Do Not Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27,ESV
The passage above has been a lesson for me these past weeks. There are times in our lives when you know that God is dealing with you about something. I believe I shared in an earlier post that God had me doing my messages in a new way. He also added to the mix that a certain number of these messages had to be completed on a daily basis. I knew that worrying would not help me in any way to complete this task. So I thought I would come up with scriptures and topics so that I could pound those messages out and get on with my day. But that was never God’s plan. He was teaching me how to walk right past worry, because even though I tried not to worry, it would just show up in my face. I would hear in my mind, “What are you going to write about and how are you going get this done?” I tried hard to turn off that noise in the flesh, but that behavior only kept me in a war against the spiritual forces of evil and out of peace.
At some point I heard the word, “rest,” and I said, “How do I do that?” Then the word “trust” landed into my spirit. I knew that I was moving into a new level of faith! Hallelujah! I said, “How do I do that?” He said, “I have given you an assignment. This is from me and I will provide everything you need. Apply your heart into seeking after me instead of trying to get all the messages finished and then you will find yourself in peace and joy.” I did exactly what I heard the Holy Spirit say and I now have peace and joy! I know this is an ongoing journey, but I can truly say that I am resting in his presence and letting him guide me through this journey, moment by moment.
It is so important to remember that whatever assignment, or season God has you in, he is the one who will bring you through. He does not expect you to come up with the plan and figure out all the details. He has that all worked out. You just need to let him lead you!
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things(whatever it is that you need), will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33, ESV. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.Joshua 1:8, ESV
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
You Lack Nothing
God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else.. 1 Kings 4:29-31, ESV
The Holy Spirit had put this assignment in my heart and I felt intimidated because it required me to be around very smart people. Most of the people had higher degrees of education than I did. As I was sitting just meditating on what the Holy Spirit had dropped into my heart. I heard Him say, “You have all you need. No one in the room is smarter than you because you have me!” He then went on to say, “It does not matter how high the degree of education a person might have; they will never possess more than me.” That was the word I needed to move forward with!
I then begin to think about Solomon who was the wisest of all men. He had asked God for wisdom and God gave him more than he could ever imagine. “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:7-9, ESV Solomon did not have to study, or go to school, God just dropped that knowledge into him so that he could do his job! Solomon was in his early twenties when he became king and he wanted to make sure that he governed the people correctly. He asked God for wisdom on how to do his job.
God reminded me that we have the Holy Spirit, who is our helper. All we have to do is ask for help and he will give us direction. I was waiting for a buyer who said that they wanted to purchase some of my products for their store. But they had not contacted me and I was getting a little anxious. When I prayed, the Holy Spirit said, “You are not ready for them yet.” He began to give me instructions on things that I had never even thought about and needed to get completed. The Holy Spirit said, "I am keeping them from contacting you until all of this is completed.” Although it was a very simple task that I needed to do, it was very time consuming. If I had not done the necessary preparation before the order it would have cost me a lot of time.
When we rely on the Holy Spirit, there is nothing that we lack. Solomon asked for wisdom because that is what he needed to do his job. I asked God for insight and he gave me what I needed to do; which was sitting right in front of me. When you depend on your most trusted advisor, you are well equipped for everything that is before you! 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
Seed time and Harvest time
You reap what you sow… Galatians 6:7
I was laying in bed about one o’clock in the morning and the Holy Spirit started to speak to me. He said, “You reap what you sow,” and he began to show me in the spirit how that works. I had planted some bell pepper seeds in my garden and I realized that the only thing that I could produce out of that seed was bell peppers. I could not get apples, lemons or anything else; only bell peppers.
He then showed me that every time I did or said something, I’m sowing seeds and those seeds would eventually produce fruit. He said, “The seeds were just like my bell pepper seeds that were planted in the ground and produced bell peppers. I started to reflect back on my life, such as: what I had done and spoken over my life, how I did things, treated people, did my work, prayed and exercised. All those things I had done in life was producing the seeds that I had sown. I immediately started praying seeking God on how to sow differently.
He showed me that even my attitude, or how I spoke about others behind their backs were still seeds that were being sown and would produce fruit in my life! The scripture says that to, “Be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to anger,” came rushing to my mind. Then I remembered God’s word when Moses told the Israelites the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statues and his commandments, which I command you…be carful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly… the LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your might. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them whey you sit in your house, and when you walk by the ways, and when you lie down, and when your rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6, ESV Basically God was telling the Israelites if they love God with all their heart, mind and soul and obeyed his word they were planting seeds of success and it would go well for them.
Those same instructions apply to us today. If we keep our minds focused on the word of God and do what he says we will enjoy the harvest. The Bible is clear that there will always be seed time and harvest time, we just need to decide what harvest we want to reap. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
God Remembers
(love 2/14)In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. Luke 1:5-7
In the scripture above Luke is giving us a summary of what happen to John the baptist’s parents. As I was studying the book of Luke the Holy Spirit prompted me to stop and look closely at this scripture. He wanted me to understand that there were so many messages in this passage of encouragement.
The letter starts by telling us their location. They live in Judea which the Israelite people were now split into two regions because of Solomon’s disobedience to God (1 Kings 11). Judea is the Southern nation and it consist of Judah and Benjamin and Jerusalem is the capital of Judea. This is where John the Baptist parents live.
John’s father’s name was Zechariah which means God remembers or God recalls. When you look up the word remember it means brings ones mind to awareness and recall means to bring back to ones mind. Every time some called Zechariah’s name they were reminding him that God recalls. God remembers your prayer request. Your petitions have not been forgotten. Zechariah’s name is a confirmation to him that God hears his prayers. God had not forgotten any of his requests.
His wife is Elizabeth’s name means God is my oath. When I looked up the word oath it means a solemn pledge. Every time someone said her name they were saying her life is pledged to God. Luke goes on to tell us about their character. He says, “They were both upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.”
Scripture teaches us that they had prayed for children, yet God had not answered their prayer. It clearly says Elizabeth was barren. God had closed her womb! Many times when we pray for something and it is in alignment with the Word of God and there is no answer, our mind takes on a journey of its own. We began to look inward and think we have something to do with why God has not answered our prayers. Sometimes this could be true, we could be in sin somewhere and God will reveal that to us. But in this case God had held her womb closed.
This passage is such confirmation that when we pray, God hears us. When we pray God remembers and recalls our prayers. When the answer to our prayer does not come as we expect, we must be encouraged that we are in alignment with God’s will and He has purpose for His response. Even in their desires not being met Zechariah and Elizabeth continue to obey God and live an upright life.
Satan is always there to fill our heart with lies, but we have to be steadfast and unmovable and always abiding in the word of God. Staying in the word of God is the only way to fight the battle of lies going on in our mind. I am reminded of the scripture that says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct our path.”
We can only imagine how many times Zechariah and Elizabeth had to say to themselves, “We trust you God.” As a young couple I am sure their friends were having children and it hurt very deeply that they could not. In their community in those days when a woman could not have a child it was extremely disgraceful for the women. Yet they were right in the plan that God had for them. We must remember that even though at times we are in a devastating place, God is there with us and He has a plan.
Perhaps you were in a season where it was difficult and hard and only God could have delivered you, but he didn’t. I want to encourage with these words. God says, “My plans aren’t your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans.” (Isaiah 55:8-10) I’m sure there were many times that Zechariah and Elizabeth wished they understood God’s plan, but He had more for them than they could ever imagine. Their son John the Baptist was the forerunner for Jesus Christ! He was anointed with the Holy Spirit in her womb!! God had hand selected them for a purpose that they could have never imagined.
Are you are feeling the loss of hope? Just know that as a child of the Most High God, scripture says, “Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us…” Amen.
Father,
I pray that we will know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that we will be filled entirely with the fullness of God in the name of Yeshua Hamashiach. 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
Wisdom from Proverbs
Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth. Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. Proverbs 24:1-16, ESV
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
Generations
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. Matthew 1:17, ESV
I was sitting preparing for communion and looking for a scripture to read when the Holy Spirit reminded me of my morning reading of the scripture above. Immediately my mind went back to the book of Exodus when God was calling Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. There was a specified time that God had ordained for His people who were in bondage to be released. Everything has a time and a season for it to come to pass. The Israelites were under extreme cruelty and oppression with no way out of their situation, but God already had a plan of deliverance. God started their deliverance plan before they entered Egypt. Levi, the son of Jacob, had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari who entered Egypt with Jacob’s clan (Genesis 46:11). Kohath had a son named Amram who was the father of Moses. Amram was married to his father’s sister Jochebed, and she was the mother of Moses (Exodus 6:20). Their deliverance walked into Egypt with them.
Listen, when the Israelites entered Egypt, they were full of joy because God had arranged for them to be cared for during the extreme famine in the land. God already knew that there stay was only for a season and then they would need to leave. This same God, Adonai, has done the same thing for us. We still live under the bondage of the prince of the air, Satan, today. But just like God prepared Moses as a deliver for the Israelites out of Egypt, He has given us Jesus Christ as our Redeemer. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set us free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says that for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. And Psalm 139 teaches us that God knew everything about us before we were born, and He is keenly aware of every situation. We need not worry about our problems, because God has already prepared the answer.
If you read through each of those generations listed in the scripture above, you will find that they all had their problems, but God had a means to the end. Our God is faithful, I don’t care who has told you “No” or that what you are seeking is impossible - nothing is impossible with God. Be encouraged, He has already worked everything out.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
Prepare the Word for the People
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17, ESV
It was early in the morning, and I did not feel ready to prepare a word for anyone - I was seeking God for a word for myself. I had just started my early morning prayer when I heard Jehovah say, “Prepare the Word for the people.” “What Word?” I asked. He said again, “Prepare the Word for the people”. I said, “But your Bible is full of your Word I don’t even know what you want me to prepare”. Again, I heard “Prepare the Word for the people”. So I open up my laptop and I started writing what I heard:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads besides the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalms 23).
All those questions, feelings, and emotions I had before I begin to follow God’s instructions did not exhibit that God was my shepherd. I clearly heard what Jehovah said, I knew it was Him speaking to me, and yet I wavered in trusting Him. It was early in the morning, and I had my plan. I wanted to read my affirmation scriptures, have my communion, and then start sitting in the briefing room to hear what God had to say to me.
Sheep follow the shepherd completely and learn to trust the shepherd without even thinking. The sheep know who they belong to because the shepherd has taken great care of them. When the shepherd says, “Let’s go”, the sheep move. Now, here’s the thing - I had just read Psalms 23 before I heard Jehovah say, “Prepare the Word for the people”. Yeah, that quickly I had said, Lord, you are “my” shepherd and I trust you! He tested me with my own confession, and I failed! When I understood that I was tested, I began to pray with a heavy heart and repent. Jehovah said, “The test was to bring revelation to you and now you know. But be encouraged because of this moment you will never doubt me again when I say move.”
I was reminded of Moses and how he doubted God in the beginning of his calling, but the more he moved when God said “Move”, the more his faith increased. Faith comes with hearing and obeying the Word of God. “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” (James 2:14-18). I heard the Word when Jehovah spoke and when I obeyed, my faith was increased. Hallelujah! I pray this will help you to move without question. But even if you do question, make sure you move! 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
Attacks
And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. Revelation 12:13-17, ESV
In the scripture above Satan and his demons have been thrown out of heaven. He is angry and is after all those who are children of the most high God. I love that in this scripture it reveals how Satan uses all of his power to come after the woman (who represents Israel) but God fights for her. He never takes the women out of the earth, but He helps her win the victory. That is the same way God fights for us today. We never have to be fearful or worried about how we will be delivered. There is always the supernatural power of the most high God working on the behalf of believers. Did you notice that both times the women could not get away from the serpent on her own? God opened up a path that she could have never imagined. It was not done in her strength.
“Not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). His spirit is like the wind which has great powers working among us. It reminds me of the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples (Acts 2:2). We have that power working on our behalf. The scripture above also gives us an example of how Jehovah works in our life. Both times the delivery came when the women could do nothing in herself to get out. When there was nowhere to go, she waited on God and He opened the door. We must remember that God has designed our path, and all doors are already open. We must wait on His direction and not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9-10).
Our path will have trouble, scripture says “…woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Revelation 12:12). Attacks come upon the believer and the devil will always try to make it look like he is winning, like we have no way out. But the Lord says He is our shepherd, and He will fight our battles. Family, although the battle does not feel good, you are in good company. You have a mighty deliverer working on your behalf.
Listen, God allows Satan’s attacks to test us. Satan thinks he is separating us from Jesus Christ when in truth the experience draws us closer to Jehovah. God uses what the enemy sends out for evil for our good, to grow and promote us. The test may endure for a while, but joy always comes to those whose faith and trust are in the Lord. 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
Job
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1, NIV
Job was a righteous man whom God selected to go through a serious trail because of his faithfulness to God. Many times, when we see a righteous person suffer, we ask God why. We wonder why God would allow such a good, righteous person to go through so much pain and suffering. We may think their suffering is unfair and that God has forgotten them. Scripture teaches that God said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8). We cannot begin to comprehend the thoughts of God, but we do know that God knows everything about us and our situation. He has every hair on our head numbered, (Matthew 10:26-61) for every soul belongs to Him (Ezekiel 18:4).
As much as we don’t like pain and suffering, it is clear that God does not cause the pain, but He gives Satan permission. Even when Jesus asked God three times to take away the bitter cup of sacrifice, He said “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Job sat in bitter pain and understood that God had allowed this wrath to come upon him. For when his wife rebuked him for holding on to his integrity and trust in the Lord, Job said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).
Job did everything he thought possible to obey God and live a righteous life. He was doing everything he could to prevent trouble. As believers it is our hearts desire to obey God and do all He commands but that does not mean we will not encounter pain, trouble, unfair treatment, and all kinds of injustice. God said, “In this life you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Does that mean we are supposed to just allow injustice to happen? Absolutely not! We are to stand for righteousness, but we should not be surprised by the evil action of others.
You may be in a season that it seems the very thing you asked God to protect you from is what you are experiencing. God knows all that you are going through. He sees you and He is there with you. Do not give up on your faith in God for we know He is our salvation! We can see that although Job and Jesus had to go through trials and tribulation, there was nothing but joy on the other side. Joy comes in the morning. “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” (1 Peter 5:10). We know that the joy of the Lord is our strength. May you be encouraged knowing that God alone is your source. Amen.
Father,
We praise you! You are the all-righteous God! There is none like you! To you be glory and praise! Thank you Father, that no matter what we face on this earth, you see it, you know it, and you are taking care of us. We ask for strength to walk this season out with complete faith, trust, and hope in you. We want no doubt in our heart - just complete trust in God our King! To you be glory and praise in Jesus’ name, 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
My 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
Release Your Plan
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9, ESV
I love to check things off a list, and to see what I have accomplished for the day. I have a daily planner that I use regularly, which makes me feel like I am using the time God has given me in the most productive way possible. I always start with prayer, asking God to direct my path for the day, because ultimately, I am here as His servants.
On Tuesday afternoon I had my calendar blocked off for study time. I just wanted to hear God and study His word. Listen, everything that can, comes to attack that time in my schedule, so I am very guarded over that space. A few weeks ago, after our Tuesday morning exercise class, my husband asked if I could help him get our bikes to the repair shop. I looked at the time and I had just about 3 hours before my appointed study time, so I said okay.
We took the bikes to the shop and proceeded to drop them off, but the repair shop was empty and started working on our bikes immediately. The repair guy put our bikes on the rack and after a quick inspection said, “I’m not going to charge you $240.00 for this service. We can make the adjustments now and there will be little to no cost.” WHAT? I immediately thanked God. We paid nothing for the service but did tip them for their kindness. Because that went so fast, we headed to the Apple store for some service to our phones and a gentleman helped us right away. He showed my husband how to schedule an appointment for troubleshooting phone issues at our home so we would not have to wait! In my mind I’m thinking, “Yes God! I get to go home and have my study time on my schedule!”
I never said a word to my husband about my schedule but was praying to God silently in the car. My husband then suggests we get lunch at a local restaurant. The food at this restaurant is good, but pricey, so I reminded him of our budget and that I already had food at home for the two of us. He offered to use money from his gigs and said that if God was directing us then parking would be available in this special part of the parking lot. While there is usually no parking in this part of the lot, of course there were two parking spaces left when we arrived.
In my heart I just said, “Okay God.” We walked into the restaurant and a beautiful young lady greeted us with a really warm salutation, “Hello beautiful people, welcome.” She then turned to me and told me how much she loved my style. I said, “Thank You”, and we had a brief conversation as she walked us to our seats. I felt in my spirit that God wanted me to say more to her, so I walked back up to the front desk and began to share what God had put on my heart. Listen, God had this place quiet so that I could give her His word. She told me that it took her about 30 minutes or so to get to work and she cried all the way there. She asked God to send one of His angles to encourage her heart. I learned that she had come to California with her boyfriend, and they had gone their separate ways. She is in this state alone not knowing anyone. God gave me time to share with her and encourage her heart. My assignment was at that restaurant - not in my office studying. I had a plan, and it was good, but God had what He wanted, and it was the best!
When we pray for God to have His way, we must be ready to let go and give everything to Him. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Affirmations; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Kindness
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12, ESV
The way you treat people is the way you are treating God. I saw this posted in an article and it immediately resonated as true. God is always providing a teaching lesson.
In the moment I read that statement, people from the past surfaced to my thoughts that I had not treated so well. In my opinion, they deserved to be treated that way because of the way they treated me. But God reminded me that no one deserved His love, yet He gives His love unconditionally with grace – everyday, all day. And scripture says to love your neighbor as yourself. We are created in the image of God, and His word teaches that every soul belongs to Him. Our behavior towards others has nothing to do with how they treat us, it’s about how we respond to God.
I remember driving down the highway when a woman raced around me to get in front of me on the off ramp. I was so angry that when I caught up to her, I glared at her through the car window. I could feel all my emotions racing. I had completely given over to my flesh and opened the door for Satan to show his behavior instead of giving God’s love. At times it seems impossible to let go of those emotions but as soon as I passed her, I could hear God convicting my spirit. I knew I was wrong, and I repented, but I also asked God how I should release those emotions before I move on. His answer: “How would you have liked to be treated?” Ugh…
We love all the grace and mercy we receive from God, and He is asking us to give that same behavior back to His creation.
Affirmations; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Keep Pressing On
Straining toward what is ahead, I press on. Philippians 3:3, NIV
Developing your faith is like taking swimming lessons. Observe: (1) Fear is like water; If you let it, it will take you under, (2) You can only tread water for so long before you drown. (3) When you reach a certain point, there’s no turning back. (4) Faith is like the air in your lungs; it will sustain you and keep you afloat if you just relax. Have you ever watched a seasoned swimmer? Stoke after stroke, he takes what’s in front of him and pushes it behind him, letting it propel him toward his goal. He literally takes what stands between him and his goal and uses it to get there. Sometimes we despair and say, “I’m just keeping my head above water,” and that’s okay as long as you keep “stroking” and pressing on. It’s when you feel backed into a corner with nowhere to turn, that you’ve got to take hold of the faith God has placed within you and keep moving forward. Jesus said, “The Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Mt 11:12). The word “violence” suggests ferocity, passion, and intensity. You must be relentless and fight your way through, confident that God is on your side—because He is (See Ps 56:9). The waters you’re in don’t determine your destiny; they either carry you over or take you under. It takes faith to keep going. When you quit, God can do nothing more for you! So today whether you’re doing the breaststroke, the backstroke, or some other kind of stroke that nobody’s ever heard of—keep pressing on.
Source: The Word For You Today
Affirmations; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Do Not Fear Man
Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people. Numbers 22:1-3, ESV
The Bible is so rich with lessons! I love when I sit with God and He just gives me a verse and breaks down tons of lessons from just one word of it. I was reading the verse above and the word “dread” clung to me. The king of Moab, Balak, was in dread of the Israelites because of what they had done to the Amorites. The Israelites had taken all their land and had backed up to the land of Moab. The people of Moab were in great fear of them because of their success and large number.
The King of Moab had the same issues as the King of Egypt. Pharaoh was so in dread of the Israelites because of their large size that he put them under bondage and treated them ruthlessly. But God delivered the Israelites and that fear and dread that Pharaoh had towards them lead to the downfall of Egypt and ultimately the death of Pharaoh’s son.
The King of Moab summoned the prophet Balaam to come to Moab and to put a curse on his enemies who were the people of Israel. When the prophet received the summons, he went and spoke with God. God told Balaam to tell those who the king sent to go back to their land, for the Lord refused to let him go with them. When the princes went and reported to King Balak, he sent another group to Balaam. This time God tells Balaam to go but he could only give them the instructions that God instructed him to. Three times King Balak shows the prophet where to curse the Israelites and all three times God gives Balaam the oracle of blessings for the Israelites. In the final oracle God tells Balaam to tell King Barak what Israel will do to Moab. He says that a scepter shall rise out to of Israel, and that it would crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
Fear and dread will only lead to our demise if we allow it to cling to us. Scripture tells us to not fear, because God is with us. We are not to be dismayed, for our God will strengthen help and uphold us with His righteous right hand (Psalm 91:1-2). Listen, God has not given us a spirit of fear. If we are walking in fear, it is not from God - it is from Satan and nothing good comes from him. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).
Father,
Thank you that you are our God, and we are your children! Hallelujah! Praise God that when fear comes, we have the authority to cast it off and praise you in victory no matter how we feel. Thank you that as we praise you, your presence overtakes any oppressive spirit of fear! Hallelujah! To you be glory and praise. Amen!
Affirmations; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Take A Break
And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Matthew 5:36, ESV
Jesus is giving instructions about life to the disciples and the crowd that came out to see Him on the mountain. Scripture says that there was a large crowd that had come to Jesus, so He sat on the side of the mountain and began to teach the Sermon on the Mount. I was listening to this message, intentionally feeding my spirit, when I heard Jesus say, “We cannot make our hair white or black on our head.” Now, we can dye our hair all we want, but when our hair grows out the color we’ve tried to cover up, it’s going to show.
This just got me to thinking about how little control we really have over our bodies and over our lives. We had no control when we entered this earth. We could not pick our parents, or what we looked like - that was all done for us divinely by our creator ELOHIM. Yet we can find ourselves anxious over things that we cannot control. In truth we are probably better off when we don’t have control because then we know for sure the divine one is taking care of things.
He specifically says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?” (Matthew 6:25-34)
What I love most about Adonai is that He never gives instructions without telling us how to do it! After He gives the message saying to not being anxious, He then tells us how to do that - seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
He also reminds us that trouble will come but we do not have to worry about it because we can seek and rest in Him. Amen.
Father, thank you that we can rest in the midst of all of our troubles. Thank you for giving us all we need to live in the wonderful place of peace and joy when we trust you. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Affirmations; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Wealth
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11, ESV
Awhile back I was speaking to a loved one who buys lottery tickets all the time. I have always told them that purchasing those tickets is a waste of their money. Their response would always be that it doesn’t say you can’t gamble in the Bible.
Scriptures give us clear direction on how we should attain wealth. It is not through hasty behavior but by gathering little by little with honest gain. In the book of Exodus, we learn that the Israelites did not increase in number overnight, but they multiplied day by day in their oppression. The Bible says the more they were oppressed the more they increased. Their multiplication was so abundant that Pharaoh and his people dreaded them. Pharaoh even established decrees to have all the males of Hebrew origin killed.
But Pharaoh’s decree did not stop God from blessing His people. Although they were under bondage of the Egyptians, God never stopped watching over them and prospering their population. The Israelites did not receive their wealth of material abundance until they were leaving Egypt, but God had still made them into a mighty nation. Scriptures teaches us that we are to not lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but we are to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-21).
In Matthew 19:16-30, Jesus pointed out that the rich young man who came before Him loved his money more than anything else. The issue wasn’t that the young man was rich but that he treasured his riches and did not treasure what he could have had in Christ. Jesus told the man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, “…and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (verse 21). The young man left Jesus sad, because he was very rich, and was unwilling to make Jesus his true treasure.
God is so gracious and has no problem prospering us in all that we do. His concern is that our heart is filled with the love of God and not the love of money. He says that He has given us the power to get wealth through His plan, not through the quick schemes of the world (Deuteronomy 8:18). As we keep our minds on the Word of God and follow His decrees, He will open up the windows of heaven and pour down blessings until there is no more need.
Father, there is always the temptation from the enemy to chase after the wealth of the world. But we do not want that to be the desire of our heart. We pray for change and transformation in our soul so that all we want is you and what you have ordained for us. Let us not get distracted in wasting your resources on frivolous things that do not bring you glory. To you be glory and praise. 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Trust God’s Timing (2)
“What I have said, that I will bring about.” Isa 46:11 NIV
God has a plan for your life that requires certain things to happen at a particular time. And since He sees the big picture and you’re working with limited information, you must trust Him—even when you don’t see how it will all come together. God can take the loss of a relationship or a job and make it work for your good. The trouble is, while He’s doing all this, you can feel uncomfortable and downright miserable. Seven hundred and eight-two years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Micah said that He would be born in Bethlehem (See Mic 5:2). But Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth. So how did God solve the problem? The Roman emperor Augustus decreed that a census should be taken: “All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for the census. And because Joseph was a dependent of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son” (Lk 2:3-7 NLT). Are you worried about the future? “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling, steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing” (Ps 37:34 TLB). Relax: the God who arranged for His Son to be born into the right family, at the right time, in the right place is looking out for you today.
Source: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Trust God’s Timing (1)
“When the right time came, God sent his Son.” Galatians 4:4 NLT
God doesn’t consult us to make sure His plans line up with our timetable. God sets the schedule; sometimes we have to run to keep up, and other times we have to slow down in order to get in step with Him. Mary planned to marry Joseph, then have a child, but God had a different plan. The child had to be without inherited sin, so He needed a perfect father; therefore; the Holy Spirit was called on to do the job. Humanly speaking, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Mary became pregnant before she got married, and Joseph wasn’t the father. Besides being ostracized, the law said she could be stoned to death. How did she respond? Amazingly: “Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38 NKJV). God has set a plan, and He is always working toward it. The trouble is, we are only working with limited information, so we become impatient and upset when He doesn’t answer our prayers when we think He should, or in the way we think He should. It’s said that George Muller, evangelist and founder of the Ashley Down Orphanage in Bristol, England, once waited on the dock for a special chair to be delivered; he had a bad back and needed the chair for the ocean voyage. When departure time came and it still hadn’t arrived, his friends offered to buy him one. But Muller said, “Either God will provide or he will give me the grace to do without.” Then, just like a Hollywood ending, the chair arrived right on time! Trust God—He knows what He’s doing!
Source: The Word For You Today
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19, Isaiah 55:11
You can also follow me at JCCMinistriestv:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Walking in Darkness
…the man who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. John 12:35, NIV
Every morning when I get up for prayer, it’s usually dark in my room. Now, because my husband is sleeping and I don’t want to disturb him, I will not turn on any lights. Even though I know my way around in our bedroom I always seem to knock over something or put something on backwards! The scripture above speaks to walking in a similar kind of darkness. In this scene described in John 12, Jesus has just finished His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and has predicts His coming death.
Some Greeks who were in Jerusalem for the feast asked Philip if they could see Jesus. When Philip heard this, he went and told Andrew, they both told Jesus that some Greeks had made a request to see Him. Jesus then begins to speak about leaving and being glorified. In the midst of Him speaking Jesus says, “Father, glorify your name!” Then scripture says, “…a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again’” (John 12:28).
The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him. Jesus went onto explain that this was to show what kind of death He was going to die. The crowd questions Jesus according to the law, stating that the Christ would not die. Jesus responds by telling them “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you, the man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going” (John 12).
Jesus is telling them that He is the light, and if they stay in darkness they are going to be lost. Whenever I read this passage, it reminds me of the many times I have moved on something without seeking instructions from God first. Usually, it’s because the task is familiar. I can just go, without even thinking to check in with God. I will check with my GPS for instructions on how to get somewhere before checking in with God! I believe God is telling us not to move without checking with Him first. Many of us could have saved ourselves some major headaches if we would have checked with God before we went on that date!
We have to be careful. Our day to day, seemingly mundane things we do without checking in can walk us into seasons we could have avoided. Scripture says “…do not lean on your on understanding but in all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Listen, you will always make mistakes moving in darkness, just like me moving in my bedroom without light! But we never want to get so familiar with something that we don’t check in with God first about it. 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
In the Midst of Desperation
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews, you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live”. Exodus 1:22, ESV
Pharaoh hated the Israelites. He put slave masters over them and gave them hard labor in an attempt to control and discourage them. In the midst of their persecution, God blessed them to multiply even greater. Pharaoh was so threatened by the Israelites’ size that he decided to kill every newborn Hebrew boy. His goal was to end a whole generation of people. Pharaoh did not know the history of Jospeh and what God had done through him to save his country. He was intimidated by the number of Israelites present in Egypt and feared they would side with his enemies in war and overtake them. He first told the Hebrew midwives to kill any boy born to an Israelite woman and to let the girls live. But scripture says the midwives feared God, so they did not obey Pharaoh’s command.
Pharaoh then commanded all the Egyptians to take every son that is born of the Hebrews and throw him into the Nile River to his death. During this time of mass devastation, God was still blessing his people of promise. Consider the story of Moses:
Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes[a] and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the riverbank. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews' children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child's mother. And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses… (Exodus 2:1-10)
Even in this horrific season of life for the Hebrews, God was still in control. God knew the evil of Pharaoh’s heart. He could have had Moses born at any time, but He specifically chose for him to be brought into the world during this devastating season in Israel’s history. God sent Moses - the deliverer of Israel, the one who would defeat Pharaoh- to Pharaoh’s home to be raised by his daughter. Without knowing it, Pharaoh opened his door to what would eventually crush him, bringing about his greatest defeat. Later in scripture we read that Pharaoh and all of Egypt’s first born died by the hand of God. It’s just like the Bible says: you reap what you sow.
We must never look at our situation and think that God has abandoned us. The Israelites could not see God’s hand in their situation because what was in front of them was so devastating. Scripture teaches us to not be moved by what we see (2 Corinthians 4:18). It may be hard to see or understand how God is working things out for our good, but that is when we lean into our faith. I am not saying that it will be easy, but God is right in the midst with you. He has worked every detail out, you just have to trust Him - even when you can’t see Him, feel Him, or trace Him. 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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
Gifts
Each one should use whatever gif he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its’s various forms. 1 Peter 4:10, ESV
God has given each one of us special gifts to serve in His kingdom. He has equipped us with all we need to serve in that capacity. We know that to be true just by listening to all the professional singers there are in the world. They all have the gift to sing, but they do it in their own unique voice which truly blesses those who hear them. At our church there are several pastors on staff. Each one of them can teach the word extremely well but they present the word in the way God has uniquely given it to them.
When God starts to reveal the gift that He has placed in you, it is not for you to compare with others. Don’t try to be like anyone else. We are all made with our very own DNA, which means we are supposed to be different, unique, and perfectly ourselves. Every gift that God has placed in you is for the purpose of sharing with others. It is not meant for you to keep it to yourself. Your gift helps the world become a better place and without it the world is missing a much-needed resource.
Let me encourage you with this: I have always loved writing. I would write on any blank page that I could get my hands on. I just love writing about whatever I experienced. I did not know writing was a gift from God to me. In the business world, most of my work would be rewritten over so much that I felt like I was a horrible writer. In truth, God was teaching me about my writing style. He was preparing me for this season of my life. I may have never meant to be a writer in the business world, but it did not mean I was not a good writer. It may appear that what you love to do is not working where you are right now, but be encouraged - God is preparing you for what He has for you in the next season.
Father, thank you for the perfect gifts that you have placed inside each one of us. You know the exact timing of when you want us to move in all that you have given us. May we stay encouraged and in faith as we walk with you into the manifestation of every good gift. To you be glory and praise. 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/channel/UCMoEcr3koSqRbqVma5EGWgA/videos
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