Lisa Buffaloe's Blog, page 10

Period

I���ll admit I have problems with punctuation. Commas should be pauses, like when I talk. Periods are used when I pause longer than a pause. Period. Semicolons, colons, ellipses, question marks, exclamation points, and dashes decorated my pages at random intervals.

Grammar lovers, please don���t judge me. If you see misused punctuation or grammar problems, prayers are appreciated. I have so much more to learn.

I notice we tend to punctuate life. We question God, exclaiming surely He should have done something differently. We put periods on those who suffer traumatic events, stating that no healing is available and their future is without hope. When things don���t go our way, or we don���t understand, we plop down a big fat period on our proverbial life pages and refuse to go forward.

We punctuate life without knowing the full sentence. Only God knows when a semicolon, exclamation point, question, colon, dash, or ellipses, is proper. With God, our lives have no period ��� ever. Life goes on, forever.

The only period we need to concern ourselves with is that Jesus Christ brings forgiveness of sins and the promise of new life, new hope, and new beginnings. And that is the wonderful truth. Period.

Rejoice! If Jesus Christ is your Savior, the period at the end of your life���s sentence becomes a dash to a wonderful, joy-filled eternity.

From Living Joyfully Free, Volume 2, https://amzn.to/3DoEKfC

Rise up!

Have you ever felt like a nail in the board of life being pounded and pounded by all the bad news, heartache, trials, and sufferings of life?

While in bed praying this morning, I heard in my spirit, ���you have the power of the living God within you; RISE UP!���

I thought of people throughout the Bible who had the Spirit of God come upon them, and they achieved amazing and incredible things. The Holy Spirit gave people the power to prophesy, the power to fight and destroy evil, the power to speak and share the Gospel, the power to do what no ordinary person could do, the power to withstand terrible trials and persecution, and the power to live for Christ no matter what was happening in their lives.

Therefore, remember that God ���made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus��� (Ephesians 2:5-6, NASB). For ���those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired.��� (Isaiah 40:31, AMP).

Speak God���s truth, share the good news of the grace of Jesus Christ, for you are here for such a time as this; rise up! ���For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father���s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?��� (Esther 4:14, NKJV).

No matter what happens, how crazy this world gets, the peace of Christ is in you, for He has overcome the world; therefore, rise up! For in Christ, ������you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world��� (John 16:33, NKJV).

Therefore, rise up, and ���May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope��� (Romans 15:13, AMPC).

The post, Rise Up, first appeared on https://lisabuffaloe.com

 

Seeking God

���I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.��� ~ Acts 13:22 (NASB)

Why did God find David a man after His heart? Look at the beauty of David���s Psalms, and read about his desire and longing for The Lord. ���As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.��� Psalms 42:1 (NASB)

Throughout the Psalms, David reveals that his desire for God was beyond anything this earth could offer. What great hope David���s life should give us. His failings were as large as his faith, but one thing never changed — his love and desire for God. ���I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.��� ~ Psalm 9:1-2 (NKJV)

David was not perfect, but he was devoted and passionate to know, serve, and love God. ���The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.��� ~ Psalm 28:7 (NKJV)

He committed terrible sins (adultery, murder) in his lifetime, but he always came back searching for the heart of God. ���As for me, I said, ���O Lord, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.��� ~ Psalm 41:4 (NASB)

David���s life should encourage each of us. We don���t have to get everything right in our lives to be used by God, He does not require perfection. We don���t have to be perfect; we serve a perfect Savior. And through His perfect love we find acceptance, mercy, and eternal grace.

Throughout history, God has used imperfect people in mighty ways. The great women and men of faith in the Bible were human, complete with failure. Only Jesus lived a perfect life, and through Him God reaches out to us all.

I���m so grateful the Bible doesn���t hide the failures of those who were used in mighty ways. The people God chose struggled with sin and the hardships of life. And yet even through their imperfections our mighty God did amazing things.

Is there something in your life you feel might keep you from being used by God? Take that thought, perhaps that sin, and talk to God. If you need to ask His forgiveness, please talk to Him right now.

God promises when we come to Him seeking His mercy and grace, He will forgive. And those sins are never to be remembered again by our loving God. Accept the treasures of His forgiveness. Seek God���s heart and you���ll find God���s wonderful blessings filling your heart.

Mining for Treasure

Do you find strength that, in spite of failures, God can change your heart to have a heart like His?

Do you believe that if God can forgive David���s sin���s, He can forgive yours?

Take a deep breath. Even with your imperfections and failures, even with your struggles, God loves you and wants to fill your heart with His love.

Will you take a moment to thank God for His perfect love, to thank Him for His perfect grace and forgiveness?

From Unfailing Treasures by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/3853X3d

Be strong

Our son loved the imaginary mechanical/robotic suits worn by some of his cartoon heroes. He thought it would be so cool to step into something strong and powerful to defeat an enemy.

Scientists have now developed robotic hands, arms, legs and now full mechanical frames to help those who have had spinal cord injuries to walk. In a much more powerful way, we have the Spirit of Christ living within us working to walk us through whatever we are called to walk through and to defeat our enemies.

Notice this verse, ���Be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might��� ~ Ephesians 6:10 (AMP).

Be strong IN the Lord. Strength doesn���t come from our limited bodies, true and unlimited strength comes from God.

Read and know His Word (the Bible), remember all God has done, remember He created everything so He can take care of anything.

You are never powerless. Regardless of how difficult your situation, you are never without God���s power. In Christ, you have power to stand in the gap for your family and friends, your nation, and this world. You have power to stand in prayer.

Through Christ we have power that breaks strongholds, sets captives free, and demolishes any barrier erected by the enemy. God���s power is unlimited, ALL-mighty, and ALL-powerful!

Be strong IN the Lord!

���Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil���s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord���s people.��� ~ Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) (Emphasis added)

From One Lit Step: Devotions for your journey by Lisa Buffaloe����http://amzn.to/2px9LZj

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Sometimes love…

���Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.���*

Jesus could have healed Lazarus, yet when Jesus arrived four days late, Lazarus was dead. Sometimes God���s love doesn���t behave in the way we wish and doesn���t seem to make sense. Sometimes His love waits beyond what we think is acceptable and doesn���t even seem very loving. When Jesus finally arrived, Martha came to him and said, ���Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.���

Jesus didn���t rebuke Martha for her grief or her questions. He gently reminded Martha, ���Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?��� Then Jesus called Lazarus out from the grave.

Sometimes God���s love doesn���t come on our timing, so a greater love can come on God���s timing.

Lazarus wasn���t just healed from disease, he was healed from death. No pain, no heartache, no suffering, not even death can keep our Savior from saving. The love of Jesus resurrects, restores, redeems, and brings life from death.

Because of hardship, pain, grief, or difficult situation, do you wonder if God loves you? Oh friend, you may question God���s love, but your questions never limit the love of God. His love is never bound by space or time, for there is nothing impossible for our loving God. Even when you don���t understand, even when God seems far away, God���s love never fails and His love will never fail you.

Heavenly Father, sometimes Your love seems so far away. Sometimes Your love seems to wait too long. Often I don���t understand what is happening in my life and in the world, but even though I can���t see You, I will trust You will come and You will resurrect, restore, redeem, and bring new life. Thank You that nothing is impossible for Your unfailing love. Help me to trust and wait on You.

John 11:5-6 (NASB), John 11:21 (NASB), John 11:40 (NIV)

From One Lit Step by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/3CHUzO6

Guest on Discover the Story

Hi friends, I’m blessed and honored to be a guest on Discover the Story with Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar and Loree Lough Author. Join us as we visit!

Link –> https://www.spreaker.com/user/cwaradio/episode-132-a-chat-with-author-lisa-buff

In a world that bleeds

In a world that bleeds, mourns, and dies, comes hope through the One who bled, mourned, and died. The love of Christ went to the cross to allow men to cross to God. In the darkness of a morning, in the throes of mourning, light shines in a tomb, and The Light walks free to free us into His light.

No matter how dark, how hopeless, and impossible it may seem, Christ brings light, eternal hope, and makes the impossible possible.��The wounds of Christ bring healing to the soul lost, the soul in pain and need. His nail-scarred hands are open to receive your scars. Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us.

In a world filled with evil, destruction, and wrongs, fall back, fall back into the arms of God. He conquers evil, that which is destroyed will be made new, and that which is wronged will be made right.

Sorrow taken to Christ blesses with the comfort of Christ. His love bled to cover you with His love.

In a world that bleeds will you accept the love that bled from the cross? Jesus offers mercy, soul-healing, and restoration. If you���ve accepted His grace and His love, please take His grace and love to a world that bleeds.

���For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Be strong and brave. Don���t be afraid of them. Don���t be terrified because of them. The Lord your God will go with you. He will never leave you. He���ll never desert you. Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.��� ~ John 3:16 (NASB), John 16:33 (NASB), Matthew 11:28 (NASB), Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIRV), 1 Peter 5:7 (NASB), Revelation 21:4 (NASB)

From by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/3ttRP2C

Prayer for battling the enemy

Heavenly Father, the battle is raging and I need Your help. You are mighty and glorious, majestic in power. You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You.

Your mercies are new every morning and great is Your faithfulness. You are my strength and my saving defense. Lord God You are all-powerful and completely trustworthy. Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power.

Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the enemy. Rescue me quickly, be my rock of strength and stronghold to save me.��Thank You that Your word promises no weapon forged against me will prosper and every tongue that accuses me in judgement will be condemned for that is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. I will give thanks and praise You, for You rout the enemy.

Help me to stand firm in the full armor of God. For my help comes from You, Who made heaven and earth. I lift up my eyes to You, to You who sit enthroned in heaven. Nothing is impossible for You.��I will hope again in You, I will praise You again for the help of Your presence. For in the day of trouble, You will conceal and hide me in Your secret place. You will lift me high on Your rock. For I hope in You, O Lord; You will answer, O Lord my God.

I will praise You, for You will deliver me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, who are too mighty for me. You have set my feet in a large place. You are my help, and in the shadow of Your wings, I sing for joy.��May You hear my prayer in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is my Savior. Amen.

���Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.��� ~ Exodus 15:6 (NASB)

���Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.��� ~ Jeremiah 32:17 (NASB)

���They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.��� ~ Lamentations 3:23 (NASB)

���The Lord is their strength, and He is a saving defense to His anointed.��� ~ Psalm 28:8 (NASB)

���Lord God All-Powerful, who is like you? Lord, you are powerful and completely trustworthy.��� ~ Psalm 89:8 (NCV)

���Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power.��� ~ Psalm 54:1 (NASB)

���Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.��� ~ Psalm 64:1 (NASB)

���Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me.��� ~ Psalm 31:2 (NASB)

������No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,��� declares the Lord.��� ~ Isaiah 54:17 (NASB)

���When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, ���Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.��� When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.��� ~ 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NASB)

���Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.��� ~ Ephesians 6:13-18 NASB)

���My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.��� ~ Psalm 121:2 (NASB)

���I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.��� ~ Psalm 123:1 (NIV)

���Jesus replied, ���What is impossible with man is possible with God.������ ~ Luke 18:27 (NIV)

���Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.��� ~ Psalm 42:5 (NASB)

���For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.��� ~ Psalm 27:5 (NASB)

���For I hope in You, O Lord; You will answer, O Lord my God.��� ~ Psalm 38:15 (NASB)

���He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.��� ~ Psalm 18:17 (NASB)

���And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place.��� ~ Psalm 31:8 (NASB)

���For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.��� ~ Psalm 63:7 (NASB)

Adapted from We Were Meant For Paradise by Lisa Buffaloe https://amzn.to/3HD20H8

Latest release — Open Lens

May the eyes of your heart be enlightened to know… (Ephesians 1:18).
As the eyes of the heart open, what truths will be revealed?

Although Alyssa Nelson chose nursing for her profession, she hasn���t found a cure for her broken heart. Photographing nature in her off-hours takes her mind off her pain. However, the photos she captures in her camera���s memory card can���t replace the memory of her heartache and regrets.

When Alyssa comes face-to-face with her past, she is thrown into police investigations, mystery, intrigue, and a touch of fun.

The truth comes into focus as Alyssa���s heart opens to God���s healing, yet will she make the same mistakes she made before, or will she choose a new beginning.

Open Lens is now free on Amazon 2/24/2022 – 2/28/2022 as my first-fruit offering to the Lord. Please feel free to pick up a copy and share with your friends.�� https://amzn.to/3t5CxB0

 

Lifelines

God is a tender God who will help us through the hurts of life, illness, suffering, and the evil of people. I���ve always appreciated the verse in Isaiah, ���When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.��� ~ Isaiah 43:2 (NCV)

The verse doesn���t say we won���t go through deep waters or encounter fiery trials, but it does promise God will be with us as we go through whatever we go through.

Looking back, I can see God���s lifelines. The encouraging letter that came in the mail when I was a lonely little girl. The friends who rallied to help when I was sick. The email waiting in my inbox when I didn���t think anyone cared.

God���s lifelines may not be big and might not even be noticeable at the time. Through hardship and pain, God���s tender touch is always there to help, perhaps through the hug of a friend, the smile of a stranger, or through God���s beautiful creation.

How many times have you talked to someone who said, ���I wouldn���t have made it through if it hadn���t been for������ and they list a person, some kind of provision, or something they saw or experienced. Something helped them make it through. That ���thing��� wasn���t just luck. James 1:17 tells us that every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above. Those good things came from God.

It���s not just luck you���ve made it through your life. If you���re reading this, you���re a survivor. You���re still here, still breathing, and still overcoming. Whether you���ve seen God���s hand or not, He has helped you through whatever you���ve been through, and He will be with you whatever comes next. God���s lifelines are always there.

���We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It���s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us������ ~ Hebrews 6:18-20 (MSG)

From by Lisa Buffaloe, https://amzn.to/3h0U8EP