THE GOD WHO STAYS

 

Marcella Ward      March 1, 2023

 

When adversity comes, when tragedies come into our lives, we know that God is always with us.  As born again believers in Christ we know, through the scriptures, that God will never leave us.  We may walk away from Him but He is always there to welcome us back.  God is ALWAYS WITH US!

DEUTERONOMY 31:6

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  NIV

DEUTERONOMY 31:8

⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  NIV

JOSHUA 1:5

⁵ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  NIV

JOSHUA 1:9

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  NIV

MATTHEW 28:20

²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  NIV

ROMANS 8:28

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.  NIV

 

The following song really sums up God’s love for us even when we sin or walk away from Him, His arms are always open wide to welcome us back.  The following lyrics to the song by Matthew West have touched my heart over the years and I pray they touch yours.

 

Matthew West Lyrics

"The God Who Stays"

If I were You I would've given up on me by now
I would've labeled me a lost cause
'Cause I feel just like a lost cause
If I were You I would've turned around and walked away
I would've labeled me beyond repair
'Cause I feel like I'm beyond repair

Oh, but somehow You don't see me like I do
Somehow You're still here

You're the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

I used to hide
Every time I thought I let You down
I always thought I had to earn my way
But I'm learning You don't work that way

'Cause somehow You don't see me like I do
Somehow You're still here

You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)
You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands (You're the God who stands)
With wide open arms (With wide open arms)
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

My shame can't separate
My guilt can't separate
My past can't separate
I'm Yours forever
My sin can't separate
My scars can't separate
My failures can't separate
I'm Yours forever
No enemy can separate
No power of hell can take away
Your love for me will never change
I'm Yours forever

You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)
You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands (You're the God who stands)
With wide open arms (With wide open arms)
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

 

 

Open the link below to listen to the song on YouTube.

 

https://youtu.be/8wJIeZMSxLs

 

Marcella Ward    March 1, 2023   Author of “Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One”

A LETTER FROM JESUS

 

A LETTER FROM JESUS

                                       

 

A Letter From Jesus:

Dear Friend,

I just had to send you a note to tell you how much I love you and care for you. I saw you yesterday as you were talking to your friend. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk with me. As evening came, I gave you a sunset to close your day and a breeze to rest you and I waited. You never came. Sure, it hurts me, but I still love you because I am your friend.

I saw you fall asleep last night and I longed to touch your face. Again I waited wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you. You got up late and rushed off to work/school. My tears were in the rain.

Today you looked so sad - so all alone. It makes my heart ache because I understand. My friends let me down many times too, but I love you.

If you would only listen to me! I love you! I try to tell you in the blue sky and in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves, in the trees, and breathe it in the colors of the flowers. I shout it to you in the mountain streams and give the birds' love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and sweeten the air with nature scents.

My LOVE for you is deeper than the ocean and bigger than the biggest want or need in your heart. If you would only knew how much I want to walk and talk with you. I know how hard it is on Earth. I really know! And I want to help you.

I want you to meet my Father. He wants to help you too. My Father is that way you know. Just call me - ask me - talk with me! Please don't forget me! I have so much to share with you! Alright, okay, I won't bother you any more. You are free to choose me. It's your decision. I have chosen you, and because of this I will wait, and wait, and wait, because I love you.

Your Friend, Jesus

Author Unknown

On June 3, 2021, the Lord gave me the following words:

 “Have I not positioned the stars in space to sing a special song for you?  Did I not position the earth between the sun and the moon to give you light by day and light at night? (Job 38:7, Genesis 1:14) Did I not create the flower that brushed your cheek and gave its fragrant scent to you?  Did I not position a flower to burst into fiery flames of color so you could enjoy?

Have I not placed My heart in you to see others as I see them?  Look through My eyes, touch through my hands, hear what I say to you each and every day.  I am closer than your very breath.  BREATHE ME IN!”

Genesis 1:14  And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, NIV

Job 38:7…while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

 Through His Eyes (by Marty Ward copyright 1999)

 

There’s a man, staring back, in the window pane.

He’s looking at me, through the eyes of my life.

Hoping, that I will see, my life was not in vain.

He’s showing me, what He’s seen, through the eyes of my life.

 

Through His eyes, the reflection of my journey

Is seen through the cloudy window pane, of my eyes.

Through His eyes, the measure of my humanity

Is seen, when my pride and selfishness, dies.

 

Sitting here, and staring out, at the pouring rain

And thinking back on all the years and endless tears.

Seeing the world, pass me by, like an endless train

Remembering the failures, sorrows, and all the fears.

 

 

Lord, what do you see in me?

Am I becoming what you want of me?

Lord, what do you see through me?

Am I a reflection of You living in me?

 

Watching the sun, breaking through, the parting clouds above

Remembering how, Your light filled my darkest night.

Even though I failed and sinned, You forgave me with Your love

And blessed all of my days with Your peace and delight.

 

Feeling the warmth, and the hope, of a brand new day.

Like the flowers born just after a spring day’s rain.

My spirit finds new life when I follow Your way.

You’re the breath of my life seen in that window pane.

 

Through His eyes, the reflection of my journey

Is seen through the cloudy window pane, of my eyes.

Through His eyes, the measure of my humanity

Is seen, when my pride and selfishness, dies.

 

Click the link below to hear this song sung by Marty Ward

https://youtu.be/G0Y7OiTKjmc

 by Marcella Ward   June 10, 2021   Author of  "Stolen Identity:Plan of the Evil One"

 

                                           WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST

 

Marcella Ward      February 1, 2023

1 Corinthians 12:12-27  NIV

Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Not only are we a corporate entity as the Body of Christ but we are also a body in which Christ, through the Holy Spirit, dwells in us.   If we could just grasp this profound reality as a believer, then maybe it would catapult us into a new dimension of God dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit!!

Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father.  Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit.  When we ask Jesus into our lives, He comes and lives within us through The Holy Spirit.  We are His emissaries here on earth.  He needs us to carry on His Kingdom on earth because He is no longer physically here. 

 

JOHN 14:11    NIV

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 

In John 14:11, Jesus says that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.  He also states that even beyond that let the works that He manifested speak for themselves.

We carry the very essence of God within us so others should be able to see God in us.  It should not only be our words, but our actions, that draw people to us.  We need to be manifesting the Kingdom of God here on this earth by our actions.  We not only need others to see the Kingdom but we need TO BE THE KINGDOM!

JOHN 13:35   NIV

³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

MATTHEW 5:16 NIV

¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

GALATIANS 2:20  NIV

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

MARK 16:15  NIV 

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 

JOHN 12:45  NIV

⁴⁵ The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 

 

CHRIST HAS NO BODY    ST. TERESA OF AVILA

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

(Englewood Review of Books    October 15, 2012)

 

SALVATION PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for shedding your blood on the cross to wash away my sins.

Forgive me of all my sins as I forgive others who have hurt me.

Come into my heart and live Your life in and through me.

I surrender all to You.

 

Marcella Ward     February 1, 2023      Author of “Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One”