Author: steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

During the holiday season, we often hear the phrase: “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Although there is no biblical substantiation that Christ was born on December 25th, we do know that He–Our Savior and Lord was born as a human baby from an Immaculate Conception-the only Virgin Birth designed and ordained by God.

Jesus who is the Son of God was born sinless and with purpose: To Redeem us of our Sins; to provide an alternative to the second death which we deserve; to prepare an eternal home for us in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Jesus’ great sacrifice extends beyond a manmade seasonal holiday experience. Isaiah uses descriptive words to honor His status as our Lord and God who bore burdens, who suffered, bled, and died; and then, Overcame Death, and was Resurrected with all Power, Glory, and Majesty.

In John 14, we are told not to possess troubled hearts or minds. Why? Because Jesus has already made provisions for those of us who know from personal experience that, “Jesus is the Reason.”

Revelation 21-22 tells us of the New Heaven and the New Earth that God has personally designed for His Faithful Followers who know that “JESUS is the Reason.”

What gift can I give that would ever be worthy? All that I have, is sinful and unworthy. I was born in sin and inquity has shaped every aspect of who I am. Even so, my nothingness, my wavering faith, falling into temptation, self-will, and disobedience is washed clean and becomes much when I repent and place my life in Jesus’ hands.

I proclaim that, “Jesus is my Reason!”

“I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand on the Earth.” Job 19:25

Challenge for today: Make Jesus your reason by faithfully committing your life to Him.

Prayer for today: Dear God, we want to acknowledge your greatest gift, your Son-Jesus Christ. You are the only Reason that matters to us. We commit our lives to you from this day forward, and we thank you for your great sacrifice. In your holy name, we offer ourselves to you. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seem, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40 (CEV)

Last week, I communicated with one of the senior members of our church who made the decision to live in a Long Term Care facility following her Rehabilitation treatment. During my nursing career, I have witnessed many individuals make the heart wrenching decision to give up their homes and most of their personal belongings to live in one room with minimal possessions, and hope for the best as they share living space with a total stranger.

On this past Sabbath, it was cold and rainy, and my arthritic knees ached immensely from the bitter elements of the weather. We made the decision to stay home and watch the televised and uplifting church service from Oakwood University Church. After eating an early dinner, I began to read an article on “His Will for my Family–Discovering God’s Plan and Purpose.”

At the conclusion of reading several articles in this Christian magazine, the Holy Spirit instructed me to prepare myself to leave for visitation to the nursing home. I placed several layers of clothing on, kissed my surprised husband good-bye, and took the 5 minute ride to the facility where I had worked as a Charge Nurse 38 years ago. (My life took a full circle when God instructed me to return to Texas where I resided from 1976-1987.)

As I parked the car, and looked at the building, the vague memories as a Nurse sending out patients to the hospital began to return when I saw the ambulance and the paramedics exit with a resident on the stretcher. I quickly glanced to make certain it was not the individual I had planned to visit.

When I entered the building, my mind immediately attempted to place me as the young and inexperienced nurse on her first job. I greeted several residents sitting in the lobby, and was in awe that the building was exactly the same as I remembered it. I passed the office where I could remember wheeling the heavy cart of patient charts to document the significant events during the shift. I was no longer entering to render healthcare for patients; however, I still have a responsibility to render spiritual care as defined by God.

Although my role has changed, God’s plan and purpose for my life remains unchanged. My priority as I entered the nursing home was to minister to others from a spiritual perspective. What a joyful blessing the three of us received as we shared laughter, memories of our respective lives, discovered common bonds, and acknowledged God’s grace and mercy through our aging process. We read the Word of God and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for our blessings of life.

I exited the familiar building feeling more enriched and blessed than when I entered. I am thankful that when God spoke to me and said, “Get dressed and go” that I was obedient.

Helpful hands and Obedient hearts-Our duty to God and Others.

Challenge for today: Make the commitment to visit someone in need on a weekly basis!

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please give us the desire to leave our comfort zones and reach out to those in need. Help us to put all excuses aside for not fulfilling your plan and purpose for our lives. We ask you to forgive us and bless us as we move forward. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Aspen, Colorado

Winter is a beautiful season when various parts of the earth are clothed in snowy garments.

It is still so much beauty that God has provided for us to enjoy. Nature reveals God’s ever-present love, it is up to us to explore His gifts to us every season.

Have a wonderful day!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

This is an interesting article. For clarification, anything that we do from a secular or self-seeking pleasure activity should not be done on the Sabbath.

https://www.sabbathtruth.com/free-resources/article-library/id/919/how-should-i-honor-it

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4

As our family reflects on the year of 2018, we are thankful for God’s grace and mercy. It has been a year filled with hardships, loss of family members, health issues, and unspoken challenges. Even so, we have been blessed with many awesome victories that were only possible because of God. In fact, the good times still outweigh the troublesome times and we stand tall as Overcomers because of God’s great faithfulness. We are filled with never-ending joy as we continue to strive to possess unwavering faith in the Lord our God.

“Thank you Lord for saving my soul. Thank you Lord for making me whole. Thank you Lord for giving to me, your great Salvation, so full and free.”

Challenge for today: Recall as many blessings as you can and make a vow to never complain again.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for your great faithfulness. I would be nothing without you. I am because of your love, your grace, and your mercy. Thank you, thank you, thank you! In your Son’s precious name, we offer this prayer of thanksgiving to you. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Sunrise

“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord, ‘they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Matthew 25:11-12 NIV

One of my favorite biblical accounts is the parable of the 10 Virgins-5 Wise and 5 Foolish. For many years, I did not possess a complete understanding of who the Virgins represented; however, in my naivety, I prayed that I would not be like the foolish virgins.

After researching from a credible source, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to give me the correct understanding of the parable. All of the Virgins represent believers who have accepted Christ as the only way to salvation, and who have knowledge of His Word, which is the Truth. As believers, we anxiously await and prepare ourselves for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Since I was a young child, I have listened to countless messages regarding Jesus’ Second Coming and the promise of Eternal Life. Fast forward five decades, and I anxiously await His return. But there was a period in my life that I became weary, and ceased preparing for the Great Event. I no longer searched the Scriptures by studying the Word of God, my prayer life was virtually non-existent, and I failed to invite or acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit, I became a foolish virgin.

The Virgins represent the two classes of believers who are waiting for Jesus to return. All profess faith in Christ and have lamps which represent the Word of God. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. So what was the determining factor that 5 were wise and 5 were foolish? When we read the complete parable in Matthew 25:1-13, not having “Oil” is what led the “Bridegroom” to proclaim that He did not know who the 5 foolish virgins are, leading to their rejection from entering the marriage feast.

Oil represents the Holy Spirit: The third person of the Trinity Godhead. “But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26.

The Holy Spirit enables us to distinguish truth from error and causes our conscience to be troubled when we commit wrongdoings. In addition, the Holy Spirit provides never-failing Comfort in times of distress, and dutifully keeps us walking on the Path of Righteousness by bringing the truth to our remembrance.

There is a pertinent action for us to take in order to possess the “Oil.” We must invite (through prayer) the Holy Spirit into our lives. There are many who ask, “What is this Holy Spirit that you refer to?” I can only tell you that when I prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit and surrendered my will and my way of thinking, doing, and acting, that I begin to view life from a spiritual perspective. My character is changing and I desire for my life to align with the Word of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

There are times when I slip and fall into sin, and possess the ways of the Foolish Virgins-knowing the truth, but giving into my sinful characteristic of self-reliance, because I failed to invite the Holy Spirit into my heart.

Even so, I share this personal testimony to tell you that I can not “Make a Wish” to possess the “Oil of a Wise Virgin.” To be filled with the Holy Spirit requires active participation by surrendering and praying daily. I have committed to building a strong relationship with God the Father, God the Son-Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. I am married to the Trinity-Godhead and will stay married through surrender, obedience, the study of God’s Word, and prayer to be filled with God’s precious Oil.

Challenge for today: Pray and fast to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer for today: Dear God, We desire to be a Wise Virgin and we ask you to forgive us, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with your Holy Spirit. We believe and we receive as we await the Second Coming of your Son-Jesus Christ. In His Holy name, we pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Reference: Christ’s Object Lessons by Ellen G. White

I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23)

Lead me in a straight path. (Psalm 27:11)

“Many people want to direct God instead of surrendering to be directed by Him. They want to show Him the way instead of submissively following where He leads.” From the Devotional
Streams in the Desert

Imagine that you are driving your vehicle and your front passenger reaches over and attempts to assist you by grabbing the steering wheel. I know you are thinking, “Who would even think about doing something so senseless?” Yet in our lives we want to be the driver and invite God to be the passenger on our journey.

God is aware of the many Dangerous Curves Ahead as we travel through our journey of life. He designed the road that contains the potholes, road closures, and detours. The gas stations are strategically placed for spiritual fill-ups and tune-ups when we are running on empty.

When we invite God into our lives, His position as Driver is pre-determined. Our responsibility is to fasten our seatbelts in the passenger seat and let the never-failing GPS (God Personally Steering) navigate us to our final destination, the New Heaven and the New Earth.

As we travel, our road trip will offer times of laughter and times of sorrow; however, with God as our Driver our destination to victory is guaranteed.

Challenge for today: Read Psalms 23 & 27

Prayer for today: Dear God, we ask you to be the Driver as we travel through this journey of life. Thank you for steering us to victory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:33

Are you aware that serving God requires total commitment? When we step out in faith to trust God to become his follower, He looks at our life, and determines the things (obstacles) that need to be eliminated.

You may ask,”What is it that God wants me to give up?” Each of us has personalized stumbling blocks that cause us to compromise our relationship with God. It may be a job which requires working on the Sabbath, friends, lifestyles, habits or unhealthy relationships. It is always the things or people that satisfy our fleshly desires that we want to hold on to:

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17 NIV

Whatever God requires us to give up is hurting our spiritual relationship with him.

And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

The command is to “let go of whomever or whatever” when we commit to discipleship. We were created to hate and resist sin, even so, when we compromise and willfully choose our fleshly desires, it causes us to be in direct opposition to God, our Creator.

We are unable to carry our own cross without total surrender and sacrifice. Because our carnal-fleshly desires indicate self-will and enmity (being actively opposed against) toward God; He requires us to make the decision to either be with Him or against Him.

God has promised that our sacrifice in saying–yes to Him, will lead to our transformation as overcomers.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. Revelation 2:7

The Tree of Life symbolizes eternal life; what a great reward for sacrificing and fully committing to saying yes to God!

My soul says yes, yes, yes Lord yes, yes to your will and to your way!

Challenge for today: Prayerfully ask God to reveal the obstacles in your life which prevent saying yes to Him.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Please show me the people, places, and things that I need to let go of. I am ready to say yes, no matter the sacrifice that is required. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Revelation 21 ESV

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold The Dwelling Place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

There are many individuals that feel life is nothing but struggle after struggle and then you pass away, so you might as well live according to your own desires. Our lives are full of trials and tribulations because God’s purpose is to ensure that we strive for spiritual perfection. Imagine studying for a course-learning theory and never applying any of the newly acquired knowledge to your life. The Word of God is the spiritual theory that should be diligently studied (every day) in order for our lives to change.

We are unable to align our thoughts, actions, and behaviors to God’s requirements unless we study the Bible on a daily and systematic basis. There are individuals who may not possess good study habits and have challenges with memorization. The great news is that we are able to acquire new or upgraded study skills at any point in our lives. A printed copy of the Bible, a journal, writing pen, and seated at a table with a comfortable chair is recommended. Staying alert and oriented is less of a challenge when you are not in an area which encourages relaxation.

Study Skills

1. Eliminate all distractions including your phone-ringer silenced.

2. Offer a heartfelt prayer for the Holy Spirit to give you the correct understanding of the Word.

3. Choose one chapter that you can focus on that is applicable to your present challenges.

4. Use your journal to take notes on the message you are reading and what you will do to apply the Word to your life.

5. Incorporating Christian music as part of your study time assists in providing an atmosphere conducive to reverencing God.

Studying the Bible is an essential part of worshipping God. Your worship time should be a minimum of one hour on a daily basis. Depending on your household, you may have to study in 30-minute increments. Do not neglect your children!

Striving for spiritual perfection is only possible with the leadership of the Trinity-God the Father, God the Son-Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit. Reaching God’s standards for our lives requires active participation. It is never enough to hear sermons which are quickly forgotten. We may attend church whenever services are available; even so, 2 Timothy 3:15 admonishes us to:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a Workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of Truth.” NASB

There are two priorities for studying God’s Word: We get to know who God really is and a complete overhaul and transformation of our sinful character will occur!

Do not fret over the translation of the Bible! Find a Christian Bookstore (yes, they are still around) and read Psalm 23, if you are able to understand the Song of David, then pray and purchase your Bible. It is not the “ye or thou” that matters to God. He wants us to proclaim:

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you! Psalm 119:11

There is a great reward waiting for us when we love God and strive to serve Him with all of our heart: A New Life-An Eternal Life. Diligently study God’s Word and you will develop the most loving relationship with Him, and you will come to realize that “The Struggle is Real, but Victory is Sure.” Elder R. Bevins

Challenge for today: Purchase your Bible and study Psalm 23 and Romans 12.

Prayer for Today: Dear God, I need to know who you are. Please give me a clear understanding of your instructions that I may love you and be transformed. I desire a strong relationship with you and I desire eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sonya Johnson Ruiz

Have a blessed day! Praying that you are encouraged by this song.