The Word Illustrated #70--Keep your joy!

The Word Illustrated #70
© Pamyla Floyd
3/18/2011

Keep your joy
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving – Psalms 69:30

Websters defines joy as the emotion evoked by well being, success or good fortune, or
by the prospect of possessing what one desires.

The definition of rejoice is to experience great happiness. It's easy to rejoice, sing praises and lift up the name of Jesus when things are going well. If we get up and the sun is shining, birds are singing, all is well, and we are good. But, what if we are awakened by thunder breaking overhead with dark doom filled clouds and monsoon rains? Can we still rejoice and give thanks to the Lord for who He is and for all He's done?

James 1:6 describes one who wavers like a wave in the sea driven and tossed to and fro. We are to be steadfast and unmovable in our faith. Whether the day is clear or cloudy, the report good or not so good; we are to remain in faith and continue to trust God. Thus, keeping our joy.

Growing in Christ means that yes, we may have to face some tough times, or wait for a promise that tarries long. We can't afford to be fair weather Christians who are always crying, complaining and speaking doubt and unbelief. This is not someone walking in faith. Abraham was told that he would be the father of MANY nations. The bible says that he being not weak in faith, considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb!

Now that's faith. Can you imagine the joy of a word spoken? He held onto the promise for 25 years. Many us get tried of waiting on God and give up. We lose our joy and allow satan to keep taking us in the same circle year after year. My grand mama used to tell me, “It's always darkest before the dawn”. My advice to you is to keep moving forward, stay joyful, stay in faith and keep trusting the Lord. If He has made you a promise, rest assured that if He said it, He will perform it! He holds His word above His name!

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or want help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice – Philippians 4:4

Rejoice evermore – I Thessalonians 5:16

Note: The illustration is of a stork rejoicing and the dawn of a new Spring day

The Word Illustrated #69 -- Real Love

The Word Illustrated #69
© Pamyla Floyd
2/16/2011

Real Love

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee – Jeremiah 31:3

Valentine's Day is the day that we outwardly express our love. It is a day, much anticipated, with careful planning and delight. We don't mind looking silly, or 'putting ourselves out there' for our sweetie pie. But, what about our first love? Deuteronomy 6:5 tell us that we are to love the LORD our God with all our heart, our mind and all our might.

God so LOVED the world, that He GAVE His only begotton son. What kind of love is this? His love is so deep, so wide, and so high that we cannot begin to understand it! He knew the roads we would travel, the mistakes we would make, and of our rejection of Him, and yet, He still loved us. In fact, He loved us even BEFORE we were formed in our mother's womb. This is real love.

I challenge you to daily express your love toward Him. We can begin by simply telling Him that we love Him, and look for ways to please Him. Aren't these the things we do to gain the attention, love and approval of others? As we draw nearer, He will show and teach us about real love; he will also teach us how to recognize and receive it when it is expressed through others. Real love, what a beautiful thing!

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or want help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations – Jeremiah 1:5

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love -- Revelation 2:4

Note: The illustration is of a comic male holding a flower. He has a broad, grin.

The Word Illustrated #68--Leaving the past behind

The Word Illustrated #68
© Pamyla Floyd
01/20/2011

Leaving the past behind

Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

In order to receive healing, you have to believe Jesus can heal you. In order to walk in the promises of God, we have to live the way He says to live. It is what we believe in our hearts, that comes out of our mouths, and those things that we say and do. What do you believe? What are you saying? Does it line up with the word of God? Two thousand and ten is gone, it's time to believe what God says.

When we murmur and complain, we are expressing unbelief in God. When we slander and gossip against others, we are saying that He cannot produce change in their lives. On both accounts, we are calling Him a liar. When we hold grudges and refuse to forgive, we are saying that satan is right and God is wrong. Amos 3:3 states, how can two walk together lest they agree? Who are you standing in agreement with?

satan comes to kill our hopes and dreams, steal our happiness, and destroy our lives. he knows that many Christians, will not read God's word to find out how we can live in peace, have restored health and experience complete wholeness. We can do all things through Christ which strenghtens us. What are you watching, listening to and thinking about everyday?

When we say, “God knows my heart”, we are expressing an outright refusal to do what He says to do. Apostasy, which is the turning away from God, is what satan covets most. It's time to believe what God says. But we have to get into a ministry that preaches the resurrected Jesus, that teaches the bible, and learn how to leave the past buried!

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

God knows my heart:
Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)--2Ch 6:30

I just can't forgive them:
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespases -- Mar 11:26

It's just small talk:
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, –-1Pe 2:1

They are not going to get over on me:
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth -- Col 3:8

Good friends are hard to find:
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, –- 2Co 6:17

They owe it to me:
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth –- Eph 4:28

He/she will never change:
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers –- Eph 4:29

Note: The illustration is of four ghosts waving goodbye

The Word Illustrated #67--Walk into the Promises

The Word Illustrated #67
© Pamyla Floyd
12/28/2010

Genesis 8:22 – While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease

I pray that the new Year be an extension of the prosperity, promise, promotion and newness of life that began in 2010. Stay watchful and be prayerful, for those diligent in Christ shall see the breakthrough of the signs that were seen. The transfer of wealth has begun.

Only those in the right place, doing the right things with the right heart will receive the manifested blessings of overabundance promised in Eph 3:20.

Be quiet, listen to the Holy Spirit, be tender when you answer Pro 15:1, Pro 16:1

Now is not the time to get out of character if someone does not respond the way you anticipated. Remember, that WHATSOEVER you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men. Col 3:23

Step outside of yourself, and in faith, bless someone else the way you NEED to be blessed. Do not despise small beginnings, a dollar can still go a long way! – Pro 19:17

Be moved by God and know that sometimes, to some of us, He may say, just stand still. Whatever He says to do, do it without hesitation, murmuring or hardness of heart. It may not look, feel or taste right, but God is never wrong! – Pro 3:5-6

Forgive everyone of everything! This keeps many of us in lack, without and struggling year after year. The Lord our God is always looking to bless us – II Chron 16:9

Encourage someone, teach someone how to stand on their own two feet, not continue to live hand to mouth – Heb 10:24

Believe that you receive when you pray in Jesus name – Mark 11:24, I John 5:14-15

Spend time alone with the Lord forging a personal relationship. Humble yourself, recognize the need for a risen saviour and Keep Him first in your life. The transformation will be one that shall continue to unfold in ways that astonish and amaze you all the days of your life -- Deu 11: 13-14

Remain faithful, don't be consumed with your circumstances nor be moved by what you see or hear. God can do ANYTHING! Trust Him when your back is up against the wall, when things look dire, when it seems that there is no way. TRUST and He will do the impossible -- II Chron 20:1-7, 12-13, (key verse) 15

2011--Eleven is perfect organization plus one extra. One more than required, an extra measure, something more than only what is required. Eleven is the number of revelation

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, please visit my Salvation page.  If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Note: The image is a photograph of a home in Bethel, Ak taken against one of many beautiful rainbows. Remember God's promises!

The Word Illustrated #66--It's not over!

The Word Illustrated #66
© Pamyla Floyd
12/19/2010

It's not over

Jeremiah 29:11 -- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end

As the new year approaches, we find ourselves reflecting back over the past twelve months, and sometimes, previous years. It is the job of the deceiver to make us feel like failures or victims in our lives. As we take stock, we must realize that although we cannot change nor forget the past, we can, with God's help use them to live our lives in His will.

I realize I made things sound easy, but, my point is that with God, all things are possible. satan is seductive, and will any situation, conversation, or circumstance in our lives, to remove the focus away from the Lord, and put it square on ourselves. he then starts introducing memories from our pasts. Suddenly, we are reminiscing about the 'good ole days' with fondness and delight.

WE have not handed satan the keys to come in and redecorate our spiritual houses. When we take the marbles labeled with our cares, out of God's capable hands, we stand in agreement with satan for a better way. he takes us to a place of isolation and throws the blanket of depression over our heads; a state where we cannot hear or think clearly. He wants to muffle out the voice of the Lord, but cannot because He said that His sheep know H voice Make no mistake, this is not a game, satan plans to steal, kill and destroy our lives.

I Corinthians 15:34 tells us to awake to righteousness and sin not. Instead of speaking words of death and defeat, make declarations of faith such as, "I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ". Say it aloud, say it often, get it in your spirit, and begin to emerge from the entrapment and strongholds. It's never too late to return home! Repent, ask for forgiveness, and move forward in Christ. Today is the first day of the rest of your life, make the right choice today!


God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:
Jeremiah 31:3 -- The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee

II Timothy 3:3 -- But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil

Note: The illustration is of a woman with her chin resting on her hands. She has a solemn look but it is not a peaceful state

The Word Illustrated #65--Who do you belong to?

The Word Illustrated #65
© Pamyla Floyd
11/18/2010

Who do you belong to?

Thy people shall be my people, an thy God my God – Ruth 1:16d

That’s a good question for us to ask ourselves. If we look back at the book of Ruth, we will see two central characters namely Ruth and her sister in law Orpha. Both were from Moab (the world), and like us, had an encounter with the true and living God. After their husbands died, they along with their mother in law Naomi headed for Jerusalem.

Along the way, something interesting happened. You see, at some point, we will have to ask ourselves who we really belong to. While it was apparent that Ruth received the great I Am for herself. It is also apparent that Orpha SEEMED to accept Him as her God.

If we go to church because Granny did, or because that new person we are dating or married to does, or because it seems like the right thing to do; then we need to check out our ‘salvation’. The time to accept Christ in our lives is now! At some point we must ALL come broken in spirit, repenting, asking forgiveness of our sins. We must too must believe and confess with our own mouths that YES, Jesus is the son of God, whom He hath raised from the dead.

If we think we are saved by riding on the coat tails of others, we are sadly mistaken. Have you ever heard someone say that they USED to be a Christian? They can say that because they never had a personal relationship with Jesus. They never received Him and when they didn’t get their way, they went back into the world (Moab) where they served teh same gods as before. So, I will ask you again. Who do you belong to? If you are not sure, or want help in the prayer of salvation, please email me.

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

Philippians 2:12b-- work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Habakkuk 3:18 -- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation

Note: The illustration is of a woman.

The Word Illustrated #64--Thank You!

The Word Illustrated #64
© Pamyla Floyd
11/08/2010

Thank You

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; -- James 1:2

"Wakin' up in the morning seeing the sunrise, because of oyou, I Thank You Lord!" These are words from a song entitled "Be Thankful" by Natalie Cole. I heard it last week, and it has been replaying over and over again in my head. As I meditated on the words I thought about my own life and what Jesus means to me.

You knew that You would be betrayed, yet You expressed love for one another, how to inherit the kingdom of God, and how to live abundant lives in this place, which is not our home.

You wore a crown of thorns, pressed into your skull, and took 39 lashes from whips borne of leather, with sharpened metal and broken pottery woven into them. For miles You carried the cross, to which you would endure unimaginable pain, as nails were driven into your hands and feet. You hung there, in the heat, naked and beaten beyond recognizion. You were spat on, and labored to breathe; yet you still forgave us. You could have called angels to minister to you, but for love you didn't. On the third day, just as you promised, you returned. You hold the keys of hell and of death. The tomb is empty. Our faith is not in vain.

I say Thank You Lord!", triumpumphantly and with a shout that travels from the very depths of my soul. Unhibited, unashamed and with great joy, I'm thankful that I am here another day to start over again. I'm thankful that I have another chance to make things right with failed relationships. I'm thankful that I can read Your word; praise and worship you in total freedom.

It is well with my soul. You are the author and finisher of my faith and I will run this race with patience. Thank you Lord, for all you have done! I know know what real life is. It is because of you that I’m free. When you don’t know what else to say, just say “Thank you!”

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:

Colossians 3:15 -- And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful

Matthew 10:28 -- And fear not them which kill the body, but, are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell

Note: The illustration is of the crown of thorns that was placed on our Lord