Windows of Grace

Window : an opening in the wall or roof of a building or vehicle that is fitted with glass or other transparent material in a frame to admit light or air and allow people to see out.

Grace : the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

Hebrews 3:15 NKJV

Divine empowerment.

Chronos : 

Kairos : a propitious moment for decision or action.

Israelites

God doesn't give you the opportunity without the grace.

Then Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, "Go up this way into the South, and go up to the mountains, But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." There we saw the giants ( the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."

Numbers 13:17‭, ‬31‭-‬31‭, ‬33 NKJV

And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader and return to Egypt."

Numbers 14:2‭-‬4 NKJV

And they rose early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, "Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned!" And Moses said, "Now why do you transgress the command of the Lord ? For this will not succeed. Do not go up, lest you be defeated by your enemies, for the Lord  is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the Lord , the Lord will not be with you."

Numbers 14:40‭-‬43 NKJV

God talks to your Spirit.

But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the  Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case." So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

Acts 24:22‭-‬27 NKJV

Felix shilly-shallied. He knew far more about the Way than he let on, and could have settled the case then and there. But uncertain of his best move politically, he played for time. "When Captain Lysias comes down, I'll decide your case." He gave orders to the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to more or less give him the run of the place and not prevent his friends from helping him. A few days later Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus Christ. As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him. "That's enough for today. I'll call you back when it's convenient." At the same time he was secretly hoping that Paul would offer him a substantial bribe. These conversations were repeated frequently. After two years of this, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. Still playing up to the Jews and ignoring justice, Felix left Paul in prison.

Acts 24:22‭-‬27 MSG

Is there something I could change in the next 40 days?

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny

Inviting God Into Your Difficulties

We get focused on God bringing us out instead of how God will change us in the midst of the difficulties.

You don't have to fight everything and live upset.

Help me to go AND grow through it. God works in the circumstances.

God may be setting you up to show out in your life.

When you pass through the waters, I will  be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Isaiah 43:2 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.43.2.NKJV

Are you fighting the process?

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalms 23:4 NKJV

You can have hope when you should be distraught.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is  the  case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

Daniel 3:16‭-‬19 NKJV

God knows how to make you fireproof.

Recognize that God allows difficulties to show His glory.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

Daniel 3:24‭-‬25 NKJV

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Psalms 46:1 NKJV

And He said, "My Presence will go with  you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14 NKJV

And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

Daniel 3:27 NKJV

When you come out everything that was holding you back will be destroyed.

Joseph 

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

Genesis 39:2 NKJV

And his master saw that the Lord  was with him and that the Lord  made all he did to prosper in his hand.

Genesis 39:3 NKJV

Can people see that the Lord is with you?

Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Genesis 39:20‭-‬21 NKJV

When life tries to way you down the Lord will lift you up. 

Don't panic, God is in your boat.

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How  is it that you have no faith?"  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Mark 4:35‭-‬41 NKJV

Even though Jesus was with them they were nervous.

Take care of your body, it's the only place you have to live.
⚡🌸💪

Life, Death, and a Loud Speaker

Pastor Austin at Champions Community Church

He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage! I am here! "

Mark 6:48‭-‬50 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.6.48-50.NLT

• Don't let your circumstance dictate your praise.

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

Acts of the Apostles 16:25‭-‬26 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/act.16.25-26.NLT

On the way, he sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you join me in battle against him?" And Jehoshaphat replied, "Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses." Then Jehoshaphat asked, "What route will we take?" "We will attack from the wilderness of Edom," Joram replied. The king of Edom and his troops joined them, and all three armies traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness for seven days. But there was no water for the men or their animals. "What should we do?" the king of Israel cried out. "The Lord has brought the three of us here to let the king of Moab defeat us." But King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked, "Is there no prophet of the Lord with us? If there is, we can ask the Lord what to do through him." One of King Joram's officers replied, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to be Elijah's personal assistant. " Jehoshaphat said, "Yes, the Lord speaks through him." So the king of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah, and the king of Edom went to consult with Elisha. "Why are you coming to me?" Elisha asked the king of Israel. "Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!" But King Joram of Israel said, "No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!" Elisha replied, "As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn't even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me someone who can play the harp." While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha, and he said, "This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water!

2 Kings 3:7‭-‬16 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.3.7-16.NLT

• Jehoshaphat got linked up with an idiot and ended up becoming a target of the idiot's ememies.

• From the Hebrew name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah), probably derived from יָדָה (yadah) meaning"praise".

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.18.21.NLT

• There is nothing too dead to be turned around by life!

• Coral bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel algae that live inside their tissues. Normally, coral polyps live in an endosymbiotic relationship with these algae, which are crucial for the health of the coral and the reef.^[1] The algae provides up to 90 percent of the coral's energy. Bleached corals continue to live but begin to starve after bleaching.^[2]Some corals recover.

• The leading cause of coral bleaching is rising water temperatures.

Young fish can be drawn to degraded coral reefs by loudspeakers playing the sounds of healthy reefs, according to new research. ... "Healthy coral reefs are remarkably noisy places -- the crackle of snapping shrimp and the whoops and grunts of fish combine to form a dazzling biological soundscape."

Israel [favored] Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was the child of his old age. And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat. When his brothers realized that their father loved him more than them, they grew to hate him—they wouldn't even speak to him. When Joseph reached his brothers, they ripped off the fancy coat he was wearing, grabbed him, and threw him into a cistern. The cistern was dry; there wasn't any water in it. Then they sat down to eat their supper. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites on their way from Gilead, their camels loaded with spices, ointments, and perfumes to sell in Egypt. Judah said, "Brothers, what are we going to get out of killing our brother and concealing the evidence? Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let's not kill him—he is, after all, our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed.

Genesis 37:3‭-‬4‭, ‬23‭-‬27 MSG

https://bible.com/bible/97/gen.37.3-27.MSG

• The enemy can steal your stuff, but he can't steal the favor of God.

• Judah spoke up for Joseph

From the Hebrew name יְהוּדָה (Yehudah), probably derived from יָדָה (yadah) meaning"praise".

The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord , and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there  were very many in the open valley; and indeed they  were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord God , You know." Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord !

Ezekiel 37:1‭-‬4 NKJV

Your dream is not dead, it's just asleep.

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny

Stir it Up

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

• An ember is a glowing, hot coal made of greatly heated wood, coal, or other carbon-based material that remain after, or sometimes precede, a fire.

• Embers can glow very hot, sometimes as hot as the fire which created them.

• They radiate a substantial amount of heat long after the fire has been extinguished,embers can be used to relight a fire after it has gone out without the need to rebuild the fire – in a conventional fireplace, a fire can easily be relit up to 12 hours after it goes out, provided that there is enough space for air to circulate between the embers and the introduced fuel.

Under all of the ashes, a flame is still buried underneath.

Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His  word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.

Jeremiah 20:9 NKJV

Start dreaming again.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

You can't be passive, indifferent, or lethargic. You can't be half-hearted. What you're believing for may be taking longer than expected so you have to stir yourself up.

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24 NKJV

Fan the flame, keep the fire burning.

So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

I Samuel 17:48 NKJV

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Romans 12:11‭-‬13 MSG

Bless the Lord , O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalms 103:1 KJV

A stirring up a flame causes things to turn around.

You can't wait until you feel like it, you have to make a decision.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:6 KJV

Don't let what hasn't happened dissuade you from what's in your spirit.

There are things that we don't see coming developing on the inside because of the seeds the lord has planted even though we seem barren.

And I will bless [Sarah], and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

Genesis 17:16 KJV

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

There will always be people who try to throw water on your fire.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16 KJV

fer·vent

/ˈfərvənt/

adjective

1. having or displaying a passionate intensity.

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny

Blessed Indeed

You have to pray uncommon prayers to get uncommon blessings. Ask for things you can't receive on your own.

You have not because you ask not....

Some people think that it's selfish to ask for big things but that thinking is a trap.

Ask to be blessed so that you can be a bigger blessing. Ask for overflow.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

James 4:3 NKJV

Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

James 4:2‭-‬3 MSG

a·miss

/əˈmis/

adjective

1. not quite right; inappropriate or out of place.

adverb

1. wrongly or inappropriately.

Make sure not to pray depressing prayers.

I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalms 81:10 NKJV

Don't pray sick prayers.

Don't ask God for a watered down version of what you want.

You are not inconveniencing God by asking big prayers.

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32 NKJV

Dozens of names are mentioned in a lineage in 1 Chronicles 4 and the author pauses to talk about one of those people

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.

I Chronicles 4:9‭-‬10 NKJV

The name is Hebrew (yabetz = יַעְבֵּץ) for "he makes sorrowful"; Jabez was labelled with "sorrow" at birth, but his prayer against contracting sorrow nullified the label.

Jabez could have accepted what was spoken into his life but he decided he didn't want to be just another name on the list.

Honor God with your life a pray bold prayers. Have a big vision.

Don't discount yourself. 

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when  I  am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so. "

II Kings 2:9‭-‬10 NKJV

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

James 5:17‭-‬18 NKJV

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

James 5:16‭-‬18 MSG

Put the exclamation point on it!

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny

My New Favorite Drink at Clean Juice: THE DETOXIFYING ONE

I absolutely love visiting Clean Juice for a healthy drink and/or snack. My new favorite drink is The Detoxifying One. Not only do I love the way it tastes (even though I add berry and extra ginger) but EVERY ingredient promotes natural detoxification! This drink contains Apple, Beet, Celery, Cucumber, and Ginger. I add extra ginger, because I like it spicy, and elderberry, because my last name is Elder, however, elderberry also promotes natural detox. Now, ’ll go through the ingredients and summarize their benefits.

Beets contain a group of phytonutrients called betalains that support detoxification through an important phase 2 detox step in the liver. In this phase, a protective compound becomes bound to the toxin helping your liver to remove chemicals and toxins more effectively. This is important because your body is better able to balance hormones, cholesterol and maintain energy levels.

Apples contain high levels of pectin. Pectin flushes out food additives and metals in our body. I recently had my water tested and found out that we have high levels of metal in our tap water. IN OUR WATER! Aside from this fresh pressed juice, when I learned that news I was thrilled that I keep apples stocked in my refrigerator! Back to these juice ingredients. I’ll move on to celery.

Since celery has diuretic properties, helps to flush toxins from the body while promoting liver and kidney health. In addition, studies consistently show that celery helps reduce fat build-up in the liver. Add those 2 findings to the fact that the nutrients in celery protect the liver, while helping the liver produce EVEN MORE enzymes that specifically flush fat and you may want to just drink a cup of celery juice every day; clean juice sells that too!

Cucumber juice is a highly alkalizing and hydrating drink which means that it reduces acidity in your body! Benefits also include a richness in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, K, magnesium, silicon, and potassium. On it’s own, cucumber juice can cleanse the entire body while alleviating digestive problems such as gastritis, acidity, heartburn, indigestion, and ulcers.

Ginger cleanses by stimulating digestion, circulation, and sweating. Its digestive actions serve to cleanse the build-up of waste and toxins in the colon, liver, and other organs. Finally, let’s talk about elderberry. This is not part of the Detoxifying One recipe but I ask the juiceristas to add it. Elderberries disperse free radicals and eliminates toxins. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illness and aging.

So there you have it. You can go to Clean Juice and get a drink that will remove chemicals, toxins, fat, free radicals, and even metal! Not only that this drink will aid in digestion! I hope that you will try it but I’d also share a few precautions.

Your urine and stools may turn red or pinkish due to the presence of beets in this drink. This condition, known as beeturia, is harmless. But it may be startling if you don’t expect it. Also, if you have low blood pressure, drinking beetroot juice regularly may increase the risk of your pressure dropping too low. Finally, if you’re prone to calcium oxalate kidney stones, don’t drink beetroot juice. Beets are high in oxalates, which are naturally occurring substances that form crystals in your urine. They may lead to stones.

The Greatest Gift

John Gray @ Lakewood Church

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will  be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Luke 2:8‭-‬14 NKJV

• A prophecy that had been whispered in the wind arrived under interesting circumstances and cultural significance.

• Jesus came from the line of David, a shepherd boy.

You were only allowed to shepherd sheep in the wilderness unless they were being groomed for temple sacrifice. Those shepherds grooming their sheep in such a way were allowed in the city limits.

Levites : 

Temple sacrifices were wrapped in swaddling cloth.

Swaddling clothes, were bands of cloth, probably cotton, not really "clothes," as in a garment. The custom of the East was to wrap the new-born in these strips of cloth after washing the body and protecting the baby with the healing properties of powdered salt. This binding prevented the baby from hurting himself by kicking or scratching or rolling over. Mary likely would have seen this done in Nazareth, but, if not there, she surely would have seen it done by the midwives at the birth of John the Baptist.

The Levites, descendants of Jacob's son Levi, were selected to serve G‑d in the Holy Temple. Most served in peripheral roles, playing music, opening and closing the gates, and standing guard. In the case of the portable Tabernacle(which preceded the Holy Temple in Jerusalem), they were responsible for packing up, transporting, and reconstructing the Tabernacle whenever the Israelites traveled to a new camp. The most sacred tasks, including bringing the sacrifices, were reserved for the kohanim(priests), descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses

• Wrap yourself in gratitude.

Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has. It is a recognition of value independent of monetary worth. Spontaneously generated from within, it is an affirmation of goodness.

• Wrap yourself in generosity.

Generosity (also called largess) is the virtue of being liberal in giving, often as gifts  

• Unwrap grace

Until we rock again,
🤘 P E A C E, L 💚 V E, & R⚡P S T⚡X 🤘

-Pound Pro Jenny