It’s been soooo long since the last time I signed off here at Importantstuff.live. My blogging journey seems to have come full circle since the last time I offered a read. Thank you for checking in now. I have missed our little group. Over the past couple years, I have received many of your posts through my inbox. Each one has lifted my faith and my spirit – truly! Thank you all so much for your consistency and obedience to the Lord in sharing both His Word and encouragement in a world gone crazy.
Last month I seriously considered closing down this website. I have been blogging sporadically over at The Fragrance of Christ blog and asked the Lord what His purpose is for my blogging going forward. I went a step further and put out a fleece like Gideon:
“Lord, if two readers give a like to anything at Importantstuff.live, I will take that as my answer to renew the subscription for at least another year.”
Well, today I checked and exactly two readers gave my post Indecision – The Spirit of Fear from way back in 2016 a like! Isn’t God amazing? I love Him so much. So here I am telling you my mini story of a twinge of doubt in my walk with our Heavenly Father and how He has drawn me closer to Him every step of the way.
Today, I would like to wish each of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and INCREASE IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE IN THE COMING YEAR 2025!!! Don’t be surprised more posts from Importantstuff.live show up in your feed in the future. I am renewed by faith and encouraged by our Lord to show up and get back to work for His Glory. Love to All this Christmas season. Be safe, walk in the footsteps of Christ, and sprinkle kindness as you go.
Just checking in to say “Hi” to old friends. I’ve missed you and hope things have been going well with a steady growth in the Holy Spirit. Still trying to get my writing groove back …
I wish I could say that it has been going well but … not so much. Frankly, world events being what they are, I feel heartbroken. Then the words just don’t come to paper; so I post scriptures mostly about God’s love, for the world I thought I knew is unrecognizable.Yet the world needs to know that it’s not God’s fault. He loves us so much that he sacrificed his own Son to redeem us from our sinful selves.
The world is getting very very close to the “days of Noah” that Jesus talked about. Jesus is coming soon!
And then the judgement.
Proverbs 2:1-3
My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding…
Proverbs 2:6-9
For the LORD grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guard the paths of the just and protects those
who are faithful to him.
Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
I am very grateful for the opportunity to write here at WordPress. I am especially thankful to the readers who have followed this blog site within the past six years.
Hopefully, my writing has improved along with my spiritual growth through this Christian blog experience.
My old posts will still be here for 2022 but I’m not sure after that. My best to all of you and may God’s blessings rain down upon you in torrents! I will still be subscribed to all as before, and read your posts, so I don’t have to miss you!
Happy Thanksgiving to ALL! Thank you for following this blog. I sincerely hope to see some of you at
32Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
John 6:32-37 NKJV
What a wondrous promise to ponder from Jesus today! Thank you, LORD! And Jesus continued …
38“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 6:38-40 NKJV
Isn’t it amazing how when God speaks, His words carry power and authority, clarity and purpose, leaving no doubt about His meaning? In this scripture passage, Jesus connects every phrase to the previous sentence, so that we will understand in our spirit what He means for us to hope for and believe in.
Thank you, Jesus and Holy Father, for Your love and redemptive promises to us. Thank you that You never change and Your Word is truly about salvation forever; and for making it so easy to understand.
Have a blessed winter day and thank you for following Jesus!
This writer was re-baptized last Sunday. It didn’t overshadow my first baptism wayyyyyy back when. I still remember the feeling of total cleansing as I came up out of the water that first time. There were many witnesses at the church. My own mother was baptized that evening, too. We accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior together and we were baptized together. It was a double testimony of our faith in Christ.
So why this second baptism?
Have you ever re-dedicated your life to God? Me too. When the pastor suggested that any who had re-dedicated his or her life consider being re-baptized, I prayed about it.
11But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12 NKJV
His answer: Re-baptism is my good confession to many witnesses of my re-dedication to faith in Jesus. It says that I haven’t always been as obedient as He commanded. My re-baptism shows that I am still pursuing a right standing with Jehovah through belief in His Son, Jesus. There is major spiritual warfare going on around us and I am re-engaging in the good fight of faith, even in blindness. I can’t see the battle, but I know it exists. My God is strong and all powerful. Studying His Word equips and shields me against the arrows of the enemy who would slay me with false knowledge. We know who wins this war of souls, and I still want to be counted among those who trust Jesus as our foundation for hope and a future of eternal Life with Him. Jesus is MY Lord of lords and MY King of kings.
This time as I came up out of the waters, it didn’t feel as exhilarating as it did that first time. But it was life-changing; full of wonderment at what Jesus has done for me, a sinner. It impacted the witnesses, too. Many in church this past Sunday told me later that they were encouraged, hearts were gladdened, spirits were uplifted, and more positive comments confirmed to me that my step of faith was God’s will. See, it brought contentment to the brethren, and it blessed me.
That is my good confession for you today. Trust in Jesus. He rules and reigns. He is ALL.
Tribulations shall come; and we are told to glory in them (Romans 5:1-5 NKJV).
1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character, and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t say that I glory in times of testing. At times I have been so gripped by fear that I was virtually stuck – powerlessly overwhelmed by worry, doubt, and loss. My nights were sleepless and when I called out to God in prayer for peace of mind, it did not come.
What is wrong with me?
I was not earnestly contending for the faith (Jude 1:3). I lacked boldness and confidence in my Lord that He not only provides for all my needs, but He is more powerful than any circumstance. I was not living by faith in Jesus, but faith in myself.
I can’t fix anything! Once I turned everything over to Him, my burdens were lifted as He carried me through one difficulty after another. The more I trusted Jesus to take control of my life, my prayers were heard and answered according to His will. I can now see how giving God the glory fits with tribulation, as his solutions to problems are perfect compared to mine. Where was the evidence of my faith? Sadly – gone. But praise God, once I repented and began to live according to His Spirit guiding me, I learned:
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:16-17 NKJV
3Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4Delight yourself in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass… 7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret – it only causes harm. ~ Psalm 37:3-5,7a, 8 NKJV
Jesus keep me from stumbling! Keep me from taking back any burdens You have freed me from so I can rest in You always. Thank You LORD!
28Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, as I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. ~ Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
And also:
20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ~ Jude 1:20-21 NKJV
51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed – 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”55 “O Death, where is your sting?O Hades, where is your victory?”
56The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ~ I Corinthians 15:51-58 NKJV (emphasis added)
13Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14Let all that you do be done with love. ~ I Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV
Hi everybody! Happy Friday already … again … it sure comes around fast, doesn’t it? Has this week slipped by with you wondering where your blessing went?
Gee, I know how you feel! But what would happen if we speak God’s Word aloud all week?
Take Isaiah 41:10, for example:
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Okay, so what happens if we declare what God just said to us and accept it as truth? Let’s try speaking it back to Him!
“I am not afraid, for You are with me. I am not discouraged, for You are my God. You strengthen me and help me. You hold me up with Your victorious right hand. Selah!”
See how we can clothe ourselves in glory by speaking God’s Word for us back to Him? It’s affirmation. It’s receiving through speaking scriptures into the atmosphere that changes our circumstances. It builds us up, just as God intended. It shifts things that are against us into things working for our good.
Many times we hear that prayer changes things – and it does. I would add that boldly speaking God’s Word in our prayers delights God. Making confident declarations of God’s wisdom through His Word makes a lot of sense to me. How about you?
Try with me Matthew 5:44-45a (declared):
“I declare, that I love my enemies, and bless those who curse me, just as You commanded, LORD. I do my best to do good to those who hate me, and pray for those who mistreat me and persecute me. This way, I behave as a true child of my Father in Heaven.”
Let’s open ourselves up to the possibilities of God’s greatness toward us. Speak God’s Word!
“but we who hope in the LORD will renew our strength. We will soar on wings like eagles; we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:31 (declared)
“The LORD keeps me from all harm – He watches over my life; the LORD watches over my coming and going both now and forevermore.” ~ Psalm 121:7-8 (declared)
Are we getting the hang of it now? Look at how effective prayer is when we speak the Word of God:
“Jesus, You said that I’m to keep on asking, and I will receive what I ask for; to keep on seeking, and I will find.
to keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to me. That is what I’m doing, LORD, for everyone who asks, receives.
Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” ~ Matthew 7:7-8 (declared)
While we’re at it, let’s thank God for His great GREAT love for us with one of my favorite worship songs. Let me know in the comments if you have tried this “declare and receive” prayer method and whether it has helped achieve breakthroughs for you or not. As always, I sincerely thank you for following Importantstuff.Live and should we stray may the LORD leave the ninety-nine and keep comin’ after me and you!
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
~Psalm 46:10
Every time I see the splendid wildlife we have here in Alaska I give glory to God in the Highest. His creative power is revealed in each species by unique physical characteristics that are pleasing to the eye but also by the behavior of different animals.
Before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers in Him. Did you know that? Yes, He spent His last hours of freedom on this earth in prayer.
That shows how important prayer is to God and how much Jesus loves us. He put everything else aside at the end of His life to pray.
First, He prayed to the Father for glorification as God’s Son to finish the work He was sent to do (Read John 17:1-5). He also included that His glory would in turn glorify the Father by Jesus becoming the eternal life that would save all who believe; that people would know both God the Father as the one true God and Jesus, His Son. So, He included all believers in this prayer as well! Jesus also asked the Father to restore Him to the glorious standing He had with the Father prior to the creation of this world. Wow! That confirms the apostle John’s claim in the beginning of this book, Chapter 1:1-5:
1In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness (the world), and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Next Jesus prayed for His disciples. He declared them as belonging to God the Father, Who in turn gave them to Jesus. He entrusted them into the care of the Father:
15I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ~John 17:15-18
And by example, Jesus showed how the Gospel was to be spread throughout the world. Even today, each teacher makes disciples to take the Good News further and further to the lost. No one can improve on God’s perfect plan.
Before He headed on over the Brook Kidron to meet up with His accusers in the garden, Jesus prayed one last time for US – all believers! Isn’t that pure love on His part to not leave out one single person who comes to Him? Even facing capture and certain death, Jesus prayed these words:
20I do not pray for these alone but for also those who will believe in Me through their word; 21that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
And Jesus nails it down to endow all believers with even more!
22And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.~John 17:20- 23
It is hard to comprehend, how much Jesus interceded on our behalf! He established our bill of rights, so to speak, with the Father. We are to be as one with God and Jesus, and be glorified as Jesus was from before the world was formed. We shall be made perfect in Jesus, so that the world will see that Jesus was truly sent by God the Father to earth to be the Redeemer of men. And that God loves people just as much as He loves His own Son, Jesus.
What a message! Join me today with joy and thanksgiving to praise our loving God in Heaven for His gift of salvation to all who believe!
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. ~John 16:33
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ~John 14:6
Bless you for visiting this blog. May it encourage you with the message of God’s love, joy, and peace, until Jesus returns for His own.
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