Precious family of God,

My morning has begun early, before the sun shows it's awesome brilliance. A dream woke me. It was vivid and gave me direction for what I will share today. I know some of you may be offended, maybe even leave Heartstrings. I pray you hang on and ask the Lord to reveal if this word is for you today. If for no other reason than to pray.

In my dream my husband and I went to visit a church that we attended in the past. The same pastor, most of the same people clustered in their usual places. But, there were a few new people. As the service proceeded there was a woman who made a continual walk up and down the aisle, muttering to herself. The service continued. There were, I noticed, crippled, aged and those who didn't participate in worship. I looked over at the ones I knew and they seemed oblivious to those around them. I saw so many suffering in body and spirit that I began to feel the Spirit of God rise up in me with boldness. Just then, the woman in front of me turned around and glared at me saying, "You don't belong here!" I looked at her shocked. Then again she said it and I said to her, "I do because I am a child of God." This really got her riled up. So, I stood up and began to speak loud enough for all to hear.

The pastor remained quiet behind the pulpit as I began. This is what I said, "You lying, harrassing spirit in the name of Jesus come out!" The woman who had been pacing sat down and was quiet. The woman in front of me became more agitated so I spoke directly to her, "By the blood of Jesus Christ and in His name, Stop!" Then she sat down. But, it seems I was only beginning because I said "Do you know why you don't see what the enemy is doing here? It is because of all this smoke!" Then I woke up. Yep, to smoke in my house. We didn't find the source but made a fire in the wood stove. Evidently it had been smoldering for awhile.

Why do I tell you this? I really believe the church, this body of believers have become dull. Like the bees in a hive when smoke makes them lazy so the honey can be taken out of the hive. I hope this makes sense to you. The enemy has brought his smoke and mirrors to deceive even the elect. The very elect who sit idly by without standing firm against his antics. Mirrors are set up all around so the people only see themselves, thinking they are fine.

I have been to too many churches where there are people in chains. It is as though those are saying, "You don't have to wash me Jesus because I've already taken care of this. Besides this one chain can't hurt. It makes me feel secure." This is what sin looks like in the church today. Not all, Praise the Lord! There are many who still move in the fullness of God and their hive, the church, still drips with the goodness of fresh life in the Lord; like honey from heaven.

My Bible was opened to Psalm 44 this morning and the first place my eyes went was verses 20-21..."If we had forgotten the name of our God or stretched out our hands to a strange god, would not God discover this? For He knows the secrets of the heart." There have been times that I have forgotten about the Redemption of Jesus Christ for me. Sadly I reached out like a blind man, grasping for anything that might resemble Him, but, found nothing but a false god.

We cannot wash ourselves through our chains. Independance and relying on our own salvation will not work! Lord Jesus, forgive me for trying to be complete without You. Redeem me, wash me, give me courage to stand against the lies of the enemy. In Jesus name I come for a cleansing bath from all my chains and sins.

1 Peter 1:18-19 says, "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver of gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." Galatians 1:3-5 says, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen."

Do you want deliverance? Does that last chain keep you believing that you are okay? When really, if you look, you can see the bruising, the blood and now feel the reality of that pain? Be set free in the name of Jesus Christ! Take the Word of God as your counsel and not the words of a broken society, sick and walking in darkness. You don't have to be coughing from the smoke and lies of the enemy today. Galatians 5:1 in my Amplified Bible says, "In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Bless the Lord! We have His promise in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Take it as yours..."Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!" This is the treasure verse of Heartstrings.

If you have followed along so far, praise the Lord! Wake up church! So many are sitting beside and around you that need deliverance. Will you be an instrument in the hands of the Lord? Or, do you need you own chains removed? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what is true about your own life before searching to find others wounded. You cannot apply a bandaide for gangrene. Only Jesus is able to heal. Be careful not to try this in your own name. You will fail as a fool. Rest in the Lord and trust Him with all your heart. Redemption is deliverance!

Until we meet again the Lord bless and keep you in Truth and the Light of His Word. Be bold then in the name of Jesus, amen. Thank you for allowing me to share Heartstings with you. You are in my prayers, Patricia.

Abundance is...deliverance to really live

 Dear loved of God,

This morning I have spent the hours trying to remember my own Redemption story. I couldn't put my finger on it for a specific time; I was very young. Instead, my mind reviewed the victories over sin and self in my life these many years. The old song "Victory In Jesus" floated through my mind until I was singing outloud the words I sung as a youth. Somehow this song refreshed my spirit and I just knew now I could write to you.

The story of Redemption is a Love story. No matter what circumstances you came from, when you came to Jesus and gave Him your heart, your story changed from death to life. Along the way we still make choices and our relationship deepens as we draw closer to God. Think a minute, what do Love stories begin with? "Once upon a time?" At this season in my life I feel like I am nearing the end of my story. "They lived happily ever after." Yours may have just begun. Hold tight to the hand of the Lord where ever you are on this journey.

Psalm 107:1-3 says, "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, and gathered from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south." Redemption is, returning to the place where God intended you to be from the beginning, beside Him.

Redemption is accomplished by God's power. Deuteronomy 7:8-9 is one example..."But because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him keep His commandments." Give Jesus your Egypt, your place of bondage.

Redemption is accomplished by Christ's blood. Ephesians 1:7 (which is where we were yesterday)..."In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." Have you found forgiveness for your sins? You can be free today, if you will come to the Lord.

Redemption is accomplished by God's grace. Romans 3:23-24 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus." Have you recieved the grace of God? His unmerited favor?

All through the Bible there examples of this kind of Love. In fact, the whole Word of God is a Love Story. Redemption goes back even as far as the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sinned by doubting God and instead, believing the lie of the enemy. When they realized their mistake they hid and covered themselves with plants. God took the life of an animal as a blood sacrifice then covered their shame with the hide of the same animal. Today, we are hidden in Christ, having been redeemed by His blood sacrifice on the cross. No longer held by death, Jesus rose from the dead to take His place beside the Father in heaven. We too are raised to new life! This is only one Love story.

I praise the Lord for redeeming my life from the pit! My sins are under the blood of Jesus and I am free to spend eternity with Him now. So many victories along the way. All pointing back to the precious Love of God. Our souls long for satisfaction that can only be found in receiving God's Love gift.

So, if God satisfies the longing soul, where will you choose to go? Find shelter in His grace today. Find forgiveness of sins and the freedom that Redemption brings through Christ. Jesus loves me this I know...for God so loved ___ (put your name here), that He gave me His only Son, that if I believe in Him, I will not perish but have everlasting life. From John 3:16. Make the Word of God a personal invite to you today. Trust in Him with all your heart. Remember He brought you out of darkness with a Mighty hand! He is faithful and true which can only lead to a happy ever after. In the lovely name of Jesus, amen.

Have a blessed and heart peace filled day. In Christ, Patricia. Abundance is...victory in Jesus

 Good day friends and family,

What a beautiful Autumn day! Every day shows changes and just adds to the story of this wonderful season. God sure paints some lovely scenes!

Are you ready to proceed further into Ephesians One? We spent all last week looking at what it is to be Chosen by the Father. Today we will see what being Redeemed by the Son is like. Starting with chapter one and verses 7-12, I am using my New American Standard Bible.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and upon the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."

There is so much here! This became simplier for me to understand when I turned to John 14:1-7...Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going. Thomas said to Him, "Lord we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."

This reminds me of receiving a key to my first home. To officially make it truly mine I would have to put the key in the door and open it, then walk in. When the key was in my hand this seemed hardly believable. But, walking through the front door made it a reality for me. The same is true for receiving the greatest gift we will ever be given; Jesus Christ the Son of God, our Father's most precious prize, as our Redeemer! WE have been chosen to be purchased by the blood of the spotless Lamb of God. A reality that unless you receive this gift will always remain unbelievable.

We hear about so many people coming to the Lord in these last days. Even those who have been terrorists. Why would it be any different than the life of Paul? He terrorized Christians for a long time and then the Light of God changed him completely. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the most vile hearted is sure proof of God's forgiveness. We can shout with Job in chapter 19:25..."And, as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will take His stand on the earth." Praise the Lord! You'd better believe His coming is not far off when you see the signs all around. Time to get ready people! Don't waste another day!

Today will you make this your prayer with me? Psalm 19:14..."Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." Amen. What we think about we will speak. What we speak about we should be living by. Jesus is our Rock, our safe place. He alone can redeem our lives from the pit like it says in Psalm 103:3.

Think about your Redeemer today. Give Him thanks continually. Lift up your thoughts before His honorable name. Make His Word your sword as you face the lions on your path. Jesus knows what is around the bend. Only He can see. He has His eyes on you. Bless His Holy name! Be blessed and redeemed in His Love today, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Abundance is...my Redeemer Lives!

Dear brothers and sisters,

Yes, you are chosen to rest. God knew that we would need a day to decompress from the pressures of our world this week. I am reminded that, now I am telling my age, when the stores were closed on Sundays. Families went to worship together and then rested the remainder of the day. In preparation for the coming work week and school, we might even take a Sunday afternoon nap...think of that! Living in America in itself keeps us busy with this and that, stuff and such. Life will always keep us running from one thing to another! We have to choose to live as God's chosen children and follow His example to rest on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). Today, I choose too.

There are a few scriptures we can turn to as we gather here today. When we find our reserves spent, this is a call to come away for a time. Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass."

This takes on a whole new meaning to me since I am now retired. I recall the tossing and turning of a night before Monday's work. I would process what I needed to do, try to analyze how to catch up and even imagine the worst case senarios. I realized most times too late, that I could have presented these thoughts before the Lord and trusted in His ability to bring good things to pass. All my strength didn't have to be sapped before I even began a new week. Don't let the enemy run you ragged! Resting in the Lord requires being still before Him. Waiting patiently and leaning on Him with all my weighty thoughts and burdens. This takes all the worry out of life!

Psalm 116:7 says, "Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you." Such a small verse with an incredibly large message. Do you see it? Return. Rest. Count all your blessings. This too is worship! The Lord is delighted when we come to Him for rest. Rest for our mind. For our soul. For all our cares. And, to remember what He has done.

Now, just because we are chosen doesn't mean we choose His ways all the time does it? This is a choice on our part. Example of Jeremiah 6:16 which says, "Thus says the Lord; Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it!" Well, did you find yourself in this? I have. In todays fast age of electronics and fast food and order on line services, we can forget the old ways. When things were simplier. I believe that this is why reading the Word of God, we can be taken back to that simple rest. With our eyes on the Lord walking on the road that leads to eternal abundance.

Jesus spoke in Matthew 11:28-29..."Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls." Everyone of those descriptive words can be ours if only we would come to Jesus to fill all our needs.

Do you have problems at work? Troubled relationships at home? Anxieties about the news reports? Worry over your future? If only we would trust these words and take the necessary steps to find rest. Matthew 11:30 goes on to say, "For my yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne." For any who have owned oxen, you will understand this.

Wouldn't it be a great witness to show up the next day with peace? We represent Christ in our walk. This isn't always about what we say, but more about our countenance. That first impresson which goes before speaking. Mine is easily read. If I haven't spent time with the Lord early in the day anything might go wrong and set me off kilter. But, when I have been at the feet of Jesus, the pain or concerns stay in their right place. Then all glory will be to the Lord as I remember to count my blessings. Look at Psalm 103:1-5 today in your time of quiet. It is wonderful!

We have come to this place again where we take a day off from Heartstrings. Although, my mind is always writing! So, rest now and we will return on Monday as the Lord wills. Be encouraged, built up in your most holy faith as you live Chosen To Rest. You are in my prayers, Patricia. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Abundance is...time for rest

 Dear family of God,

Late last night I was thinking about forgiveness. How vital God's gift, His Son is to every person on this planet. My heart is enlarged this morning. Growing up in church I was told lots of Bible stories about forgiveness, from the garden to the cross. The sacrifice; the spilled blood as a theme throughout the scriptures. You might not like to be reminded about that blood, but we know from the Word that is was necessary for the redemption from sin. And, only the blood of Jesus spilt on the floor as He took those stripes on His body all the way to the cross outside the city walls, makes the sacrifice a pure one. Jesus, the perfect lamb of God.

To forgive means to pardon. This measure of forgiveness is unlimited according to Matthew 18:21-22..."Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!" So, where do draw the line? We don't.

Unlimited. Luke 17:3-4..."Pay attention and always be on your guard [looking out for one another]. If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him. And even if he sins against you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled)."

Right now I know some of you might be thinking, "Sure, so I go back again to being a victim of abuse? Do I continue to allow so and so to hit on me?" No. This is not what Jesus would want you to do. Get to a safe place. And, yes, forgive that person so you, yourself can be free from bitterness and the chains of fear. Find a good christian counselor to help you through this time. But call on the Lord Jesus to help you with all that your heart contains.

We must remember how far we have fallen. As God forgave us...Ephesians 4:32 says, "And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you." Everyone of us has sinned and need the forgiveness of Jesus so we can forgive others.

There are benefits! Mark 11:25-26..."And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings." The benefit is found in releasing that person from their failings. This is an on-going thing we must do.

2 Corinthians 7-10 Paul admonishes us, "So [instead of further rebuke, now] you should rather turn and [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage [him], to keep him from being overwhelmed by exessive sorrow and despair. I therefore beg you to reinstate him in your affections and assure him of your love for him; for this was my porpose in writing you, to test your attitude and see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient and altogether agreeable [to following my orders] in everything. If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence [and with the approval] of Christ (the Messiah)." Restored in christian fellowship!

Here is another benefit. James 5:15-16..."And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. the earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]." Spiritual cleansing!

Wow! I am so glad I spent the time searching the Word for truth! Here I have a greater understanding. I know it will be tested, probably in this very day. But, Holy Spirit will remind me and then I can obey and stand firm. As the Father has chosen us and adopted us, we can forgive as we are forgiven! Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior today. WE come to Him broken, bruised and sometimes covered in our own filth. He is the One to restore and make clean and new again. Only Jesus Christ.

If the Lord wills, then we can come together again tomorrow and see where He leads. God bless you and give you a heart free from sin today. In His lovely name, amen.

Abundance is...I can forgive them