The Birth of Jesus Christ
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them (Luke 2:1-20).
Affirmations; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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I’ve Got the Victory!
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37, ESV
I’ve got the victory! Those words just landed in my spirit and immediately made me think of gospel artist Yolanda Adams. Her song “Victory” speaks to all kinds of trials and tribulations that one might go through, reminding us that we have victory in Jesus.
At times in life, it can be very difficult to see that victory. We are hopeful that things will turn out right but many times we have no idea what the outcome of our circumstances will be. Despite what we see, scripture teaches us that we have the victory in all things through Christ Jesus. I’m reminded of the time when I was finishing high school and heading off to college. Everyone was asking me what I wanted to do, but I had no idea. I was trying to figure out what my next steps would look like. Now in my sixties, when I look back over my life, I can truly say God gave me victory not only in that season but in every dark season I’ve experienced.
We must remember, having victory does not mean everything will always turn out as we would like. God promises that we will have trouble but while weeping may endure for a night, joy will come in the morning (Psalm 30:5). This means that there will be seasons of difficulty, but victory will produce joy in the end.
Think about David and all the struggles he went through before becoming King of Israel. David was a shepherd boy minding his own business when God sent the priest to his house to anoint him to be king. Yet for many years after David was anointed by the priest, King Solomon hunted him down to kill him. David had to hide in caves and villages running for his life. He trusted God and was consistent in prayer, but trouble still came after him. Although his journey to the throne was not as David would have preferred it, God kept him safe and through it all, gave him the victory.
All of our experiences are building character and preparing us for what God has for us next. It is just like being in school. Every move to the next grade requires a test to make sure we are ready for what is ahead. Scripture teaches that God tests us, “…for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). In all our struggles and testing of our faith, the one thing we can be assured is that we have the victory in Jesus!
Father,
Thank you that we have your promise of victory. Many times, we cannot see the victory or your hand at work in our situation. But our hearts are encouraged as we stand on your Word that we are more than conquerors through you who love us! Thank you for victory even when things look so dark. We give you glory and praise for you are our light! Hallelujah! Amen.
Affirmations; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Difficulty
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
I remember when I first accepted Jesus as my personal savior, I thought that everything was going to be perfect! I believed that because I had Jesus, I would not have any problems. All I had to do was talk to Him and He would take care of everything. I missed the part about the suffering, trials, and tribulations as a believer. I did not realize there was a work God had to do in me to get me ready to serve Him.
My husband and I took a walk around a beautiful neighborhood. As we walked around the lake, we saw a young lady across the street taking a picture of her dog. We waved at her, and she waved back and said “Hello!”. It was clear she wanted to talk, so we walked across the street to chat.
She told us a bit about herself and how she was headed back to college soon. She said that she had packed everything up in her car so it would be ready to go and spent some special quite time in the spirit, which gave her a good, pure feeling inside. But after that time in the spirit, she walked outside to see that someone had broken into her car.
She asked how so much evil could have come to her after being in such a pure place. I did not know if she was a believer or not, but I told her that when we decide to do good, evil is always present to discourage us and to turn our hearts back to a place of sin.
In those moments of difficulty God has not left us. He is working things out in our heart so we can be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord our labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:57-58). God has given us the Bible with all the testimonies of those who have come before us to remind us that testing and trials are a part of the journey. He promises that He will be with us in the midst of everything and will never leave us to deal with life’s difficulties on our own.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Exercising Faith
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13, ESV
Apostle Paul penned that he could be content in whatever situation he was in, and he would be able to do it all through Christ who strengthened him. I hear this scripture quoted so many times, but I wondered if we truly understand the magnitude of how Paul could come to a place to pen those words.
Paul truly understood what he was speaking about because of the many trials and tribulations he had been through. We have to remember that Paul was the same individual who when headed to Damascus, requested letters from the high priest to capture those who were disciples of Christ. Scriptures says “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-3).
God met him on the road to Damascus and changed his life forever. Jesus spoke directly to Paul, and he was blinded for three days. He had to wait for Ananias, a disciple of Christ, to heal him. Throughout his journey and by the time he pens those words he had been beaten, left for dead, shipwrecked, mistreated by some of his fellow brothers, sought after to be murdered, and the list goes on. Paul had suffered so many trials that he could say with confidence that no matter what the suffering, whether having an abundance or a little bit, he knew for certain the only way he was able to go through all those things was because Christ strengthened him for the journey.
I believe we all know that God will give us the strength we need to do anything He puts before us, but until our faith has been tested, our words do not have much power. We must remember that even if we fall short in the test, God will not leave us. As a matter of fact, He knows exactly how well we will do. Most times, the test is to bring revelation to us about the level of our faith. I have learned that areas I thought I was good in revealed a different outcome after I was tested. Now I repent and praise God for the journey of bringing me to another level of trust and awareness in Him. May we all one day be able to say, “I am content in whatever situation I am in because I know Christ Jesus will sustain me.”
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Purgeth
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit… John 15:2, KJV
Many times, it’s hard to see the filth and impurity within us, but we can easily point out the fault in someone else. Scripture teaches that we need to remove the plank out of our own eye before we deal with the speck in our brother’s. In the scripture above Jesus is speaking with His disciples about those who are believers in Him. He tells them that every person that is within Him that is not bearing fruit, He purgeth. Even if you are producing fruit, you will be purged so you can produce more. Purgeth in Greek is kathairo, which means to cleanse of filth and impurity.
Purgeth: to rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; cleanse; purify.
Scripture makes it clear that as believers we are constantly being cleansed. Although we study scripture and pray, there is an ongoing work that is being done in us so that we can produce fruit for the kingdom. The other day my husband and I stopped by a coffee shop and ran into someone we both knew. My husband chatted with the gentleman as I went inside to gather our drinks. When I came out, they were still in conversation, so I joined in. We were in discussion about the Word of God and in the midst of our conversation, I made a comment that countered something my husband had just said. My comment came across to my husband like I was the authority on the Bible.
The worst part about the whole conversation is that I did not even realize I had devalued my husband’s comment. Once we’d walked away my husband informed me of what I had done. I was shocked by what he said but as I listened, I understood. I was grieved by what I had done, and I immediately apologized to him and repented to God for my mistake.
God has a way of pruning pride, self-righteousness, and all those things that we can’t see within ourselves. My husband was the individual God used to prune me out of my self-righteousness. That behavior cannot be used to draw others to the kingdom of God. I did not mean any harm by my comment, and he even said it was a good one, but the way I said it was wrong and God will not tolerate that kind of behavior.
We are His vessels and when He cleanses us it will not feel good. Just like a gardener pruning a tree using sharp cutters to prune unruly branches - it’s the same with us. God has to cut the ugliness out of us so we can move in love. His greatest command is that we love. If we cannot walk in love, we are of no use to Him.
Father,
Thank you for loving me enough to correct me. Have your way with me so that I can be used by you to fulfill the purpose for which you brought me here to do. To you be glory and praise. Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Water (3)
So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Jonah 1:15, ESV
In the scripture above Jonah was running away from an assignment God had for him. He was on a boat going in the opposite direction of where God had told him to go. The water of the sea started to rage. It blew so hard that everyone on the boat was afraid. When they realized Jonah was responsible for the problem, he told them to throw him overboard and the sea would calm down. At first they were afraid to do so, but once they did, the sea calmed.
Water can be a strong force depending on the body of water you are in. The water in the ocean is stronger than water in a pool, or a sea, a river or even a lake. But as long as we have the right equipment to operate in the different bodies of water, we can enjoy the experience.
God’s Word is like water – every person needs it. And as long as we obey the Word, we can thrive. Jonah decided to go against God and God used the water to bring Jonah to his knees. But our God is so gracious to us, even when we are drowning because of our own disobedience He sends us help. In Jonah’s case God sent a big fish to swallow him up so he would not drown. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days before he repented and God delivered him on dry land.
There have been times God has told me to do something that I ran from because I was either afraid or procrastinating. It did not take long for the word of God to convict my heart into repentance. I remember one time when I was much younger, I could hear God talking to me and I did not want to do what He said, so I put my hands over my ears and made loud sound with my mouth to block out His words! Yes, I was a Jonah too. But as we know, “…scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…(2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we are not following the rules in the different bodies of water, we can lose our life. It is the same with the Word of God. When we are not following the instructions of the Word, we will not only drown but we will lose our life for all eternity.
Father, we repent from our disobedience and we turn to you. Please forgive me for not obeying you at all times. I ask for your help to be an obedient servant who always follows and obeys your Word. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Water (2)
Give us this day our daily bread…Matthew 6:11, ESV
Every living thing on the earth must have water. Without water, a human being will die in around three days. Up to 60% of the human adult body is made up of water. According to the US Geological Survey, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery, around 31% (USGS, 1945).
In our back yard we have huge sequoia redwood trees. They have grown so much that they keep shade on most of the yard, even though they are only planted on one side. I love how we can sit out in the back when the temperatures are really high, because they keep the area several degrees cooler.
I was sitting out one morning, just being quite before the Lord, and I noticed that these trees were turning brown. Now yes, it had been hot outside, but warm temperatures are normal for our area. Then the Holy Spirit showed me that we still had them on the same watering time as we had when we first moved in, when they were very young trees. The trees had grown up but we had not increased their supply of water. They were telling me that they were dying on the inside. I remembered a few summers back that we had increased their watering time, but had since cut it back due to the rainfall we were having in California. We never returned the watering system back to compensate for their growth.
You know God is always teaching me something. I heard him say, “You cannot spend the same time with me as you did when you were a new believer and expect to continue to grow. Just like those trees need more water, you will need more of me and the Word to continue in growth. One message on Sunday morning is not enough. You will turn up dry and not be able to sustain yourself or be a benefit for me to use you for my kingdom.”
It reminded me of when I was little, how my parents took us to children’s church and Sunday school. What I learned then could never sustain me for now. We must set time on purpose to meet with God, to listen to Him and study His Word. The prayer Jesus gave to the disciples to pray states “…give us this day our daily bread…” (Matthew 6:9-13). God has a supply to carry us throughout the day. We can only get our daily bread if we are sitting before the supplier. But when we don’t spend time with Him, we are trying to operate on yesterday’s supply or even last weeks, which will never sustain us. If we did not need the supply, God would have never told us to ask for it.
Father,
Thank you for the supply of your Word daily. Thank you for reminding us that we cannot sustain ourselves as much as the trees in my yard cannot water themselves. They have to receive a supply from their owner, and we have to do the same. We repent for not seeking you. We ask for help in slowing down our schedule to seek you first so we can be ready for whatever you have for us. We give you glory and praise in Jesus’s name. Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Water (1)
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. Isaiah 44:3, ESV
I love sitting in our backyard. It is so peaceful, and a great place to hear God speak. The other day I was back there, just sitting in God’s presence. I did not want anything, I did not have any need - I just wanted to be around Him, so I sat quietly. While sitting, I looked down at the grass in front of me and I noticed immediately that some of it was turning brown. It was still green but as you looked closer you could see the brown underneath. It needed water.
As I started to look closer at the yard I noticed that other parts were really green. I said to myself, “They all sit under the same sprinkler and get the same watering time, but obviously some get more water than others.” I watched the sprinklers as they came on and noticed that the parts that were turning brown underneath were only getting a drizzle of the sprinkler, while the parts that were really green were getting a full blast.
It made me think about the life of a believer. We all go to church and sit under the same teaching, but the location of our heart determines how much we will receive. We can look good on the outside but be very thirsty on the inside. God says, “I will pour water on the thirsty land…”, (Isaiah 44:3-4). Our soul is thirsty for the Word but we have to be prepared to sit and receive His watering. We can sit in church every Sunday and still receive nothing.
While serving one Sunday as a prayer leader we were told to walk around the congregation and pray for whoever the Holy Spirit led us to. I felt the need to go upstairs to pray. I looked around to see who God was leading me to and I felt like I was not sure. I saw a friend who had just lost her brother, so I went and prayed for her. On my way back from her God said, “Pray for this gentleman,” and when I looked over at him, he had his phone open and I could see that he was looking at porn. Satan does not care that we are in church. He will come and sit with us to distract our heart so we miss the Word of God.
Father, thank you that it is your desire for us to receive your Word. Thank you that we are thirsty for you. I pray that every stronghold of distraction will be broken so that we hear you. Father, show us where we are being deceived so we can repent and turn it all over to you. Thank you for your Word that fills us and gives us your direction. This we pray in Jesus’s name. Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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The Dream
He saw steps going up from the earth to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and down these steps. And he saw the Lord standing above them. He said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your children after you the land where you are lying. They will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread out to the west and the east and the north and the south. Good will come to all the families of the earth because of you and your children. See, I am with you. I will care for you everywhere you go. And I will bring you again to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you. Genesis 28:12-15
In the passage above, Jacob has a dream in which God tells him exactly how He is going to bless him. Jacob had done some very deceitful things to his brother Esau and the last thing you would expect God to say is how much he is going to bless him. But the first encounter Jacob has with God is through this dream - and he hears only good news.
We are so quick to point out all the wrong someone has done. We are never in any way looking to give them a blessing. In actuality, we want to see the individual disciplined and punished for their behavior. Scripture says God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways higher than our ways and God thoughts higher than our thoughts. It is easy to receive the generosity and grace from God but it can be difficult to give that grace to someone else, especially when we are the one who was mistreated.
Scripture teaches us to “…love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…” and “…love our neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31). Despite all the difficult things we see in this world, God reminds us that love is the greatest gift we can give. We can only give this kind of love when we stay constantly connected to the Word of God.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Upper Room (4)
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31-32, NIV
Jesus was in the upper room giving His last instructions to the disciples, telling them what was to come and what He had done for them. In the verse above He specifically tells Peter that he is going to be tested. He lets him know that Satan has requested and has been granted the opportunity to break him down. But Jesus says, “I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32). What a powerful word. Even though Peter must walk through this assignment, he will come through victorious because Jesus has prayed for the strength of his faith.
I loved that God showed us how Peter failed, and how that failure did not stop him from completing his assignment! God made sure to let us know that we are going to mess up. We are going to miss the mark, but that should not stop us from moving on the path He has given us.
My husband and I love to ski. When we took ski lessons, the first thing they taught us was how to fall. It was not a question of if we would fall - we were going to fall, so they taught us the right way to do it. It is the same way in our walk with Christ. There are times we are going to miss it! We cannot allow those mistakes to keep us from fulfilling the assignment God has placed in us.
Scripture says grace and mercy are new every morning - because we need it! When Jesus went to the cross it was not just for the sins of today, but for the mistakes we will make in the future. Listen, the price for our sin was paid before we were even born! That is good news right there! Hallelujah! We cannot give into the condemnation that Satan will try to place on us in an effort to stop us from moving forward. The Holy Spirit will convict our hearts when we are wrong and it is our job to pray, repent, and keep on moving in the call!
Peter prayed, repented, and got right back into fellowship with God. The first time God gave him an opportunity to speak, he moved in the authority of the Holy Spirit and over 3,000 men were saved! Move in the authority God has given you…there are lives depending on it!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Upper Room (3)
“Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.” Luke 22:11, ESV
I love that Jesus gave specific instructions; He never causes us to wonder what we need to do. He told Peter and John that when they got to the city, they would find a man carrying a jug of water. When I first read that passage, I wondered how Peter and John would be able to distinguish which man God was talking about. Through study, I learned that most of the time women were the ones who gathered the water for the household. When Peter and John entered the city and saw a man with the water jug it, would be easy for them to recognize who God was speaking about.
My mind reflected on the man who was bringing the water to his house. He was just doing his regular daily task. He had no idea that Jesus was going to use him that day. Jesus had planned to use his home before the beginning of time to host His last supper. What an honor for that man! Our God is so amazing, He has everything so laid out - down to the finite, minute details of how and when we move.
God is consistently telling us not to worry, not to fear, because He knows how everything is going to work out. This portion of scripture could have been completely left out of the Bible, but I think God purposed it to remind us that He sees us, even when we’re carrying pitchers of water to our home. God used a task that seems so insignificant to remind us to stay true to the task He has given us, for He has purpose for it all. Amen! Be encouraged! God sees you and you are right where He wants you to be!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
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Upper Room (2)
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. John 13:2, NIV
Jesus had reserved the upper room for Him to meet with His disciples for their last physical Passover meal together. Scripture says the evening meal was being served and before they had even eaten, the devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus. Listen, when God called all His angels to a meeting, the devil was permitted to show up too. While at this meeting, God asked the devil where he had been, and Satan replied “…going out to and fro throughout the earth”, seeking whom he may devour (Job1:7).
Satan is always strategizing, looking for a way to take us down. He is consistently watching his targets to strike at just the right time. Judas was in the inner circle with Jesus. He had access to Jesus daily, he heard all of the teaching and saw all of the miracles, yet Satan was able to capture his soul.
Scripture teaches us that Judas was a thief. He was the one holding the money bag for Jesus and he would take money out whenever he wanted. Jesus knew that Judas was a thief, but it did not stop Jesus from having Judas in the upper room meal. Jesus is always at the door of our heart knocking, asking us to let Him come in. The choice is always up to us. Because Judah was a thief, he had opened the door to Satan and gave him mastery over him. Up until the very last moment he had an opportunity to turn his heart to Jesus. But because he had opened that door, Satan was ready to strike and moved right in.
We can’t go back and change what we’ve already done. Scripture says that when Judas saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse for turning Him in. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priest, but it was too late. Judas went away and hung himself. His decision was final.
Jesus came so that we could change our lives and be part of the upper room fellowship with Him, but Satan is always looking for an open door. We have to make sure we know who has mastery over us, and we do this by staying in the Word. We must spend time with him daily. For he tells us to pray, “give me my daily bread” he has food to keep us nourished so we don’t give over to Satan. Amen
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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Upper Room (1)
He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there. Luke 22:12
Passover is a celebration of the day God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In Luke 22 Jesus instructs Peter and John to go to the city to make preparations for them to eat the Passover. He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, ‘Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there” (Luke 22:10-12, ESV).
The upper room would have been on the roof of a typical home. It may have been open-air or covered by some sort of canopy. It was a room where family and friends would gather at the end of a long day. This is the place where Jesus hosted His last Passover meal with the disciples. It is where they received His final instructions before He went to the cross. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, tells them what will happen in the future, leaves them with encouragement, prays over them, and promises that He would send them a Helper. He purposefully hosted them in a “large upper room”, a place on which they could reflect, remembering their last physical meeting with Jesus, and be encouraged.
We can all have this upper room experience when we have a designated place where we meet with Jesus. Jesus had a special relationship with His disciples. He wanted to spend time with them in a place where no one could disturb them. When my husband and I started dating we would always look for places where we could be alone to spend time together. We wanted to get to know one another and develop our relationship. It is that same desire that God wants us to have with Him. He invites us to develop a relationship with Him (Matthew 11:28-30) so we can experience all that He is and receive all that He has for us. We cannot develop this type of relationship with distractions and other people around us. We have to get to a secret place, a place with just us and God, and He will begin to open up to us in ways we could never imagine.
When I first started my private time with Jesus it was in a closet in my house. There was no other room that was available so I would go in my closet and sit with God. I would take my Bible and a notepad and God would meet me there. When you have a sacred place with God, you set it aside for an encounter with Him and that place becomes like a portal. It makes room for a spiritual encounter, for relationships to grow deeper. It is a safe place to be transparent with YHWH. I encourage you to go, set up a place, and have this intimacy with Him. You will never regret it.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My recently published books are now available at:
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Judgement Day
I was sitting in the jury area waiting to see what would become of my day. I knew this was the appointed time for me to be there, so I expect to be chosen for an assignment. As I glanced around the room, I saw people all over waiting to see if they would be selected too. Some individuals were on their phones, reading books, playing puzzles, or just sleeping as they waited to hear their fate.
My mind started to drift off and I began thinking about what the day of judgement would look like when Jesus returns. I wondered about how different we will all be, and about those who were waiting for their trail to start. I wondered if they were as relaxed and comfortable as we were. I would suspect they were a little more anxious and unsure of their fate. Their attorneys had prepared their cases to the best of their abilities and their clients were trusting in them to win.
This of course brought me right back to my own Judgement Day! As I started to mediate on it, my heart went out to those who have not prepared for their trial. The word says, “But why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God, for it is written, ‘As I live says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God’. So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12). The more I dwelt on this scripture it became clear to me that we are all guilty.
The word says, “…for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). There is absolutely nothing we can humanly do to defend ourselves before a righteous God. “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one…’” (Romans 3:10). The decision of whether we are guilty or innocent has already been decided. We just need to make sure we have the right attorney defending our case.
Jesus Christ has already taken the penalty for our sin. He paid the price. If we have accepted Him as our personal savior, as our attorney, we are saved. We will have eternal life. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:28-30). But if we do not accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, guilt is inevitable, and no one can stand to protect us. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Father, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to accept you as our personal Savior. Thank you that we will have no fear on Judgement Day, for you have paid the price for our sins. We pray for those who are lost that the eyes to their hearts will be opened to receive you. We give you glory and praise in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My recently published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
Closer Than We Think
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. James 1:17, ESV
Some time ago, my husband and I went to Canada, and we truly enjoyed the accommodations that God blessed us with. We rented a place through Airbnb and the location was on the 12th floor of the building. It was about 2:00am on Sunday morning when I was looking out over the city from our bedroom. The view was phenomenal. The city was lit up in lights. Although most people were sleeping, I could see lights all over the city. I wondered what God was trying to show me. What was the message He wanted me to share with you? I could see the CN tower (The CN Tower is a 553.3 m-high concrete communications and observation tower in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada) from my window and it is lit up with dark blue lights tonight. I learned that each night is a different color represents an event happening in the city. That night, the Toronto Argonauts, a professional Canadian football team, was competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League.
God said, “Just like you see the lights of the city late at night when everyone should be sleeping, that is exactly how I am. My light is always shining. I am always visible; I am closer to you than you know.” He is in everything - the structure of the buildings, in the lights of the city, in the streets, in all that man has put his hands together to build. It all came from our Father. The weather, the trees, all of it was brought to man by God.
He put the vision in the mind of man and man followed God’s instruction. He reminded me of Noah who built the first boat. He said, “I am still giving man direction. Everything you see in the natural comes from the place of the supernatural where things are truly real.” We have been deceived into believing that what we see is the real thing when actually, what we don’t see is the real thing!
Nothing on this earth can come forth without the activation of what we don’t see! God wants us to know that He is real and everything that is manifested on the face of the earth is from Him. Nothing can be built, designed, or done without the power of the Holy Spirit.
God gave man power so that whatever he puts his mind to, he can accomplish because we are made in the image of our Father (see Genesis 11:1-9). Sometimes it can feel as though we are in this world all alone and God is not here, but He wants us to be encouraged. All we have to do is look out of a window and see Him in everything! Our Father never leaves us or forsakes us. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9
Charged
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11, ESV
Every morning when I wake up, I head to my prayer room. I immediately put my phone on the charger because during the night I let scriptures play and my battery is usually pretty low. I can’t tell you how many times I drop that phone on the charger and think “Okay God, I am ready to get charged!”
It’s interesting how God has designed us. Our bodies need to recharge so that we can function throughout the day. Some people can go a couple of days without sleep, but the body eventually shuts down. It’s the same with our spiritual charge. We cannot expect to be prepared to serve God with His unconditional love for others when we have not given ourselves the spiritual charge we need in order to be the best servants.
I have a regular standing appointment with God daily at 5:00p.m. My spirit knows that it will receive a fresh anointing and strength for whatever is next. I look forward to that quiet time. There are days, however, when I have conflicts and miss the appointment, but I will say a prayer at that time and ask God to help me because I know myself. I need the overflow of the Holy Spirit to keep me going. When we don’t get our spirit charged, we are just like a cell phone with low battery. We are of no use to God. Scripture says to meditate on God’s word day and night, so that you know what to do. His word is our instruction manual. Blessing comes to those who make sure they are charged daily by it. If your charge is too low, you will miss your blessing because you do not have the discernment to hear the Holy Spirit and recognize a blessing right in front of you.
Listen, one evening the Holy Spirit said, “Let’s go take a walk”. He told me that I did not need my purse, but we were going to walk to a coffee shop and get a drink. I remember thinking, “God, am I hearing you right, don’t carry my purse?” I was so tempted to carry it or put money in my pocket, but I obeyed His voice. When I got to the coffee shop, they were promoting a new drink and the manager offered to make me one for free! Had I not been spending time getting charged, I would have missed my blessing. Be encouraged, stay charged!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My recently published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
Enslaved
“…people are slaves to whatever masters them” (2 Peter 2:19, NIV).
Slave: a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them. synonym: bondman, bondwoman, bondservant, bondslave, serf, vassal, thrall
When I hear the word slave, immediately my mind goes to the brutal mistreatment that my ancestors suffered because of the color of their skin. When I looked up the definition of slavery on the internet, pictures of auction blocks depicting the way my ancestors would have been treated were displayed. My heart aches with pain because of the complete and utter brokenness that was in this country at that time. Slavery was a result of a deceptive and destructive spiritual scheme led by Satan himself. The saddest part is that few people recognized or understood that Satan was and still is the ruler behind this awful atrocity.
Scripture says, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5, KJV). From birth we were all enslaved to Satan and he is constantly devising plans to set us up to destroy ourselves and each other. He is the lord of all evil. He moves around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We would never think of ourselves as enslaved by anyone because we cannot see Satan in the flesh. Satan knows we think with our natural carnal mind instead of with our spiritual mind, therefore it gives him the advantage to keep us in bondage. He deceives many into believing that since we cannot see him, he must not be real; therefore, we direct our revenge at the wrong enemy.
In America, everyone believes we are free. Earlier this month, we celebrated our Independence Day. Many people put American flags on their homes and all kinds of fireworks were set off to commemorate this occasion. Satan keeps us focused on the natural things which are passing away so we will continue to be enslaved to him.
However, all is not lost, for we have a choice of whom or what will master us. Scripture teaches that Jesus came to the earth, lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sin. He paid the price to give us a choice of a new master. The choice is up to us, we can be mastered by Satan, the lord of all evil or Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords who gives eternal life. Any other choice besides Jesus Christ is a choice of Satan. Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
We are all enslaved but because of Jesus Christ we have a choice.
Father,
Thank you for giving us a choice to live eternally with you, we know that your yoke is easy and your burdens are light. According to Romans 10:9, if we declare with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. We ask you to become the master ruler over our lives.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My recently published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
Sitting
For as the rain cometh down and the snow from the heaven, and retuneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. Isaiah 55:10, KJV
I sat with the Holy Spirit this morning. He was extremely quiet and I found my mind wondering all over the place. I finally said, “Holy Spirit, my mind is going all over the place. What should I be doing? Do you want me to read the Bible or listen to some music because I cannot hear you.”
He said these words to me: “When you sit quietly, I am strengthening your roots. They are growing deeper. When you sit here, your roots are being watered.” He reminded me of this scripture: For as the rain cometh down and the snow from the heaven, and retuneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater (Isaiah 55:10, KJV).
When we sit quietly in God’s presence we have entered into the Holy of Holies. We are sitting in the third heaven with Him. Our spirit has moved to the supernatural and change is taking place on the inside of us. I said to the Holy Spirit, “There are times I just want to come to you and sit and give you praise without requesting anything.” He was pleased with my request, but told me it is impossible for me not to receive anything because every time we are with Him we get all that He is!
I said, “Well, what about when my mind sometimes runs all over the place?” He reminded me that Satan is always trying to distract us from Him, but it is also a reminder to us that we are in the right place doing the right thing. Warfare always comes when we are where God wants us to be. He reminded me that I was in the perfect place to lay everything that comes to my mind on the altar! I remember hearing a pastor say, “Satan only comes when you have something for him to steal.” I encourage you to take some time to just sit with God. Let your roots go deep so that you can bring forth much fruit for the kingdom! Amen
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My recently published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
Blessed are the Forgiven
During my time of prayer with God I was seeking a word to feed my soul. As I was thinking about what to read, the Holy Spirit led me to a verse I had written in my journal…
How joyful is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose sin is covered (never seen). How joyful is the one who the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2
As I thought about that scripture, I wanted to know the backstory of why David wrote this psalm. I found that as I read more of the psalm it explains David’s heart. He had not confessed the sins he had committed. He found that as long as he held on to it, it would eat away at him, and all of his strength would leave him. He says in v3-4…
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
When we continue in our sin and do not repent to God it will leave us heavy and broken. I remember when I was doing my own thing - sleeping around, running to parties, hanging out, trying to be cool. But when the next morning came there was this feeling of complete guilt. Though I knew right from wrong I wanted to live on my own terms. I can relate to David saying that day and night your hand was heavy on me. I would try and push away the promptings of conviction from God. He would not allow those convictions to go away (praise God!) which eventually led me to repentance. The hardest thing for me was asking for forgiveness, because I knew I was going against God’s word.
Satan tempts us into a life of sin, then lays a heavy guilt on us when we desire to turn to God for forgiveness. That is why David says pray to God immediately while He can be found. Because if we linger too long we will learn to ignore God’s promptings of convictions and will find ourselves washed away in the great flood of waters.
That is why David starts this psalms with how blessed are those whose sins are forgiven! There is no record of our sin when we ask for forgiveness. We are blameless. Satan can no longer eat at our hearts about our sin and cannot take it to God to condemn us! Hallelujah!!!
Father,
Thank you for just your unconditional love. Thank you for consistently moving our hearts toward change. We are ever grateful that you love us so much, and that even in our sin you work to draw us nearer to you. Hallelujah our King! To you be glory and praise!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
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My recently published books are now available at:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Life%27s+Journey+volume+2+Jacqueline+Crooks&language=en_US&ref=nb_sb_noss
Adopted
Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child]. Psalm 27:10
Sometimes parents just fail their children. It is not usually on purpose, as they normally want the best for them. But what we fail to understand is that parents are perfectly imperfect people who, in trying to be perfect themselves, make mistakes. Parents don’t always have the best relationship with God and therefore miss His instruction on how to deal with the precious creations He’s given them.
I find it so interesting how our minds seem to only go back to the things our parents did wrong. Rarely do we focus on the things they did right. I know I can name situation after situation in which my parents did things that made me feel unprotected, uncared for and unfairly treated. As I am sitting here writing, I realize those moments take up space in my mind, space I could use for remembering all the good they did for me.
Now as a parent, I can understand the challenges my parents had with raising me and my siblings. I can now see where they were coming from based on their upbringing. This knowledge has softened my heart and caused me to be gracious and understanding about those difficult times. It does not always make it better but I can comprehend it better now. The scripture above says that although our father and mother may forsake us, God will never forsake us because He adopts us as His own.
I find that comforting. God will clean up all of the messes our parents made in our lives if we let Him. When He adopts us as His own children, He does not leave us the way we are. He moves us into a healing process to rid us of our old hurts and pains, things that have been hidden away in our hearts. It means that He may challenge us to face those difficult and often hurtful situations from our past to get us to our best future. God is calling me to talk with my parents about some difficult stuff, and while I am not excited about it, I know it is for my good. We can’t move into the greatness He has for us until we walk with Him through those buried pasts. When those demons are gone, we can be all that He ordained us to be! Amen!
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/@jccministriestv8904
My recently published book Life’s Journey is now available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VYJKJ9K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6Z95ANB487AMDF3VTDP9