YOU CAN’T KEEP GOD ON A SHELF

 

 

Marcella Ward

 

How many of us remember the “elf on a shelf”?  He was supposed to be watching, in this case, the children to see if they were naughty or nice.  Do you think that the elf stayed there very long before someone either stole, trashed, or covered it up so that the “all seeing elf” could not see what they were doing?

I think that it is the same with God.  Do we put Him on a shelf?  Is He only there when we want to use Him to answer our prayers?  Do we compartmentalize God to the extent that we rush to go to Chruch, put our “time” in and then almost run over somebody to get out of the church parking lot?  Actually I know someone who actually got a ticket in a church parking lot for driving too fast!!

Do we forget about God the minute that we leave the church parking lot?  Are we thinking about the game we are going to watch that day and keep looking at our watch?  

Putting God on the shelf, in my opinion, means that He is really not a part of our lives. We put Him “on the shelf” after church services, after other services.  We put Him on the shelf when we go about our activities during the day when we do what we want to do not really focusing on God’s will. 

It is so easy because of our human nature to not include God.  The truth of the matter is that God is always with us even when we turn away from Him by our own actions or our sins.  He is always reaching out to us.  He desires to have a personal relationship with us.

The following is called “A Letter from a Friend”:

I just had to write to tell you how much I love you and care for you.  Yesterday I saw you walking and laughing with your friends; I hoped that soon you’d want Me to walk along with you, too.  So, I painted you a sunset to close your day and whispered a cool breeze to refresh you.  I waited---you never called---I just kept on loving you.

As I watched you fall asleep last night, I wanted so much to touch you.  I spilled moonlight onto your face---trickling down your cheeks as so many tears have.  You didn’t even think of Me.  I wanted so much to comfort you.

The next day I exploded a brilliant sunrise into glorious morning for you.  But you woke up late and rushed off---you didn’t even notice.  My sky became cloudy and My tears were the rain.

I love you, oh, if you’d listen.  I really love you.  I try to say it in the quiet of the green meadows and in the blue sky. The wind whispers My love throughout the treetops and spills it into the vibrant colors of all the flowers.  I shout it to you in the thunder of the great waterfalls and compose love songs for birds to sing for you.  I warm you with the clothing of My sunshine and perfume the air with natures' sweet scent.  My love for you is deeper than any ocean and greater than any need in your heart.  If you’d only realize how I care.

My Father sends His love.  I want you to meet Him---He cares, too.  Fathers are just that way.  So, please, call on Me soon.  No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait---because I love you.

Your Friend,

JESUS

Brother Lawrence, who was a 17^th century lay brother who lived in France during the Thirty Years War in which he had fought.  The following are a series of quotes from Brother Lawrence:

The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees. 

He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.

There's no greater lifestyle and no greater happiness than that of having a continual conversation with God.

It is possible for us to live in the very sense of the Lord's presence under even the most difficult circumstances. If you and I are going to enjoy the peace of paradise during this life we must become accustomed to a familiar, humble, and very affectionate conversation with the Lord Jesus.

The world appears very little to a soul that contemplates the greatness of God.

Loving God and loving one's neighbor are really the same thing.

Brother Lawrence

Don’t keep God on the shelf.  Carry Him wherever you are, whatever you are doing and He will fill you with His presence as Brother Lawrence invited Him to every area of his life.  Doing so, you will find true peace because it is His peace that He offers us each day.

 

                            TRUSTING GOD IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

Marcella Ward   November 26, 2025 

• God is worthy of your trust.
• You can not be lost to Him.
• Even in the storm, you are held in the palm of His hand.
• He saw this storm before it ever reached you, and has already worked out the provision you’ll need to get you through.
• He will see you through.
• You are His child, and nothing can snatch you from His hands.
• God is worthy of your trust. 
• “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2 NLT
• “Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him, and He will act.” Psalm 37:5 ESV
• “I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born, says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:9 NCV
• “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4 NIV
• “My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation.” Psalm 62:1-2

1. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2 NLT
2. “Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him, and He will act.” Psalm 37:5 ESV
3. “I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born, says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:9 NCV
4. “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4 NIV
5. “My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation.” Psalm 62:1-2
6. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
7. God In The Storm – 6 Powerful Ways To Trust God When The Flood Waters Rise Posted on October 12, 2020 by Rosevine Cottage Girls)

 “One day a small gap appeared in the cocoon, through which the butterfly had to appear. A boy, who accidentally passed by, stopped and watched how the butterfly was trying to get out of the cocoon. It took a lot of time, the butterfly was trying very hard, and the gap was as little as before. It seemed that the power would leave the butterfly soon.

The boy decided to help the butterfly. He took a penknife and cut the cocoon. The butterfly  immediately got out, but its body was weak and feeble, and the wings were barely moving.

The boy continued to watch the butterfly, thinking that now its wings would spread and it would fly. However, that did not happen.  The rest of its life the butterfly had to drag its weak body and wings that weren’t spread. It was unable to fly because the boy did not realize that an effort to enter through the narrow gap of the cocoon was necessary for the butterfly, so that the life-giving fluid would move from the body to the butterfly’s wings and that the butterfly could fly. Life forced the butterfly to leave its shell hardly so that it would become stronger and would be able to grow and develop.

If we were allowed to live without meeting difficulties, we would not be viable. Life gives us challenges to make us stronger.”  (2 Powerful Short Stories On Overcoming Adversities  #5MinMotivation Posted January 3, 2020 Elita Torres)

Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” NIV

Daniel 3:24-25 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted God in the fire.   Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”  He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” NIV

There are those who say that the fourth man in the fire was the pre-incarnate Son of God---Jesus Christ.  Yes Jesus is always with us in the fire and in the storms of life.  He will never, never leave us or forsake us as long as we call on Him and trust Him.

Mark 4:39-40 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” NIV

Jesus is the quiet in our storms.  We need to have faith that He will still the storm but just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, He will also be with us in the fire and even though we may not always be delivered from the fire, He will help us get through the fire or the storm.

 Marcella Ward    Re-Post November 26, 2025 "Author of Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One"

 

 

 

                                                A NEW ERA IS BORN

 

Marcella Ward    October 1, 2025

Be prepared, for a New Era is upon us.  This is God’s re-set for the world and the Body of Christ!  This is the time of the Great Harvest to bring all lost souls into the Kingdom of God.  THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!

OCTOBER FULL CIRCLE    October 1, 2025   Diana Larkin

“This month you will see so many PROPHECIES and PROMISES come into FULFILLMENT. OCTOBER WILL BE A FULL CIRCLE MONTH WHERE YOU SEE HOPES, DREAMS, AND DECLARATIONS COME INTO THEIR MOMENT OF FULFILLMENT. Here comes the HARVEST of your FAITH in Me, and you will REAP in ABUNDANCE the SEEDS of FAITH and PROMISE that you planted—some from many years ago. Seeds you thought were DEAD or DORMANT will SUDDENLY show signs of LIFE, and you will know that it is My BREATH that has caused LIFE to spring forth where DELAY and DENIAL seemed to rule. FULL CIRCLE means you have received a SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION of My POWER, My LOVE, and My LIFE. These FULL CIRCLES will come into personal, intimate areas of your life and into who rules the nations. It will be a SWEEPING MOVE of the WINDS OF CHANGE Host sent to SHIFT the atmosphere from DARK TO LIGHT and to blow in My FULL CIRCLE promises fulfilled.”

PSALM 126:5 (TPT) “Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee.”  (Diana Larkin   A Watchman’s Journal  www.dianalarking.blogspot.com )

 

YOUR ENEMIES ARE NOT DONE TRYING TO KILL THE SOUL OF THIS NATION

Date Word Received: September 20, 2025 (First Prophecy)    Julie Green

Watch video - published September 24, 2025

My children, the world needs My remnant to arise, My remnant to take their place of authority, My remnant to take back what belongs to the church. This Earth does not belong to the globalists. Neither the United States, the Nation of Israel, nor any of the nations around the world belong to the establishment. 

Do you see how evil has gained its foothold? It was because My Church stopped standing. My Church stopped fighting back. My Church grew silent because they believed their pastors, family members, and politicians (when they said) to stay out of politics. The separation of church and state was for your protection from politicians controlling what happens in your congregations, so they could not control what was being said or done behind the pulpit. 

My children, if you look in My Word, I had My prophets next to kings and leaders of nations for freedom and justice. But your enemies deceived most churches, controlled what was said, and deceived the masses, while the enemies got a foothold and controlled your nations with evil and brought in darkness and a great bondage upon this Earth. 

My children, if the church is not involved in politics, then I am not there. If I am not there, your adversary is. I am saying these things again because My Church needs to get into this war and fight like never before.   (www.jgminternational.org )

 

FIRESTORM OF REVIVAL   Word received on September 10, 2025   Marcella Ward

“Jesus won at the cross.  It was the devil’s loss.  So rejoice and be glad.  Don’t be sad!  The Kingdom of God has been birthed this day.  Evil thought he could have his way.  Little did he know that unless a seed dies (Charlie Kirk) and is planted in the ground, there is where redemption is found. 

Charlie Kirk, My son, has ignited a firestorm of Revival in this land I call My own.  Don’t worry.  Don’t be alarmed.  The Day of Revival will soon become the day when Victory was won!!”

 

MY GLORY SHALL FILL THIS LAND!   Word received on September 24, 2025   Marcella Ward

“You will see My Glory filling football stadiums, streets and concert halls!!  Do not limit what I can do, for I make all things new!  My glory shall reverberate throughout this nation.  Don’t be alarmed, for My glory shall also permeate My Church.  My Remnant, My children, are My Church that will grow into an Army.  An Army of Peace, Joy, Love and Redemption.  Stay close to Me.  Let My written Word be upon your lips at all times.  SPEAK IT, THINK IT, RELISH IT!  Stay focused .   Stay close to Me and you will see Victory!!”

Be prepared, for a New Era is upon us.  This is God’s re-set for the world and the Body of Christ!  This is the time of the Great Harvest to bring all lost souls into the Kingdom of God.  THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!

Marcella Ward   Author of “Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One”   October 1, 2025

 

 

 

 

                                                            FACING THE GIANTS

 

Marcella Ward   

 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.  I Samuel 17:45-51 NIV

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.  I Samuel 17:40 NIV  “The number 5 symbolizes God's grace, goodness and favor toward humans and is mentioned 318 times in Scripture. Five is the number of grace, and multiplied by itself, which is 25, is 'grace upon grace' (John 1:16). The Ten Commandments contains two sets of 5 commandments. The first five commandments are related to our treatment and relationship with God, and the last five concern our relationship with others humans.”  (Meaning of Numbers in the Bible The Number 5Ask a Question!   -   Newsletter Biblical Meaning of Numbers)

Facing the giants in our lives takes courage and faith just like David.  David knew, based on his own experiences, that God had been faithful and he encouraged himself in this.  But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”  I Samuel 17:34-37 NIV

When we are standing up for our faith, especially in these times, we are standing against the world which is trying to dictate who we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to think and what we are supposed to say.  We need to be like David and face the giants not only in the world (media, politicians, etc.) but the personal giants that we face.  God does not operate in a spirit of fear but faith.  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

David was given grace to face the giant.  He knew that with God he was an army and not alone. He chose 5 smooth stones to bring down the giant.  Why did he choose five stones?  It does not directly say in the Bible but some have deduced that Goliath had four brothers that David may have had to deal with.  Also, how would David know that the first stone would bring the giant down?  I believe it was God’s grace that brought the giant down in the first blow.

David used Goliath's own sword to kill the giant.  David used a stone and a sword.  How do we bring down the giants in our lives?  We use a stone, the cornerstone, Jesus Christ and the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  When my precious granddaughter, Anastasia, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on one of her kidneys while she was still in her mother’s womb, we, as well as many family and friends used the sword of the Spirit and the Name above all names, Jesus Christ to speak healing over her.  A few days after her birth, the biopsy indicated that the tumor was not cancerous and they were able to remove the kidney that had the tumor wrapped around it and she is now a lively, beautiful, five year old who is a delight and a testimony to God’s grace.  By the way, the name Anastasia in Greek means “Resurrection.”

Face your giants and use the Sword of the Spirit and the Name above all names, Jesus Christ to bring them down!  We are not alone.  We have been given the weapons for our warfare.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV

Marcella Ward November 24, 2021  Author of "Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One"

 

 

UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCING GOD’S LOVE

Have you ever wondered why you were created?  I believe the number one reason that we were created is because God loves us.  That’s right, you were created by God to love and to be loved. His love for us is probably the greatest thing in the entire universe.  The very essence of God’s being, His personality, His very nature---is love.  The motivation for God sending Jesus into this world was love.  One of the most popular verses in all the Bible is, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”  (John 3:16)

The truth is that even though many people today have heard that God loves them, they simply don’t believe it.  They just cannot understand or comprehend the reality of God’s love in their lives.  They can’t grasp something they cannot see.  They haven’t learned how to recognize it and experience it and therefore they don’t know how to embrace it, nurture it, grow in it, or truly enjoy it.  And without knowing or realizing that God loves us, we cannot possibly have hope in our lives.  We will not be aware of the purpose or the meaning that God wants us to have concerning our lives.  God wants us to know a lot about Him, but the most important thing that He wants us to know about Him is the tremendous and awesome love that He has for each and every one of us.  That is why the apostle John could write in I John 4:8, “The one who does not love, does not know God, for God is love.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, who taught us by Your Son not to be over-anxious about tomorrow, because You care for us and know our needs: relieve us of the burden of the future, and enable us to trust You as Your children, help us not to cling to life, but to lose it; for the sake of Him whose yoke is easy and burden light, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

 What are some of the attributes and characteristics of God? 

God’s love is absolutely unconditional. 

There are no “strings attached.”  His love is given freely.  He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to atone for our sins on the cross.  Unconditional love is the purist form of love.  There is no price tag, i.e.  If you do this I will do this.  God does not reject us when we sin and fail Him.  He is waiting with open arms to forgive us.  He does not remember our sins.  Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

God’s love is perfect and eternal.

Since God is perfect, His love is perfect.  His love is eternal.  God is synonymous with love---God is love.  There is nothing you can do that will cause God to love you less.  God sees you as you are and will be.  David was a shepherd boy but God saw the King in him.  God saw a mighty man of God in a humble servant named Gideon.  Peter was a fisherman, but God saw a leader who would bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  God saw a lowly maiden named Mary, who bore the Savior of the world in her womb.  Love sees the masterpiece in the lump of clay.

God’s love is personal.

God’s love is personal.  Each and every one of us is special.  Just like each one of our children is special.  God sent Jesus, His Son, to the earth to become like us so we could become more like Him.  He was sent for the atonement of sins.  When Jesus died on the cross, He died for the forgiveness of all sin but it was for each person’s salvation.  That is why it is so important that we have a personal relationship with God through Jesus His Son.  

Without relationship, there is no communication.  Without communication, there is no reciprocity.  How can you love someone if you know them? 

 God’s love is beyond our human understanding.

Trying to understand the love of God through your own understanding is futile.  The world identifies love in so many ways.  In fact, we have brought love down to the level of, “I love ice cream.”  “I love my brand new car!!”  “I love that program on TV.”  It goes on and on.  We have a tendency to cheapen the word love to just a feeling rather than an absolute.  Yes love can be an emotion but when someone you love hurts you, do you fall out of love with them?  1 Cor. Chapter 13 says in essence that you can have spiritual gifts that can do amazing things but do not have love you are nothing.  Love is patient and kind.  It is not envious or haughty.  It does not insist on its own way.  It says that faith, hope, and love abide “but the greatest of these is love. 

God’s love is beyond our human understanding because we look at love through the eyes of our flesh.  God looks at us and He only sees His love for us!!

He is forgiving.

He is always ready to forgive us when we come to Him.  He does not hold our past sins against us.  The only one who does is the enemy, the devil who likes to bring up our past.  Those who think they sit in judgment of others, whether it be the media, politicians, or even some of our so called friends may want to bring up our past but it has already been covered by the blood of Jesus.  So whenever the devil  brings up your past, remind him of his future!!

He answers our prayers.

God answers our prayers.  He may not answer them quickly or the way we want Him to but He answers them.  Sometimes He may say no.  Sometimes He may say yes but it is not the right time.  If we are truly close to the Lord and listen to the Holy Spirit within us then He will give us the desires of our heart because we are in sync with Him.

He heals us.

God is the healer.  It is through Him that we receive healing.  It is not only physical healing but it could be emotional and psychological healing that we are in need of.  Psalm 147:3 says, He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (curing their pains and their sorrows).  In Exodus 15 it says, “I am the Lord Who heals you.”

We had a miracle in our own family where our granddaughter, Anastasia, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on one of her kidneys before she was born.  Our family and friends stood on the Word of God and had faith that she would be healed.  When she was born the doctors had to remove a kidney where the tumor was wrapped around and when they did a biopsy of the tumor, they said that it was benign!!  By the way, Anastasia in Greek means resurrection!!

I am sure many of you have had stories of miracles in your own lives. Some might say why doesn’t God heal everyone?  The answer is we don’t know.  I don’t think anyone can say for sure but we do know that this tent, this body that our spirit lives in is not meant to live forever and there is appointed a time for each person to die.  We just have to live each day to the fullest glorifying Him each day and doing what He has asked us to do which is the great commission to spread the Gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons and live the life that God intended for us on whatever path He leads us.

He is our loving Father.

He is our loving Father.  He knows us better than anyone.  He is always there because He is omnipresent.  We cannot escape the love of the Father.  For some the concept of a loving father is foreign because some have been abused by their own fathers, or they have been abandoned by their own fathers so sometimes it is hard to come into a relationship with a loving father but God’s love is unconditional. 

We have talked about the attributes and the love that God has for us and let’s not forget that His greatest love letter to us is the Holy Bible which declares His love for us by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus to die for us.  We know that God’s love is unconditional, perfect, eternal, personal, beyond our understanding, measureless and limitless.

We can find God’s will for us through scripture; surrendering our will to His; seeking godly counsel; knowing God has a specific plan for our lives; listen to God’s voice; and looking at circumstances.

When God doesn’t make sense we can know that He is always present in our lives even when He seems absent.  We know that God’s timing is perfect even when He appears to be very late.  For inexplicable reasons we know that we are precious to God.  We cannot put God in a box.  Nothing we can ever do will change His love for us and He is always there to welcome us and forgive us because He loves us so much.

Can any of us truly understand Almighty God’s love for us?  I think from eternity to eternity, not one of us will ever fully understand God’s love for us but we can start experiencing God’s love in our everyday lives by getting to know Him better through prayer, and reading and meditating on God’s Word. 

Through knowing Him and His Word we can seek His will for our lives and when God doesn’t make sense, maybe just by our simple surrender to His will, knowing that He has a perfect plan and that through trials and tribulations He is always there.  (song—Always I Am Here)

If you would like to have a personal relationship with God, say this prayer with me:

Dear God,

I come to You in the name of Jesus

I know that I am a sinner

I ask you to forgive me of all my sins

I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross

To take away my sins

I believe that He was raised from the dead

I ask you Jesus, to come into my heart

Take over my life and make me whole

I surrender to you Jesus now and forever.  Amen

Marcella Ward   May 1, 2020  Author of  "Stolen Identity:Plan of the Evil One"