Happy New Year

New year, new expectations, challenges, trials, but lets try to stay positive!

Return to the stronghold,

You prisoners of hope.

Even today I declare

That I will restore double to you.

Zechariah 9:12

That is God's promise to you, if you did not take hold of that promise last year, this is the year. Have an expectation of things God will do in your life, hold on fast to them and just wait. God is faithful and He always provides for His people. Become not a prisoner of sorrow, envy, lust, anxiety but rather become a prisoner of HOPE. As prisoners are bound to jail, be bound to God, make Him your stronghold, make Him your refuge. If you don't understand something go to Him, for He is the wisdom of all ages. If you can't do something, let Him for nothing is impossible for Him. If you are weary, He will give you rest.

But you must become a prisoner of HOPE.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE.

1 Corinthians 13:13

"FAITH is what sustains you, HOPE is what propels you, & LOVE is what keeps you." -Pastor Nahum Rosario

My Prayer

This was todays prayer, I pray it also becomes yours.

Heavenly Father. God of eternal love and mercy. Father I plead the blood of Your Son upon me, cleanse me, deliver me, change me, exchange my heart for Your heart. Make me a priest that ministers before Your presence continuously. Dress me in Your holy garments make me the apple of Your eyes, that I may never depart from Your presence. God I need You, more than a career, more than my family, I need You. I desire You.

God I want to be utterly consumed by You. Take me over oh God. Find pleasure in me. Dance over me with gladness and thanksgiving. Rejoice over me. Be pleased with my heart. Heavenly King search me, know me, have me. God I long for You.

Holy Spirit, precious Spirit be my friend, my all consuming fire, be my holiness and righteousness. Holy Spirit captivate my spirit, let my spirit fall in love with You, let my spirit know You. Let my spirit be poor, contrite and broken. Let it be irresistible to You.

Hear my cry oh God, don't turn Your face from me. Hear my prayer oh Lord, I need You Father for what can I do without You, who can I trust if not You? I call out to You for You are faithful and hear the prayer of Your people. You who sits on the highest throne, You that hold the universe in Your hands, You who knows the heart of every man and woman. You who silence the waters with a simple command. You who quiets my soul with love. You who rejoices when I rejoice and feels my pain and anguish. God I want to love You with everything I do, with everything I have, with everything I am. For what I do is by You, what I have is because You gave it and who I am is who You made me.

My God You made me with a purpose, You created me with a plan in mind. I ask what was that purpose? What was that plan? What did You create me for? Father if it was to love You, teach me to love You with all I have, let me be head over heals, crazy in love, madly in love, no one else can please me like you in love with You. If it was to be a giver, give me a giving heart and provide that I may always have something to give. If it was to speak of You, give me a voice, bold and passionate. If it was to serve You, give me a servants heart, willing to do as commanded without questioning or fearing.

God You have me, now use me! You possess me, You contain me, You consume me, You please me, You give me joy, peace, rest, laughter, passion, boldness, courage, desire, longing, thirst, hunger, compassion. God You created me, I was fearfully and wonderfully made. You saw me before anyone else knew I existed. You knew me by name, knitted me in my mother's womb, held me before anyone, loved me before anyone could love me. Saved me when I was ready to drown, healed me when my wounds were so deep I though I would die. You held me in place when I was ready to flee. You renewed my mind. You restored me. You my God have me. I am Yours. Your possession.

Papa to be found in You, to be lost in You is my only desire.

For God so loved the world

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should no perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16

Many have read this verse, many probably know this verse by heart but I don't think we understand it's meaning. The verse reads, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." Yes, because He loved you, He gave His only Son but that's not the only reason Jesus died on the cross for you. He gave His Son to save not only you but a dying world. We need to spread the good news, Christ lives and there's hope of salvation through Him.

I must confess I am one of those that have read this verse as, "for God so loved me that He sent His Son to save me" a very selfish way of thinking of this. God loved you when He sent His Son to save you. God loves you when you sin against Him and He is willing to forgive you if you willingly and wholeheartedly repent.

God longs for a deeper, more personal relationship with His creation. God sent His Son to save not only you but a world and it is our job, our right and our responsibility to spread the good news to all those that are willing to believe in Him. That is God's only condition for salvation, is that we believe.