Amazing God

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9:13-17)

Today I saw the most amazing rainbow I've ever seen. The rainbow illuminated the sky for over 35 minutes. It was absolutely beautiful!

Of course, who can see a rainbow and not remember the promise that God made in Genesis as he dialogued with Noah? We see God’s mercy preserving life as the fall of man gave way to a sin-ravaged world. A world that lost its identity in a whirlwind of sin!

I was leaving the hospital after a visit that concluded with prayer as we called on the Name of the Lord. I had anointing oil with me, and now the room was filled with the scent. The beautiful thing was that the fragrance of the anointing oil remained on me. The bottle read, Oil of Gladness, Anointing Oil.

As I drove, this wonderful sign of God’s promise continued before me as I went home. No matter where I drove, it seemed that the rainbow was right above me.

Wow! I was so full of JOY, I began to praise and worship the Lord! Prayer, joy, laughter, tears, and shouts are echoing in my car. It was like God was saying to me, “No matter where you go, I am always with you.” I know that is in His Word, but today it was a beautiful picture that God painted over me!

I was surrounded by God’s presence! What a beautiful moment to experience. I picked up the phone and began to testify. I just rattled on about God’s goodness! What a glorious conversation with God.

He is Amazing!

Can you imagine what heaven will be like?  Read it for yourself.  Revelation 21

God bless you!~Liz

HUSH

 “In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.” (1 Kings 6:7)

Take a moment, as you begin to read, to stop and listen. What do you hear? No, don’t rush. Just be still.

I like my environment to be quiet. Oh, I am a people person. Invite me to the gathering, and I'll be there! But when I'm alone, I love the quietness of the moment. There is such peace and opportunity for clarity to be born in my mind. I can go for hours just having nothing in the background except my heart speaking to the Lord, or more importantly, allowing God to speak to me.

When the temple was being constructed, scriptures say there was an absence of hammers, chisels, and other iron tools on the temple grounds. You may ask why? According to the book of Joshua, instructions were given through Moses to build the altar for burnt offerings and sacrifice with uncut stones. This seems like such a minor thing, but there was to be no defilement in the building of the altar of the Lord. The altar of the Lord was to be different than the altars built for false worship all around them.

King Solomon established this act of worship as the temple of the Lord was being built. No hammering, not chiseling or any other defilement is how I read it.

In the New Testament, we are reminded by the apostle Paul that we are the temple of the Lord. God, the Spirit of the Living God, lives inside of us with all power and authority! How can I hear if I'm constantly talking? How can I listen if I welcome every morning like the world does?

The world calls it the hustle and bustle of life. The phrase itself sounds noisy! I grew up in NYC. That phrase reminds me of yellow cabs and horns! “Get your paper here, get your paper here.”

The God of the heavens and the earth desires time with me. “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:147)

Reverence is a word we should use when we think of our God. That’s what God deserves.

What can I learn from scripture as I read the history of how the house of God was being built? Reverence. Respect. Worship God according to His Word.

Take a peek; the temple is being built according to God’s plan. No chaos. What we see is the unfolding of God’s instructions. What we hear is awe and respect.

“He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” ~Psalm 46:10

Feeling frazzled? Does it feel too noisy? Go, hide quietly in the presence of God. He still speaks today and desires some quiet time with you!

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” ~Romans 12:1

HUSH. It's time to worship the Lord.

God bless you! ~Liz

Free Indeed!

Discouragement was trying to visit me today. The thing is, I almost opened the door!

Today I did not attend church, which is very, very rare. I’ve been feeling under the weather, battling a cold and allergies.

I sat outside my home listening to the sermon on my phone. I was trying to catch some sun rays. It felt refreshing!

As I turned to go inside, something caught my eye. I have excellent peripheral vision. I looked closely, and it was a tiny little sparrow. He was tangled in a very thin vine. I tried to poke him to see if he was alive. He did not like the poking!

I ran inside after calling my sister, who lives an hour away. You see, my brother-in-law is an animal whisperer. He has rescued many sparrows.

Anyway, she assured me she could not drive up to my home for this rescue! I went inside and got some old rags and proceeded to try to extract this little creature. He was not happy. Perhaps he thought I was the hand of danger. I spoke to him. “It’s ok, little creature. I’m trying to help you. It’s ok.”

Somehow, I managed to untangle him from some tiny vine trying to choke life out of him.

I could feel his wings fluttering inside the palm of my hands. He was chirping. He was afraid.

Hallelujah. I grabbed him and kept him sealed in my hands.

I transferred him to the side of the house and kept speaking to him as I prayed to the LORD. “It’s going to be alright. Lord, help this little creature.”

I was concerned to open my hands and find this little bird losing its life.

As I opened my hands and placed him on the table, Hallelujah, the little sparrow began to fly to the highest tree in my front yard. He was free. Free indeed!

As I began to rejoice, the Spirit of the Lord ministered to my heart.

You are free!

God is always speaking. He’s always watching. He intervenes in the affairs of men.

He is a Good, Good Father!

Indeed, I was free!

Happy Mother's Day!

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  (Matthew 10:28-31) 

If the Oxen Stumble, STEP BACK!

We arrive at God's house week after week. We tell
ourselves that we're going to worship the King. 

Reverence, do we present it? Does it fill the room?  Are we in awe of the King?

Uzzah, son of Abinadad, has much to teach us from the scriptures regarding worship.

How do we know if we're worshipping God in a way that is acceptable and pleasing to him?

God himself will teach us. 

In 2 Samuel, we find King David moving the Ark of the Lord.  There was a celebration, and everyone thought they were pleasing the Lord.

Uzzah’s great intentions cost him his life.

If the oxen stumble, step back!

“When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.” (2 Samuel 6:6-7)

It's difficult to understand the severity of the punishment.

God's reverence must be learned from the Scriptures. He's the Designer.

“Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;  tremble before him, all the earth!” (Psalm 96:7-9)

God, the Creator of mankind, was pleased to create a people for himself. The fall of man has thwarted, impeded our relationship with our Creator.

Have I walked into his courts at times with disregard in my heart, not fully understanding I am in the presence of the Living God?

“God had created man so He could look into him and see reflected there more of His own glory than He could see reflected in the starry skies above. But now the mirror was dimmed and blurred. When God would look at sinful man, He no longer could see His own glory.” a

“Disobedient man had become sinful man. He had failed to fulfill the purpose of his creation to worship his Creator in the beauty of holiness.” a

From the moment that the Lord began to knit us in our mother's womb, the creator desired worship, relationship, and a heart that would be pleased to communicate with him.

I wonder if he was singing over me when he put me together in the secret place? When he deposited the gifts in me, did he see all I could be? When his Holy Spirit drew close to me and called me, was his heart rejoicing when I said yes?

Scripture says that he does sing over me.  Every good and perfect gift comes from Him.
He has equipped the church so that it can thrive. He loves us!

He desires fellowship with us.

“God was glorified in His Son, even though at His Son's death the glory was terribly marred. Sinful men plucked His beard, bruised His face, tore out His hair. They made great blue lumps on His forehead. Then they nailed Him to the cross. There He groaned and sweated and suffered for six hours before He finally gave up His spirit and died. The bells in heaven rang out because lost man had now been redeemed. The way of pardon and forgiveness had been opened for sinners.”^a

His love is relentless!

“Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.  When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,  while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Samuel 6:12-15)

Reverence, pour it out on HIM!

Admiration, lavish it on HIM!

We were made to worship God! That's our purpose!

We must enter his gates with thanksgiving and awe for our Creator!

He still wants us!  The Fall did not forever remove us from his presence. 

“We have wonderful news for you! It is the good news that the God who created us did not give us up. He did not say to the angels, "Write them off and blot them from My memory." Rather, He said, "Oh, I still want them! I still want them to be a mirror in which I can look and see My glory. I still want to be admired by My people. I still want My people to enjoy Me and have Me forever." So God sent His only begotten Son through the miracle of: the Incarnation. When Jesus walked the earth He was the reflected glory of God. The New Testament says that He is the effulgence of God's glory and the brightness of His person. When God looked at Mary's son, He saw Himself reflected.” a

In the Garden, Sin tried to kill us.

Today, interruptions and distractions desire to keep us from worshiping our God.

What does the Word of God say?

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4)

Respect and Admiration are yours, Lord!

Let's approach his house with confidence.  He desires to commune with us. 
We were created to worship God.  

Let the room be filled! Magnify him.  Lose yourself in Him.
We are complete when we worship the Lord, our Creator.

I was made to worship.
Come on and bless the Lord with me!

I will magnify your Name, Jesus.

God bless you!~Liz

^a Whatever Happened to Worship

It's a Gift From God!

It's hard to look in the mirror and admit our faults.
We have weaknesses that we surrender to, the flesh
that calls out to be satisfied as the Spirit tries to transform us into the likeness of Christ.

This morning, my thoughts were interrupted by a reality that is not true at all. I had a thought to call my mom. But for those who know me, you’re aware that my mom passed away almost 14 years ago.  It felt so real. I wanted to pick up the phone just to hear her voice.

I quickly turned my thoughts into prayer.  My mom was a petite woman but of great strength.  She taught me most of what I know.  She shaped me into the homemaker I am and taught me to be kind and generous.  She demonstrated to me how much can be had out of nothing. She was resourceful.  

It may feel like I'm going down a rabbit hole, but this one thought led me, with tears in my eyes, into a time of Thanksgiving with God Almighty.

We are all like the thief on the cross.

 The thief was a criminal confirmed by the authorities. He hung on a cross next to Jesus and, with no recourse, called on Jesus for eternal life and forgiveness. He wasn't forced to call on Jesus, but as he was drawn to his Creator, his confession sealed his fate.

For most of us, death is not knocking at the threshold of our door.  Yet, in reality, no one knows when God will call us to give an account for the brief moments of life on this earth.

We dismiss the call, thinking we have more time.  Perhaps the reasoning is that we’re not that bad. 

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

This criminal’s eyes were opened to the Messiah, the Son of God, who hung next to him. 

“And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

Jesus came to set the captive free, the one bound to the desires of the flesh. The flesh that calls us to satisfy, gratify, and give in to all that is contrary to the Spirit of God. 

An honest, deep look reveals the intent of our hearts and the things that we may not be so proud of. 

Yet, God loves us!

Sin has left us blind and deaf, but God has come to open our eyes and give us new life. 

Forgiveness leads to eternal life.  It’s a gift from God.

In an unusual course of events, with 24 hours unbeknownst to me or my mom, God was ready to call her to himself.

In God's mercy, he impressed on me the need to share the gospel with my mom one more time. 

That night, she called out to God and surrendered her life to him.

The next morning, she was present with Him! 

So teach us to number our days. (Psalms 90:12-14)

I will indeed see my mom again.  I can't pick up the phone and hear her voice, but when the Father calls me home, I'll see her again.

Rejoice! Blessed is the King, the One who comes in the name of the Lord. (Luke 19:38a)

Emmanuel, God with us! 

Happy Palm Sunday!

Forgiveness leads to eternal life.  It’s a gift from God.

God bless you!~Liz

A Gentle Breeze

"The wind blows wherever it pleases.
You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  (John 3:8 )

As I sit outside this morning and hear the rustling of the leaves, it’s a gentle breeze that’s producing the beautiful song. It brought a smile to my face.

My grandparents lived in Fajardo, PR. Today I was reminiscing over a visit when I was a little girl.

My grandma’s house was surrounded by trees with lots of shade. Her balcony was huge, or at least it was to me. There was a little house in the back that I could enter. I remember a sewing machine and just a quaint room that beckoned invitation.

No matter where I was in her big lot of land, the trees covered everything. I could feed the chickens, catch slugs on the ground, or climb the mango tree and have a treat. At night, I would sit with my grandfather on the porch, taking in the lessons on how to play Dominoes.

It’s amazing how just the rustling of the trees can flood my mind and bring me back to a vivid childhood memory, a beautiful memory!

As the birds are singing this morning and only nature’s song is flooding my ears, the Lord also whispered to me.

He reminded me that my grandma, Felicita, was a Christian. I don’t ever remember going to church with her or even knowing or understanding the walk that she had with God. I do recall that after she died, she gave her bible to my cousin.

As life progressed, in my twenties, I, too, began to serve the Lord. My cousin became ill, and I remember visiting her at the hospital. As life was slipping away from her and the transition was approaching, I recall pulling out a Bible and reading from the book of Psalms to her. I began to encourage her and speak about the Lord and his goodness to her.

Sharing with other relatives, I pointed to my grandma’s Bible in my cousin's hand. She was not awake or able to converse, but I do know that the Word of the Lord has authority, and it's a testament of all God has left for us. I told my relatives, “Read to her from Grandma’s bible.” The hope of eternal life is in the Book.

Did Grandma go to church and pray for her family? I have been born again and know that once you have this treasure, you want everyone to have it! Maybe grandma did speak to me about the Lord, and I don’t remember. After speaking with my dad today, he said she was always praying, reading, and in church. Perhaps as I walked the land and climbed the trees, she had prayed. She wanted her entire family to encounter the Savior. Indeed, I have!

Even now the wind is blowing, and the trees are moving at the Lord’s command. Even now, the Wind of the Spirit is moving and speaking his purpose and direction over me.

Truly, before I was even born, he knew me.

Pray, read, and worship the Lord. Pray over your lineage that has not yet come forth. Cover those who one day will walk the earth, grandchildren, nephews & nieces. Pray for those who are rebelling against the Lord today. Pray for God’s intervention. Pray fervently and never forget that prayer affects today and tomorrow; it crosses over continents, causes change, and affects future lineage.

Thank you Lord for saving Grandma and saving me.

God bless you!~Liz

The Voice

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19:1)

Often, we speak of hearing God’s voice. But what does that sound like to someone who has never experienced Him?

Recently, I was at a restaurant. As I was leaving, someone called my name. As I turned her face looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place her. 

She recognized my voice from across the restaurant as I interacted with my friends.  Once I got up, she confirmed that the familiar voice indeed was mine!

The Word of God speaks of who he is and goes into great detail on how far he will go to reach us. 

Creation speaks of Him!

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)

I was embarrassed that I did not recognize my friend at first. But a few quick moments into the conversation, and I realized this woman had babysat my son for years. My son is a grown, married man now. It’s been years! Her ear was keen. Mine not so much.

Do we miss God sometimes?  Is our memory short-lived? 

Even above the clashing dishes, the loud laughter, and the din of countless conversations, she recognized the sound of my voice.

Can you hear Him calling?

What I’ve discovered is that our voices are unique. Imagine if your mom and dad had the same voice. That would be creepy! What if your favorite singer’s voice sounded like “Doc”, the inventor of the first time machine from “Back to the Future”? Hmmm, no need to download that song.

The unique sound of our voice is like a fingerprint.

It’s that uniqueness that makes me, me. Each of us have been created special and exceptional in God’s sight. The Scriptures note that we are created in His image. (Genesis 1:27)

As a little girl, I loved going to my grandma’s house. Years later, when she moved to Puerto Rico and the years of life were added, her voice was still Grandma’s voice.

Get a cold, and our voice might get raspy for a short time. Spend some time at the roller rink screaming over the noise and music, and our voices might get hoarse. But this unique feature is one of our trademarks. My voice is still mine.

God, who made us, is that way too. The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) When God speaks through His Word, the heart of God is exposed and is the same from Genesis to Revelation. He loves us in Genesis and through Revelation.

That’s one way we recognize when he speaks. He does not contradict himself.

God, who created life, would not ask us to harm ourselves. God, who sent his Son as a payment for sin, does not want anyone to leave this earth without this gift.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

Have you heard him speak? Has he been calling you? 

His Voice is like no one else. When he speaks, things go into motion: creation, salvation, and the redemptive plan for mankind unleashed.

God speaks through His Word, the Bible. We get to know him better as we remain in it.

“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:32-36)

Lie your back on the countless grains of sand. Look up to his handiwork, the stars that he placed in the sky speak of Him, our Creator. He is everywhere!

I pray that my ears and sight would become keener. Not only to recognize friends from my past but to recognize the God of my present and future!

He's everywhere! Can you hear him?

God bless you!~Liz