It's Nice to be Back

I hope everybody has a Happy and Blessed Easter. I am so sorry that I have not been on in such a long time, however, I had three major surgeries, and lost my brother in February of last year, so it's been a trial no doubt, and I am happy to say that I am now coming to the point where I feel I can do God's work with a clear mind and hear the Holy Spirit so that I can reach those that he needs to reach through me without any influence of my personal feelings. Below please find a poem that I wrote for this Easter I pray that it makes you think of the Glorious, most loving, most forgiving Father, that ever could be, and how blessed we are that He chose us to be His children and give us His gift of Grace.


An Easter Blessing

Our Father gave to us,
The most precious gift He could,
To let us understand with certainty,
 That eternally, He has and would,

Love us unconditionally,
And forgive our every sin,
For He was the one who caused it,
So we all could choose to win,

Joy, forgiveness, mercy, and love,
That would begin and have no end,
For He gave His only begotten Son,
Who became Our Savior, brother, and friend,

So on this Easter Sunday,
As we rejoice and give Him Glory,
Let us remind ourselves how real this is,
And just not some written story.

Patricia Vandenburg
3/26/16

*******There Are No Words*******

Sometimes the smallest of things make a ripple effect, My birthday is next week and one of my loving friends and sister's in Christ sent me a note with a beautiful Piano Musical CD called "No Words" by Michelle Margiotta. I have never heard her simply beautiful, and Piano tapes are my favorite, I am sure the Holy Spirit led her to that one, He is so awesome.

As I played the tape on my laptop my pen started moving across the page with such ease to the peaceful, calming imagery playing in my mind, and when I was done I thought how beautiful I will share this on my blog and in my part 2 of Layers of the Heart that I am being motivated by the Spirit to finish by August.

Music is all about the layers and the Journey, as are we, so I hope you enjoy what came from this soothing, comforting music, and in some way my words convey how she made me feel through her gift. And Neicy thank you for my gift and the gift of this Eternal friendship which God hand selected for us.

May we all have a safe week, remember to walk upright in His light, love, and courage, here are a few verses from the Heart of our loving Father,


Psalm 84:11New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.

 

Isaiah 57:2New International Version (NIV)

² Those who walk uprightly
    enter into peace;
    they find rest as they lie in death

 

1 John 1:7New International Version (NIV)
⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[a] sin.

There Are No Words

by

Patricia VanDenburg 6/12/15

 

There are no words,

just beauty,

through the wind of the trees,

sound of the leaves,

melody of sounds,

that completely surround,

all those with eyes,

but not on their face,

no, their eyes are within,

another place,

the heart beats though,

we cannot see,

still we know,

this to be,

just as such,

our Heavenly Father,

Savior, and Holy Spirit's,

beauty abounds,

and can be found,

when we close our eyes,

sit still,

and wait on their will......

 

 

"Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick" Teddy Roosevelt

There have been many interpretations of this famous quote, but one written Six years ago in a topic room really spoke to my heart, it read;

 "Every leader needs a large touch of diplomacy to influence others, create vision, and achieve goals. The "big stick" can also be a sort of inner resolve - authenticity, if you will, and integrity."         

Source(s):

Cynthia LY · 6 years ago

 

Keeping Religion and politics separate for some things such as  taxes, laws, and such is fine, but the reality is, Religion and Politics have always been at the root of wars all throughout history.

 

Jesus didn't die so we good receive the gift of Grace, just so we can fold now. We watch programs that in the 50's and 60's would have been unable to produce, never the less watch. Who puts on their T.V. for a show called "Pretty Little Liars" allow their children to watch it, and than those same people call the school when their child is  bullied or worse.

 

We buy tabloids that have led to death, because we truly think that buying them isn't the power behind why they chase people, and invade privacy, and ruin marriages, but we know we are lying to ourselves, so we can pretend to have a clear conscious. While we are here to fulfill a purpose, to be a vessel for our loving Savior ;

 

Ephesians 5:15-17New American Standard Bible (NASB)¹⁵ Therefore ^[a]be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, ^16 [b]making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 

James 4:17New American Standard Bible (NASB)¹⁷ Therefore, to one who knows the ^[a]right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

 

Psalm 119:105  New King James Version (NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

 

Joshua 1:9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

 

We have to get back to the word, this need to feel good, which God clearly repeatedly tells us in His word where feelings initiate, why the enemy uses our feelings to trick us, He uses our human mind, but our God lives in us, with us, and upon us. Our Heart belongs to Jesus and the greatest of these gifts is Love.

 

So I pray we all give much prayer to what we fill our minds with this week, news T.V. Radio etc., so that the thinner the file cabinet, the more God can fill it wit His plan, purpose, and will for our lives. I pray we all have an awesome week. God Bless in the blood and name of Jesus amen

 

Below please find two of my Poems showing both sides of this post hugs, may they bring you  hope and empowerment hugs, love and prayers Patricia

 

My Ray of Light

Through all he hard times in my life,

through all the good times too,

there's been one constant, solid source,

my ray of light....You,

 

You guide me through life's valleys,

You protect me from life's wrath,

You lead me in the right direction,

along life's bumpy path,

 

for I am just a little piece,

in a puzzle that's so grand,

but still in all I'd lose my place,

without You're guiding hand,

 

so though I cannot see at times,

and I stumble through the night,

I am always sure I'll find my way,

for I have my Ray of Light...

 

 

Patricia VanDnburg 2/2/99

 

A Dim Light

 

What's going on, what's taking place,

smiles gone, and now replaced,

with looks of horror, sheer disbelief,

for all life's joy has turned to grief,

jobs are scarce, money too,

come month's end the rent is due,

parent's work still not enough,

all around things are tough,

let's not forget the little ones,

who played with toys, and switched to guns,

they go to school but not to learn,

gangs and drugs are their concerns,

we seek an answer, it's all so strange,

oh how much our world has changed,

we can't give up, we must not quit,

until our torch within is lit,

for not till than will our world be one,

not till than will our part be done...

 

 

Patricia VanDenburg 11/26/91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trouble is Inevitable Misery is Optional

I want to let everyone know I have been away, as I had 3 Major Surgeries with complications and was in NYC for a year and only came home because my loving younger brother went home to be with our loving Father, until the Savior comes and the New Earth and Heaven are finished, and we will all rise who believe, and be reunited with those we love, I will sorely miss him every day.

As humans it is the worst , most incomprehensible, helpless feeling, leaving a hole where there once was a space reserved for daily memories with that specific loved one, as I struggle I keep rereading the many promises our loving Father gives us and His words of wisdom written through the pens of others, such as Psalm 4:19 and Isaiah 61:3, I read 4 versions of the Lords word, and for these particular verses I would like to quote the living Translation Bible which says;

Psalm 94:19Living Bible (TLB)
¹⁹ Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer.


Isaiah 61:3Living Bible (TLB)
³ To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.

Jesus walked this earth as a human, though perfect, to understand all we would feel. physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He than suffered, died, and rose again, so we would receive the gift of Grace from the Father and we would all be with Him and begin Eternal love, peace, and joy, all together when His purposes that He needed His children for are fulfilled, and every living being has had an opportunity for Eternal serenity and peace.


I thought after the trials of 2014, 2015 would be a better year and it was just the opposite, but as Job said in,

 Job 2:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

But He promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and believe me I feel Him all day, and He gets me through, for I believe in Romans 8:28, along with the many other awesome promise and blessings, that all things work together for our good either here or in Heaven. So I pray for my many Brothers and Sisters suffering in any way, and I pray for us to remember all these, as well as 1Corinthians 10:13.

I pray we all have a safe, loving weekend, full of wisdom and discernment ,and that we remember that He is the lamp at our feet, and guides our path which is why the more we stay the course, the more He can accomplish through us as His earthly vehicles. I pray the below poem encourages your weekend, hugs love and prayers Patricia xox

Have a Nice day Unless You have other plans

 

Life's a choice

God made that clear

we can choose to feel safe

or live in fear,

 

but when in fear

God's not in control

because that's not the way

our loving Father rolls,

 

He wants each day

to bring us joy

so we can shine

 for all girls and boys,

 

for it's through us

that He shines his light

so that others

can see His glorious might,

 

so that others may ask

about His ways

and spend eternity

in peace not flames,

 

but the choice is ours

 for we have free will

and sadly He knows

many doubt Him still,

 

so we pray for all

that it's part of your plan

to get to know the father

and feel His hand.

 

 

 

 

 

****A Healthy Blessed New Year****

I want to Start the New Year off with 2 inspirational readings one is a Psalm from our Lord filled with His glorious promises, and the other is one that we tend to forget.

I pray for all those whose trials may seem heavy, yet the Lord gave us 1Corinthians 10:13, followed up with Romans 8:28. I pray we remember to wear all our armor so we can be a vehicle for Him to light our paths through the dark.

For those who lost a loved one and suffered tragedy, know the Lord is still and has been and always will be by our side. May we all stay humble, ask for the Holy Spirit's discernment, and try and be as Christ like as possible so we can fulfill our purpose. We lift this and all prayers up in the blood and name of Jesus amen. God Bless.  The below scripture speaks to our Eternal being and below this will be a reminder for our carnal being, while trying not to be deceived we can recall both

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
³ Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
⁶ This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel^[a] of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

⁸ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
⁹ Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
¹⁰ The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

¹¹ Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴ Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
¹⁶ The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
²⁰ He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
²¹ Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
²² The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

 

 

 

 

A thought to start the new year love and hugs

 

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question.

Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed.

In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night.

 Remember to put the glass down!

Safe travels for you and all you love Patricia xoxox

 

 

 

 

********The Perfct Tea********

The Perfect Tea

 

If I could sit and have "High Tea",
what a wondrous experience it would be.

I'd invite those I truly love,
and we'd sit and talk with our Lord above.

About our home and what's to come,
and sit about like close old chums.

For our Savior loves to talk and share,
and oh, how we need to show we care,

For this tea could never have taken place,
Without our Father's loving Grace....

 

 

Patricia VanDenburg 12/7/14

 

 

Happy Sunday all

*****God's love and Promises******

Happy Sunday my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

Gods creatures big and small are such perfection, the color the way their systems work the way the flowers are pollinated by the bugs, wind, and how this bug is that bugs food, and this animal is needed for the prevention on infestations, I mean, our God worked it all out perfectly, for the plants, trees, and animals, image His great plan for us, His loving Children. He created us in His image, wow created in God's image, we say it often, but when you think about that, it is loaded with responsibilities, and we can't let our Father down. We must be obedient and fulfill our purpose, and give him the GLORY. As He tells us in Jeremiah,

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)

11 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.

 

God also tells us it's all good in Romans,

Romans 8:28New International Version (NIV)

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.

 

I pray we all enjoy the rest of this long weekend, continue to be a vehicle for God, let His light shine through all we do and say, and may the wisdom, and clarity of the Holy Spirit, lead our week of circumstances, temptations, and trials, as we wear our armor fully and proudly, so He can keep His promise in 1Corithians,

 

1 Corinthians 10:13New International Version (NIV)

13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

 

We lift this and all things up in the blood and name of Jesus amen
Hugs and love Patricia I pray the below poem from my upcoming book "Poems of the Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional encourages your week xoxox

 

Our Loving Father

 

Our loving Father does all he can,

to help His children grow,

 at times it's clear and we understand

yet during others, we just don't know.

 

But in the end it's all so clear,

there was no reason for us to doubt,

because the loving Father's there,

to help His children out..

 

His only Goal from the start,

is to highlight what truly counts,

So once we're out in the world,

it's His wisdom  that begins to mount.

 

For we're taught our Heavenly Father,

is right here by our side,

and that is where He will remain,

until our final ride...

 

Patricia VanDenburg

8/31/14

 

 

  

 

 

 

*****Stick To Our Chosen Paths******

Happy weekend To All God's loving Children,

I pray that we all have a weekend full of the love of our Father surrounding us, the Protection of our Savior watching over us, and the wisdom and discernment that the Holy Spirit communicates to us, from them both, so we may fulfill the tasks they have planned for us to complete.

We pray we keep our eyes on the Lord and not our circumstances, no matter how hard they may be, for that is just the deceiver and enemy trying to detour us off our ...path, and miss the awaiting gifts and blessings that God has placed there, the Devil makes it so appealing, or perhaps makes us feel we are somewhere to help that friend that has been lost for sometime, however, after a certain time, God makes it clear what we are to do if there is no change.

 That is why studying His word is so important to our relationship with Him, and how intimate He desires each relationship to be. So when we know His wishes, and stick to the path He chose for us, allowing us to receive ALL, not some, of the gifts and blessings, because we were not pulled onto the path of whomever we have been helping for so long, without real growth, but stuck to God's path, hand selected for us.

That is when the power of prayer comes to the rescue, because we can still lift that friend or family member up, amen.

I pray that we remember what He promised us in:

Hebrews 13:5-6New International Version (NIV)

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

6 So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?”

Have a blessed weekend and thank you Lord for your Grace, forgiveness, and love, we lift this and all petitions up in the blood and name of Jesus, amen. I pray the below poem from my upcoming book "Poems of the Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional"

 

HE KNOWS ALL AND LOVE US STILL

 

He has seen our lives,

from beginning to end,

He's our loving father,

and our dearest friend.

 

He does all He can.

to make sure we complete,

the life He has chosen,

without interference and deceit.

 

From the devil and his demons,

who presently rule this earth,

and have kept their eyes on us,

from the time of our birth.

 

For our Savior won the war,

and the devil knows he lost,

so he wants as many people,

to take down at any cost.

 

But as believers we know the truth,

and need never give into fear

because that's the weapon of the enemy,

And our God is forever near....

 

Patricia VanDenburg

8/8/14

 

****The Prayer of Psalm 23****

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.6
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

I never understood why this Psalm is related with death and funerals for the most part. It is about steadfastness, faith, love, God's Promise to want an abundant life for His children, and how no matter what we will face in this world, He will remain by our side and that we will be with Him forever.

It is so vital that we remember our loving Father wanted to make things simple and plain, so that a child or an adult knew how He felt about something, what He expected from us, what He wanted for us, He had it all written down, so that we could get to know Him, and how much He loves us.

That is why I find in the King James Version (verse 4) "though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death," is used, so that many Christians tend to believe this prayer is about our crossing over into our new life, and not about God being present with us while we are here.

This version, NIV uses
verse 4; " As walk through the darkest Valley," which is why I chose this, as the Father said to us since Adam, we will all die in this body, but He wanted to remind us through David, that yes, this body will die, but He will be with us on this earth until we go home wearing our eternal bodies, but until than, we have no reason to fear. Fear is not of God, when you are an obedient child.

This Psalm is NOT a somber but joyful Psalm, filled with hope, faith, promises, support, and Eternity with the Father. I pray we remember this week, when we face difficult decisions, that if God wills it, He works it, and therefore there is no room for fear, that is a deception of the enemy.

May we all have a week full of God's light , love, and wisdom. Remembering He said we are the "Salt and the Light" as we are taught in:

 Matthew 5:13-16 New International Version (NIV) Salt and Light
¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

May we feel our Fathers loving embrace, and find strength in our prayers, and the prayers of all His Saints, in Jesus Blood and name we lift this and all petitions up, amen.

I hope the below poem from my upcoming devotional "Poems of the Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional" inspires our week..... <3

Plain and Simple

God wants us all to understand
that it's love He wants and gives, not fear,
for the Grace He gave, and the price He paid
should make that crystal clear,

For to be a Father and a friend
it's important we share all of our heart,
with a basis of truth our foundation is strong
and than goodness can play it's part.

it's not about works, or mistakes we've made
but believing our debts paid in full,
that the fear, deception, and lies we're fed,
are absolutely the deceivers bull.

because Jesus arose and won the war
and the devil's out of time,
before he knows it the day will come
when  he'll pay eternally for his crimes.

So let us go out my siblings
with our salt and light on hand,
 that those who are lost
will see His light take their final stand...
Patricia VanDenburg
7/13/14

***God Always Has His Reasons***

Happy Sunday Everyone,

God has very good reason for allowing His children to suffer, but He is with us through all of the pain, heartache, and sorrow, no matter what our circumstance, when we respond as a child of God, we are not somber but Joyful as in:
2 Corinthians 4:8-12New International Version (NIV)

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18New International Version (NIV)
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

and than we have this to look forward to in:
2 Corinthians 2:14New International Version (NIV)

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

So no matter how long we suffer, it is temporary, for if we compare it to the back drop of eternity, it is but a second, Paul fills my Heart with hope. May these scriptures fill you're hearts with hope today, no matter what we are all going through, I am so grateful to know we will know one another for eternity, hugs and love.

May the below poem from my upcoming devotional, "Poems of The Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional" inspire you're week, and may we all continue to feel the loving embrace of our Father in Jesus Blood and name amen

The Power of A Single Prayer

 

All throughout the Bible

our Father made it known,

Who stood right beside us

and is now seated on the throne,

 

He made us many promises

in which none did He say,

that the Christian life would be easy

or pain-free in any way.

 

In fact, it's quite the opposite

for those who love to boast,

about the power, love, and caring Father

Whom they glorify the most.

 

It makes the enemy angry,

so he sends his army out,

to attack the obedient children

where he manipulates with doubt.

 

for the power in a single prayer,

can convert darkness into light,

out of all the things he's up against

it is prayer that causes fright.

 

For he knows his days are numbered

till his world will no longer be,

so his demons are on overtime

to try and rob the souls now free.

 

But our Father did make a promise

that keeps our mind at ease,

not even death can keep us from Him,

and why we fight, while on our knees.

 

Patricia VanDenburg

7/5/14

 

 

 

****Being God's Ground Crew****

Good Morning Happy Sunday, I pray we all had a blessed weekend, and that wherever we are this weekend we be a blessing and a bright light, making those who know what we're going through ask us how we go through what we do with a smile, and than we get to glorify the Father, and bring one of His children home and back to the path that God chose for them to be on, or perhaps we will meet someone who can give us some encouragement and rejuvenation by talking ...and sharing our Father's words. All I know is that if we have God at the front of our minds than we are guaranteed a good day, because we have our eyes on Jesus and not our circumstances. As we read in:

Hebrews 12:2-3New International Version (NIV)
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Thank you Father for the Sacrifice of Your Son, our Savior, for walking by our side in all situations, I pray for those who are suffering in any way, and that we remember our Father's words above, remember He wants the best for us, that He equipped us for all circumstances with a full set of Armor as He speaks of in:

Ephesians 6: 10-17 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The world is beginning to resemble just what the Lord forewarned us would happen, and sadly He explained it was only the beginning, so you can only imagine how important it is we wear our armor daily. Would you walk into a quarantined building without a protective suit? I think not, nor can we go out into our day not knowing what lies ahead without first consulting with our Lord on the day which He has planned, and secondly, prepared by being fully equipped. May our week reveal all our Father's gifts and blessings on our path, may the enemy be kept at bay by our preparedness,
and may we all be a vehicle, that Shines our Lord's Light for all in the dark to find their way home. We lift this and all things up in the blood and name of Jesus Christ Amen

I hope the below poem from my upcoming Devotional "Poems of the Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional" inspires your week. :)

We Must Always Be Prepared

 

It's just a natural reflex,

when someone that you love,

is headed towards the danger zone

and suddenly needs a shove,

 

For how many times have we set out

on a path we thought was right,

only to find out once we arrived,

our assignment was not in sight.

 

That's why communication is

 the key we must behold,

though talking is important,

it's in the listening where we're told,

 

Exactly why He keeps us here

so He can use us as He needs,

for we're His mighty vehicles

with whom He spreads His seeds.

 

To rescue all His children

is the goal at hand,

if only we'd remember

it's His footprints in the sand....

 

Patricia VanDenburg

6/28/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Part in the movie "Life on Earth"

Good afternoon Dear Friends, I pray we are all having a wonderful weekend, remembering that our God, our Heavenly Father, is working through all circumstances. including those which at the moment may make very little sense. Having been sick throughout my life, and surviving only by the power of the Holy Spirit, whom permitted me a life I never thought possible, even if it wasn't the one I envisioned, it was a life all the same. I turned 54 on Monday, and  I never thought I'd see 25, so could it have been less pain-filled, less hospitals, less surgeries, for me, No because this is the Life God made for me, Have I questioned, absolutely, do I still, having 2 more surgeries just around the corner about to happen, yes, but not as much, nor with the depth of puzzlement I once had.

 Now I have come to know that maybe I am suppose to share and witness about these surgeries, or perhaps my roommate will be on the fence about God, or will be more intimate with Him, and help me grow. Maybe a Dr. I meet will be a future husband. You see there lies the difference; once where there was anger, confusion and disappointment, I truly know that all this pain, these changes, and struggle are for my good, and the good of the family. God wants what's best, not just what's good,
(Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.")

 Each of us has to be put in every scenario that will come up in this life, everyone has a part in the show, and this is my part. So when we are praying today and tonight, let's try and remember, (1)who our director is, and (2)who gave us our part in this movie called "Life on Earth." Because the reality is; this is our work and when we're done, we get to go home, and if we can remember that, than somehow it all gets easier to handle and understand. Have a week full of love, wisdom, clarity, and peace.

 May we hear the discernment of the Holt Spirit so we may be a blessing to others, and see the gifts God has placed on our individual path's. I pray we are all there to receive them, and that the enemy doesn't trick us onto another path where we think we are helping, but it's a distraction to keep us from being where God intended, that is why daily discernment is vital to hearing from the Father after we speak, we must wait on His direction.

God's timing I as important as His plan, so though He may call us to help a specific someone, we must make sure it is when He sets it up, and not the deceiver, because if we are early, we may be missing something wonderful on our path, if we're late, we may prevent a blessing meant for someone else. So the study for the week is all word pertaining to discernment.

We lift this and all petitions up in the blood and name of our loving Savior Jesus Christ amen blow is a poem from my upcoming Devotional " Poems of the Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional" love, hugs, and payers Patricia

Crystal Clear

 

When something lays upon our hearts,

and we just can't let it go,

remember that a loving heart,

is where the Spirit flows.

 

He's who our Father uses,

to make things crystal clear,

so that the lies of the enemy,

can no longer build up fear.

 

For when the Father is close to us,

and we keep in touch each day,

than we know without a single doubt,

there is no one in our way,

 

To complete each task He's given us,

is our only job at hand,

and since our Father won this war,

His Finally will be "Grand".....

 

Patricia VanDenburg

6/22/14

 

When tThings Don't Always Start Out Right

 I hope as the day went on our pains and troubles faded, as we leaned on our Father and surrendered the burdens, deceptions, and roadblocks to Him. As is the purity and beauty of this rose, so is the unconditional, never-ending, blissful, serene love, and plans, our Father has for us. He gives us a glimpse of that beauty, for as in our carnal state of mind, we could not handle the wonderment, joy, and serenity, of our forever.

 But when we smell the fragrance of the trees, grass, flowers, we see the artwork that could never have left a brush unless inspired, when we hear the poetry or the sound of a violin or a flute, as if that were the sound of peace itself, than I remember why we must ignore the deceiver, look at the eyes of the Father, not the circumstance of the lie, so we can spread light where there is darkness. Our Savior filled us with the Spirit, a beacon of light and hope. He is a book full of all knowledge and wisdom, and He is our guide through this world, through discernment, allowing true communication with the Savior, who in turn stands up for us to the Father.

 It is so glorious when we sit still, listen, remember, and apply. I pray we all are able to apply as much as possible the rest of the week and until we head home, may we be tricked almost never, and that we bask in the light, love, and wisdom that indwells in us, How we thank you Heavenly Father for this gift of Grace, to know this is temporary, our work address for You, till we are all together forever, in Eternal Joy, love, happiness, and purity. We lift this petition and all things up in the blood and name of our precious Savior Jesus Christ amen

Below is a poem from my upcoming devotional "Poems of the Eternal Heart
 a Daily Devotional"

Through It All

 

 

In the still of the night,...
by the light of the day,
when things start to look iffy,
We kneel down to pray.

 

 For it's a wonderful blessing,
to know it's all true,
that each promise in His word,
our Father will do.

 

For with each step we take,
on the path that He chose,
even through the rough trials,
our life continually grows.

 

And the best part of all,
is that one day we'll be,
not just with the Spirit and Savior,
but at home with all three.....

Patricia VanDenburg
6/9/14

Blessings Come From God Who Sees All Things

The below story was shared this weekend by a friend, she posted it on Face Book because she was in shock at such a strange, ugly, reaction to an act of kindness.
The truth is, without God's ability to use His believers, who are His vessels on earth, used as beacons of light to cut through the darkness, the earth without His presence, would evoke the same response by all humankind.

For without God there is no light, peace, or joy, only mirages of what the deceiver, Satan, would like us to think is peace and happiness. He is the master manipulator and this is his territory. OK, so I will share what the Spirit has shown me once you have had a chance to read the encounter below. Thank you Jackie for sharing,<3

"So I paid someone's toll going over the Rip Van Winkle bridge, someone I didn't even know, just as an act of kindness. I told the toll collector "just tell the person behind me ,the girl in the blue mustang says "Happy New Year." As the man's truck that I paid the toll for approached, I thought, he is going to wave and say thank you, instead he gave me the middle Finger. Really? An act of kindness deserves that reaction."

Our first Carnal knee-jerk reaction for most of us, would be the same, Unbelievable, really? how discouraging, how rude, how ungrateful, how ugly, what a jerk, etc. But God spoke so much more in that one simple act, and not just to us as believers, but to this man, this very lost man, who needs our prayers, as Jesus showed us in the scripture below.

Luke 6:27-36
[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. [31] Do to others as you would have them do to you.
[32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

My friend Jackie did that from her heart, as the Spirit laid it on her to do so, by obeying and being obedient the Father showed us many things and will bless Jackie as He promised in the above verse.  He tells us this as we read His word every day, but as we know, reading and actually living and doing, have very different responses.

We know the world is dark and evil, and belongs to Satan, and that those who don't know Jesus are lost, and don't know peace, the kind our Father speaks of. Unbeliever's can't see the warmth and comfort of His amazing light, love, and joy, but instead they live in fear and darkness, under the control of the deceiver. He keeps them in the dark so they can't see or feel the truth, that is why God needs us.

Our physical bodies are His Vehicle to use. He shines through us in all different ways, for all different circumstances, the more obedient we are, the more light that takes over the planet. We see in this story how we would respond without the Living God within, He wants us to pray and keep praying, He wants us to keep being kind, knowing how hard Satan is going to make it for us to do so, by making people respond just in this same manner ugly and hateful. As with so many of His promises in His word, we find strength and encouragement as in:
 Hebrews 13:5
⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you or His promise in Romans 8:31  ³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

 

Over and over in His word God reassures us that through all things He is beside us, in us, and with us. I am so grateful for this little story, because I find it so helpful and confirming, that now more than ever, the Spirit wants us to put God's love out there.

He wants us to share our testimony, keep on witnessing and to remember that when we are kind and give, it is only through God, the glory belongs to Him. It is not meant to stroke our ego, or make us feel good, that's what God's love and mercy are for, that is why He filled us with the comfort and strength of the Holy Spirit.

 

He has many blessings for all His children, both here on earth and in Heaven. What can we gain from this earthly world that can possibly top that? I pray we all have an awesome week and that this story enlightened us, not discouraged us, but propelled us even further in our quest to be more Christ like. I pray we all have a pain-free as possible week and that we all continue to feel our loving Father's embrace through all circumstances.

 

I hope the below poem from my upcoming book " Poems of the Eternal Heart a Daily Devotional" will add to the inspiration for you're upcoming week. Love, hugs, and prayers, Patricia xox <3

I Am Always Near

 

There are days when you can feel me,

and other's you may not,

but always know I'm with you,

to give you all I got.

 

When you walk along the path I made,

and are doing as I ask,

it allows me to keep on giving,

those crucial, vital, tasks.

 

For to fulfill My will and purpose,

you must shine brightly every day,

so that Satan's ugly darkness,

shrinks smaller and moves away.

 

From all my loving children,

for whom I prepared a place,

I look forward to that glorious day,

When I  look upon you're face.....

 

Patricia VanDenburg

1/13/14

 

The Simplicity of Jesus's Birth

Isaiah 53:1-12

New King James Version (NKJV)

Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
² For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
³ He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

⁴ Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
⁸ He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
⁹ And they^[a] made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
¹¹ He shall see the labor of His soul,^[b] and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.

Luke 2:12-17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”^[a]

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely^[b] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

 

Merry Christmas my loving Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. The above verses from both the Old and New Testament tell us of the coming ,and birth, of our Savior, There are so many lessons for us to learn in just these two verses, life changing lessons, but  for me as a loving daughter of Christ, these verses teach us humility, and that judgment of others was not meant for us, but for our awesome God. 

 

Many humankind believe that the Creator of the universe would come in all His glory and change the earth into a land of milk and honey, He would come with riches and the best of all things, the way we as humans view things. But no, He was born to a regular family, in a barn filled with animals, placed in a food bin for cows, Really? Yes.

 

How amazing is our God? He wanted us to know right from the beginning that only He sees all things. We judge people by their clothes, cars, homes, schools, jobs, that first impression, what's the expression we're all told at some point in our lives, " You only get one shot at a first impression." Shameful really, and can be quite scary, and dangerously deceptive.

 

For it's our Hearts the Lord judges, and it should be what we look at when we see a person, but most of the times, in many areas of human life it isn't the first but the last thing we notice.

 

For instance we pass a homeless person on the street and we think, 'what a waste and a pity?"  Why? There are so many people who have lived or do live on the street because of circumstances beyond their control. Not because they abused a substance, but perhaps it was because they were being abused, and the street was better than being beat or worse. Not everyone has family or people willing to take them in, times are tough.

Than you see the man or woman who are CEO's, or Actor's, or Athlete's, making millions and millions, some give back from their hearts, but how often do we hear things that shock us, and make us shake our heads, because we have made them role models, only to find out that their motives were for self gratification, even when they chose to give. Our Lord gives an awesome example of this in:

Mark 12:41-44

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Widow’s Two Mites

⁴¹ Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. ⁴² Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites,^[a] which make a quadrans. ⁴³ So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; ⁴⁴ for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
 

You see, it's not how much we have of anything, it is what we do with what we have that matters. What is the motive behind our actions? Are they sincerely from our heart? Or are they to build a façade to hide behind, to disguise what is truly missing from our heart? 

 

The birth, life, and death of our Lord Jesus paid our sin debts in full, It allowed us to be saved by God's grace, filled with The Holy Spirit, so that our Lord could use our bodies as lights for the path's of our feet, so that we may walk in obedience to Him, When we do that, when we have a heart like Jesus, loving, forgiving, non-judging, than it is crystal clear to those who have lost their way, for those who may not have known about our Lord, to see Him and want to run into His loving arms.

 

I pray this Celebration of the birth and life of our Lord inspires us all to be non-judging and obedient servants, so that our Lord may continue to use us, working through us to bring His sheep home. May we all share the love of our lives, with a new found zeal, witnessing and giving testimony in Jesus name, and being a true Saint of Christ, working as one body, to build His church until His return, to bring us home.

 

God has a will, plan and purpose for every one of us. My Christmas prayer is that we all see that plan for our lives and keep our eyes open for all the gifts and blessings He has placed on our path's for the upcoming year. May we all follow that plan until our last breath, when we will be greeted by our Loving Father, I lift this and all petitions up in the blood and name of our Savior Jesus Christ amen.

 

I usually write a poem for the week but I want the words of our Lord to be the last thing we keep on our hearts, so I will close by wishing you and all of your loved ones a Blessed Christmas, may it be filled with love, joy, peace, and wisdom. Safe travels everyone. God bless, love, hugs, and prayers Patricia xoxox