Your healing awaits just like the paralyzed man who suffered from palsy for 38 years that Jesus healed instantly:
Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” ~ Luke 5:24b-26
Friends, may God grant that your pain disappear overnight allowing a restful sleep.
Embrace your healing with an attitude of gratitude! You have been blessed with great things today!! I am sure that your neighbors noticed and are amazed too!! ~ SELAH
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.
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
11But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread Your protection over them, that all who love Your name may be filled with joy. 12For You bless the godly, O LORD; You surround them with your shield of love. ~Psalm 5:11-12
Happy Spring everyone! Celebrate and shout for joy to the LORD!
And THANK YOU for being so special to God that He sent His only Begotten Son to earth to save us from our sins.
Fear seems to be ruling many hearts these days. People are afraid of viral infection and the possibilities of grave illness or death; loss of jobs, savings, homes, or other possessions. Fear of going out; fear of staying in; fear of government over-reach, and the list goes on. One person told me that she lies awake at night worrying about losing family members to the coronavirus. What does God’s Word say to this? Continue reading →
Did you know that God’s Valentine was sent to every person in a written record called The Holy Bible? It explains His love to us, which surpasses all understanding. Continue reading →
Our Christmas lights are up, but they just don’t seem to be shining as brightly as before. It’s me – I know. I rose early thinking if I caught the sunrise it would perk me up as it usually does, but … Continue reading →
It may seem like an odd title for the meeting between The Apostle Paul and the Jewish leadership at Rome. However, we find that by the end of the day (and the Bible says “from morning till evening”) Paul testifies with all of the love in his heart that Jesus is the One who fulfills both the Law of Moses and the Prophets. In other words, Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah!
Yet some believe and some doubt. As they prepare to leave his house, Paul delivers a tender message straight from the Holy Spirit through the prophet Isaiah:
26saying,
‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’ ~Acts 28:26-27 NKJV
Notice that not Paul, but The Holy Spirit, mentions that the people’s hearts have turned away from God. Praise God that some of the Jews receive Jesus that day; while the remainder depart to argue the matter.
28”Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!”29And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves. ~ Acts 28:28-29 NKJV
Paul continues to preach about the Lord Jesus Christ from his own rental house for two more years. No one forbids Paul, and we have no idea how many lives are brought into God’s kingdom through Paul at Rome. Whatever the number, PRAISE THE LORD! – for each and every heart that softens, brightens, and turns to Jesus.
Long, Long ago the Lord said His love is everlasting, unfailing, and His heart is drawn toward His people. God’s Valentine’s Day message to you is Turn, TURN your heart to Jesus. Repent and receive salvation today.
Firstly, God bless you for reading and following Jesus!
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