victorious

  • Your Royal Announcement

    The one who is victorious will, like them,
be dressed in white…
I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but
I will announce before my Father and his angels
that they are mine.
Revelation 3:5 NIV…NLT

    YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT

    royal wedding harry and megan

    On May 19, 2018, the world joined in on a truly royal celebration with the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, still Duke and Duchess of Sussex.  I thought it was very appropriate that at the same time in Canada it was our annual Victoria Day holiday weekend, commemorating the late Queen Victoria’s birthday.  

    The monarchy was forefront in the conversations of most everyone as millions watched the marriage nuptials. Across in North America, early morning parties were planned with girls of all ages dressing up in white wedding gowns, attempting to live vicariously through Meghan Markle; a regular girl turned princess.

    Sherry drinking royal tea blendHere’s a picture of me celebrating the wedding drinking the official royal wedding tea blend 🙂  {Notice the properly positioned pinky}

    Even though Harry and Meghan’s wedding did veer from some of the monarchist traditions, the formality of royal announcements was a part of the day.  Just hearing, “Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah! All rise. Now entering, the Duke and Duchess of…” makes you curious to see who’s entering.  As for me, a girl brought up at the dragstrip, this all seems like a foreign language, but it sure helps me to grasp the weight of these words in Revelations.

    John records in Revelations 3:5 that if you are a part of those who are victorious by overcoming to the end, three things will take place.

    1. Jesus will dress you in white; symbolizing our right-standing with God through Christ. Since your position now is a daughter of the King, you’ll be dressed like one.
    2. Jesus will write your name in permanent marker, never to be blotted out of the Book of Life.
    3. Jesus will make, YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

    Jesus will introduce you to the Father and His angels! To think that Jesus is going to announce your entrance into heaven is mind-blowing! Who are we that Jesus, The Son of God should give us such a royal announcement?  

    Through your faith in Christ: you are adopted into THE royal family, you’re an heir, holding the position of a son, as a daughter of the King of Kings! That’s why you’re worthy of such an honour!  In case you’re still finding it hard to believe, this truth is confirmed at least three times in Scripture.  Jesus himself says in Matthew 10:32 and Luke 12:8 ” Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.”

    In case you’re still finding it hard to believe, this truth is confirmed at least three times in Scripture.  Jesus himself says in Matthew 10:32 and Luke 12:8

    “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.”

    As I studied this verse in the original Greek I became completely overwhelmed with wonder of God’s grace and His goodness.  When describing those who will be introduced by Jesus, the words are translated in our Bible versions as one who overcomes, conquers or is victorious.  The original says they are those who “subdue (literally or figuratively) conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory”1.

    Let the knowledge of WHO you are, your royal identity as a daughter of the King and the future hope of, YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT help you to be a victorious overcomer, conquering whatever this world throws your way! 

    Prayer

    Father, I thank You for Your awesome gift of grace.  You give to me what I don’t deserve. Open my spiritual eyes to see myself as Your child, a worthy heir and daughter of the King. Help me to overcome so I make it to the day Your son introduces me to You!  In Jesus name…Amen.

    Drawing from the well

    1. Revelations 3:5
    2. Matthew 10:32
    3. Luke 12:8
    4. Luke 10:20

    Royal Video

    Here’s an interesting video to watch of Her Majesty the Queen of England and the royal family being announced just for a luncheon! Such pomp and circumstance.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eBYUOKQOnE

    Soul H2O book

    If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

    Footnotes:

    1. https://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2b/gre3528.htm Website accessed 2014-10-06

    YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
    MONDAY    Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
    TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
    WEDNESDAYCoffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz GiertzTHURSDAYHeart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community– Barbara Bradford OttingerFRIDAYDance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin

    *Revised post on 2021-01-08, originally from 2014-10-06 & 2018-05-22

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  • Testing

    “The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first…”
    Job 42:12

    I was going through the Devotional in my book called “TESTING…FOLLOWED BY BLESSING”.  God has set a precedence in his Word that when you have gone through a time of testing successfully it will be followed by a time of blessing.  It’s not just a catchy line I came up with—it’s a principle in scripture!  Whether it takes place here or in heaven—Testing is followed by Blessing!

    There are so many biblical examples of this: Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Esther…the list could go on.  The biggest example of this is in the life of Job.  In Chapter 1 of Job we read the record of God and the devil’s discussion over how good Job is.  God saw Job as faithful.  The devil, literally translated as “the accuser”, thought that Job was only faithful to God because God blessed him so much financially and in his family.  The devil asked if he could test Job in these areas and God agreed.  First the devil killed all of Job’s servants, next all his children and then all his livestock; which was equivalent to financial ruin in that day. After all these losses Job still kept his faith in God.
    The devil went to God again and asked if he could further test Job and God agreed.  The devil gave Job boils all over his body.  Still he remained faithful to God in all of his testing.  It wasn’t like he enjoyed it or was happy throughout it all.  Job is very human in his response, but he never turns his back on God.  Job cursed the day he was born, but still did not curse God. Even when he lost everything and couldn’t see any blessing, he still believed God was good.  What an incredible testimony! 
    At the end of Job we read how God blessed him with MORE than he had in the first part of his life.  He ended up with twice of all that he owned before, a VERY wealthy man.  God blessed Job again with 7 more sons and 3 more daughters, giving him a long life to see even his great-great-grandchildren live!  Testing is followed by…

    word bles sing!

    Prayer:
    Father, I thank-you that you see me as good even when the accuser says differently.  I thank-you that your plans for me are good and that you won’t let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. Help me to stand strong so that I can pass the tests of my life and walk in Your blessing!  In Jesus name,  Amen.
     (WATER IN THE DESERT; Section 3-WATER IN THE WANDERING: TESTING…FOLLOWED BY BLESSING, pgs.112-114). 

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  • Power & Glory of God Conference

    I was asked to speak at The Power & Glory of God Conference last minute when another author couldn’t make it.  The conference is a part of the Ministry of The Watchmen run by Rev. Barbara Williams out of Warren, Michigan.  It was one of those God ordained moments!  Since the event was held during Braeside Family Camp my cousin Rachelle Fletcher a Christian Recording Artist,  was down visiting from Texas.  She has written a worship song to go along with my book and when I got the call about this event I knew I needed her to come with me.  They were open to having Rachelle sing “You Are Water In My Desert” after I spoke.  The Lord used the song in such a powerful way and there was a sweet sense of His presence as worship sprang forth.  It was an amazing time!

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  • Power & Glory of God Conference

    I was asked to speak at The Power & Glory of God Conference last minute when another author couldn’t make it.  The conference is a part of the Ministry of The Watchmen run by Rev. Barbara Williams out of Warren, Michigan.  It was one of those God ordained moments!  Since the event was held during Braeside Family Camp my cousin Rachelle Fletcher a Christian Recording Artist,  was down visiting from Texas.  She has written a worship song to go along with my book and when I got the call about this event I knew I needed her to come with me.  They were open to having Rachelle sing “You Are Water In My Desert” after I spoke.  The Lord used the song in such a powerful way and there was a sweet sense of His presence as worship sprang forth.  It was an amazing time!

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