all stopped and laughed, but then thanked the Lord for his example of speaking Words of Life. We even took a picture of his cards and a video of him saying ‘In your face Mark’. I still say that I didn’t deal him 12 cards, but we all know that God can work in mysterious ways. We are all trying to speak words of life now, and know that God will prove faithful if we are obedient and faithful as well.

The Bible says in another scripture, “From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:20 & 21 NIV) We need to control our tongue. Again, from the Scripture, God’s Word of truth states, “My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control their whole bodies. Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants. It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about great things. A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of our bodies. The tongue spreads its evil through the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell, and it starts a fire that influences all of life. People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them, but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil and full of deadly poison. We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself. Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. Do good and bad water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good water." James 3:1-12 NCV Another scripture says, ‘Out of the heart the mouth speaks’, (Luke 6:44-45) – “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” The old saying, GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out) comes into play here. What you put into your mind, goes into your heart, and eventually comes back out your mouth. EEEEK!

The tongue is a deadly weapon. The Bible again says in Jeremiah, “Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.” (Jerm 9:8) WOW! Makes you think before you speak doesn’t it? We all (including myself) need to do a lot more of that. Thinking before we speak, and we also need to be real. There is a saying that goes around, “I may have to love you, but I don’t have to like you”. It makes me think of the last part of this verse, when it is used negatively. People can pretend to be your friend, and to talk nicely to you, but then go and deceive you behind your back, trying to trick you into talking bad about other people, which they go in turn and tell what you've said, looking like the 'good guy'. I know a lot of this goes on in the world today, and it needs to stop. I know that I have gotten caught in many a trap, but no more. Jesus has the victory, I have Jesus, so therefore I have the victory! Say that twice aloud so that you engrave it in your mind and your heart! What power there is in positive thinking... but what power there is in our Lord and Saviour & His Holy Spirit!

Walk in the freedom, and the victory that you have received. Praise you Lord!

PRAYER: Father God, we pray to You now in the name of Jesus to help us with our tongues. You have given them to us, to speak words of positivity, life and encouragement. Help us by the power of Your Spirit to change our minds, hearts, and our tongues consciously and sub-consciously to thoughts of You and Your Words and truth. Thank you Lord for setting us free. Thank you Lord that we have the victory through Your Son, and we no longer have to conform to this world, but that we can be transformed by Your power and Your power alone. Guide us in the steps we should take, and the words we should say. Let us speak Your words of truth to the hurting people of this world. Let us be Your ambassadors, and speak the Words of the King. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!