The Light Of Jesus Dispels The Darkness! by Myra Boozer

I love the mornings when I open my blinds and the sun comes pouring in. It just makes my day, and I rejoice in the warmth of God's love for all mankind. It is not only warm, but it is also beautiful and makes all things beautiful. Sometimes the clutter in my room doesn't look so challenging.

“Lord, may we open the blinds of our heart and allow you to SHINE in our world. Darkness has hovered for a night, and the cries for help are getting louder. The lonely, the sick, the forsaken and forgotten cry out against the pit that has them bound. The prisoners held by sin cry out for freedom...Freedom to be forgiven, loved, and restored!

Who will open the blinds, Lord, and reveal the rays of Hope, the Light of Jesus that dispels the darkness? Who will ARISE and open the blinds, the shield that covers our windows? Lord, we have an opportunity NOW in this season to be that person who allows YOUR LIGHT to come forth. It will come with a sudden burst of great force when we allow Your Spirit to direct and strengthen us. I know only the strong will do this. Help us to be STRONG IN THE POWER OF YOUR MIGHT as we ARISE like a Warrior with the Helmet of Salvation, the Shield of Faith, and the Sword of the Spirit.

Help us, Lord, to equip ourselves with your Armor for the challenge before us...Our world is in great need of your LIGHT, the Light that dispels all darkness. Help us to be your hands reaching the lost and your feet to carry the "GOOD NEWS”...our mouths to speak Your Word, which is Truth...that it will set the captive free, heal the sick, and bind up the brokenhearted...Lord Jesus, help us, your Children, to Arise at your command...Amen!” The Light Of Jesus Dispels The Darkness! 

The Light Of His Presence!

Lord Jesus, thank you for the dawn of a new day. Now, it is time to turn to the task at hand. What do you have for your children today? What do you have that we should share with others? Lord, fill us with your WORD so that the overflow is charged with redemption and deliverance. Oh! Come, Holy Spirit of God, and inhabit every thought, word, and activity. Sanctify us afresh as the place of YOUR habitation. Purge from the very air around us the darkness that infiltrates our world and replace it with the light of YOUR PRESENCE. We feel the intensity of the battle. The Holy Spirit within continues to struggle with the arm of the flesh, for he is ever present. Lord Jesus Christ, help us to die once again that YOU may bring LIFE and more abundantly. Help us to say with Paul the apostle that it is not me that possesses this mortal body, but it is YOU who lives here.

Your reign in our life will affect the world around us for YOUR PURPOSE. We invite you to rule the environment around us. “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Come Lord, take control; lead us to the completion of our assignment here. We must share YOUR message with all men. All must have the privilege to escape the darkness. Send forth YOUR light through the WORD of your mouth, penetrate and dispel the gross darkness that has invaded our land. Release YOUR Holy Spirit fire to burn away the obstructions that hold fast the lost souls of men. Set the Body of Christ ablaze, that we burn so intensely that conviction and repentance are the result. May the light of your glory be reflected in our faces, in our walk, and in our message. All to the HONOR and PURPOSE of God. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen 

He (Jesus ) Is More Than Enough! by Myra Boozer

John 14:13, “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.“ That speaks to me about a life without want. Remember, ‘The Lord is MY Shepherd, I shall not want...’ the broader meaning, not lacking, not deficient in proper care, management, or husbandry. But a second emphasis is the idea of being utterly contented in the Good Shepherd's care and consequently not craving or desiring anything more," taken from A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller.

As I have been reading in the Book of Mark about Jesus, the disciples, and the multitudes, I honed in on a question Jesus asked the disciples as they departed in a ship to the "other side," away from the crowds. As they left, the disciples realized they only had one loaf of bread on the entire ship, a real dilemma for hungry men. This is what Jesus had to say about their reasoning over such a small amount of bread. Mark 8:17-18, "...Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not? AND DO YE NOT REMEMBER? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many BASKETS FULL of fragments took ye up? They said unto him TWELVE. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said SEVEN, and he said unto them, HOW IS IT THAT YE DO NOT UNDERSTAND?"

When we have Jesus in our lives, we are covered at all times. He has provision that is MORE THAN ENOUGH! Now these guys are talking about a loaf of bread, not a Banquet. Many may feel that God lets them down or doesn't provide because they do not receive a "Lobster Fest" on a Cruise Ship.

I found this statement a while ago..."God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." When the desires of this world can fade away like a fog lifting off the valley, I believe that we find a new perspective about life, love, and our relationship with others, especially God. He just fills our every longing and desire. We are no longer pushed and pressured into needing anything except Him and His presence. It is no longer about me and what I must attain or receive from this world. He becomes my focus. He brings my life to the fullest, and my heart can sing in the midst of chaos, because I know He Is More Than Enough for today, tomorrow, and forever...and He always has leftovers...His storehouse is FULL... 

It Is Time!

Many voices in the Church are calling the Body of Christ to Prayer. Today, we stand at the door of one of the greatest times in human history. We dare not move forward without full understanding of the gravity of our response to the call of God and the effect of that response upon ourselves and all that our lives might touch. Our future will be defined by what we do in this moment of our choice.

Many have already been praying! Those prayers have brought us to where we are now. But we can't stop the prayer meetings. After 9/11, we had an opportunity to seek God and turn this nation around. But the praying didn't last. After only a few weeks, we drifted back to business as usual. We cannot afford to take for granted the opportunity God is giving us. This is our last chance as a nation. Pray, Church! Pray like our lives depend on it. Because they do!

Can we pray? Father God, Lord Jesus Christ, we do here and now accept your challenge to pray in travailing prayer for our world that is lost and broken. We desire the Spirit of prayer to intercede. Open our spiritual eyes and ears so we can see and hear the cries of the lost, the beaten, the debilitated. Teach us to understand what they are facing. Guide us to see and hear them as you do. Give us the compassion and love that you have for them so that we are inspired to join in their redemption. Lift us up in the power of Your Word, fully dressed in faith to lead the captives free. Anoint us with Your power that we may speak to the mountains before us and they will be moved into the sea. Let us see the prison doors spring open at the mighty thrust of Your Presence. Help us to run into the battle with such passion that others are seized with the same fervor. I can hear the sound of mighty armies engaged on the battlefield. Can we pray? It Is Time! 

Treasures Of The Heart! by Myra Boozer

Proverbs 2:1, “My son, (or daughter) if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.” NASB

The things that I love and hold dear to my heart are just borrowed; they're not mine at all... Jesus only let me use them to brighten my life...So remind me, remind me, dear Lord. The words of an old song hold true today. I have loved and held many things close to my heart. I have had so many blessings and material goods. No, I am not wealthy compared to some. But compared to others, I am. I have had my share of the comforts of life, not extravagant things but enjoyable things. Some have been very useful, some just pretty to look at, and some just plain and simple little treasures. But things are just that; they are “Things.” Things can be replaced if lost or stolen. They are disposable and transferable. They are things.

Sometimes things get in the way of what is important. They can become too meaningful and take our time and energy away from what really counts. I am learning to lay them down. Day by day, they are losing their value to me. I have been letting them go from my heart for some time now because I will not take them with me. They have served their purpose thus far, and I am very thankful for all I have been given to enjoy along the way.

I have always tried to keep my head straight as to how I spend our money. I have tried to be saving and practical; you know, the bargain hunter kind of person. But even at a bargain, the “things” you have can become a part of you. You become familiar with them, and they sometimes become “treasures.” They may not be worth much to anyone else but you. They are special to you.

Well, I have had lots of those special things hidden away in old hat boxes or the dresser drawers and in closets, even under the beds. Things I have saved from our only little boy: baby clothes, little cars, and things he saved through the years. Things that make you smile, like a costume I made him for his 1st grade play, pictures he drew of his house, family, and the neighbor's dog. The dog stayed at our house because he loved it so much. You know, “treasures” that I don’t plan on throwing out, but my heart is letting go.

I think I understand the purpose is for letting go. It isn’t wrong to have things, but it is wrong for things to have us. When what we have and what we do is all about things, and we just want to live on and on so we can secure and protect our treasures. We need to release them! There are no U-Hauls going to heaven. I don’t want the tears that are wiped away from my eyes to be about the “things” I have accumulated. I will leave all that behind.

1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world...” I am letting go! The greatest treasures I have are My precious Family, My Relationship with the Lord, and My Understanding of His Word. I celebrate the fact that He died, that I might live, and that has nothing to do with “things.” That is my greatest treasure! And that, my friend, I must hold on to forever and NEVER LET GO. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” Matt. 6:21. 

The Dreams Of Life Refocused! Conclusion

(For part 1, see 8/25/26)

We must plan for the present with the end in view. We set our goals in life always thinking of tomorrow or later. I realize that there are things in life for which you must plan. It is best to prepare for college and career, marriage and family, retirement, and final things. But it is so very important to keep the finish in mind, always! A correct understanding of the final things in one's life will keep everything else in proper focus. Then we understand that our vision of the finish will determine how we respond to every relationship in life. No matter what decision or choice we may face, the final things will bring a correct perspective to the matter. Ecc. 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Therefore, life's choices are governed by our vision of final things. We realize that we live our lives in the present tense. We are planning for tomorrow by the way we live today. That will not only affect our lives but also those who have been given into our care and those who share our sphere of influence on this journey.

Now, getting back to my little gray squirrel (see post for 8/25/26). His creator has given him an innate sense to gather and store provisions. I am sure that what appeared to me to be a frantic search was normal for him. That's the way squirrels are because God created them that way. You and I are created to live on a much higher plane. If God gives an animal an innate sense of provision for his life, God has done so much more for us. The problem comes when we fail to communicate with Him. My little squirrel has an automatic system built into his consciousness for his provision. We are created higher than any other creature in God's creation. We were made for relationship with God and each other. Our relationship requires communication. If we fail to communicate with God, we cannot receive instruction for our provision.

If we are listening to God, He will instruct us in His plan for us today. He will help us to understand that we live His will today so that we are in His will tomorrow. If we follow Christ today, we have no need to worry about tomorrow. Our life and future are secure in the grace of Jesus Christ.

2 Tim. 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 

Time To Be Very Still! by Myra Boozer

Colossians 3:15, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful."

(This was written some time ago but is very fitting for today.) For quite a while now, a big squirrel has perched right on the top point of the building out back. He looks like an ornament, really; he looks frozen, not moving except the wind blowing his fluffy tail. I wonder if he is angry about this weather, or maybe the stash he had for his family is depleted. I don't know; maybe he is confused by this weather. One moment the sky is sprinkling snow on us, just like you would sprinkle confectioner sugar on your French toast, then all of a sudden it stops and the sun shines so bright. You think, wow, is it over, then it starts up again. That's the way of confusion, and it's something we all have at times. It is hard to deal with when your prayers are still not heard, and your heart is breaking for your loved ones. You began to question God, “Why the delay?”

This is the time to be very still and very quiet and just wait, just like the squirrel perched on the highest point. God can soothe all our frustrations and calm our minds. We can rest in His presence and know He loves us, but we must remember sometimes He allows us a little while of "feeling all alone and confused." Don't give up and don't complain. Rest in the fact that God has it all in His hands, and in His time He will make all things beautiful...with no confusion. He brings Peace and Joy that will overflow in our hearts and bring assurance in every situation. Time To Be Very Still!