Quietness and Confidence

In returning and rest I shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be my strength. The work of righteousness in me will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. Lord Jesus, You are my righteousness. I will let Your cross be my yoke. I will rest in You.

Isaiah 30:15, 32:17; Romans 5:17; Philippians 1:11; Matthew 11:18-30

"Morning Meditation" is my own photo: by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. Art and blog entry All Rights Reserved.

Breakthrough

"Do not be discouraged! Your breakthrough is assured. Have I not promised it to you? Remember the way you felt when you started this painting? You were depressed, and you began painting the depression. You painted the desolation, coldness, isolation and loneliness that you felt then, and I surprised you by breaking through with a vision of my glory. You saw me touch the waters of your life, and the ripples began then. You knew me as the Lion, and trusted Me as that from a distance. But because you knew Me, you began to move towards me, and towards the promise of living in the light and beauty of My Kingdom.

You have been walking on that water ever since, keeping your eyes on Me most of the time, and most of the time feeling that you knew where you were going because you could see. Now you are feeling frightened: partly because you are getting closer to the Lion, and now you can feel Me but you cannot see Me, and partly because the ripples have turned into large waves, and there are dark storm clouds all around.

Do not be afraid to keep walking simply because you cannot see. If you were leading yourself, that would be the blind leading the blind. But I am leading you. You must learn to trust Me even when you cannot see. Your heart can see Me, but your mind's eye has not been trained to see what is coming. You have no words, no pictures, no sounds to describe something you have never seen or imagined, therefore you are unable to visualize. This is good, because now you are ready to receive My vision. Stay close to My presence and the sound of My voice, even if all you hear is a growl or a sigh, and you don't understand the words. I will guide you with My eye.

Do not fall into the temptation to despair when I show you things about yourself that must be brought to death. Have I ever left you that way? All you must do is remain in a position of humility and submission. I am doing a work, and I show you what was so that you can rejoice in My work when I am finished.

I am bringing you into your destiny, and the breakthrough you seek is something you cannot accomplish by trying or striving. I am the Master of Breakthroughs. I own them, and they serve me. You cannot make a breakthrough happen, you can only refrain from running backwards while My work is going on. I am changing you and your capacity to see, know, discern, receive, understand, and operate in a Realm in which you have never been, except in your dreams and in your imagination.

You cannot walk in My Lands with fear or pride, for they would devour you. You want to walk in My Lands, so let go of fear and pride. Leave them behind. Let them sink in the water. I am making that possible. I am making the impossible possible in you. Do not doubt. Do not despair. Do not be discouraged. I AM able. I AM willing. I AM!"

received on April 25, 2007

"Breakthrough" is an acrylic/mixed media painting by Karen Gladys Henry © 2007. Art and blog entry by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Bouquet of Blessings

Greet this day with a joyful shout all you lands of my heart! I will serve the Lord with gladness! I come before His presence with singing! I know that it is God who made me, and I am His person, His sheep. I belong to Him. He is my Good Shepherd and my King. His pasture is green, and He directs and guides me with love.

I enter His beautiful gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. I express my thanks to you for all your tender mercies, which are everlasting. You are so very good, my Lord, therefore I bless your name. Your truth endures to all generations! I loose your truth on all the people in my family, on all those in my sphere of influence, that thanksgiving and praise may abound towards You. I choose to be a blessing to You today by spreading the fragrance of your love.

I desire not to come before You empty-handed, so I arrange a bouquet of thanksgiving to offer you. I call to mind all the multitude of your blessings, the answered prayers, the provisions, the people in my life small and great, the freedoms I enjoy, the ways in which You have spoken to me and touched my life. With each blessing I recall, I speak my thanks to you. Each is a flower for this bouquet. The fragrance of thanksgiving rises and clears out all the bad odors of passivity, discontent, grumbling, complaining, negativity and unbelief.

I stir up my faith with thanking You for all You have done for me and for all that You are. I appreciate You more each day-- Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit-- and I again bless your name. I lift this bouquet of blessings as a wave offering of thanksgiving to you. My heart dances with joy and my body responds with lightness of step.

God, You are good, good, good, and I thank you again today for Your great salvation!

Psalm 100; Exodus 34:20; Romans 1:21; Colossians 3:15; Psalm 97:12; Psalm 107:8; I Thessalonians 1:2, 5:18; Song of Solomon 1:3; II Corinthians 2:14-15; Revelation 4:9, 11:17

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." II Cor. 2:14

"For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God." II Cor. 4:15

"Flowers Say I Love You" is a photo composite by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. Art and blog entry by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. All Rights Reserved. See title link for stock photo credits.