Quiet Time Alone With Our Heavenly Father

Quiet Time Alone With Our Heavenly Father

There’s nothing as soothing, reassuring, and comforting as spending quiet time alone with our Heavenly Father. Being alone in His presence is absolutely priceless! The mere fact that He wants to spend time with us is enough to make us aware of how blessed we truly are.

 

When I was younger I heard some older people saying that they had to take some time to still away to be with the Lord. I knew that they were talking about getting away from everyone else and all of life’s distractions to spend precious time in prayer. This place was holy and special, a place where everything could be shared from innermost thoughts, burdens, and hurts to joyfulness, thanksgiving, and everything in between.

 

The Lord loves for us to spend time with Him and quite frankly the feeling should be mutual. We should love spending time with our Heavenly Father. After all, He is our creator. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. He always wants what’s best for us. He delights in blessing His children. He’s never too tired to listen to us neither does He lack solutions for any problems we face.

 

If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to set aside some quiet time to be alone in God’s presence. Many times when this occurs you won’t even bring prayer requests to Him but instead be content to sit silently in His presence. After God imparts whatever you are in need of you will leave that special time with Him feeling better with an inner peace than when you initially began.

 

As I close this blog the words of an old hymn titled, “In The Garden” written by Charles Austin Miles comes to mind. It’s a beautiful song about spending precious time in the presence of the Lord. As you reflect on the words of this song may it cause you to long for even more sweet fellowship with the Lord.

 

I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear, falling on my ear The Son of God discloses. And He walks with me, and He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known.

 

Reflections

  • How often do you spend time in the presence of the Lord?
  • Do you do most of the talking or do you get quiet and allow the Lord to speak to you?
  • What is your favorite part about spending quiet time with the Lord?
 
It is our goal to bring you anointed words and services that inspire, encourage, and foster a closer relationship with the Lord. We thank God for you and want you to know that you’re always welcome at The Angelic Pen, “Where the words of heaven flow from God’s Heart to your spirit.”  Kimberly Smith

Pastor Kimberly Smith is a woman who is dedicated to God and has been serving the Lord for more than 30 years. She is a woman who radiates the love and compassion of Christ and emanates God’s great hope for people. The Lord uses her mightily in areas of intercession, teaching, counseling, and encouragement. She is also a prolific prophetic writer, watchfully scribing the whispers of God. God graced her with gifts that have brought inner healing and hope to many. Minister Kimberly and her husband Minister Michael L. Smith created an anointed Spoken Word CD titled “The Pastor’s Journey.” She is the author and her husband is the musical arranger, composer, and reciter. She is a graduate of Kent State University with a M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling, and of Wilberforce University with a BA in Rehabilitation Counseling.

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

As a young man growing up I was always captivated by the gravity of the songs that filled the airwaves about love. They were so powerful and penetrated deep down into the soul. I think that is where the term Soul Music came from. It appeared that everybody knew a lot about love. Dionne Warwick’s, “What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love.” Deon Jackson said, “Love makes the world Go Round;” Barbara Acklin said, “Love Makes A Woman.” But I think the one that really got us to thinking was Tina Turner when she asked, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”

The short answer to that question is everything. The Bible explains that God is Love. Even though the term Love has been diluted, distorted and severely misused it does not carry the same value as it did years ago. I understand that people in the world have a different definition of what love is than most Christians. It seems as though the church is adopting the world’s point of view on love in word only until adversity arrives, then you are all alone.

The standard for love was established by our Lord and Savior Jesus when He said in John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love another as I have loved you.” That is the standard that we all must live up to. When Jesus Himself was quizzed about love He said this, “You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment and the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22: 37-39.  Unselfish love is required by Christ’s followers because the world is watching. Make no mistake about it people are watching what we say and do if we declare that we are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Why is this type of love displayed to the world so important? It identifies who we are. People are judging us all the time, what you do, what you say, how you say it and they reach conclusions about who we are. Jesus said it would be the determining factor of our discipleship. In fact, He gave a new commandment to his followers in John 13: 34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: as I have loved you, that you love one another.  This is proof of who you are. By this, all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”

We are living in an angry world with whites against blacks, tall against shorts, rich against poor, well against the sick, young against the old and it is getting exceedingly more difficult to determine who the followers of Jesus really are. Everybody wants to be politically correct; but what about Godly correct? I think we Christians are losing our perspective on our calling, trying to identify with the popular views of the world. But I say let’s keep it simple. Let’s just follow Paul’s instructions to the Roman Christians “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” Romans 12: 9- 11.

People always say, “you can’t beat God’s giving” but I wonder if they really believe it. I want to encourage and remind the body of Christ through His word, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment” James 2:8-13.

In conclusion, Jesus said “because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spue you out of my mouth” Revelation 3:16.  Peter encourages us, “since you have purified your soul in obeying the truth through the Holy Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another (fervently) with a pure heart” that’s hot love, not cold. Then John wraps it up in 1 John 4:7-11 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God: and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Beloved if God so loved us we also ought to love one another.”

What’s love got to do with it? Everything; it does make the world go round. Yes, what the world needs now is love sweet love. God bless the readers and obeyers of His great and Holy Word. Amen!!!

Reflections

1. Our displayed love for each other identifies us as Christ disciples.  John 13:35
 
2. Our love for each other should be an unselfish love. Matthew 22:39
 
3. Jesus is the standard setter for our love. John 15:12
 
4. The more you give the more He gives to you. Hebrews 13:1 and James 2: 8-13
 
5.  Let your love be hot not cold.  1 Peter 1:22 and 1 John 4: 7-11
Pastor Nathaniel Jones

Pastor Nathaniel Jones

Guest Blogger ~

Pastor Nathaniel Jones is a native of Orlando, Florida. He is a graduate of International Bible Seminary in Plymouth, Florida where he received an Associate’s Degree in Bible Theology. Some years later he attended The University of Phoenix where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services.

He served as pastor of Johnson Community Church in Hawthorne, FL., Willow Plant Missionary Baptist in Citra, FL.,  Mt. Zura Baptist  Church in Newberry, FL., and he is currently the founder and Pastor of Acts of Faith Ministries Inc. in Archer, Fl.

He has been married to Mrs. Mary B. Jones for 47 years and together they have 6 children; and a host of grandchildren. He worked for the Alachua County School System and the Gainesville Job Corps before retiring in July 2016.

He continues preaching and teaching God’s word which is the delight of his life.

Wisdom’s Winning Voice

Wisdom’s Winning Voice

If you ever want to learn about the value of wisdom just begin reading the book of Proverbs and you will soon discover how valuable it is.  It is something that we simply cannot do without.   I call it, “wisdom’s winning voice” because obeying words of wisdom will always lead to success.

For instance, following wisdom will protect you from harm.  It will open doors for you.  It will keep you away from the wrong people and stop you from getting involved in wrong situations.  Wisdom will also promote you, and cause others to seek specific help from you.

Ignoring the voice of wisdom is foolish because it comes from God and He knows all things.  We will never know a better way than how He leads us.  His word even instructs us to ask Him for wisdom if it is lacking in our lives.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

                                                                                          – James 1:5 NIV        

It’s vitally important to remember that there is always a cost to pay when the choice is made not to listen to words of wisdom.   This is especially true when you are aware that the Lord is showing you a better way of doing something and the unwise choice is made to ignore Him.  It is disrespectful and turns into rebellion.

Make this a time that you consciously commit to allowing wisdom to be active in your life like never before.  As you do, you can expect advancement to occur.  Obeying the voice of wisdom will always cause you to win.

Reflections

 

1. What are some valuable things that you have learned by applying wisdom to your life?
2. Name some people in your life that you consider to be wise? What have you learned from them?
3. What will you do to make sure that you follow the voice of wisdom?
Minister Kimberly L. Smith

Minister Kimberly L. Smith

Author, Founder of The Angelic Pen

Minister Kimberly Smith is a woman who is dedicated to God and has been serving the Lord for more than 30 years. She is a woman who radiates the love and compassion of Christ and emanates God’s great hope for people. The Lord uses her mightily in areas of intercession, teaching, counseling, and encouragement. She is also a prolific prophetic writer, watchfully scribing the whispers of God. God graced her with gifts that have brought inner healing and hope to many. Minister Kimberly and her husband Minister Michael L. Smith created an anointed Spoken Word CD titled “The Pastor’s Journey.” She is the author and her husband is the musical arranger, composer, and reciter. She is a graduate of Kent State University with a M.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling, and of Wilberforce University with a BA in Rehabilitation Counseling