Archive | June 2015

The Prince of Peace

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Today we posted on Social Media this gorgeous Psalm, which reads:

“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble”. Psalm 119:165

Notice how the Psalmist didn’t say “peace”. He said: “GREAT peace”. This should challenge us greatly in the world and day and age that we live in, that we should have GREAT, IMMENSE peace. In fact, the Hebrew wording for peace in some translations can even be shalom, which represents so much more than just peace. It means the utmost tranquility, safety, perfection, and wholeness.

We see in Isaiah 9 where it is prophesied of the Messiah’s coming to Earth.

“His name shall be called Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace”. 

Those words are so comforting to know that even in this day and age, we have an EVERLASTING father who loves us and cares so deeply for us that he made us in the likeness of His image. That we have a MIGHTY GOD to call on in the day of trial and tribulation. That on our saddest days, when our children have left our homes or our husband is working late and we need a shoulder to cry on, he is so MIGHTY that he knows exactly what we need before we even ask. That he is a MIGHTY fortress, and a mighty refuge of strength when we are weak. Isn’t it glorious that we have a WONDERFUL counselor, not just any regular “good” counselor, but a WONDERFUL counselor that goes on our behalf and petitions as a lawyer, pleading our case before the Almighty Father? And, to the thesis of our post today, our PRINCE OF PEACE.

As a child, we view Princes as dreamy, ethereal and perfect men that sweep us off our feet and take care of all our problems for us. But that cartoon image of a Prince can’t even hold a candle to the kind of man Jesus was when he walked this earth and when there was a realization that not even DEATH could hold him down. That’s the Prince I want to call on during my days, when I’m feeling lonely and need a shoulder to cry on. A man that knows how every trial is going to end in my life. A man that doesn’t define me by who I WAS, but who I am going to BE. A man that knows my heart even better than I know my own. And he gives all of us HIS peace. In the gospels it says:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus. Call on him today!! He knows every need of your heart, and He is ready to give you His peace, a GREAT PEACE, a peace that is so sweet; it says His presence is like honey.

Below is a wonderful new song from Hillsong United, perfectly titled “Prince of Peace”. Relax and enjoy HIS presence today!

God Doesn’t Miss a Thing

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Happy Friday, and Greetings!

Our heart here at Amy’s Country Candles is to follow after God’s own heart, just like David did in the book of Psalms. Back in David’s time, David was THE person everyone looked up to. Everyone loved David, and David didn’t take any of it for himself, he just thanked the Lord for everything and followed hard after God, in good times and in bad, and even when it didn’t make sense. It’s hard in this day and age not to get wrapped up in taking credit for great ideas, or only seeing what’s on the surface. The good news? GOD SEES IT ALL. He doesn’t miss anything! We could be feeling overwhelmed and stressed out and have all these to do’s in front of us, but God looks at that and sees our potential; he sees our heart and he doesn’t miss anything. Even if you have never met the Lord, haven’t made a commitment to make him the Lord of your life, or no one has ever shared the good news to you about how powerful His grace is, just know today that it is real and it is waiting for you. All we have to do is receive it! How amazing is that?

In the book of 1 Kings, God and Elijah have this beautiful personal relationship. God speaks, Elijah reacts. Then in the next paragraph, Elijah speaks, and GOD LISTENS. Elijah was one of the greatest prophets of his time, and he was obedient even when it didn’t make sense. My favorite part of the Elijah  story is in 1 Kings 19:1-7:

“Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow”. Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. and he asked that he might die, saying, “it is enough now, o Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers”. And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him “Arise and eat”. And he looked and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. 

This scripture message is all about a word, and response. At the beginning, Jezebel gives him a word, basically that she’s going to kill this man of God, which is Elijah, out of fear. So out of FEAR, Elijah flees. But fear and bondage, and even depression, did not stop God from sending care to Elijah through an Angel, who fed him cake and water! So be encouraged. You don’t have to have it all together for God to help you. In fact, God loves to help us through the storm and through the chaos. That’s when he roars the loudest and pulls through for us.

For a moment, after you read this blog, find a quiet few moments in a space where you and God can just communicate. You don’t even have to say anything out loud. Whatever your needs are, Jesus goes as a forerunner on behalf and is SEATED at the right hand of God the father. He petitions requests FOR us, and knows what we are going to ask even BEFORE we ask it! This is the good news: He doesn’t miss a thing, and He is the Alpha and the Omega that goes before us, after us, and right along beside us. So sit before the Lord quietly and pray for God to soften your heart. Ask him to fill you with his joy and peace, even if you don’t know what that looks like or what that means. We pray that the Holy Spirit would flow so strongly through your prayers that it would reach the highest realms of heaven, and in Jesus name you will receive a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Below is a beautiful clip from Bethel’s “We Will Not Be Shaken” album. We hope it ministers to your heart like it did to ours. Blessings over your life!

This entry was posted on June 19, 2015. 1 Comment