Not Forgotten...

This isn't like my other postings, but more of a conversation for my mood at this time. Almost like therapy I suppose.  Well as many of you know, I lost my grandfather almost a month ago on March 12, 2011.  I must say that was a very hard time for me as well as my family, and it still is. I never thought that it would be so difficult to say good bye to a loved one when you know your good bye is one that will never be greeted with a hello in the future. Although the pain is great, I must always remind myself that if one is absent from their body it means they are present with the Lord. I can honestly say that I truly believe that with my grandfather. My grandfather was a God-fearing man, that many loved and respected. A man of integrity, a gardener, a carpenter, a brother, husband, father, and a "granddaddy".

I remember it so well how he used to chase me around the house when I was younger and playing with me. Or how he would stand in his garden looking across the field at everything he had planted. It seems like it was just yesterday when he would cut down sugar cane for me and my sister and bring it to us and we would sit on the porch waiting.  I miss those days.  It is those memories that I will never let go of, memories that I will never forget. Is it so silly that I wish I could have that those moments again? Not because I really want to go back in time, but only because that would mean he would still be here.

Last saturday (April 2, 2011), my sister got married. The entire day I kept thinking to myself that I wished my grandfather would've been able to be there. His first grandchild to be married, his oldest! As my sister turned to walk down the aisle, the air stood very still for a split second and immediately there was this great breeze that came through and the moment was perfect. I don't know if anyone else noticed,  but I thought to myself, "He is here....". I know he was proud.

Even though there is still grief, there will always be smiles and joy as I think over everything I know about him and the impact he had on my life. Gone but never forgotten. I love you Granddaddy... Leo Gillis, Sr.

-Candi

Who Can Be Against Us?

“Who Can Be Against Us?”

What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

It is unfortunate that whenever we do anything to obey our God we are faced with the devil throwing any and everything in our way.  He will try to work through our family and friends to disrupt our path chosen for us by God.  It is most often the people that are closest to us that will question our reasons for wanting to build a stronger relationship with God or even call us hypocrites for our past.

…greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world…

1 John 4:4

Whenever you feel pressed on every side and the adversary coming against you, always remember Romans 8:31 and 1 John 4:4.  The stronger we build our relationship with God the better equipped we will be to stand strong in the authority given to us by Jesus.  Give it all to God and everything will work out according to his plan.  The battle is not ours it is the Lord’s.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8: 28

Putting the Devil on the Run

“Putting the Devil on the Run”

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4: 7

In trying times we find ourselves in battle with satan.  He would like to see everything in our life go wrong and for us to fail at everything we put our minds to.  In James chapter 4 verse 7, the Bible tells us that if we resist the devil he will flee (when we submit ourselves to God).  As children of God we have the authority to defeat all of satan’s attacks through the name of Jesus.

The lies of satan are never ending. He will attack you on all sides.  Satan will attack your body, emotions, mind, and your strong will for everything you have and want in life.  He can creep up behind you and whisper in your ear all the negative things you could ever imagine.  He can even make you think your life is no longer worth living and that God has forsaken you.  When he does attack, always know that you CAN be victorious over him.

The devil can be anywhere at any time, in any shape or form, and he will come after anyone.  Although you have the ability to make him flee from you with verbal command, your actions must go along with the words that you speak.

Start following the Lord in new levels of obedience while releasing your faith through speaking and praying the word. Be blessed!

Surviving Your Thursday!

Surviving Your Thursday- Prayer

…Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [ manner of] prayer…

Ephesians 6:18 NLT

Throughout your day you may find yourself needing to pray to God to get you through what’s ahead of you.  Let your prayer be a true conversation with the Lord whether the situation is small or large…and always follow your prayer with praise and thanks.  There are many people who pray as just a ritual that only occurs when they are in the house of worship, dinner, special occasions, etc. Then you will have those who will only pray when they are having issues, sickness, or death.  Do not let yourself fall into those categories. Use prayer as your time to thank God for your life, your time to get to know Him, and to build your security with Him. Through your prayer you will demonstrate your humility to Him and that you are willing to depend on Him.  Pray not only in the time of troubles but in the time of glory as well. 

Be blessed….

God's Healing, Restoration and Deliverance...

“God’s Healing, Restoration and Deliverance…”

In the last writings I touched on choosing a secret place and seeking to know Him, I feel these two were linked together.  Of course, in our quest to know God better, we will ultimately begin dwelling in his secret place.  When these come together and we begin to pray and allow God to come into our lives we will begin to receive God’s healing, deliverance and restoration….

…O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him…

Psalm 34:8

…The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a concrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all…

Psalm 34:17

Whatever you may be going through in life, whether it’s spiritual, physical or emotional distress, God can heal and restore you through His deliverance.  When you are healed and restored by God, He is giving you a release and a fresh start.  To be restored means to be returned to the original, usable or functioning state according to the dictionary.  Through God that means that you are returned to a state in your life where He can use you for His good works.  He will come in and take all fault from you, forgive you of all of your sins, cleanse your mind and spirit and put you in a place in your life where you have never been.  What many of us fail to do when this happens is to give Him the praise that is due and use the opportunity He gives us.  If we just allow Him to use us once he heals and restores us, those blessings will continue to come our way.  We will be as new creatures!

Many of us have hurts or pains in our lives that keep us from giving God the ultimate glory that He deserves.  This pain can keep you held captive and you won’t even know why.  But know that God loves you no matter what.  If we learn how to accept this love and receive Him, we will be made whole. 

…Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me…

Psalm 51:10

BE BLESSED!

...Fruit of the Spirit....: Seek To Know God Better...

...Fruit of the Spirit....: Seek To Know God Better...: "....That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection... ..."

Seek To Know God Better...

....That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection...
                             

                        Phil 3:10

   Our purpose in life is to seek to know Him better. When we seek to know God better, we become deeply and intimately acquainted with Him.  We begin to understand and recognize His wonders more clearly. In the book of Philippians the apostle Paul cries out that we should have a deeper relationship with Christ so that the trials and tribulations will go barely noticeable. No, this doesn't mean that you won't go through SOMETHING! But, it does mean that when a storm comes your way, you will be so consumed in the Lord that you will be able to stay prayed up. You will have the strength to rebuke the devil and his wicked ways so that he will flee from you, your home, your job, your child, etc.

   It is the beginning of a new year and we often find ourselves making resolutions.  "I'm going to stop drinking.", "I'm going to stop cursing.", "I'm going to be nicer."  How many of these resolutions do we actually keep? The one thing that we fail to realize is that maybe, just maybe, IF WE were to make the resolution to Seek to Know God Better... all of those other goals will fall into place. Once we allow Him to come into our life and take control, the urge to curse and drink or be easily angered will fall away. Nothing but His light will begin to shine through us.

...Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed...
                                                                                   Psalm 25: 1-2

   When seeking to be better and to be closer to Christ, there will always be those who will question you, your purpose, motivation and drive. Do not be ashamed because the reward of everlasting life is much greater than eternal damnation.

   As you go through your day pray to God and thank Him for your life, remember to bless others so that you will be able to receive your blessings, and most of all Seek To Know God Better....  Be Blessed!!!