Blessings For A New Year

 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!

And all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD. 1Ch 16:36

In response to the Word of God, I bless this new year of my life! 

Rather than dwelling on the past, I press on towards the mark of the high calling of Christ.

I am not a failure, but I am more than a conqueror in Him.

I have been redeemed from the curse of the law.

In Christ I am an inheritor of the blessing!

I declare that I shall receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Because I obey the Lord and submit to His rule,

I shall be blessed in the city, blessed in the country;

All that is conceived in me and birthed from me shall be blessed;

All that I put my hands to shall be blessed;

I shall be blessed coming in and going out.

Christ is being formed in me, and He is my hope of glory!

I shall be fruitful and multiply;

I shall take dominion over all the territory the Lord has given me.

I shall walk in the counsel of God rather than the counsel of the ungodly.

When I am persecuted or reviled, I will bless.

The words of life shall be on my tongue, and I will eat its fruits.

In Christ I am blessed, and my year is blessed!

My times are in His hands, and I put my full trust in Him.

I am saved by the Lord, by the shield of His help,

and by the sword of His majesty.

My enemies submit to me, and I shall tread down their high places.

I dedicate my life this year to the Lord for the Kingdom of God,

And it shall be filled with righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Those who I come in contact with will be blessed

by the indwelling presence of the Lord, so that He will be glorified.

Genesis 1:28, 12:3; Deuteronomy 28:3-6, 33:29; 1 Kings 8:56; Psalm 1:1, 31:15; Proverbs 18:21; Romans 5:17, 8:37, 14:17; Galatians 3:13-14, 4:19; Philippians 3:13-14; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 3:9; Revelation 22:3

Photo by Karen Gladys Henry, copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.

Submitted to Love

Love dwells in me. Love never fails. I rejoice in every opportunity to become completed in love.

God is Love. God dwells in me by His Spirit. Every time I submit myself to Love and walk in the Spirit, I choose to become more like Him. His Love is changing me into His likeness.

I confess these things over myself, for this is my destiny, to become like Him in His Love:

When I submit to Love, I suffer long and am kind;

When I submit to Love, I do not envy; I do not parade myself, I am not puffed up;

When I submit to Love, I do not behave rudely,

When I submit to Love, I do not seek my own, I am not provoked, I think no evil;

When I submit to Love, I do not rejoice in iniquity, but I rejoice in the truth;

When I submit to Love, I bear all things, I believe all things, I hope all things, I endure all things.

When I submit to Love, I do not fail, for Love never fails.

When I am reviled, I do not revile in return. When I suffer, I do not threaten, but I commit myself to Him who judges righteously. Rather when I am reviled, I bless; when I am persecuted I endure. I submit myself to Love and follow His example.

I love Him because He first loved me. I submit to Christ who is Love, for because of His perfect Love, I am saved from fear; I am becoming an ambassador of His Kingdom of Love.

I Corinthians 13:4-8; I Peter 2:23; I Corinthians 4:12; I John 4:10-21

The artwork "Love Never Fails" is a montage of my photos and hand calligraphy done on the computer. Art and blog entry by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Victorious Warrior

I purpose it in my heart today to be the spiritual warrior God has called me to be. I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus my Lord! He is the victorious, mighty warrior called Faithful and True, and I am also faithful and true because He lives in me. I hate evil and love good, because I have the fear of the Lord.

Out of His mouth comes the sharp two-edged Sword with which He conquers all of His enemies. His powerful Word is in me, therefore I also have the power to defeat all of my enemies with the sword of the Spirit. Jesus has given me authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt me. I rejoice that my name is written in His book.

I study the Word with diligence, and the Spirit of truth brings all things to my remembrance, so I have the word of wisdom I need at the time it is needed. My tongue is loosed from bonds of fear and timidity. I refuse to allow a religious spirit, false humility or apathy to steal my voice. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

God is Love, and I yield myself to Him, to be led by the Spirit of truth. Therefore, when I speak to people, I open my mouth with wisdom, and on my tongue is the law of kindness. I speak forth the truth in love. My enemies are not people, but demonic beings of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places. I determine to be gentle with people and ruthless against the spiritual enemy. However, I will not rail or rant or join the devil in his own game of accusation and slander: rather I will say "the Lord rebuke you," and "it is written. . . "

I come before the throne of grace and favor, boldly, seeking first His Kingdom. I know my Father loves me and it is His good pleasure to give me the Kingdom. He is restoring dominion in my life. I inquire of the Lord, submitting to Him and receiving His strategies. In His hand I become a flaming arrow against the evil of our times. Praise the Lord!

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate." Proverbs 8:13

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." Matthew 5:44

Amos 5:15; Deuteronomy 32:35, 41; Psalm 119:163, 149:6; Proverbs 31:26; I Corinthians 13: ; Ephesians 4:15, 6:12; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16, 19:11; Zechariah 3:2; Jude 1:9; Luke 10: 17-20; Psalm 7:9-13, 127:4

"Rise Up You Warriors and You Watchmen On the Wall" is a photo composite by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. Art and blog entry All Rights Reserved. See title link for stock photo credits.

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.

Today I Choose Life

Today I choose Life because He is my Life.
I choose unity instead of strife.
Today I choose to shine my light,
To make His word my greatest delight.
His Kingdom first I choose to seek:
Words of wisdom I will speak.
I pick up my cross, the weight of glory–
I choose to live the gospel story.

Today I choose to trust and not falter.
Because Jesus’ blood is on the altar,
I choose to dwell in Him, not the past.
I’m a new creation, I’m free at last!
Today I choose to stand and not waver,
Because I have His grace and favor.
I choose the Truth. I won’t listen to lies
No matter what the devil’s disguise;
I will not give in to distractions.
I will put my faith into actions.
Today I choose to stand and fight,
To let my weakness be filled with His might.
I’m a child of the Light, and child of the King–
In Him I will overcome in everything!

Today I choose to walk in the Spirit
To obey His voice because I can hear it.
I will speak to the mountain, cast it into the sea–
His blessings are breaking through to me.
I choose to rest in Him and not worry–
Into His presence I will hurry
With an attitude of worship: I will hear His heart.
His clarity and passion He will impart.

To do His will is my greatest pleasure–
The reverent fear of the Lord is my treasure.
In Him I have everything I need–
I choose His riches, not lack or greed..

Today I will put my love into song,
To praise Him and thank Him all day long.
I am filled with joy in His love for me.
Today I choose Life because He chose me!

"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" Deuteronomy 30: 19

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." John 1:4

"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" Ephesians 1:17

"in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him." Ephesians 3:12

"that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him." Colossians 1:10

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us., being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" Romans 8:37

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 15:16

"Revelation #11" is a photo composite by Karen Gladys Henry © 2007. Art and blog entry (the poem "Today I Choose Life") by Karen Gladys Henry © 2009. All Rights Reserved. See title link for stock photo credits.