I dedicate this to my daughter Christina Maria, who over the years have been an exceptional Mother to her children.......Love you Tina, Happy and Blessed Mother's Day........


............
A Mother's Love

There are times when only a Mother's love
Can understand our tears,
Can soothe our disappointments
And calm all of our fears. There are times when only a Mother's love
Can share the joy we feel
When something we've dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.
There are times when only a Mother's faith
Can help us on life's way
And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day.
For a Mother's heart and a Mother's faith
And a Mother's steadfast love
Were fashioned by the Angels
that are sent from God above...

THE VINE - THE BRANCH - THE FRUIT

Illustration by: I.D.X'pressions Designs and Services

There are those who feel that they must be constantly laboring for the Lord in order to meet God's high standards.  Jesus gave a clear picture of what our relationship to Him ought to be like.  He is the VINE, the source of our life.  We are the BRANCHES, the place where FRUIT is produced.  As we receive life from Christ, the natural, inevitable results is that fruit is produced in our lives.

In our zeal to produce "results" for our Lord, we sometimes become so intent on fruit production that we neglect abiding in Christ.  We may feel that "abiding" is not as productive or that it takes too much time away from our fruit production.  Yet Jesus said that it is not our activity that produces the fruit, it is our relationship with Him.

Jesus gave an important warning to His disciples.  He cautioned that if they ever attempted to live their Christian life apart from an intimate relationship with Him, they would discover that they ceased to produce any significant results.  Sometimes we might exert great effort for the Kingdom of God, yet when we stop to account for our lives, we would only find barrenness (emptiness) a hole in our soul, our hope will fade.

One of the most dramatic acts Jesus ever performed was cursing the fig tree that had failed to produce fruit in it's due season.  Are you comfortable in abiding on the VINE? or are you so impatient to be engaged in all types of activities, trying to impress God and others?

this is truth:
If you will remain steadfastly in a sweet fellowship with Jesus, a great and mighty HARVEST of FRUIT will be our natural by-product.;

My Prayer:  Lord, keep us in a intimate relationship with you, keep us with an all-knowing that you are our supernatural source that is able to nourish us daily.  Let us produce the fruit that is pleasing to you, let it be sweet to your taste and satisfaction.  Seek us Lord, Seek our hearts expediently when self is tempted to satisfy fleshly hunger.  Keep us in rememberance that there is absolutely nothing we can do productively for the Kingdom of God without Your guidance. 

We Love You Lord with our whole hearts.....amen

The Changing of the Guards

THE THIRD DAY PROPHET

"The Changing of the Guards"

 with

The Watchmen on the Walls

coming soon.......on a website near you......

Grace and Mercy vs. God's Favor

"I Want Your Favor Lord"

.............the magnificent of God's infinite word......who can live without the wisdom of our Great God???  I tell you without a doubt that only a FOOL will do so....

As I meditate and bask in the presence of the Lord on this cloudy rainy day, I was unctioned to read Prov. 8....all of it.   I was curious as I read His word regarding the Favor of God.  Many think that the Favor of God is given freely.  Well, it is not, the favor of His Grace and Mercy is given to us freely as we receive it with joy and thankfulness in our hearts, but for us to obtain God's Favor with Him there is a criteria or should I say a condition that must be met FIRST! auh yeah! that's what I said, a condition to be met before we can have and maintain the Favor of God.  This message can be so very valuable to the Brothers of the Most High God, lol........if you are blessed to have in your life a true sister in the Lord who is endowed with wisdom, His word says that you will find favor with the Lord, (OMG!) So, here's why.......

Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud.  To you, O men, I call out.  I raise my voice to all mankind.

You who are simple, please gain prudence: you who are foolish, please gain understanding.  Listen for I have worthy things to say;  I open my lips to speak what is right.  My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.  All the words of my mouth are just: none of them is crooked or perverse.  To the discerning all of them are right:  they are faultless to those who have knowledge.  Choose my instruction instead of silver, choose my knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her......selah!

I wisdom, dwell together with prudence, I possess knowledge and discretion.  To fear the Lord is to hate evil.  I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.  Counsel and sound judgment are mine:  I have understanding and power.  By me Kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern and all nobles rule on earth.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me..  With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity,.....oh Hallelujah!....  My fruit is better than fine gold, and what I yield surpasses choice silver.  I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice.

I bestow wealth on those who love me and I will make their treasuries full........JESUS!

The Lord brought me forth as the first of His works, before His deeds of old.  I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.  When there were no oceans, I was given birth.  when there was no springs abounding with water, before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth.  (who is I? wisdom)

before He made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.  I was there when He set the heavens in place.  When He marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when He gave the sea it boundary, so the waters would not overstep His commands, and when He marked out the foundations of the earth.

Then I wisdom was the craftsman at His side, I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind.

NOW THEN, MY SONS, LISTEN TO ME, "SAYS WISDOM"  blessed are those who keep my ways.  Listen to my instructions and be wise; do not ignore it.

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.  For whoever finds me finds life and receives FAVOR FROM THE LORD.

But, whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me loves death.........

my prayer:  Lord thank you for your precious word today, our understanding of YOU is limitless, there is so much to know about you that will take us a lifetime.  Keep sharpening our thoughts, knowledge, wisdom and understanding.  Make us fit for the Master's Use.  In our weaknesses make us strong in the things that will glorify your infinite measure of favor that You so desire to adorn on all of your children.  Let nothing stand in the way or keep us from searching for GOD'S WISDOM in every matter and circumstance.  We Love you Lord with our whole hearts.....amen



Reaping What you Sow

Reaping What You Sow

Many times we hear this statement coming out of our mouths or the mouths of others.  "You're Gonna Reap What You Sow", as we ponder these words, many perceive or receive it as a negative statement.  BUT, the BIBLE SAYS, that those who sow in righteousness, is a true reward.  Prov. 11(18)..........

There are many ways to invest our lives, but none offers greater reward than devoting ourselves to the pursuit of righteousness.  Every area of our lives should reflect the holiness of God that is ours by salvation; even our thoughts; so that nothing we think about would be inappropriate for a child of God; even our actions, so that our lives will demonstrate that we serve a Holy God; our integrity, so that we are above reproach in all our relationships.

Are you taking God's righteousness in your life for granted?  Righteousness is something you must allow the Holy Spirit to work out in your life.  Instead of sowing holy thoughts, are you allowing evil and sinful thoughts to grow in your mind?  Are you allowing lust to grow unchecked within you.?  Does the enmity(division), bitterness, jealousy, or unforgiveness remain in your life?  Jesus said if we seek first God and His righteousness, everything else will follow.

There is a great reward in sowing righteousness.  What are you presently doing to plant holiness in your life:  How are you putting righteousness in your mind so that your thoughts are holy?  How are you cultivating righteousness in your relationships so that you can maintain your integrity?  Are you instilling righteousness in your activities so that your life is above reproach?  If you want to harvest righteousness in your life tomorrow, you must plant seeds of righteousness TODAY!

My Prayer:  Lord, keep me fit for the Master's Plan, nourish my soul daily so that I can consistently sow seeds of righteousness in every area of my life and in the lives of others.  Direct my feet to the rich soil, so that I may sow in abundance and witness the harvest of fruit in which it will bring for your Glory.  Holy Spirit keep me in check at all times, so that in my pursuit of righteousness, my thoughts, my actions and my integrity will line up with God's Holy word.  I Love you Lord, and I trust that this prayer has been heard, thank you my Lord and Savior in Jesus Name.......amen