The Miracle of Rising Above Lies

Sometime amazing happened as I painted at the Prophetic Conference at Living Stone Christian Church last month -- something far beyond anything I could have imagined. As I brought the images to life that the Holy Spirit had placed on my heart to draw, the Lord began to break deep-rooted lies in my life -- things that I thought I had dealt with. But there was another level of freedom HE was bringing me to.

As a child I loved art, and wanted to be an artist when I grew up. But adults discouraged my dream. They said art was a frivolous luxury for the rich -- nothing important -- just a decoration -- not anything useful -- and nothing anyone could make a living out of. Three times in my life I walked away from art. Three times the Lord brought me back. Slowly, I began to see that the Lord had a purpose for His artists, and that the gifts HE gave us were meant to be developed and used as the Holy Spirit directed.

So I began to illustrate, paint and create art books with Jesus leading the way! And I saw time and time again, how the Holy Spirit moved with loving-kindness when hurting people saw the art HE prompted me to make. But at this Prophetic Conference, as people came forward and expressed how they were touched by what the Lord gave me to paint, the Light of God and the Truth of His Word seeped deeper into those dark, hidden, secret places in my heart, and God’s love rooted out the pain from my past. A new freedom and a greater understanding permeated my entire being. The taste of freedom was in my heart and in my hands. I felt light, uplifted, and FREE to be the artist HE called me to be!

So don’t be discouraged and think the talent or gift you have isn’t valuable. It is! And so are you! Jesus Christ has a plan and purpose for you that is greater than anything your mind can conjure. Seek Him first, and HE will bless you with a plan for your life that is written in Light -- the Light of Truth that breaks every lie, every hurt, every wound, every curse, and sets the captives FREE!  

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The Unexpected Miracle

My shoulder starting hurting as I packed books, art and other things to use at a presentation at Cyrus Ministries. Did I re-injure the shoulder? There was no time to think about this question. It was time to leave. So I hopped in the car and set off to share what the Lord had given me.

As I drove out to the ministry center, excitement and anticipation rose in my heart. I wanted to see what the Holy Spirit would do. God was the person in charge, and Jesus had given me the calling of encouraging people and showing them His Love through art and words. I love seeing how the Holy Spirit touches people’s hearts. This is my favorite part. But this time there was a greater excitement in my heart. At the end of the presentation, I would be doing something new -- leading the attendees in declaring God’s Scripture promise aloud. When people stand on God’s Word, something always happens. So I was asking for and expecting to see a physical healing in someone.

The presentation went well, and a few people shared that they could feel the Holy Spirit doing something deep within them as they prayed Scripture. Another person shared that the Lord placed hope in her heart. But no one mentioned any physical healing.

After I got home and unpacked the car, I discovered that Jesus Christ has a sense of humor. My shoulder no longer hurt. The Holy Spirit did do a physical healing -- HE had healed my shoulder! Praise the Lord!  

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Sparkling in His Light

The pine tree outside my window sparkles in the early morning sun. Dew clinging to its branches makes the tree sparkle in the rays of light. Water droplets hanging at the bottom of the young, green pine cones shine like diamonds. The Lord is lighting up the tree in magnificent splendor.

Shine, people, shine in the light of God the Father. Dance in the grace of His Holy Spirit. Sing with the joy of Jesus. For God is shining His Light upon His people and enabling us to sparkle like diamonds in His mighty Love as we fix our eyes on Christ, the Author and Perfector of our faith.

 

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From Chaos to His Voice

Your Voice, O Lord God, is like the songbirds singing outside my window – soft, soothing, melodious, and beautiful. I want to tune into your Voice, but the far-away traffic zooming down the highway keeps drowning out the sweet music. I strain my ears to hear better. A helicopter flies overhead. It’s droning noise overpowers the melody of the birds.

Stop, O man-made noises. Stop taking precedence over the music of God’s creation. I want to hear nature sing HIS praises. I want to join in. I want to hear the songs of Heaven and Christ’s Voice singing into my heart.

Lord Jesus, let the sounds of Your Kingdom overpower what my ears hear. May the songs that You sing be heard in my heart. May the sounds that flows out of my mouth, be a blessing to Your Ears.

The helicopter flies away. One bird moves closer to my window. Nature’s music breaks through the chaos of the rushing world of commuters heading off to work. I listen to the bird’s loud, cheerful music. Joy fills my heart. When the bird finishes its song, I close the window and listen for Gods’ Voice.

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Winter Snow Poem

The winter snow is almost gone.
It didn’t hang around very long.
It glazed like icing on a cake,
Over trees, cars, and the giant lake.
Adults sighed, but children smiled,
They wanted to play outside for a while.
To toss snowflakes into the air,
And build snowmen with hats to wear.
Footprints trailed across the ground,
That showed where children ran around.
New clouds move in with warmer weather,
The snowmen melted to the size of a feather.
Puddles formed upon the street,
Where snowflakes melted beneath our feet.
Songbirds cheered and flocked to trees,
Chasing each other in the breeze.
Fog rolled in and raindrops drizzled,
While the snow around us continued to fizzle.
And tomorrow starts a brand new day.
Let’s awaken with a smile and take time to play.

May the joy of Jesus, the blessing of each new day, and the warmer weather brighten up your way.

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The Softness of God's Love

On a cold, winter morning, snow silently covered the trees, the ground and the roof of my house. Inside, the grace of God gently wrapped me in a warm, protective blanket of compassion. I did not deserve this. But Christ’s eagerness to comfort, counsel, and commune with His creation enveloped me in a tender warmth, an unexplainable contentment, and an all-encompassing peace.

As I continued to sit quietly before the Lord, yesterday’s problems and today’s challenges faded into the background. A reminder of Jesus’ promise to be with us always, deepened. Time stood still. That which was created became keenly aware of the Creator. I wanted to linger in this satisfying taste of eternity. Too quickly, my mind returned to sounds around me, and the awareness of the Almighty diminished. But the peace remained. And as I went into the challenges of the day, peace came with me.

May the wonder working miracles of God's power establish you in HIS amazing love that streches far beyond the universe.

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Canyon of Dreams

In the canyon of our dreams,
Nothing is the way it seems,
And worries turn into steep mountains,
Tall cliffs rise up too high,
And makes us wonder why,
We choose to rely on our wisdom.

We find ourselves in the pit,
Where in gloomy darkness we sit,
And wonder how long we will be there.
Then hope enters our thoughts,
About Christ, who saves the lost,
And His promise to come and rescue us.

We see the error of our ways,
And repent of wasted days,
Of refusing to allow the Lord to help us.
We cry out from our heart,
And the journey home does start,
As Jesus lights the way through the darkness.

May the miracle of Christ's wonder-working power bring a breakthrough in your life.

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Opossum in Backyard

The opossum lumbered across the tracks. It was only passing through, and squeezed beneath the wooden fence to explore my backyard, too.

It wandered by the tall ash tree, and sniffed along the ground. It found a soft spot on the lawn, to rest and to lie down.

Slowly it rose and walked around, taking its good ole time, strolling past the lemon mint and leaving me with a rhyme.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for opossums and other creatures that wander into my yard.

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Spectacular Spring Buds

Tiny, strange-looking buds break through the rough bark. Odd shapes and brilliant colors dazzle our eyes as we wonder what type of flower or leaf this tree will produce? Sometimes it's hard to imagine how something so peculiar-looking can turn into a beautiful tree that will shade our yard from the hot, summer sun.

As we step out in faith, we may feel peculiar, awkward or even unsure. Others might even think we act odd. But that should never stop us. For outward appearances are not an indication of inward beauty. And beginnings never look like the end. They are only a starting place. So when the Lord calls us to step out of our comfort zone, we need to see it as a pathway that leads to bearing fruit. And when we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we begin to understand that He is pulling out of us what Jesus Christ has planted in us.

May the new creation that you are in Jesus Christ come forth in splendid and spectacular ways that reflects the majesty of the King and delights God the Father, who rejoices over you with singing. For it's not how others see you, but how God sees you that makes the ultimate difference.

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Suddenly

Overnight, the foliage on the huge tree across the street turned yellow-orange. This morning, its leaves glisten like gold in the awakening sun. What a beautiful sight to see! Yesterday, all the trees on the street were green. But today, the largest one stands tall in the splendor of its new color.

Change happens. And it can happen suddenly. Many times we grow weary in waiting for problems and issues to be resolved. Sometimes they seem to go on and on, like the long, hot summer, with no end in sight. But as we continue to trust in Jesus Christ, we discover there is a season for everything. We come to understand that God is a God of suddenlies. And when the time is right, the Lord God will suddenly change the our situation, like He did to the tree across the street, and bring us into a time of splendor and glory, as we shine in the light of His mighty love.

May you breakthrough the obstacles that are keeping you from basking in the light of Christ's love. For more encouragement and inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com

We Are Valuable

A quiet morning,
A cloud-covered sky,
A sweet softness,
I wonder why?

Birds singing softly,
Clouds standing still,
There's a hush over nature,
What is God's will?

A breeze stirs the treetops,
It rustles the leaves,
Which clap for a moment,
What does God see?

Great joy in His Creation,
Musicians with new songs,
Artists painting pictures,
Praising Him all day long.

Believers are arising,
With a dance in their feet,
Giving glory to Jesus,
Glowing as they meet...

...The Lord of Creation,
The Savior of the Earth,
Who walks with us daily,
And shows us our worth.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for showing us how valuable we are to You. Thank you for showing us that we are a treasure in your kingdom. You love us, and You reunite with our Heavenly Father. Thank you for atoning for our sins to make this possible.

For more encouragement and breakthrough inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com

A Better Way

It's easy to focus on our mistakes and the mistakes of others. Our nature and our culture gravitates towards criticism, critiquing, fault-finding, and dwelling on missed opportunities. This is especially true when family and friends take pride in pointing out everything wrong that we do.

But there is a better, happier, and more exuberant way to live. We can choose to take a stand against our natural inclinations and encourage others, even though people have discouraged us. We can smile, even when others have frowned at us, because we know that God loves us. And we can practice remembering the good things, instead of focusing on the bad, because we are called to take our thoughts captive.

Too often in life, we wait for good things to happen to us instead of actively seeking to do good. We wait for God to move powerfully in our lives instead of looking to see His Hand at work and asking Him to open our eyes and hearts so we can be part of His plan. For when we seek we will find if we don't give up. When we allow Jesus Christ to transform our way of thinking we begin to experience a new freedom that loosens our bonds to negativity. We discover that we can celebrate life despite all that is going wrong around us. We discover that we can be happy because the joy of Jesus is our strength.

For more encouragement and breakthrough inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com

Yellow Sky

The yellow sky never sleeps. It moves around the world, greeting early morning risers with the brightness of a new day. Those who look for it, see it — especially those who have been through a long, dark night.

The brightness of the yellow sky is always followed by the appearance of a huge, round, orb. Before this yellow orb appears, it's penetrating light goes out before it, like trumpeters announcing the coming of the king. What a grand procession! What a splendid way to herald that which brings light into our dark world.

Just as the physical sun rises upon the earth, so does the spiritual Son of God rise upon us. It's the brightness of Jesus' love that enables us to see beyond our circumstances and beyond our limitations. It's the light of the Lord that enables us to see a greater power at work — God's power that brings light into the dark areas of our heart that He wants to heal.

Each day, we need to see with both our physical eyes and our spiritual eyes. We need to see not only what is happening around us, but also what is happening within us and beyond us. We need to see the higher perspective of God's Hand at work.

So thank you, Heavenly Father for showing how the sun reflects your Son. Thank you, for giving us light to see in both the physical and spiritual realms. Please show me today, what my eyes and heart need to see.

For more encouragement by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com

Flourishing Tree

The flickering light on my writing tablet caused me to turn around and look outside. Rough wind jostled the tree branches close to the house. Joyfully, the sun's rays danced across the room. What glorious freedom the leaves have to swing and sway high above the ground. They dance with delight to the melodies of the whistling wind.

Only a month ago, the tree was barren and leafless. But the spring rains came, the temperature increased, and a glorious crown of rich green covered the enormous tree. The foliage produced an abundance of shade with its thousands of leaves. It became a shelter for birds, a home for squirrels, and a resting place for those looking for a refuge from the hot sun.

Be like a tree flourishing in the Lord. Display the foliage of truth — the abundance of God's promises that offer shade and shelter from the hot sun of blinding temptations and false promises that burn and destroy. Let the beauty within you emerge as you burst forth in the joy of Jesus and dance to the tune of God's love.

For more encouragement by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com

Draw Me Closer

Do you ever meet people who have an inner peace and joy that allows them to laugh instead of cry, even when the world around them is falling apart? I do, and I’m always encouraged. When I ask them where they get their strength from, the answer is always they same – they draw close to Jesus.

Draw me close to You, Lord Jesus.
I want to hear the words of love that you whisper into my heart,
and listen to the songs of encouragement that you sing over me.
I want to feel the quietness that comes with your presence,
and be enveloped in your peace as it enters the room.
I want to smell the sweet fragrance of your holiness,
and delight in your closeness.
I desire to touch the brilliance of your glory,
and see the radiance of your Face.

Please let this be a tangible time together,
so I can experience you with all my heart.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Hold me in your mighty arms.
Let me be still before You.
I surrender to You. I give You all that I am,
and all that I have.
I submit my mind, my spirit, my body,
and my soul to You.
I yield to your ways and welcome your wisdom.
But most of all, I just want to be with You.

Speak truth into my heart.
Speak wholeness into my body.
Speak health into my soul.
Speak life into my spirit.
I belong to You, Lord God Almighty,
and I want to know You better.

For more inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com

Awaken Me

"Awaken me!" is a great cry of the heart. I used to wonder how the Lord could possibly love someone like me. Time and time again, I failed God. Then one day, Jesus awakened my heart. He enabled me to hear and receive the words, “I love you.” Those three words changed my life. They brought freedom, victory, and excitement to my inner being. I wanted to jump up and shout for joy! God loved me! For days, I walked around in the truth, celebrating the amazement of God awakening me to His mighty love. Rejoice and be happy, because God's great love is for you, too.

Lord Jesus, awaken me to who I am in You.
Let me see myself as a child of the Living God.
Help me to receive the blessings You bestow upon me.
Enable me to rejoice in the victory of the cross.
Show me how to be reverent before You.

Open my eyes to your realm of glory.
Give me understanding.
I cannot fathom the immenseness of your eternal love.
Your commitment to me is astonishing.
Your longing to restore me to Yourself never ceases.
Your desire to make me holy never diminishes.
Your power to deliver me never wanes.
Your kindness goes far beyond my ability to reason.
Your patience outweighs anything that I can imagine.

O God of infinite beauty, bring me into your light.
O God of eternal goodness, cleanse my heart that I may look up, and You in your glory.
Consumed me with your mighty love, O God, and let me be consumed with adoring You.
Awaken me to who YOU are.
I want to see the splendor of your beauty and know the greatness of your kingdom.
I want to marvel at the power of your Lordship and rejoice in the authority of your Name.

For more inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com