The Message of the Ages

On October 27, 2025 By happyreignIn HeatherLeave a comment

God spoke to me last week that He will spend my lifetime loving me.

Francis shared such a timely, timeless, sure word worth sharing.

What God Desires

On December 5, 2024 By happyreignIn HeatherLeave a comment

“I want you to show love.” Hosea 6:6 _NLT
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22 _NLT

Preaching to myself through this word study. Focusing on the first quarter of the verse in Hosea, God communicated to us how he desires us to act. Keep in mind God asks nothing of us he doesn’t already: 1) embody himself or 2) hasn’t already given us the full ability to execute his clear direction.

The Hebrew word for love here as translated in the New Living Translation is (H2617) defined primarily in the Strong’s Concordance as kindness, piety (towards God, defined as acts of devotion), or subjectively, beauty: good deed, loving-kindness, kindly, mercy, goodness, faithfulness. The primitive root of the word used in this verse is the verb chasad (H2616): to bow in courtesy to an equal, that is to be good, to be kind; to show kindness to oneself.

Do you need to hear God telling you “I want you to show love” to yourself?? Are you being gracious with yourself? Generous? Kind? Full of mercy and faithfulness to you; the you God made in his own likeness after his own image? God has called you to walk in his love and to display it but you (and I) will be handicapped in doing this to and for others when we withhold this same posture to ourselves.

Have you been hard on yourself lately? Have you beat yourself up over something? Are you disappointed in something you keep returning to or a lesson in life you cannot seem to pass? Don’t wait. Don’t wait. Don’t wait, to love yourself. Don’t wait until you change. Don’t wait until you improve. Love yourself now. Agree with God; who loves you now.

There is a sufficient savior who carries you, who sees you, who chooses you, who knows you and, to be honest, delights in you. Is hopeful over you. Who wants to show you off. Your father is proud of who you are because he made you; you reflect his glory and there is nothing you can do about it. You, my friend, are a delight to be around. You are one to look forward to spending time with. You are precious.

Please don’t pour out of an empty cup, or keep your cup overturned because you don’t feel worthy to receive God’s abundant kindness and goodness. His presence is sweet and its even sweeter with you in it. Receive this grace that is fresh, that is enough, that covers your wrongs, and celebrates your goodness, because He is your father and you look an awful lot like him.

Joy

On June 19, 2017January 13, 2018 By happyreignIn Heather, Kingdom ConceptsLeave a comment

He keeps turning my eye here. I try to focus on other things in this world or his kingdom and he keeps pointing me to this thing called happiness, this thing called Joy. Perhaps the wide road is the one of worry, fear, anxiety and frustration and the narrow road of heaven we’re actually invited to traverse upon could just be the road of trust, peace, contentment, love, rest and joy.

Joy somehow sparkles with glory and a supernatural existence; it is a gift of heaven without limit and often overlooked. Joy has a lowly state. It is often seen as ignorance or immaturity. Serious, urgent things are looked upon with esteem and great importance. But Joy is not news. It is not urgent. It does not fight for power. Joy is meek and unassuming. It is persistent and unexpected, playful and a welcomed guest.

There are things we must chose to not give attention to in order to participate in Joy. We must look away from the fears of our own condition and any worries ahead. We must turn away from decisions gone awry behind us. Joy requires us, or allures us rather to be entirely present once again. We must let go of performance in it’s company. It is participation with someone wholly other than ourselves. A different source from which this magical river flows; Jesus’ side.

It is God’s expressed desire for our Joy to be full, not finding lack in our experience of this wonderful gift of heaven. But the realist would ask, what is Joy’s purpose? How is it productive or long lasting? Joy is a fruit to be enjoyed, not to be made into a gadget for a machine to use. It’s expression is as purposeful as the beauty of a flower. It is meant to be enjoyed.

The treasure map to finding joy is clearly shown in scripture. Psalm 16 says the fullness of Joy is found in God’s presence. Everlasting pleasure is found at his right hand. Not on this earth or in a thing or an activity or a person, but in God’s company. His nearness, his friendship. Where can you find his will for your emotions? In the goodness, safety, commitment and gladness of himself!

So many things can happen in life that deter our hearts from this child-like track. Perceived failures, tragic losses, disappointed expectations, and hurtful betrayal are just to name a few. The eternal part of joy is that we don’t derive it from what we see around us, what people are saying, or doing. We derive it from his presence within us. It is truly powerful and absolutely unassailable. Nothing has truly threatened or will ever be able to take away this gift of Joy that has been given to us through Christ Jesus. He has overcome everything that claims to have overcome his presence in your walk with him in this life. His Joy is yours. His Joy is mine. And it endures.