The act by which God restores a relationship of harmony and unity between himself and human beings. Through God’s atoning grace and forgiveness we are reinstated. Through faith and belief in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are you saved by faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:13-20 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partion  between us;

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father

Now therefore you are no more stranger and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Romans 3:22 Even the rightousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.

Romans 5:8 - 11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being justified by his blood,we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

5:11 We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9-10 If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall belive in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto rightousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord. If you’ve never confessed him as Lord you really should because the end of time as we all know it is at hand. Don’t let that day take you unaware. The bible says he will come as a thief in the night. Call upon the Lord and you shall be saved. The blood of Jesus will wash you white as snow. You will be clean before God.

Let’s live for eternity! Receive Jesus and receive the gift of life!

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement is a day of self-denial in an effort to cleanse ourselves of sins.

Have you ever been to this place called, Brokenness?  As you read through the Psalms, can you relate to any of David’s cries, pleas for deliverance from his enemies?  Well, I have lived these Psalms as many of you have!

We have some property that we rent each month that was my mom and dad’s homestead. That was recently rented to a family that required Mercy and Grace, lots of it.  Let me back up some to get you familiar with the property.  This property was bought at the point of my dad’s retirement.  It was my dad and I that put up the large security fence around the property.  It was my dad and I that planted the trees on the property.  As with many property owners, my dad and mom made this piece of land into a beautiful sight for your eyes. My mom and dad have now gone on to be with our Lord and Savior.   So, you can only image how more precious this now has become to me.  Now that you have this picture painted in your mind of the hard work that was put into the making of this piece of land, not to mention all the love of this property and home.  Let me proceed on.

I was reluctant to rent to these people, but the State of Georgia became involved and as always, my heart was on my sleeve.  They moved into this home, nothing like they had ever had before.  It had more rooms, hardwood floors, tiled kitchen, you name it we made sure that we placed it into this home.  For people to enjoy and be proud of, like we once was.  One can only hope that people will become more aware of their living conditions and want to change after being given a chance like this.  But, being as sad as it is, this type of revelation did not happen to these people.

The first month went by and I went to the home to collect rent.  This is when the brokenness in my life started.  I found bags upon bags of garbage in the yard.  The inside was damaged and trashed beyond belief.  The fence had been broken down in places, with different objects by the teenagers that lived there.  The storage buildings had been destroyed.  All this damage was looking me straight in the face.  To top all of this off – she did not have any money for the rent due.  Full blown Brokenness, like I had never known, now was looking me straight in the eyes.  My test was beginning.  Thank God it was an open book test!

All I could do for the next several weeks was weep.  Not just the crying because you are hurt, but that uncontrollable type of weeping.  The brokenness inside was for the children that lived in these circumstances, along with having to deal with watching them destroy what we as a family built up.  I watch as the damages still occurred over the weeks that lied ahead, there was nothing I could do about it until my court date arrived.  The damage to the property was as traumatic as the damage on the inside of me.

This was a trial that I had not yet had to deal with until this point.  It was too big for me in the natural.  I had no choice but to give it to God and depend on him to bring me out of this battle still standing.  I opened the book of Psalms and cried out every day and night, for God to deliver this property and me from the works of Satan.  I wanted God to answer this prayer instantly, but it did not happen that way.  As with many of our prayers we must be patience and wait on God.  That is what I did.  I never became angry with these people; I only showed God’s mercy and grace to them.  Each time of having to see the damages and dealing with the lies of the enemy, I just became more broken.  Can anyone relate?

Now, the court has issued an eviction notice and they have moved on out of my life.  But, like many of life’s battles, the scars are still visible.  Yes, the property was destroyed, but not to the point that it cannot be restored.  I think more importantly I have been restored.  Not like I was, but now I have a closer walk with God and his plans are clearer to me.

Each of us will have brokenness in our lives, which is a promise when we follow Jesus.  It is how we deal with it that matters.  In the book of James 1:1 it tells us to count it all joy when trials and tribulations come our way.   Why?  I think that when the trials and tribulations come our way and we deal with them the way that God has instructed us in his word to do.  We keep our eyes on Jesus not our problems, and then we pass this test in our lives and can move on into the blessings that God had in store for us all along.  If we do not handle these issues that we face, with the Spirit of Jesus, we will handle them all wrong and will not grow spiritually.  If I may say, “Going around the same old mountain and never getting pass the problems – staying babes in Christ”.  During all of this I was deeply saddened by what was happening to my parent’s property, but I welcome what I had to go thought to get to where I am now.  That’s a story for later.

If we only keep the Word of God in our hearts during the time of troubles, we will not be wounded, just broken.  Brokenness has to come, for you to be humbled to hear what God needs you to hear to learn and move on in your life.

Penny Tow – Freelance Writer

Principles for Possessing Your Promise – The following can be applied to every area of your life – this one is to be applied to the healing of your body.

#1        Leave and Cleave: Leave your past behind you and cleave to tomorrow and what is promised you.  Stand on God’s word – not the doctors, not your feelings.

#2        Change Your Focus:  Stop looking at your circumstances in front of you and lift up your eyes.  Change your perspective and your attitude.  Thou I may feel sick I know that I am healed by the Blood of Jesus.

#3         Vision: See It and Receive It:  You will die without vision.  Be sensitive to the glimpse God gives you about the future He wants you to posses.  You know what the word of God tells you about the healing of your body stop listening to the lies of the devil.  Who is greater?

#4         Understand the Purpose for the Storm:  When God gives you a revelation; the enemy will send a storm (a distraction) to take away the Word.  God will use the storm to build your patience so you can inherit the promise. The promise being, healing within your body.  Without tests there can be no results.  Without a storm, you do not learn how to stand firm (on the word of God) in any situation.

#5        Endurance:  It Takes Commitment:  Make the decision to be consistent in your faith so that God will deliver His promise to you.  You are only rewarded for that which you endure in life. Remember: It’s not how much faith you have – it is using the faith that you have.

#6        Learn to Operate in God’s system: There are two systems in operation – the world’s system and God’s system.  If you operate in God’s system, your needs will be met.  To do that, you must seek first the kingdom of God (knowing what the bible tells you to do in any situation), understand what the kingdom is, and operate in that kingdom.

#7        Seedtime and Harvest:  You have a seed to plant and the authority to plant it, but remember: The seed you plant today is what you will reap tomorrow.  So, don’t wait until you’re sick or broke to plant your seeds!  Sow positive thoughts and you will reap Positive results.

Forgiveness is necessary for results in your life – Matt. 6:14-15.  You have to forgive all things intentionally and unintentionally done to you (people gossiping, backbiting, telling lies about you, trying to hurt you with words) for your heart to be open and ready to receive God’s blessings.

Scripture to apply:

Ps. 30:2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

Ps. 29:4 The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

Ps. 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil (sickness, suffering): for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Ps.23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Matthew 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saidth unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, yea Lord!

Note to remember:  Do not let people “dump” their garbage in you.  Don’t listen to gossip and backbiting about others.  This to is a blessing blocker.  Keep your mind, heart and spirit clean – this way you know that you know – Jesus feels welcome in his temple.

 Penny Tow – Freelance Writer

Hebrews 6:9 Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation. What are the things that accompany salvation?  Peace that passes all understanding.  Happiness- Happy is the people that God is their Lord.  The right job, a better home, better clothes to wear, these are all things that accompany salvation.

Hebrews 6:10- For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which you have shewed toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  This is my interpretation of this scripture: When it seems like you are in a hole and you are sinking further and further down.  God is not unrighteous to forget me.  Circumstances say that he has forgotten me, but the word says that he has not.  He has not forgotten all the Sundays that I volunteered and worked at church.  He has not forgotten that I payed my tithes.  He has not forgotten that I gave to the poor and witness to the sinner.

Hebrews 6:12- That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  Through faith and patience we inherit the promise!

Hebrews 6:13-15 -For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, surely blessing I will bless thee and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

When did Abrabram obtain the promise?  After he patiently endured. Through faith & patience we inherit the promise!

Hebrews 10:11- Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.  Hebrews 11:6- Without faith it is impossible to please him; he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him.

So, in other words no matter what comes our way - keep reading your bible, keep confessing the word, keep praying and worshiping him that made heaven and earth. The word is true and it will not return back to God unfulfilled.  Stay faithful to the Lord in all things, be holy not just with our body’s but with our mouth.

God is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him.  Just because it has not happened today, does not mean it is not going to happen.  Hebrews 11:1- Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  I don’t see what tomorrow has, but, I believe that God has great things in store for me.

Make it a great day!

I hope that you can receive a nice laugh from this.  Laughter is good medicine - so take a dose.

Those of us who spend much time in a doctor’s office should appreciate this!

Doesn’t it seem like more and more physicians are running their practices like an assembly line?  Here’s what happened to Bubba:

Bubba walked into a doctor’s office and the receptionist asked him “what he had?”.   Bubba said, “Shingles”.  So she wrote down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.

Fifteen minutes later a nurse’s aide came out and asked Bubba “what he had?”.   Bubba said “Shingles”.  So, she wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told Bubba to wait in the examining room.

A half hour late, a nurse came in and asked Bubba “what he had?”.  Bubba said “Shingles”.  So, the nurse gave Bubba a blood test, a blood pressure test, and electrocardiogram, and told Bubba to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor.

An hour later, the doctor came in and asked Bubba “what he had?”.  Bubba said “Shingles”.  The doctor asked, “where?”

Bubba said, “Outside on the truck, Where do you want them??”

May God Bless and keep you.

Penny Tow-Freelance Writer

This poem makes a very strong statement to our society.  It is very sad but, so true.  People today are living this way at no ends.  Pray for our youth and their parents!

I destroy homes, I tear families apart-take your children and that’s just the start.  I’m more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold-the sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

If you need me, remember I’m easily found- I live all around you in schools and in towns.  I live with the rich, live with poor-I live down the street, and maybe next door.

I’m made in a lab, but not like you think-I can be made under the kitchen sink.  In your child’s closet, and even in the woods- if this scares you to death, well it certainly should.

I have many names, but there’s one you know best- I’m sure you’ve heard of me, my name is Crystal Meth.

My power is awesome, try me you’ll see- but if you do, you may never break free.  Just try me once and I might let you go- but try me twice, and I’ll own your soul.

When I possess you, you’ll steal and you’ll lie- you’ll do what you have to–just to get high.  The crimes you’ll commit for my narcotic charms-will be worth the pleasure you’ll feel in your arm.

You’ll lie to your mother, you’ll steal from your dad-when you see their tears, you should feel sad.  But you’ll forget your morals and how you were raised-I’ll be your conscience, I’ll teach you my ways.

I take kids from parents, and parents from kids-I turn people from God, and separate friends.  I’ll take everything from you, your looks and your pride-I’ll be with you always–right by your side.

You’ll give up everything your family, your home-your friends, your money, and then you’ll be alone.  I’ll take and take, till you have nothing more to give-when I’m finished with you, you’ll be lucky to live.

If you try me be warned; this is no game-if given the chance I’ll drive you insane.  I’ll ravish you body, I’ll control your mind-I’ll own you completely, your soul will be mine.

The nightmares I’ll give you while lying in bed-the voices you’ll hear, from inside your head.  The sweats, the shakes, the visions you’ll see-I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.

But then it’s too late, you’ll know in your heart-that you are mine, and we shall not part.  You’ll regret that you tried me-they always do, but you came to me–not I to you.

You knew this would happen, many times you were told-but you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.  You could have said “No”, and just walked away-if you could live that day over, now what would you say?

I’ll be you master, you will be my slave-I’ll even go with you, when you go to your grave.  Now that you have met me, what will you do?-Will you try me or not?  It’s all up to you.

I can bring you more misery than words can tell-Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

This was written by a young girl who was in jail for drug charges, and was addicted to meth.  She wrote this while in jail.  As you have just read, she fully grasped the horrors of this drug, as she tells in this simple, yet profound poem.  She was released from jail, but, true to her story, the drug owned her.  They found her dead not long after, with the needle still in her arm.

Oh, Lord Jesus, deliver all of these people and set them free!  Break this stronghold of lies that the enemy is filling their minds with.  In Jesus’ name!

Penny Tow-Freelance Writer

I wonder what our lives be like if we still applied this covenant?

Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully  and reqularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and devotions; to educate our children on the Word of God; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to void all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger, to abstain from the sale and use of, destructive drugs or intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to shun pornography; to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Saviour.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we move from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we carry out the Spirit of this covenant and principles of God’s Word.

Penny Tow-Freelance Writer

I have listed below in great details the armor of God.  Take this information and use it daily.  In Ephesians 6, Paul speaks of putting on the armor of God daily for your protection against Satan.   Most importantly, Verse 18 tells us also to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.  Without prayer the armor of God may not be effective.  So in all things that you do, PRAY first and continually.

(1) Strong Belt which stands for Truth - Satan fights with lies, and sometimes his lies sound like truth; but only believers have God’s truth which can defeat Satan’s lies.

(2) Breastplate which stands for God’s approval- Satan often attacks our hearts-the seat of our emotions, self-worth, and trust.  God’s approval is the breastplate that protects our hearts.  He approves of us because he loves us and sent his Son to die for us.

(3) Shoes which stands for the Readiness To Spread The Good News -Satan wants us to think that telling others the Good News is a worthless and hopeless task-the size of the task is too much to handle.  But the “shoes” God gives us are the motivations to continue to proclaim the true peace which is available in God–news everyone needs to hear.

(4) Shield which stands for Faith - What we see are Satan’s attacks in the form of insults, setbacks, and temptations.  But the shield of faith protects us from Satan’s flaming arrows.  With God’s perspective, we can see beyond our circumstances and know that ultimate victory is ours.

(5) Helmet which stands for Salvation - Satan wants to make us doubt God,  Jesus, and our salvation.  The helmet protects our minds from doubting God’s saving work for us.

(6) Sword which stands for The Spirit, the Word of God - The sword is the only weapon of offense in this list of armor.  There are times when we need to take the offensive against Satan.  When we are tempted, we need to trust in the truth of God’s Word.

My prayer for each of you would be that you place this armor on you daily, praying constantly and fight the good fight of faith.  May God hold you and keep you.

Penny Tow-Freelance Writer

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places.”

In the Book of Nehemiah, God outlines eight specific ways in which Satan will try to destroy our work for the Lord (Nehemiah 4-6).

Be aware of how the enemy operates because he will manifest himself with the world and in the Body of Christ.  Let us learn how to recognize when we are confronted by the enemy.  “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2nd Corinthians 2:11)

(1) Ridicule and intimidation (2) Threats of physical attack (3) Confusion (4) Discouragement (5) Spirits of Negativism (6) Division among ourselves (7) Temptation to compromise or reason with the World (8) Exhaustion (9) Fear (10) Leading of False Prophets

Not all attacks of the enemy are obvious.  Most likely his operations in your life and your ministry are subtle.  But, no matter how hidden he is, our job is still to recognize the way the enemy is operating and stop him before it is too late.

Let us be encouraged that whatever hindrances Nehemiah and the Jew overcame, Christ’s people can overcome them now.  We have to go the root caused in the spirit realm using the power of God and his spiritual weapons to defeat the enemy.  If we try to deal with these problems on the surface, we will never have a solution.  The problems is in the spirit world and it takes strong intercessory prayer to overcome these attacks against the Body of Christ.

Know that Satan is manifesting himself in the world all around us (Job 1:7, Peter 5:8) as his evil spirits move upon people causing them to commit all types of sin.  He sets up principalities upon this earth using people who allow him full control of their lives.  He works through human vessels just as the Holy Spirit manifests Himself through human vessels.  He will use your spouse, your relatives or friends and even a total stranger to show himself to you.

Ephesians 6:11 tells us “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”. 

Penny Tow-Freelance Writer

As I set in the presence of the Lord one night, I begin speaking this pray unto the Lord.

Father, I don’t want anything from you right now - I just want to give to you my undivided attention.  To ship up the worth that you are to me.

I want to bow down at your feet with my Alabaster Box-all that is precious within me, all that I am and have! Let me open up the box and share with you- no, it’s not money, it is nothing material.  It is all that I have to give- it’s my gratitude, my love, my spirit and soul.  My “thank-yous” for what you have already done for me and through me.

Jesus, I just want to be in your presence.  I don’t “need” you to do anything.  I just want to taste your sweetness on my mouth.  Smell your escaping savour in my nose.  See your pureness within my eyes.  Hear you call out my name.  Feeling all the hairs on my body standing up reaching out to your very presence.

Oh Lord, I don’t need the money, I don’t need the material things, I do indeed need you-every moment in my life!  As long as I have you-all else will work out for your Glory and for my good.

Without your hand holding mine-I would be lost.  Without your strength-I would lay down and not live.  Most of all without your love-I would surely die a slow death.

So, see me Lord!  Hear me Lord!  You are all that I long for, all that I seek after, all that I depend upon.

I love you-Father.  Glory!  Glory!

Penny Tow-Freelance Writer