MaggieBelle

Beloved–

He [Jesus] came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home  . . . he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:     

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”  

. . . Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”   . . . . “How can this be?” they asked.   (from the book of Luke)

I recognized the Messiah; the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior. I know that the Holy Spirit will and does guide me when I focus all my thoughts on the God who is . . . Father, Son and Holy Spirit!   I pray for you to desire to focus all your thoughts on the one who has sacrificed all that he is, for the love of your soul.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!    (The Garden of Eden)  Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle    (The Cloud and a Pillar of Fire)    I will raise up one of your descendants . . .  He is the one who will build a house—a TEMPLE—for my name.   (a Temple of brick and mortar)

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.  (together with the Triune God)   “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,   (ALIVE in the Heart of Man) who will never leave you. HE is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”   (Scripture from the Bible)

It has always been so, the Lord God Almighty has chosen the place where he will abide on earth.  I pray for you to know who and where your savior is.  Always praising the God who is . . . Farther, Son and Holy Spirit!

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  (from the book of John)

“Lent can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him,” said the book I was reading by Robert Kysar.  

And so I began– I got a stiff broom so that I would get into every nook and cranny.  To be sure I got rid of all those fleeting pin pricks of sorrow and offenses that I had forgiven but not forgotten.  Low and behold under those minor concerns was a large box in which I had hidden so much fear and anger it almost didn’t fit in the box. Tears flowing, I turned to the scriptures for comfort in my sorrow.  I learned that looking back is the enemy’s tool but praising my father, Almighty God is my refuge and strength.  I pray for you to let the Spirit guide you to the truth.

Luv Ya!

O Lord, why do you stand so far away?  Why do you hide when I am in trouble?  The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.   Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.  For they brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the Lord . . . Arise, O Lord!  Punish the wicked, O God!   Do not  ignore the helpless . . . Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless . . .  Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.  You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer  terrify them.   (from Psalms)

Beloved–

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent and it starts 46 days (40 days not counting Sundays) before Easter.  It falls on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter.  It can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

The purpose of Lent (recalling Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness) is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, prayer, scripture reading, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him.

Scripture Reading:  When facing temptation in the desert, Jesus relied on Scripture to counter the wiles of the devil. It is a formidable weapon for us as well.

Pray that we can be diligent in our “spring cleaning process.”  I’m praying for you morning, noon and night for the next 46 days.

Luv Ya!