Who Do You Say I AM


I AM
Do you call me Serendipity?
Or maybe Providence.Maybe you think of Me as Lady Luck.
You may not recognize Me or accept Me by My given name but that doesn’t change things.

I AM ...
the blues and pinks of sunrise
the purple mountains majesty
the fire in the sky of a sunset

I AM ...
the sweet smell of rain on the desert floor
the soft, sifting snow of a winter morning
the sparkling of a billion stars for you to gaze upon
the bright moon guiding your way through the darkness
the white purity of a perfect flower

I AM ...
the song of birds singing at the beginning of each new day
the scurry of a rabbit’s dash in the noonday sun
the lonely coyote’s call as night crawls across the prairie

I AM ...
the fury of the howling wind
the ebb and flow of the ocean’s tide
the growling thunder in the storm clouds churning above
the white stabs of lightening coming from the heavens
the whispers in a cool breeze

I AM ...
the miraculous creation of tiny toes, fingers, and a heart beating
the breath of the newborn’s first cry
the trusting eyes of an infant
the inquisitiveness of a child
the curiosity of a teenager
the perseverance of an adult
the hope of a grandmother

I AM ...
Alpha and Omega
Beginning and End
I AM King of King and Lord of Lords

Just because you don’t believe in Me doesn’t mean I don’t exist.

I AM God
I believe in you. I created you. And I love you.
Codependency was the preferred psychological catch-word of choice for many in the nineties. A generation discovered that they were too dependent on any number of things.

While the issue of being dependent on drugs or alcohol was a problem being addressed through the 12-step program, something new was springing up in the psychological arena.

People were codependent on other people, on spending money, on their jobs, on success, on anything that seemed an integral part of their happiness … or their perceived happiness.

Family was a big codependent topic. Parents were codependent on children and children were codependent on parents. It all seemed like a vicious circle.

And then even in the religious sector … there was a desire to become codependent on God. Remember the phrase, God is my co-pilot.

I wonder how many look back on that decade at all the money spent on books and therapy and wonder, was it worth it? While they may no longer identify themselves as being co-dependent, what replaced that?

Did a sense of “It’s all about me,” surface then? And in an effort to find a sense of peace within ourselves, did we pass on that selfish attitude. Me first – I’ve got to take care of me before I can be of any good or benefit to anyone else.

What if all of it were stripped away? All the things we find comfort in? What then?

For too many Christians, I think, we struggle valiantly to do what we feel God leading us to do. We seek His will and struggle to walk in it. But what if what God wants from us is too hard. What if it hurts too much? Do we listen to our feelings, thinking that God wouldn’t have us deliberately do something that causes us pain?

If we are mature Christians, we understand that pain will come in our lives through losses and disappointments. And during those times we know God will sustain us. Many have already lived through some of the darkest moments of the soul and found God there.

But what if we have to choose something that causes pain? What if our choice leaves us totally alone. Jesus says, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me …”, Matthew 10:37. It goes without sa
ying that anyone loving anything more than Christ is not worthy of Him. Jesus adds in verse 37, "And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worth of Me."

Too often we associate the hard choices with those in some kind of ministry or mission field. Unfortunately, we have blinded ourselves to the truth. Comfortable Christianity isn’t Christianity at all. Not when it’s become a lifestyle.

We must search ourselves, with the help of the Holy Spirit, and seek to know – truly know – if we are in the Father’s will. Or are we blindly taking the wide gate? Are we avoiding the narrow gate of sacrifice?

Codependence is no longer an issue and with Christ, it never was an issue. It only works one way … total dependency.


Blessings, Francine

Loving God and Loving God

Loving God and loving God are both verb and adjective phrases, both separate and yet intertwined.

If we understand that the Creator is a loving God, then we will love Him. And yet, the more we love Him, the more we come to see a supernatural loving Father. As one grows, so does the other.

It’s been on my heart to share the names of God. These are written throughout the Bible, many times over. Each shows a character of the Creator of the universe.

If we can begin to understand the myriad of traits He has, we begin to see that loving Him and loving Him can become both the center and circumference of our lives. Everything begins with Him and ends with Him -- Alpha and Omega.

  • Elohim, God - Mighty God or supreme God with reference to God’s faithfulness, The Creator, Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 10:17
  • Yahweh, LORD (all caps) - Self-existent or Eternal One, speaks of His holiness, justice, and hatred of sin, The One who exists because of who He is, I AM THAT I AM, Psalm 110:1
  • Adoni, Lord - Master or owner of all things, Genesis 15:1-2, Psalm 8:1, 6-9
  • El Shaddai, Almighty God - Strength, life-giver, the all-bountiful supplier of all blessings, The All-Sufficient One, Genesis 17:1-8
  • El Elyon - God who sits above all others as King of the universe, The God Most High, Genesis 14:18,14:20
  • El Gibbon - Mighty God, The God Who Can Do Anything, Isaiah 9:6-7
  • El-Roi - The God Who sees, Genesis 16:13, Psalm 139:7-12
  • Jehovah - The Self-Existent One, Genesis 2:4, Exodus 3:14-15
  • Jehovah-Jireh - God who will provide all of your needs, The Lord Will Provide, Genesis 22: 1-19
  • Jehovah-Sabaoth - God of heaven’s armies, Lord of Hosts, Psalm 24:10, 1 Samuel 17:42-47
  • Jehovah-Shalom - God who can give you peace, The Lord is Peace, Judges 6:24, Isaiah 48:18
  • Jehovah-Rapha - God who restores, strengthens, and heals you, The Lord Who Heals, Exodus 15:22-27, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 103:1-3
  • Jehovah-Nissi - God the One you can follow as your authority, The Lord is My Banner, Exodus 17:15, Deuteronomy 20:3,4
  • Jehovah-Tsidkenu - God the One who thinks and acts in a way that is just, right, and good, The Lord Our Righteousness, Jeremiah 23:6
  • Jehovah-Raah - The Lord my Shepherd, Psalm 23
  • Jehovah-Shammah - God who is present at all times, The Lord is There, Ezekiel 48:35, Psalm 73:25-28
  • Jehovah M’Kaddesh - God who brings you to the place of separation from sin and dedication to God, The Lord Who Sanctifies, Leviticus 20:7-8
Blessings, Francine

FEAR NOT

I’ve never been an alarmist, especially when it comes to scripture and references to the “End Times.” I’ll leave that to others.

Yet, I cannot ignore the state our world is in. Who can turn a blind eye to the daily increases in fuel costs, food, or home foreclosures or the almost daily decrease in home sales or the closing numbers of the stock market? Storms and natural disasters recently have taken their toll in thousands of lives lost.

I don’t think we can argue that we live in unsettling times.

I often wonder about those who have no faith in God. Many are quick to blame Him but that’s about as far as they go in recognizing the Creator of the universe.

Where do they find comfort? How do they escape the fear that seems to be creeping into every society around the globe?

Where do they find hope?

I won’t speculate on the times we are in. Jesus himself said no man knows the hour of His return. “So also, when you see these things happening, you may recognize and know that He is near, at [the very] door. But of that day or that hour not a [single] person knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:29, 32, Amplified Bible

What I will do is point to the Savior’s words that give hope to the hopeless, peace to the worried, comfort to the afflicted:

And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea,

Men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great (transcendent and overwhelming) power and [all His kingly] glory (majesty and splendor).

Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near. Luke 21:25-28, Amplified Bible

There are many references in the Bible that read like today’s headlines.

I don’t use scare tactics but I do believe in the Truth of God’s word. A little book that came out in 1974, The Vision by David Wilkerson, reads more realistic today than it did back then. If you are looking for truth in prophesies of the Bible lived out in the 21st Century, read this book. When you do, never forget that God’s in control.

My prayer is that you will come to a deeper understanding of the Creator’s love for YOU. Check out these web sites:

Running on Empty

Power to Change

Blessings, Francine


Taking God for Granted

Do you take God for granted? Now, before you answer that, you might want to consider a few things.

I’m not necessarily talking about skipping quiet time or having a regular prayer time. Many of us lead pretty hectic lives. It is sad that when we most need to hear a word from God we end up missing those appointments with the lover of our soul.

What about when you’ve come through a particularly painful time? Too often we bask in the peace that surrounded us and never realize from Whom that peace came. Or do you even look back and recognize the Lord’s footprints in your life? Just like we often credit our successes when they aren’t ours at all, but our Heavenly Father strengthening us and giving us the power to keep on keeping on.

All of us suffer from stress. There are always so many things screaming for our attention -- work, family, kids, and sometimes even church.

A loud warning alarm should screech within our souls when chaos, frustration and anxiety begin to be the normal pattern of our lives. Because that is not what God has in mind for us. He didn’t design us to live on the edge -- the edge of our emotions, the edge of our peace, or the edge of our sanity.

In all honesty, today’s society gives more time to learning how to operate their new computer or navigate the internet than learning about the Creator. Without knowing God and experiencing an intimate relationship with Him through Jesus, we’ll never recognize His voice when He speaks to us.

It’s not as complicated as you might think. Reading the Bible is where one begins. Within the truth of the Creator’s words, we begin to hear Him. That really is the first step of obedience in living a life that brings peace with God, each other, and, maybe most importantly, peace in your heart.

While ignoring God hurts the Father, it does far more damage to ourselves.

Now ask yourself, are you hearing what God has been speaking to you?

Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world.” John 16:31, The Message

Blessings, Francine

Getting Real

We can get so caught up in our doing that we lose touch with the reality God wants us to see.

It doesn’t have to do with the shape our world is in, the state of our economy, or the political climate – national or international.

It doesn’t have to do with programs, preachers, or churches.

It does have everything to do with getting real.

Before we can even begin to understand God’s purpose for our life or the path He wants us to follow, we must first hear Him. I fear most of us are so lost in this technological age of new gadgets, instant messaging and the interconnected global community, that we rarely have time to breathe, let alone stop and smell the roses. And forget about spending time with the One who actually created those roses.

If you want to truly hear from God, you need to open that channel of communication. It can’t be done by fly-by-night prayers or by opening your Bible, selecting a random verse, and expecting instant messaging.

Yet, it isn’t a complicated thing – this knowing when God speaks. You don’t need a diploma, a degree, or a learned theologian to explain it. It’s so simple. And maybe that’s why most of us have been fooled into thinking otherwise. For more than 20 years, I was deceived into thinking I needed to learn how to get close to God.

The reality is that you get close to Him the same way you get close to your parents, your children, or someone you love.

Read the Bible. Every day. If nothing else, start at the beginning and read. Pray before you begin that God would speak to you through His word. Then pray again. Morning prayers help each of us to begin our day in our Creator’s presence. Evening prayers open up our spirit and allow God to work, even as we sleep.

Don’t let Satan deceive you as he’s deceived millions of other Christians sincerely searching and seeking a word from the Lord. There’s no special program to follow. We don’t need anyone to speak for us. The words are there in black and white and each of us has a voice to use in talking with our Father.

BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. Psalm 1:1-3, Amplified Bible
Blessings, Francine
 
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