Today I stand in Awe before the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross of Christ is God's one and final testimony to His Awesome, unconditional love for us no mater what. He longs to hear your voice. He longs to spend time with you. He longs to be intimate with you. He is truly way more Awesome than we could ever ask, dream or imagine with our finite minds.
God exalted Christ "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet" (Eph. 1:21-22).

"Rule," "authority," "power," and "dominion" are designations for angelic beings, whether good or evil (cf. Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:16). In His incarnation Christ was made lower in rank than the angels that He might suffer death on our behalf (Heb. 2:9). Now He has "become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they" (Heb. 1:4), and the Father commands all the angels to worship the Son (v. 6).

But Christ's rule extends far beyond angelic beings. In Ephesians 1:21 the phrase "every name that is named" is a general reference to any form of authority--whether angelic or human, eternal or temporal. Now and forever Christ is the Supreme One! Ultimately every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).

The implications of that truth are staggering. For example Christ precedes the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20, the heart of Christian evangelism and discipleship, with this significant statement: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."

Ultimately your evangelism and discipleship efforts will bear fruit because they are backed by the authority of Christ Himself. Does that encourage you to seize every opportunity to share Christ and His Word with others? It should!

Be faithful today, realizing that you represent the One in whom lies all authority.

Nothing can stop His purpose!! Just say yes.(More to be added to this blog feel free to do so)

Today its just me and God. I'm just going to be honest. Can I be? Thanks for saying yes. Life is a journey. Mountain top and Valley low experiences. If it wasn't for God's grace I honestly do not know where I would be. No this is not testimony time. I'm thankful. I don't deserve this life. I don't deserve life at all, but because of Jesus Christ I have life and because of Jesus Christ my life is full. Ten years ago I never would have imagined that I would be where I am today. If I was a heavy gambler I wouldn't have dared to bet you how my life and the current circumstances have played out. Through it all I hear a song of my past ringing out.
(I still have joy) after all the things I've been through Jesus is still my Joy. What an amazing Friend He has given me by given me Himself. God's says that if you lose something in my name for my sake you will gain so much more. It is only through trials, pains, and suffering that I can identify and call Jesus my very best friend. There is no one that can do you like you Him. Some would look at my life and say what a mess you have endured. I look at my life and though I have just crossed (still in ) one of the most driest deserts I have ever faced, and see God's footprints ever so carrying me. I am totally dependent on God. I know without a doubt that I can not, will not make it without Him. Click on the devotional tab in my blog. You will see the devotion that encouraged my soul today. (Upper Room)


Jesus said, "I have come in order that you might have life -- life in all its fullness."
-John 10:10 (TEV)

By His grace are we saved!!!! Today I found an insert from the quotes of Spurgeon. It was wrote by a lady name Karen. It was special to me because it resinates with my spirit. Our very purpose in life is to bring honor and glory to God. He allows us the freedom of choices. With that being said our way of living out our lives should be lived out with a question......What is the wise thing to do?..... In light of our past and present circumstances and in light of our future goals and dreams.
If we are honest with ourselves we are pretty selfish people. Me being the chief. We think about our self pleasures a lot. Needs, problem, satisfaction, fulfillment, has become the main focus of not just the world but even in churches today. Its not about us......Its all about Him. We were created with purpose. We have a destiny. I believe that the ultimate goal in life should be to always seek, serve and bring honor and glory to God.

“That grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”

(2 Corinthians 4:15)

Many people think the main reason God saves people is so that He can keep them out of hell, or so that they can experience His love or lead happy lives. But all those reasons are secondary.

God saves people because it is an affront to His holy name that someone should live in rebellion against Him. That people experience salvation is not the main issue with God – it is His glory that is at stake.

The apostle Paul said of Jesus, “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11). Salvation is for God’s glory.

God is glorified when people believe His gospel, love His Son, and accept His diagnosis of their greatest need, which is forgiveness of sin. You certainly benefit from God’s provision of salvation, but you exist for the glory of God.

First of all, thanks John for keeping up with me. I was putting together some study information over the last couple of days. Good to know that you are missed. I love to read the comments and know that people are actually growing and learning. I like wise learn from you all. I just believe that God works through His people to bless and help others. Well today in my early morning devotions my soul was fill with Joy as I read about the difference between joy and happiness. I have lived off happiness and off joy. The joy of the Lord well surpasses any earthly happiness. Listen to what I gathered from a few authors about this Joy. The greatest author who writes about Joy is the Joy giver Himself (God).

Psalm 40:16
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified.

Though some people use the terms happiness and joy interchangeably, there is a vast difference in their meaning. Both cause a pleasant emotional response, but the former relies entirely upon circumstance. As soon as difficulty arises and pain intrudes, a person ceases to be happy. On the other hand, joy is a gift from God that enables believers to find hope and peace—even when life seemingly falls apart.

At times, however, even Christians live joylessly. Sinful behavior, of course, is one reason. But there can be other causes, too, including regret about past failures, fear of future mishaps, or a pattern of discontentment that's ingrained in one's personality.

If you are a follower of Jesus but lack gladness, take a moment to remember who Christ is—and who you are in Him. To begin with, you are saved eternally, and your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The love of almighty God is unconditional, and His indwelling Spirit will never abandon you. He understands everything that you face and promises to provide for your needs.

When you stop to consider the amazing blessings that are yours in Christ, gratitude will likely overwhelm you. Sadness concerning circumstances may still endure, but the joy of the Lord will carry you through even the deepest pain.

Amid the ups and downs of life, does God's joy sustain you? Or do trials leave you hopeless and discontented? Our Father offers a higher way of living—not without pain but with strength to endure. Continually remember the vast treasure you have in Him and His promises.

"On Joy"

"Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures." —Thomas Aquinas

"Joys are always on the way to us. They are always traveling to us through the darkness of the night. There is never a night when they are not coming." —Amy Carmichael

"Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian." —G. K. Chesterton

"Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross. It is an unknown word and thing except as He has sway within." —Samuel Dickey Gordon

"If there is joy in the world, surely the man of pure heart possesses it." —Thomas à Kempis

"Joy is never in our power and pleasure often is." —C. S. Lewis

"If you have no joy, there's a leak in your Christianity somewhere." —W. A. "Billy" Sunday

"There is more joy in Jesus in 24 hours than there is in the world in 365 days. I have tried them both." —R. A. Torrey

Jesus promised His disciples on the night Judas betrayed Him, “Your joy no one will take from you” (John 16:22). Remember that joy is the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Let’s ask the Lord to help us look beyond our sorrowful circumstances and encourage our hearts by the vision of joy that awaits us (Heb. 12:2). — Vernon C. Grounds

You alone, Lord Jesus, can true joy impart,
For You know the sorrow of the human heart;
You came here from glory many hearts to win
And in love for sinners suffered once for sin. —Anon.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit that’s always in season.