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He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death nor sorrow nor crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:4 NLT

Last night, I visited one of the Mothers of our church who is in a long term care facility. We had the most wonderful time talking, and laughing while she enjoyed eating butter pecan ice cream. As we reminisced on the life and friendship of our precious Sister-in-Christ, Susan who recently passed away, we acknowledged how much we missed her; however, we also have hope because we look forward to seeing her when Jesus comes again–His Second Coming.

As Bible-based believers, we know that God always keeps His promises. There is a promise of eternal life after death: We have hope of the resurrection of believers who have died in Christ:

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the Believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the Believers who have died. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NLT

God even takes it a step further and tells us exactly what will happen at the Second Coming of Jesus:

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding Shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-18 NLT

Do you believe that God does not intend for us to live a life filled with grief and sorrow?

You may feel that the loss of a loved one or a tragic event has left you with little to live for or that it is impossible to ever have the Christ-given joy and happiness that you once possessed.

God knows every aspect of our lives before anything, good or bad happens, nothing is a surprise to our Heavenly Father. It is possible to have a full and wonderful life even we must bear our greatest sorrows.

Do you believe that God will take away your pain due to loss?

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (last part) Psalm 30:5

Do you desire for God to heal and remove your brokenness and restore your joy so that you can have a purpose driven life?

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.” In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT

For us to obtain the fulfillment of God’s promises, we must actively participate by doing what He commands. Rate your prayer and Bible study habits on a scale from 1-5 from poor to excellent. The Word of God is not a fictional story book; His Word breathes hope, provides strength, restores our joy, reinforces our faith, and proves that the Almighty God is trustworthy.

Prayer is our connection to God! Amp up your prayer life and you will begin to feel the power of God surging through your mind, body, and soul.

We serve a mighty God!

As long as we have breath in our bodies, we have a connection with our Creator, our Jehovah jireh, our Heavenly Father. God is our all and all.

We must continue to strive for eternal life. The storms of life will bring crashing waves, deafening claps of thunder, and overwhelming turbulence; even so, the Master, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God says, “Peace be Still!”

Hallelujah! For thine is the power, the honor, and the glory. Forever and ever. Amen.

Bible reading for today: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 21-22

Prayer for today: Dear Lord and Father of all mankind, We come to you with our brokenness, our grief, and our sorrow. We have tried in every way to alleviate our suffering. But now we realize that we can do nothing without your love, your grace, and your mercies upon our lives. Oh God, we need you in every aspect of our earthly lives. Please restore our joy, and please help us to serve you wholeheartedly. We ask you to forgive us of our sins and shortcomings, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and to fill us with your Holy Spirit. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen!

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

The winds and the waves must obey His will: Peace be Still!

A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6: 43, 45 NLT

Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh I didn’t mean to say that or I’m sorry, that I said that or I don’t know why I said that?”

The Bible gives us the answer, and the reason for all misspoken words is that we spoke exactly what was in our minds. It is our wayward thoughts that will always be revealed when the right situation presents itself. More often than not, these words slip out without hesitation and we are faced with embarrassment, or simply relieved because the thought weighed heavily on our minds.

So, the process of self-justification begins: “What I said was the truth and he or she deserved to be told, and it is better that they hear it from me.”

Many individuals believe in a “gray area” which is a manmade creation that indicates an area of compromise; the compromise between good and evil, truth and error, the implied or the unspoken, the seen and the unseen. However, God clarifies that His standards are love or hate, truth or lies, right or wrong; God does not have an area of compromise, and neither should we fall into the trap devised by the master deceiver–Satan.

We must make the decision to live by God’s standards. When we abide by truth and righteousness, our minds will reflect goodness, and the words that proceed from our mouths will never be offensive, hurtful, or belittling.

Remember that God’s daily forgiveness, grace and mercies are gifts that we should cherish and when we contemplate on His love, our minds (hearts) will be in alignment with his definition of a good person.

Bible Reading for today: Luke 6

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask forgiveness for living in an area of compromise; an area where we define what is right and wrong, and what constitutes good and evil. We ask you to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, to give us a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within us. We thank you for giving us holy and uncompromising standards to live by. It is our desire to have eternal life and to always possess thoughts and speak words that reflect your character. We ask this prayer in the worthy name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

One of the greatest joys in life is being among believers who love and serve God!

Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT

Then the king will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me I was in prison, and you visited me. Matthew 25:40 NLT

Yesterday we decided to make a home office out of our extra bedroom. The task was much greater than we had anticipated. As we were placing things and stuff in the donation bags, I began to pray a prayer of repentance. My prayer was for forgiveness of accumulating much more than I ever needed. When I asked myself why, I could not provide a truthful or rational answer; even so, I acknowledged the problem and immediately began to declutter and destash.

One of the decisions that we made was to donate to faith-based organizations that give to individuals based on their financial predicaments as opposed to the mainstream or popular thrift stores. Some items we are selling and are utilizing FB groups that focus on selling items for very low-cheap prices.

This is where the heart-wrenching part of our first selling experience begins. The post included our desire to sell a queen size bed with 2 sheet sets and a comforter set for under $50 to a family in need. The responses were overwhelming; at this point, I asked God to reveal to us who had the greatest need.

God always answers prayers!

There was a Mother who was open and honest by revealing the most personal details of her daughter’s decision to leave a bad relationship which left she and her young child sleeping on the floor. Let’s reflect on this information: It is a humbling and embarrassing experience to tell your intimate details to a stranger and to acknowledge that financially you do not have the money to help your child and grandchild with the basic of physical needs.

God allowed many things to be revealed to me through this experience. There is a great need in our society among individuals who are economically disadvantaged. It is not easy to obtain one of the most essential items, a bed to sleep on, due to many factors; however, the major obstacle of not having a vehicle to pick up furniture leaves many families sleeping on the floor.

As a Believer, I have the responsibility to faithfully serve others with the greatest compassion, and to utilize the resources of monetary overabundance along with my time to help those in need. My eyes are open and I will continue to be faithful as long as I have breath in my body to give of my time and resources to those in need.

My prayer is that my husband and I were a reflection of Christ in our face-to-face interaction with the family that we met yesterday.

And he will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refuse to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you are refusing to help me.” Matthew 25:45 NLT

Bible Reading for today: Matthew 25

Prayer for today: Dear God, There are many individuals who do not have the basic necessities in life. Please give us the desire to fulfill our role as servants, to possess greater love and compassion, and to reflect you as we give of ourselves. We thank you for your bountiful blessings, your grace and your mercies. We ask this prayer in the worthy name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

©Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 1 Kings 19:3-5 NIV

Our minds and physical bodies often fail when we are faced with challenging circumstances. It is easier to succumb than it is for us to possess the necessary strength to tackle the issue. Although we have faced many battles, most of us feel like throwing in the towel because we are overwhelmed by yet another tribulation. Even so, there are many believers who immediately tap into the source of power and gain the strength to withstand by faithfully trusting in God.

Elijah feared the wicked Queen Jezebel because she made the declaration to take his life; it was an automatic human response to the threatening situation. Elijah the prophet realized his powerlessness and fled to an area that he considered as a safe place.

We also run away from God mentally and spiritually when we begin to utilize self-seeking tactics to resolve our battles. The result is to feel burned out and stressed over circumstances that we are powerless to resolve, and what we fail to realize is that God never expected for us to provide the solutions for victory.

The key to acquiring the necessary strength to withstand is only available by exercising our faith and trust in God.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

When we are depleted, our only source is God, and having that talk with God must be our first action everytime in every situation.

Make the commitment to stop taking on the Responsibility to Resolve; God is always available, He is Omnipotent and so full of love that He promises us:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Let go of fear, anxiety, and worries! God has always been our resource and He is fully equipped to fulfill His duty in taking on the Responsibility to Resolve our small problems and turn them into giant victories.

Bible Reading for today: 1 Kings 19

Prayer for today: Dear God, We are feeling weary from all of the issues that we are facing. We realize that self-reliance is not the option that you intended for us to choose. We ask you to forgive us for excluding you when we are facing life’s battles. We ask for your divine intervention and the strength, faith, and perserverance while you bring resolution to our difficulties. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. We ask in the worthy name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:10,17 NLT

When the Israelites were delivered from enslavement by Pharoah, they were like newborn babes who are totally dependent on their mothers. The conditions of wandering in the desert without means to obtain food for nourishment placed them exactly where God desired for them to be, totally dependent on Him.

God provided manna six days a week, with a double portion on Friday, so they could prepare their meal ahead of time for the Sabbath. He also instructed them to gather only what they needed to eat for each day. Those who disobeyed God’s command by taking an overage awakened the next day to find the excess manna spoiled.

How many of us have come to rely on our own stockpile of resources; bank accounts, CDs, stocks, or retirement plans? God desires that we depend upon Him for our daily provisions. We cannot create our own comfort zone by trusting in ourselves, in our money or in our possessions. We must become as babes and change our mindset to totally depend on God by living for today and placing our complete trust in God our Father.

Develop an action plan to build your trust in God by living a faith-based life. Christ left us an example of how and what we should pray for in Matthew 6.

Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 KJV

Give us today the food we need. Matthew 6:11 NLT

Our resources are a gift from God, our provider, Jehovah Jireh. God did not intend for us to trust in the gifts; He desires for us to only trust in the Giver of the gifts.

Bible Reading for today: Matthew 6:19-34

Prayer for today: Dear God, We ask you to forgive us for trusting in ourselves. We desire to live a faith-based life which is not possible unless we are totally dependent on you. Thank you for the reassurance through your Holy Word that you will give us our daily provisions when we ask through prayer. We ask you to provide for our needs according to your will. In the worthy name of Jesus, we ask and we pray. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

The Sabbath comes as a welcome relief from the trials and sadness that occurred during this week. Thanking you God again for your grace and mercies❤🙏

Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can befall our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete Holiness because we fear God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT

Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Psalm 34:12-13 NLT

Maintaining Physical Cleanliness

The number one defense against disease transmission is proper handwashing. Now that is the key; proper handwashing as defined by the Centers for Disease Control involves five steps along with water, soap, friction, and time. It is not merely a coincidence that improper handwashing has led to the increase of transmission-based diseases in the United States.

An ever increasing knowledge base enables us to maintain the homeostasis of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components of our bodies.

Are you completely aware of your thoughts throughout the day? It is a smooth and easy transition for bad thoughts to present themselves through our spoken words and behaviors. In fact, misaligned thought processes act as a catalyst for destruction; evil thoughts cause havoc in relationships with others; hurtful and inappropriate words flow easily in our homes, on our jobs, in social settings, and even when we attend church.

Achieving Spiritual Cleanliness

We can change the ill-formed habit of evil, negative thinking through an immediate cease and desist strategy.

1. Acknowledge that your thoughts are unholy and that you are committing a sin against God and others.

2. Ask yourself, “Why am I thinking this way?”

3. Admit that you are 100% accountable for your thoughts–refuse to engage in the blame game.

4. Confess to God through prayer that you possess an unholy habit–even if you must pray silently–God is already aware of all of our thoughts even before we act out through words or actions.

Remember Satan is not a god, he is a fallen being with limited power. God has not given Satan the ability to read your mind. It is when your thoughts come into fruition by the change in your temperament that you willingly fall into his well-devised plan.

We are creatures of habit; if we have the ability to learn the behaviors of others, then Satan can easily devise a custom-made and dirty scheme for each of us to fall into, based on our bad habits.

Do you believe that God desires for us to have peace and a joyful life?

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Memorize this bible verse and repeat it everytime that misaligned-dirty thoughts begin to permeate your mind.

We are responsible for initiating the spiritual cleansing of unholy thoughts through repentance (having godly sorrow); God has given us the Holy Spirit who will assist us in the spiritual cleansing process of changing into Overcomers.

I can and I will change through the power of Jesus Christ.

Prayer for today: Dear God, Thank you for the ability to be an active participant in the process of spiritual cleansing. As each of our needs differ, so do our spiritual journeys differ. We acknowledge and confess that we possess wayward thoughts. As we become more aware of our sinful thoughts, we pray for a cease and desist mindset. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us with abolishing the habit of evil and negative thinking. We love you, we worship you, and we praise your holy name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Achieving Peace: Part 2 of 2

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019

Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada

I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works and I know this very well. Psalm 139:14 BSB

The existence of God is the most important core belief that an individual can possess; however, the actions required to substantiate that belief is from the power of choice.

We were made in the image of God!

The God who created us from love; the God who created us with a uniqueness that is unlike any other human; and the God who desires us to have an intimate–up close and personal relationship with him requires faithful dedication.

God requires us to be active participants in the Plan of Salvation! He does not demand that we serve him; however, His promises are dependent upon our willingness to obey. God states, “If you…then I will…”

Yes, the vicissitudes of life are hard; even so, we have a God–the one and only true God who promises us that He has good plans for us with a hopeful future.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour…Isaiah 43:2-3

When we have a deep knowledge of who God really is and believe in His promises, we will pray prayers of thanksgiving, sing songs of praise, and honor God through unwavering faith, trust, and obedience.

Why should we feel discouraged?

Develop a personal relationship with God, and reflect on His goodness; in spite of your circumstances, always proclaim:

“Hallelujah, He is El Shaddai, my All and All!”

Prayer for today: Dear God, We worship you, we praise your holy name, and we thank you for all that you have done in our lives and all that you will continue to do. God, we desire a closer relationship with you. We ask forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings. Please help us to remain encouraged, because you have promised, if we do our part, then you are always faithful and you will do exceedingly and abundantly above more than we can ever imagine. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2019