ZOE LIFE INSPIRED 2012 Daily Devotional

JESUS my Lord and Savior

Anastasia Diamond

Just in time for the New Year!

 

I am honored to be one of 54 writers

in the beautiful, inspirational

 416 page hard cover 

 

ZOE LIFE INSPIRED 2012 Daily Devotional

 

366 Days of Inspiration (It is Leap Year!)

A Life Empowered is Zoe Life Inspired

 

• Introducing the 2012

  Zoe Life Inspired Writers!

• Aisha Smith-Thompson…………Jacquelin Priestley

• Aja Porter………….Joyce Gilmer

• Alfanette Rice-Mays…………..Joyce Y. Jones

• Ana E. Chambers…………..Karen Deslandes

• Anastasia Diamond………….Kelvin Williamson

• Anita P. Latin………….Kim Weaver

• Anna Simone Moon…………..Linda L. Smith

• Anthony Chambers………….Lori Bryant

• Ayanna Blackmon-Balogun…………..Mal Nicholson

• Beryl Rooks………….Marcia Murphy

• Bill Nicholson………….LT Colonel Melvin L. Myers

• Brinetta Thomas…………..Michelle Wilson

• Carolyn Watson…………..Miriam Moore-Hunter

• Cathy Naylor…………..Pedro Nicado

• Charles E. Chambers…………..Ratibu Jacocks

• Chiquita Tillman…………..Raylene Murphy

• Clarissa Pearson…………..Regina Williamson

• Claudia Epperson………….RJ Jackson

• Dante Marks………….Roy Guilford

• David N. Chambers…………..Sam Maze

• Donna Williams…………..Sharon Terrell-Brown

• Erika R. Godfrey…………..Starla Faye

• Felix Bobo………….Susan Nordang

• Genevieve Shenton………….Tracey Walden

• Gwendolyn Coggs–Moore…………..Tyronne Porter

Be Encouraged

Be Empowered

Be Inspired

 

Reserve your

Zoe Life Inspired

2012 Daily Devotional today!

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CONVERSATIONS of COURAGE – Stories of Success, Hope & Possibility

NEW INSPIRATIONAL BOOK!!

CONVERSATIONS of COURAGE

Jesus my Lord and Savior -Anastasia Diamond

© All Rights Reserved

CONVERSATIONS of COURAGE

Stories of Success, Hope & Possibility

I am so very honored and delightfully blessed to announce that I am one of the featured authors in the NEW inspirational anthology compiled by ‘The Courage Giver’ – RJ Jackson, and Starla F. Porter of Zoe Life Publications.

Twenty-two authors share stories that will remind you of the future and hope God has in store for you.

My story…

From Darkness…into HIS Light

explores my spiritual journey seeking HIS truth

I knew about Jesus…but I did not know Jesus

Let the Conversations Begin!

Order a signed copy

at reduced savings

Please E-MAIL or COMMENT for more information

Many continuing blessings,

as you travel ‘Light’

on your journey… Anastasia

Click on this LINK to learn more

https://jesusmylordandsavior.wordpress.com/book/

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CHRISTMAS JOY to the WORLD: Proclaim JESUS…Yesterday, Today and Forever

Christmas Joy to the World

JESUS my Lord and Savior

©All Rights Reserved-Anastasia Diamond

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) was an English preacher, Pastor of a Church of Christ in London, poet, and author of about 600 hymns; including Joy to the World.

The Reverend Watts wrote the stirring and much-loved words of Joy to the World…not as a Christmas Carol…but as a hymn based on Psalm 98:1-9

1- O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2- The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3- He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4- Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5- Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6- With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7- Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8- Let the floods clap their hands: 9- let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.  (King James version of the Holy Bible)

As we now see,  Reverend Watts composed Joy to the World with the purpose of praising the Lord Jesus Christ in His glorious and triumphant return…at the end of this world age…not at His first coming as the tender One born in a stable over 2,000 years ago.

This Christmas season, let us join in singing the centuries-old words of Joy to the World with a renewed joy, coupled with a deeper awareness of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ: He who is the same… yesterday, today and forever.

Let us worship and give homage to our Lord Jesus Christ: The Savior, The Baptizer with The Holy Spirit, The Healer…and The Soon-Coming King.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the Earth! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

All Rights Reserved ©2009-2010…”JESUS my Lord and Savior-ANASTASIA DIAMOND’S Prayerful Reflections…and Photographs on a Spiritual Journey from Darkness into HIS Light” Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from Anastasia Diamond is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided full and clear credit is given author/photographer and with appropriate and specific direction to the original content at: https://jesusmylordandsavior.wordpress.com/

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The Mighty and Powerful Names of GOD

HE is the Creator of All That is...

JESUS my Lord and Savior

©All Rights Reserved-Anastasia Diamond

The mighty and powerful names of God are His clear and loving messages of who He is to us, and for us. He never changes. Therefore, all that He was in biblical times is all that He is today, and will be tomorrow. As you read His names and their meanings, why not take a few moments to reflect on how He has been all of this to you; as well as the areas in your life where you need more of Him.

Call on Him, using His mighty and powerful names.  He is listening and waiting to hear from you.

Elohim – Eternal Creator

1 Timothy 1:17

El Shaddai – Almighty God

Genesis 17:1

Jehovah-Jireh – Lord our Provider

Genesis 22:10-14

Jehovah-Nissi – Lord our Banner

Exodus 17:9-15

Jehovah-Rophe – Lord our Healer

Exodus 15:24-26

Jehovah-Shalom – Lord our Peace

Judges 6:22

Jehovah-Tsidkenu – Lord our Righteousness

Jeremiah 25:5-6

Jehovah-Mkaddesh – Lord our Sanctifier

Exodus 31:15

Jehovah-Shammah – Lord Ever Present

Matthew 28:20

Jehovah-Rohi – Lord our Good Shepherd

John 10:11-12

Jehovah-Elyon – Lord Most High

Psalm 97:9

Jehovah-Hoseenu – Lord our Maker

Psalm 95:6

Jehovah-Eloheenu – Lord our God

Psalm 99:5, 8-9

Jehovah-Elohim – Lord God

Genesis 2:4

Jehovah-Eloheka – Lord your God

Exodus 20:2, 5, 7

Jehovah-Elohay – Lord my God

Zechariah 14: 5-7, 9

Jehovah-Sabaoth – Lord of all Hosts

1 Samuel 17:43-45

I agree with you in prayer today, in the powerful and anointed name of Jesus…that our loving Father will hear your prayers and meet your needs within His perfect will for you. –Amen

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And Thou Shalt Call His Name JESUS

JESUS my Lord and Savior

©All Rights Reserved-Anastasia Diamond

JESUS…Blessed be the Name of JESUS

And thou shalt call HIS name JESUS

There is something about that name

JESUS

There is only one name above all names

JESUS

Every knee will bow; every tongue will confess

– Jesus Christ is Lord-

The Prince of Peace, Holy One,

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Prince of Life, Morning Star,

Lamb of God, Son of Righteousness,

Lord God Almighty, Governor,

Messiah…

Lion of the Tribe of Judah,

Root of David, Word of Life,

Author and Finisher of Our Faith,

Lord of All, The Way, Son of God,

Chief Shepherd, Head of the Church,

Dayspring, Advocate,

I Am…

King of Kings, Righteous Judge

Shepherd and Bishop of Souls,

Savior, The Truth, Chief Cornerstone,

Light of the World, Horn of Salvation,

Resurrection and Life, Lord Jesus Christ,

The Alpha and Omega

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Graduation Day…From Here to Eternity

JESUS my Lord and Savior

©All Rights Reserved-Anastasia Diamond

A New Door Will Open…on the Other Side of Eternity

Wee little ones  graduate from kindergarten to grade school; others from middle school, high school, and college….

Every Graduation is Preparation for the Next Step

Throughout this time called life, we graduate from one motivating passage to another: womb to birth; crawling to standing; walking to running; babbling to talking; school to employment…moving out, military, marriage, career, baptism, parenthood, widowhood, and maybe eventual retirement. Every graduation is preparation for the next step; as we prepare to do the things, that will prepare us to do the things, that we are being prepared to do.

God Created You to Live a Series of Progressive Graduations

God knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. He created you to live a very specific series of progressive graduations from your precious conception to your earthly death. Some are mild-stones, remembered as momentous occasions. Others, you can not remember at all. However and interestingly, they are all the same to God;  as each one presents a uniquely tailor-made opportunity for you to grow mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Earthly Rewards Eventually Fade Away

Here on earth, we are handed tangible acknowledgments of our graduations such as certificates, report cards, diplomas,  promotions, paychecks, certificates, birthday cards, licenses, and contracts. We then hear: “Congratulations! (fill in your name)”. Albeit joyous and valuable occasions, we are being presented with kind words and earthly rewards for achievements that will eventually fade away.

How Many Graduations Will I Have?

I don’t know how many graduations you’ve experienced…or will experience. Some of us have many, others – very few. I don’t even pretend to understand why the difference. However, I do know, young or old,  rich or poor, successful or not, there is an ultimate graduation all of us must experience: the final graduation from earthly existence into life eternal.

Dear one, what do you want to receive, and what are the words you long to hear at your final graduation? The Bible reminds us to press on; that we may receive crowns, and hear: “Well done good and faithful servant.” These words speak of the spiritual rewards that will last into eternity for believers in God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

We Are All Going Somewhere After Our Final Graduation

The choice is yours. Will you  live in eternity with Jesus? Or, will you spend eternity in that other place so many do not want to even acknowledge exists? Yes, the choice is yours;  heaven or hell. There is no graduation party in hell. Satan’s only purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy. The only one celebrating in hell  is satan and his followers. They  celebrate the killing of life, the stealing of the truth, and the destruction of hope. They celebrate another lost soul knowingly or unknowingly committed to an eternity in the pits of  hell.  Choose wisely dear one. Choose Jesus! He will celebrate your life and your choice to follow Him.

Will Your Final Graduation be a Celebration of Your Life and …Choice to Follow Jesus?

It is never too late…or too early, to decide where you are going, while you are still here on earth. Every person born on earth has the opportunity to choose heaven. No one has strayed too far. Remember the thief on the cross who repented? Jesus told him, Today you will be in Paradise with Me. Forgiveness is for the taking. Jesus died and shed His blood for our sins, so that we may celebrate life eternal with Him. Choose wisely; choose Jesus. Let your final graduation be a celebration of your life, and your choice to follow Jesus.

I Agree with You in Prayer

I agree with you in prayer that you will choose wisely to live your life in, through, and with Jesus; one meaningful graduation at a time…while knowing the most significant treasure and graduation is yet to come in eternity with God the Father, the Spn-Jesus Christ, and the most Holy Spirit.

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PRAYER: Conversations with Abba Father

Prayer is a Heaven-Sent Rocket from Your Heart to God’s Ear

JESUS my Lord and Savior

©All Rights Reserved-Anastasia Diamond

I was in complete awe when I took this photograph…and even more so when I developed it. For, to me…this was instantly a visual representation of the trajectory of our prayers. We talk to God with words, pleas, thoughts, shouts, whispers, and groanings called our prayers. Then, when we are ready to let go of them…we release and send our prayers up to Him. He listens all the while…but patiently waits for our ‘let go and let God’ release.

We have great difficulty conceptualizing how far our prayers might travel and accepting how long they will take to be answered. That seemingly empty space between releasing our prayer and God’s answer…is our time of  growing in faith, as we wait for HIS perfect will and His divine answer…in His perfect time.

The star burst above the waiting place is our prayer – received, ignited, and being answered through His divine action. Never give up on your prayers…or your heavenly Father. His ways are not our ways. Therefore, His answer will most likely come in ways, means and timing that are not within your limited expectations. Trust Him and give Him praise in the midst of the storm…while you are waiting for His perfect answer to your prayers.

Prayer is our earthly opportunity for direct communication with God. Our Heavenly Father loves you. He is waiting to hear from you about all of the circumstances of your life. May you be blessed with lots of daily two-way conversations with Him. May your relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ grow as you draw nearer to Him.

God is our Abba Father…or Daddy Father.

Many of us had or have difficult, unsafe, or no relationship with our earthly father. Many of us lost trust in – and respect for – people who were supposed to protect and love us. It is important to know that it is safe to go to Abba Father with all of our questions, concerns, heartache, joy, hurt, pain, sorrow, fear, stress, addictions, anger, brokeness, frustration, passion, hate…and everything else that affects us daily.

Our Abba Father is wise, tender, gentle, honest and truthful. He is the only one who can truly give us the unconditional love we all seek. My earthly father died in the hospital during an open-heart surgery when I was seven years old. I felt alone and abandoned. It took me a very long time to trust, in faith, that God would not also abandon me. However, it was when I absorbed the concept that my Heavenly Father would never leave me- or forsake me – that I was finally able to pour out my heart to Him in prayer.

I do not know your life circumstances at this moment. You may be a blood bought believer child of God. Or, this may be your first exposure to Christianity and the concept of having an Abba Father who knows and loves you – right now, today…in the midst of your sin.

You may or may not have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Therefore, I will take this opportunity to invite you to know Him who went to the cross for you. He is the door to eternal salvation. His word in the Holy Bible tells us that if we open the door when He knocks, He will come in. This may be your time to open that door.

If you choose and are ready, please repeat the following prayer:

Dear God, my Abba Father, I come to You because I believe Your Son, Jesus Christ was born, died on the cross for my sins, and was resurrected so that I may have eternal life through Him. I repent of my sins, and accept that Jesus’ shed blood and crucified body was full atonement for all of my sins. I submit my life and all of my works to You dear Lord. I trust, in faith, that You will make me over into Your blood bought child, and I will never be alone or fatherless again. These things I pray in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dear ones, it is my honor to agree with you in prayer that your Abba Father will meet your every need in His perfect time.

Father, I come before You so humbled in Your presence dear Lord. You, who knew each of us before we were formed in our mother’s womb…and before the foundation of the world, care more deeply for us than we can possibly understand or imagine. I ask dear Lord, in the name, power, and authority of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that You meet each and every need presented here according to Your will. Father, I pray You will touch and inspire Your children through the power and guidance of the most Holy Spirit to minister to one another – in love, with mercy and hope.

I also pray Your words in Jeremiah 29:11 over all who are visiting ‘JESUS…My Lord and Savior’: For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Father I pray that each of these – your children – receives and accepts Your loving plan for them…in name of Your Son, Jesus I pray. – Amen

©All Rights Reserved -Anastasia Diamond

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Lord, Re-member Me

LORD Re-Member Me

JESUS my Lord and Savior

©All Rights Reserved-Anastasia Diamond

Jesus’ resurrection promise of renewal for our body, mind, and spirit is still fresh in our hearts.

But, where do we…His blood-bought bodies…take it from here?

What can we do differently this year to reflect the priceless value of His death and resurrection in our daily life?

The thief’s words to Jesus on the cross give us a hint, when He said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

The Lord has impressed upon my heart that spiritual renewal here on earth is the process of being re-membered into our heavenly family…Finding our way back to Him, re-joined and reunited.

The thief always had the ability to return to his Father, but he had to choose to be re-membered into His family.

Choosing to be re-membered means standing, at all cost, for re-membership into the family of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Choosing to be re-membered is a declaration of loyalty…of belonging only to Him.

It is choosing to be counted among His people…no matter who is looking or listening.

Jesus answered the thief’s plea to be re-membered….His re-membership in Paradise was promised and secured.

This year can be different!

We all need to be re-membered in some area of our life that is out of alignment with God’s divine plan and purpose.

Let us all submit a humble daily plea to be mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually re-membered in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

And, dear ones…let us have a boldness to proclaim Him to others – that they will be re-membered too.

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Opportunities in Sacrificial Service

JESUS my Lord and Savior

© All Rights Reserved -Anastasia Diamond

Walk into the Deep of HIS Sacrificial Service

We all have opportunities to serve in His name

Within the process of sanctification, while traveling on the narrower road, we are given opportunities to wash another’s feet in sacrificial service. Opportunities to offer our service in submission to God’s will; opportunities to unleash His power, through us, to others.

Opportunities for more of Him and less of us in every thing we think, say, and do. Opportunities for Him to be glorified, and for us to be humble, obedient, yielding servants in His name.

God has called  you to serve Him in miraculous ways

Sacrificial service is a gesture, a statement, or action that you normally would not choose to say or do. It may even put you in peril. It requires that you go above and beyond what is expected or comfortable, in love, and in reverence to the Lord. God has called missionaries, ministers, martyrs – and you, to serve Him in miraculous ways.

Look for opportunities to serve Him

We never know when we will be placed in a situation where God is proving the metal of our serviceability. Be looking for opportunities to present your body to God, a living sacrifice; in joy, and to His glory.

Look outside of your comfort zone to serve others in the name, and nature, of Jesus Christ. Seek out service, without compensation. Sacrificial service does not expect reward or personal gain. Assist in another’s mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual restoration. Look for opportunities to be used in sacrificial service to the good of others, and to His glory.

What are you willing to do in His name?

Step-up! Relinquish your will, in service to Him. Do a good deed in His name, offer a helping hand, extend a kindness, go without…or do without…to His glory. Jesus demonstrated the ultimate sacrificial service. He died for you, that you may live. What are you willing to do for others in His name?

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The Joy of the Resurrection…His and Ours

'Intimacy' In-To-Me-YOU-See

JESUS My Lord and Savior        

©All Rights Reserved-Anastasia Diamond

How do you explain a true miracle?

In this jaded world of real TV, video games, theatrics, smoke, mirrors, magic, and cheap tricks, how do you explain a true miracle to someone who has never met the Savior?

From cradle to grave we are continually manipulated, coached, enticed, and encouraged to watch murder, death, human cruelty, and bloodshed…real and not; over and again until even the most sensitive of us become desensitized. We watch the nightly news, constantly exposed to man’s inhumanity to man, with limited lasting response, if any.

We witness what appears to be miracles

We also witness what appears to be miracles, in a world where a distorted version of truth, fact, and fiction melt into a fuzzy (out of focus) mock reality; easily turned off and on at will. Various characters appear to die and rise again, speak in other tongues, fly, walk on water, and perform miracles with spells, chants, and witchcraft. Elephants and airplanes disappear and reappear at the flutter of a curtain and command of a magician.

How do you explain the mystery of the cross and resurrection?

How do you explain the mystery of the cross and resurrection of God’s Son to a generation who saw the movie and now want to know where to buy the video game…so they can be Judas, or the one who flogs Jesus?

Your joyous response to the birth, life, death, resurrection and promises of Jesus Christ may be the only way someone you know, or meet, will get to know Him. As Christians, we must live our life so that others will notice the positive difference in us; then want to know what that difference is.

Tell them His story is a true story

Tell them His story is a true story. Tell them that He came to show us the way. Tell them how He took on all of our sin at the cross. Tell them of the redeeming power of His shed blood in your life. Tell them that He died so that we all may live life abundantly and eternally. Tell them of your Baptism and rebirth. Tell them how your old man went down in the water, and how you came out a new creature in Christ. Tell them of the bread and wine of His Holy Communion. Tell them of His glorious resurrection and His promise that He will return.

Tell them the reason you celebrate Resurrection Sunday

Tell them of your glorious resurrection, through Him, from darkness into light. Tell them who you used to be, and who you are today because of what He did for you over two thousand years ago. Tell them He will also do for them…what He did for you. Tell them that Easter is not just about eggs and bunnies. Tell them the reason you celebrate Resurrection Sunday. They may never know if you do not tell them.

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