Ephesians 3:17-19 (Message) "And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God."
The Glory of our Lord, the precious Glory of our Lord. From that glory we receive love to the tenth degree, unfathomable in our imaginations, the reality of His love so far from anything ever known. How real is a love that would take the most Precious One from His Heavenly home to endure what none of us have any idea of. I pray we will never know this as none of us would be able to endure this kind of torture. But my Lord, You not only endured it, You willingly endured it knowing it was the only way to redeem us, the only way we could have any kind of relationship with our Father. Sent here to be a sacrifice, You did so with more love for us, not even born yet, but knowing we would need a Savior when we came.
So the depths of Your love, my Lord, the depths of the love You have for me has no end, the distance, the height, the width......so often remembering that little song, how deep is the ocean, how wide is the sea, how high is the mountain of my Lord's love for me. I can go no where from Your love. It is not me that determines Your love for me, there is nothing I can do, I can never be good enough, I can never be too bad; the love is all about You, it is what You are all about. You are Love. Everything about You is derived from love. Your beauty is love. The Word tells me that Your looks were ordinary, nothing special, but in my heart, in my dreams, You are beauty beyond anything I have ever seen. The fragrance of Your love is unlike any I have ever known. Sweet, soft, lingering is the fragrance of Your love. Such a mixture of all the most precious oils ever known to man. So sweet is Your love for me. So beautiful is Your love for me.
Where can I go but to You, my sweet Lord. I cannot escape the wooing, the drawing of Your love to me. It draws me from out of myself into Your garden, Your beautiful garden of love where I can walk and talk with You. Where I can sit at Your feet and listen to Your words, Your sweet words of love and encouragement; Your words that cause me to trust You even more, that cause me to love You beyond what I thought I was capable of loving. I have never loved anyone like I love You my Jesus; You are all I think about; I want to sit in Your presence all the time. I never want to be away from You, my Lord, and I know You want me with You. That is what love does, it causes two to become One. When I gave my life to You, put all my faith in You and began to love You more than anyone or anything, walking in Your Light, then I began to be One with You. Two into One. What does not add up in the world's math, makes perfect sense in Heavenly figures, and it makes beautiful sense to me.
This 19th day of September, 2011, I am learning my math all over again. The depth, the height, the width, the length of a love that will keep me walking in the Light; will keep me going from glory to glory in You, and will enfold me into Oneness with my Beloved, Jesus.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
LIVE IN THIS DAY
Esther 4:14 "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
How often, Father, have You given me a word for someone, an encouragement, even a word of correction and I have just not done it when You asked me to. I just figured, well, if it is You, I will know later and tell them tomorrow. How foolish I was. I know You have forgiven me these times and I also know that You are working with me, building up my faith, strengthening me in You, in Your Word and giving me the courage to speak up when You ask me to. I have seen You use someone else to do the things that were mine to do, and I was ashamed of my fear of man keeping me from following You.
I know that You put us, Your children, those that love You so much and are following after You in positions of respect, authority and influence. You have put me above what I ever expected. I never thought I would have anything to say that would make a difference in other people, or that people would be encouraged by what I said. But I have come to realize it is not me who is saying these things. It is Your words that are coming from me. I am only the vessel, the messenger, the one that You have put Your annointing on and given me the words to say to Your children; to encourage them, to show them Your love and grace; to give them Your peace and joy. How blessed I am that You would chose me to do Your work, Lord; to encourage those whose walk is shaky, whose hearts are heavy and those who are burdened down with guilt and shame. Your words coming from me, Your trust in me now to deliver what You tell me and to show Your love and mercy to those receiving Your words of love and life, of forgiveness and healing; restoring their lives to You, drawing them to Your Light, to Your joy.
There is no day more suited for giving words of encouragement to others than this day. Delaying Your message could be devastating to them. There may not be another day for some, as the enemy can have them so beaten down that their lives seem worthless. We never know what is in someone's heart, there may not be time to wait to make sure this is what the Lord wanted, to question His voice. You can be certain that the enemy will not be giving you words of love and encouragement for someone getting ready to be destroyed by him. You can be certain that if the words contain a message of encouragement and love, it is from our Lord.
This is no time to be living in the future. Take each day in itself. As oft as we have been told by our Lord not to worry about tomorrow, neither should be let today be lost by wishing it was tomorrow or next week or Friday or whenever. Live for today. Take time today to see through the eyes of our Lord. See His children, what are they going through, what can you say to make a difference to them. We are placed, we are positioned by the Lord, just where He can use us to make a difference in the lives of others. He has made us royal priests in Him and we are of the Kingdom of God. There is no other royalty more wonderful than the one we are in. Live this day as if our Lord Jesus was coming today. Do not let any opportunity slip by to be used by our God. We are His chosen, we are here to do His will, we are here to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
My precious Lord, this 18th day of September, 2011, I ask that You use me this day. When the night passes, I will ask once again to be used in anyway You want to use me, to do so. It is my honor to serve You, my King. I lay down my life to serve You. I want to make a difference in the place You have put me. I want to be Your Light in a place of darkness, I want to bring You into the lives of all You send me to. You are my Lord and with You, I am living in this day.
How often, Father, have You given me a word for someone, an encouragement, even a word of correction and I have just not done it when You asked me to. I just figured, well, if it is You, I will know later and tell them tomorrow. How foolish I was. I know You have forgiven me these times and I also know that You are working with me, building up my faith, strengthening me in You, in Your Word and giving me the courage to speak up when You ask me to. I have seen You use someone else to do the things that were mine to do, and I was ashamed of my fear of man keeping me from following You.
I know that You put us, Your children, those that love You so much and are following after You in positions of respect, authority and influence. You have put me above what I ever expected. I never thought I would have anything to say that would make a difference in other people, or that people would be encouraged by what I said. But I have come to realize it is not me who is saying these things. It is Your words that are coming from me. I am only the vessel, the messenger, the one that You have put Your annointing on and given me the words to say to Your children; to encourage them, to show them Your love and grace; to give them Your peace and joy. How blessed I am that You would chose me to do Your work, Lord; to encourage those whose walk is shaky, whose hearts are heavy and those who are burdened down with guilt and shame. Your words coming from me, Your trust in me now to deliver what You tell me and to show Your love and mercy to those receiving Your words of love and life, of forgiveness and healing; restoring their lives to You, drawing them to Your Light, to Your joy.
There is no day more suited for giving words of encouragement to others than this day. Delaying Your message could be devastating to them. There may not be another day for some, as the enemy can have them so beaten down that their lives seem worthless. We never know what is in someone's heart, there may not be time to wait to make sure this is what the Lord wanted, to question His voice. You can be certain that the enemy will not be giving you words of love and encouragement for someone getting ready to be destroyed by him. You can be certain that if the words contain a message of encouragement and love, it is from our Lord.
This is no time to be living in the future. Take each day in itself. As oft as we have been told by our Lord not to worry about tomorrow, neither should be let today be lost by wishing it was tomorrow or next week or Friday or whenever. Live for today. Take time today to see through the eyes of our Lord. See His children, what are they going through, what can you say to make a difference to them. We are placed, we are positioned by the Lord, just where He can use us to make a difference in the lives of others. He has made us royal priests in Him and we are of the Kingdom of God. There is no other royalty more wonderful than the one we are in. Live this day as if our Lord Jesus was coming today. Do not let any opportunity slip by to be used by our God. We are His chosen, we are here to do His will, we are here to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
My precious Lord, this 18th day of September, 2011, I ask that You use me this day. When the night passes, I will ask once again to be used in anyway You want to use me, to do so. It is my honor to serve You, my King. I lay down my life to serve You. I want to make a difference in the place You have put me. I want to be Your Light in a place of darkness, I want to bring You into the lives of all You send me to. You are my Lord and with You, I am living in this day.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
TRUE RESTORATION
Lamentations 5:21 "Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old."
Do you ever stop to think of where you might be save the grace of Jesus. If not for His sacrifice, His life to redeem ours, His death for our birth? I don't like to think of these things but I feel the Holy Spirit brings these things to mind; not wanting to condemn us, but to draw from our lips, from our hearts, true thanksgiving and worship to our Lord. To bring to mind where we were, what condition our souls were in and how that one word, "Jesus", that one word said with true repentance changed everything in us.
I remember not being able to pray, not being able to think past how horrible I was, what a pit I was in, feeling so unloved, and how could the Lord possible forgive the things I had done. The enemy had done quite a work on me, my mind being so compressed into pity for myself, into shame, into complete wonder of how I could have let myself drift from God Almighty, Whom I had loved as a child, Who I knew as a child loved me, and yet I had gone from Him, left that enclosure of His precious love and grace; and there I was, at the bottom of what was my life. But with that one word, the only word I could say through my shame, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus". That precious Name rose from my heart and made utterance into the open air and He came. My God swept down and lifted me up, took me from the bottom of a bottomless pit and lifted me high above my situation; high above my problems, and so much higher than my expectations. In Psalm 81:7 the Word says "In your distress you called and I rescued you". My Lord God was waiting for my call, for my cry for His help. He did not make me wait, He did not make me suffer needlessly. See, my Father knew I had already suffered far more than I should have, suffered far more than He ever wanted me to; but I had a free will and He let me do what I willed. I know today that my Father suffered with me each step I took that was not in Him; He so wanted me to stay with Him, to be protected, to be honored, but I, in rebellion from circumstances in my life, walked my own path. How foolish I was, what needless pain I bore, what precious time I wasted. I will now and always, forever, just to be with You, my Lord.
My Lord, my God, has forgiven me. If I asked again for His forgiveness for those things, He would not know what I was talking about, as it is far from His memory. What He sees when He looks at me is my righteousness through my Jesus, His Beloved Son. Psalm 84, verse 10 has such special meaning to me as I have told my Father that "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked". But that is not the plan of my Lord. No, when He restores, He restores completely to Himself. There are not steps you have to take; there is no degree of goodness you have to achieve before complete restoration takes place, it is instant. You ask forgiveness, He gives it and You are restored to Him completely. Doorkeeper? "No", my Father said, "You will not be a doorkeeper, you are my child whom I love passionately, and you will sit at My side, in the inner circle of My throne room, you will dine at My table of plenty and be blessed all the days of your life".
This is my Father's desire for His children. He does not want us to be on the outside of where He is, He wants us close to Him, to share in His glory, to receive all the blessings of Heaven. My Lord God wants to have such a personal relationship with His children, up close and personal. All that my Lord desires is to be loved by His children. You don't have to do anythng other than love Him and in truly loving Him with all your heart, you will be loving your neighbors as well. True love for the Father can only lead to love for all those around you. There will be no malice or hatred in your heart when there is true love for the Lord there. If you have hate, envy, strife for your neighbor and you say you love the Lord.....well, check your dipstick as it will not show true spiritual oil there, it will be watered down love for the Lord. It just cannot be true love for the Lord with those other things in your heart. True restoration, real repentance, fellowship with our Lord gives nothing but love for others in your hearts. Only the truth here.
My Lord, my God, how I love You. I love those around me Lord, I love them. I am totally surprised at the joy that comes from me when I look at Your children. Even when they mistreat me, I can only just want to pray that they find You, find Your peace and joy. I know when they are ugly to me that the only difference between them and me is You. You have made all the difference in my life, in my heart. You are everything to me, my Father, everything. This 17th day of September, 2010, I am blessed, I am so blessed as the true restoration my Lord God has been given to me, and I will dwell in the house of my God forever.
Do you ever stop to think of where you might be save the grace of Jesus. If not for His sacrifice, His life to redeem ours, His death for our birth? I don't like to think of these things but I feel the Holy Spirit brings these things to mind; not wanting to condemn us, but to draw from our lips, from our hearts, true thanksgiving and worship to our Lord. To bring to mind where we were, what condition our souls were in and how that one word, "Jesus", that one word said with true repentance changed everything in us.
I remember not being able to pray, not being able to think past how horrible I was, what a pit I was in, feeling so unloved, and how could the Lord possible forgive the things I had done. The enemy had done quite a work on me, my mind being so compressed into pity for myself, into shame, into complete wonder of how I could have let myself drift from God Almighty, Whom I had loved as a child, Who I knew as a child loved me, and yet I had gone from Him, left that enclosure of His precious love and grace; and there I was, at the bottom of what was my life. But with that one word, the only word I could say through my shame, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus". That precious Name rose from my heart and made utterance into the open air and He came. My God swept down and lifted me up, took me from the bottom of a bottomless pit and lifted me high above my situation; high above my problems, and so much higher than my expectations. In Psalm 81:7 the Word says "In your distress you called and I rescued you". My Lord God was waiting for my call, for my cry for His help. He did not make me wait, He did not make me suffer needlessly. See, my Father knew I had already suffered far more than I should have, suffered far more than He ever wanted me to; but I had a free will and He let me do what I willed. I know today that my Father suffered with me each step I took that was not in Him; He so wanted me to stay with Him, to be protected, to be honored, but I, in rebellion from circumstances in my life, walked my own path. How foolish I was, what needless pain I bore, what precious time I wasted. I will now and always, forever, just to be with You, my Lord.
My Lord, my God, has forgiven me. If I asked again for His forgiveness for those things, He would not know what I was talking about, as it is far from His memory. What He sees when He looks at me is my righteousness through my Jesus, His Beloved Son. Psalm 84, verse 10 has such special meaning to me as I have told my Father that "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked". But that is not the plan of my Lord. No, when He restores, He restores completely to Himself. There are not steps you have to take; there is no degree of goodness you have to achieve before complete restoration takes place, it is instant. You ask forgiveness, He gives it and You are restored to Him completely. Doorkeeper? "No", my Father said, "You will not be a doorkeeper, you are my child whom I love passionately, and you will sit at My side, in the inner circle of My throne room, you will dine at My table of plenty and be blessed all the days of your life".
This is my Father's desire for His children. He does not want us to be on the outside of where He is, He wants us close to Him, to share in His glory, to receive all the blessings of Heaven. My Lord God wants to have such a personal relationship with His children, up close and personal. All that my Lord desires is to be loved by His children. You don't have to do anythng other than love Him and in truly loving Him with all your heart, you will be loving your neighbors as well. True love for the Father can only lead to love for all those around you. There will be no malice or hatred in your heart when there is true love for the Lord there. If you have hate, envy, strife for your neighbor and you say you love the Lord.....well, check your dipstick as it will not show true spiritual oil there, it will be watered down love for the Lord. It just cannot be true love for the Lord with those other things in your heart. True restoration, real repentance, fellowship with our Lord gives nothing but love for others in your hearts. Only the truth here.
My Lord, my God, how I love You. I love those around me Lord, I love them. I am totally surprised at the joy that comes from me when I look at Your children. Even when they mistreat me, I can only just want to pray that they find You, find Your peace and joy. I know when they are ugly to me that the only difference between them and me is You. You have made all the difference in my life, in my heart. You are everything to me, my Father, everything. This 17th day of September, 2010, I am blessed, I am so blessed as the true restoration my Lord God has been given to me, and I will dwell in the house of my God forever.
Friday, September 16, 2011
AND THEN IT RAINED
Isaiah 41:1 "So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God."
What wonder and joy water from the sky produces. I saw the rain coming down as I was working this evening. Thought for a minute that I would have wished it could have waited till I had gone home, but we so need the rain, I really couldn't complain. When I left work, it was raining harder and I was getting on the interstate. The clouds were so low, it seemed like they were sitting on the interstate with rain inside them. And of course, there was a lot of traffic.
For an instant, Lord, there came that old anxiety, the one that would park me on the side of the road until it stopped raining. And of course, along came that crafty devil warning me that I must be specially careful, for you know how people drive when it rains; suggesting to me that perhaps I should not go the interstate home, perhaps I should take the back road. I guess I listened to this for a couple of miles until if I were going to go the back road, I needed to get over, and so I moved into the outside lane. Then......then, I remembered, I did not have to fear any longer about the traffic. I had left all that behind me, I did not have to let it rise up in me, let that fear and anxiety cause me to question who I was in You again. I know without any doubt I am Your child, I am Your beloved child and I do not have to fear anything. That devil is so good at this, causing dismay, trying to get me to look away from You. But no more, I keep telling him, no more. I will keep my eyes on my Lord, I will look not to the left or the right, but straight ahead where Your Light shines bright so I can see the path, straight ahead where my Help comes from.
I stayed on the interstate, all the way to my turnoff as I usually go in the evenings to come home. I just did my part to be safe, lowered my speed as did so many other drivers and kept right on coming home the way that is normal for me. I kept my faith, I know I can trust You, my Lord. You have proved that to me so many times, and this day was no different. This is what it is, to be loved so by You, Lord, that no matter what seems to be, what the enemy will tell me, it is only what You tell me it is; what You lead me to do or not to do. Trust and obey. Complete faith that You will keep me in any situation, that I am safe in You always. And should something I don't expect happen, You will be there with me also, taking me through it too.
I love You, my Lord, there is none I love more than You. You are my life, my everything. I don't know how to thank You, this peace You have given me over my life, in my entire being, that I can just lean into You and know You have me covered with grace, grace that abounds more and more each day. Such grace, such mercy, such love; all from the Lord that is my Rock, my Salvation, my Love.
This 16th day of September, 2011, I thank You, Lord, for the rain, for the much needed rain. And my Father, I thank You that once again, You have shown me that through whatever storm life might bring to me, You are there with me in the midst of it, You are there holding me with Your peace, Your joy and Your beautiful love.
What wonder and joy water from the sky produces. I saw the rain coming down as I was working this evening. Thought for a minute that I would have wished it could have waited till I had gone home, but we so need the rain, I really couldn't complain. When I left work, it was raining harder and I was getting on the interstate. The clouds were so low, it seemed like they were sitting on the interstate with rain inside them. And of course, there was a lot of traffic.
For an instant, Lord, there came that old anxiety, the one that would park me on the side of the road until it stopped raining. And of course, along came that crafty devil warning me that I must be specially careful, for you know how people drive when it rains; suggesting to me that perhaps I should not go the interstate home, perhaps I should take the back road. I guess I listened to this for a couple of miles until if I were going to go the back road, I needed to get over, and so I moved into the outside lane. Then......then, I remembered, I did not have to fear any longer about the traffic. I had left all that behind me, I did not have to let it rise up in me, let that fear and anxiety cause me to question who I was in You again. I know without any doubt I am Your child, I am Your beloved child and I do not have to fear anything. That devil is so good at this, causing dismay, trying to get me to look away from You. But no more, I keep telling him, no more. I will keep my eyes on my Lord, I will look not to the left or the right, but straight ahead where Your Light shines bright so I can see the path, straight ahead where my Help comes from.
I stayed on the interstate, all the way to my turnoff as I usually go in the evenings to come home. I just did my part to be safe, lowered my speed as did so many other drivers and kept right on coming home the way that is normal for me. I kept my faith, I know I can trust You, my Lord. You have proved that to me so many times, and this day was no different. This is what it is, to be loved so by You, Lord, that no matter what seems to be, what the enemy will tell me, it is only what You tell me it is; what You lead me to do or not to do. Trust and obey. Complete faith that You will keep me in any situation, that I am safe in You always. And should something I don't expect happen, You will be there with me also, taking me through it too.
I love You, my Lord, there is none I love more than You. You are my life, my everything. I don't know how to thank You, this peace You have given me over my life, in my entire being, that I can just lean into You and know You have me covered with grace, grace that abounds more and more each day. Such grace, such mercy, such love; all from the Lord that is my Rock, my Salvation, my Love.
This 16th day of September, 2011, I thank You, Lord, for the rain, for the much needed rain. And my Father, I thank You that once again, You have shown me that through whatever storm life might bring to me, You are there with me in the midst of it, You are there holding me with Your peace, Your joy and Your beautiful love.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS
Psalm 27:13 "I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
As I lay awake early this morning, Lord, my mind and heart on You, whispering praise and love to You, the Holy Spirit reminded me of some important things I had forgotten at work yesterday. Wow! My first thoughts.... dread at forgetting, berating myself for not remembering something so important, how could I have possibly forgotten something I do everyday. What a dummy I was, how could I do this? And then, You, my beautiful Lord, You began to wash Your peace over me once again. Not the end of the world, it was not the first time this had happened, perhaps not with me, but with many others. Showing me, the times I thought it was so bad when someone else did not do it, well, it can happen to me also. No one is perfect, save You, my Lord. I can take care of it first thing this morning, get it done, not as good as doing it yesterday, but all is not loss.
Once again, my Lord, You have put things into their proper perspective, their proper order with me. While these things are important, they do not have the urgency that the Kingdom of God has. The true urgency of this life is drawing others to You, Lord. My sweet Lord, life begins with You. When You are made the focus of one's life, as mine is, then true life begins. As we walk through this world, birth, childhood where we first learn to trust, usually our parents, this world has what we think, is our life in it's hands. The world shapes us, things that happen either grow us strong or shatter us, depending on the strength we believe we have in ourselves. Beauty, riches, popularity, all these things that are taught to us by society to be what shapes our lives, what makes us who we are. So many are truly fooled by these perceptions of those in our world. I, was also, once fooled.
My Lord, You, and only You, are truly the Creator. My life, a disaster looking for a place to happen, when You, stepped in and took me off the merry-go-round of a life that was going nowhere. You showed me the reality of life, the main focus of what my life should be, the true living of my life should be.....YOU. When I began to truly know what trust was, where I could put my trust and it would never be lost, in You,, my King, where I would never be disappointed, then life began for me. When all the talk of economics of our nation begans to put fear in people, You are still showing me that I can trust You for everything. Nothing that goes on in my life or on this earth and beyond happens without Your knowledge, without Your hand. You alone have the power to overcome all evil, all attempts of the enemy, all disaster. I believe that things are allowed to strengthen me, strengthen all that call You Lord. You will never forsake me or Your children as we look to You. If all fails around me, I will not be devastated as I have my foundation in You, and You are not going to leave me.
When all else fails, when the systems of this world are no longer in place, I have You. My day begins with You, it ends with You. You are my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night. My constant companion, You never leave me during the day. I have learned to worship You in my entire being in a room full of people. I sing songs of love and praise to You while actually conducting my work. My spirit crys aloud to You with adoration, with words of love, calling to You in the deep of the night as I rest, nothing in me ceases to draw near to You, whether I am awake or asleep. You have become everything to me, my every breath is You. I don't ever want to live the way I did before Lord, as that was not life, not true living as I have found in You.
My Lord, my Savior, my dearest Friend, my life is in You. My hope is in You, my strength is in You. Thank You, my Lord, for this everyday mercy that was new again this morning. Your grace that abounds to me each time I whisper Your Name, Jesus, each breath I take, grace abounds to me. Thank You for loving me with a love that I know will never end; for Your faithfulness that has shown me I can trust You with my entire life, all that concerns me, You will never fail me. Thank You for Your presence, which I love and desire to always dwell in. I love You with a love that has consumed me, my Lord. You are my life, my world and I love You so.
This 15th day of September, 2011, I know that if all else fails, once thing I know for sure, You are still Lord of lords, King of kings, my Savior, and the One that calls me His own, His beloved.
As I lay awake early this morning, Lord, my mind and heart on You, whispering praise and love to You, the Holy Spirit reminded me of some important things I had forgotten at work yesterday. Wow! My first thoughts.... dread at forgetting, berating myself for not remembering something so important, how could I have possibly forgotten something I do everyday. What a dummy I was, how could I do this? And then, You, my beautiful Lord, You began to wash Your peace over me once again. Not the end of the world, it was not the first time this had happened, perhaps not with me, but with many others. Showing me, the times I thought it was so bad when someone else did not do it, well, it can happen to me also. No one is perfect, save You, my Lord. I can take care of it first thing this morning, get it done, not as good as doing it yesterday, but all is not loss.
Once again, my Lord, You have put things into their proper perspective, their proper order with me. While these things are important, they do not have the urgency that the Kingdom of God has. The true urgency of this life is drawing others to You, Lord. My sweet Lord, life begins with You. When You are made the focus of one's life, as mine is, then true life begins. As we walk through this world, birth, childhood where we first learn to trust, usually our parents, this world has what we think, is our life in it's hands. The world shapes us, things that happen either grow us strong or shatter us, depending on the strength we believe we have in ourselves. Beauty, riches, popularity, all these things that are taught to us by society to be what shapes our lives, what makes us who we are. So many are truly fooled by these perceptions of those in our world. I, was also, once fooled.
My Lord, You, and only You, are truly the Creator. My life, a disaster looking for a place to happen, when You, stepped in and took me off the merry-go-round of a life that was going nowhere. You showed me the reality of life, the main focus of what my life should be, the true living of my life should be.....YOU. When I began to truly know what trust was, where I could put my trust and it would never be lost, in You,, my King, where I would never be disappointed, then life began for me. When all the talk of economics of our nation begans to put fear in people, You are still showing me that I can trust You for everything. Nothing that goes on in my life or on this earth and beyond happens without Your knowledge, without Your hand. You alone have the power to overcome all evil, all attempts of the enemy, all disaster. I believe that things are allowed to strengthen me, strengthen all that call You Lord. You will never forsake me or Your children as we look to You. If all fails around me, I will not be devastated as I have my foundation in You, and You are not going to leave me.
When all else fails, when the systems of this world are no longer in place, I have You. My day begins with You, it ends with You. You are my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night. My constant companion, You never leave me during the day. I have learned to worship You in my entire being in a room full of people. I sing songs of love and praise to You while actually conducting my work. My spirit crys aloud to You with adoration, with words of love, calling to You in the deep of the night as I rest, nothing in me ceases to draw near to You, whether I am awake or asleep. You have become everything to me, my every breath is You. I don't ever want to live the way I did before Lord, as that was not life, not true living as I have found in You.
My Lord, my Savior, my dearest Friend, my life is in You. My hope is in You, my strength is in You. Thank You, my Lord, for this everyday mercy that was new again this morning. Your grace that abounds to me each time I whisper Your Name, Jesus, each breath I take, grace abounds to me. Thank You for loving me with a love that I know will never end; for Your faithfulness that has shown me I can trust You with my entire life, all that concerns me, You will never fail me. Thank You for Your presence, which I love and desire to always dwell in. I love You with a love that has consumed me, my Lord. You are my life, my world and I love You so.
This 15th day of September, 2011, I know that if all else fails, once thing I know for sure, You are still Lord of lords, King of kings, my Savior, and the One that calls me His own, His beloved.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
HIS LIFE CONTINUES
2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you....unless, of course, you fail the test."
I was not the smartest kid in school. I also wasn't the least smart kid, just not the smartest. Not from any lack of brain power, as I had a lot of common sense (yes, there were times that that was questionable also) but I was smart. I was just lazy. I did not have my mind on school, did not like to do homework and just did not do my best. I have regretted that on numerous occasions, but that, also, cannot be gotten back. So I failed a number of tests in school. I also failed a number of life tests also, and those, too, cannot be redone. At this time in my life, and what the Lord has brought me through, these things do not have to be redone. I know now, at this time, it is the Lord that brings me through each day, not what I know, but that I know Him. I am saying all this to get to this important point.
I refuse to fail the most important test I may ever have to take. I refuse to come short when it comes to faith in my Lord. I believe in Jesus. I believe in the Work of the Cross. I believe my Lord died on that cross, was buried and rose again three days later, just as it was prophesied before He was born by the prophets of God. I believe, no I know, that no matter what comes across my path, my Father is more than able to take care of it; not only able, but willing and wanting to take care of it. My Lord is for me, not against me. He is my Rock, my Shield, my Salvation. He will see to it that I am in perfect health, as I believe His Word that says He took the stripes on His back for my healing, for my sicknesses. I will not confess to getting sick, you will not hear me say "I think I am catching a cold" or "I must be coming down with something, I feel terrible". No, I won't be saying those things. Do you know how many Christians I hear let those cursing words come out of their mouths. Listen to what you are saying friends, do not call sickness upon yourself or your family. Jesus did not die in vain, He died to take those things from us. I will admit there are times when I do feel bad, but I will not let satan glorify himself hearing me say those things out loud. He will wait a long time to hear me glorify him. Instead he will hear me say, My Lord is God over my body, He is ruler over my heart, He is the Joy of my spirit, He is my Peace, He is my everlasting Love.
The testing is going to come when people wait to see me if I fail the test of who I am. It is not necessary for me to remember who I was, what I had wanted to be or where I thought I would be at this age. It is only important that I remember Who lives in me. It is important that I remember who I am in Jesus, and Who lives in me. Jesus lives in me. When I surrendered my entire will to Him, then He began to live in me to the fullest extent. He directs my comings and my goings. He brings forth the words from my mouth. He alone gives me the words to encourage and lift up those that He brings to me, people that so need Him, but are so down trodden they do not think He would take them back. So part of my function for my Lord, is to encourage, to tell them of my Jesus and His great love for them; to tell of His forgiveness, of His mercy and His peace. Then, when they begin to see beyond me, and into my heart that shows Jesus alone, and they see Him coming through the words that come from me, they will give their hearts to the Lord God Almighty.
He lives in me. Remember the beautiful hymn, "You ask me how I know He lives...He lives within my heart". How true these words are. He lives in me. "No, never alone, no, never alone, He walks with me and talks with me". So many of the precious songs, written by people just like you and me, written through and after such battles, seeing what God can do and what He did do in their lives. Not always the way they had wanted, but always bringing them through whatever battle they were in. Living in the redeemed, Jesus stays close to those who give all to Him, who ask Him into their hearts to stay, loving Him so much.
My Lord, my Jesus, how I love You. I can do nothing without You as I have learned to lean on You, I depend upon You for my every breath. I can breath on my own but it is only a shallow life I would live without You, my Lord. You in me, makes every breath I take, life victoriously lived. This 14th day of September, 2011, I am pushing past all the old, I am rushing to take each test You give me, so I may continue the course, the race to the wonderful finish. As I live in You my Lord, thank You for living in me, thank You for continuing Your life in me, for loving me so much that You would dwell with me in this earthen vessel, devoted to You alone.
I was not the smartest kid in school. I also wasn't the least smart kid, just not the smartest. Not from any lack of brain power, as I had a lot of common sense (yes, there were times that that was questionable also) but I was smart. I was just lazy. I did not have my mind on school, did not like to do homework and just did not do my best. I have regretted that on numerous occasions, but that, also, cannot be gotten back. So I failed a number of tests in school. I also failed a number of life tests also, and those, too, cannot be redone. At this time in my life, and what the Lord has brought me through, these things do not have to be redone. I know now, at this time, it is the Lord that brings me through each day, not what I know, but that I know Him. I am saying all this to get to this important point.
I refuse to fail the most important test I may ever have to take. I refuse to come short when it comes to faith in my Lord. I believe in Jesus. I believe in the Work of the Cross. I believe my Lord died on that cross, was buried and rose again three days later, just as it was prophesied before He was born by the prophets of God. I believe, no I know, that no matter what comes across my path, my Father is more than able to take care of it; not only able, but willing and wanting to take care of it. My Lord is for me, not against me. He is my Rock, my Shield, my Salvation. He will see to it that I am in perfect health, as I believe His Word that says He took the stripes on His back for my healing, for my sicknesses. I will not confess to getting sick, you will not hear me say "I think I am catching a cold" or "I must be coming down with something, I feel terrible". No, I won't be saying those things. Do you know how many Christians I hear let those cursing words come out of their mouths. Listen to what you are saying friends, do not call sickness upon yourself or your family. Jesus did not die in vain, He died to take those things from us. I will admit there are times when I do feel bad, but I will not let satan glorify himself hearing me say those things out loud. He will wait a long time to hear me glorify him. Instead he will hear me say, My Lord is God over my body, He is ruler over my heart, He is the Joy of my spirit, He is my Peace, He is my everlasting Love.
The testing is going to come when people wait to see me if I fail the test of who I am. It is not necessary for me to remember who I was, what I had wanted to be or where I thought I would be at this age. It is only important that I remember Who lives in me. It is important that I remember who I am in Jesus, and Who lives in me. Jesus lives in me. When I surrendered my entire will to Him, then He began to live in me to the fullest extent. He directs my comings and my goings. He brings forth the words from my mouth. He alone gives me the words to encourage and lift up those that He brings to me, people that so need Him, but are so down trodden they do not think He would take them back. So part of my function for my Lord, is to encourage, to tell them of my Jesus and His great love for them; to tell of His forgiveness, of His mercy and His peace. Then, when they begin to see beyond me, and into my heart that shows Jesus alone, and they see Him coming through the words that come from me, they will give their hearts to the Lord God Almighty.
He lives in me. Remember the beautiful hymn, "You ask me how I know He lives...He lives within my heart". How true these words are. He lives in me. "No, never alone, no, never alone, He walks with me and talks with me". So many of the precious songs, written by people just like you and me, written through and after such battles, seeing what God can do and what He did do in their lives. Not always the way they had wanted, but always bringing them through whatever battle they were in. Living in the redeemed, Jesus stays close to those who give all to Him, who ask Him into their hearts to stay, loving Him so much.
My Lord, my Jesus, how I love You. I can do nothing without You as I have learned to lean on You, I depend upon You for my every breath. I can breath on my own but it is only a shallow life I would live without You, my Lord. You in me, makes every breath I take, life victoriously lived. This 14th day of September, 2011, I am pushing past all the old, I am rushing to take each test You give me, so I may continue the course, the race to the wonderful finish. As I live in You my Lord, thank You for living in me, thank You for continuing Your life in me, for loving me so much that You would dwell with me in this earthen vessel, devoted to You alone.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
JESUS TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE
John 2:5 "His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
The very first miracle ever, before, I believe Jesus was ready to show His power, His strength, was done at the bidding of His mother. I think that this was an example of respecting your parents, as He could have refused her, but He saw her faith in Him, He saw that she knew He had the power to change this situation and she looked to Him to satisfy the need. This miracle, so beautiful in itself, was only a prelude of what was to come. All the miracles of Jesus, from this wine to raising the dead, so miraculous, was only a taste of what would happen. The greatest miracle I believe was when my Lord and Savior went to that cross, endured such suffering and yet, still, walked up that hill to Calvary and was crucified in my place. That to me, that love, that beautiful love, to me is the greatest miracle of all.
Jesus turned the water into wine. I was driving home, listening to a beautiful song, "You do miracles so great...", and I began to think about the miracles that Jesus performed while He walked the earth. The Holy Spirit spoke to me, "Jesus turned the water into wine", and then He began to pour into my spirit the following:
The water, that beautiful flow of Living Water that was poured into my life when my Lord redeemed me, when He forgave my sins and took me from that pit of destruction I was in and gave me resurrection hope in Him. That healing Water flowed throughout my body, going into each and every door, pushing open those doors that had been sealed shut with shame, pride, horror of looking inside again, the Living Water went into each and every place and healed all the hurt, all the shame, all the fear that wasa trapped inside. Nothing was left inside me that was not washed first with the forgiving blood of the Lamb, and then rinsed with the Living Water of my Lord. Restoring me, giving me new life, a new heart that now had hope, and so much trust in my Savior, my precious Savior that gave so much for me, to bring me back to Him.
And then, after the Water had done it's work in me, letting the old man in me die, and bring forth the new, then He began another miracle. And it even greater than the last. My old self, dying like dead skin on my body, shedding off, never to return, just falling away from me; those old habits, old thoughts, old fears, all gone now; nothing left of them. Then now, at this time, I have a new body, a new wineskin in which to dwell with the Holy Spirit, my Lord's gift to me. A new heart, my spirit now new in the Lord, joined with His spirit to bring joy to my soul each day, all new. The Holy Spirit then told me that the Lord once again has turned the water into wine. The Living Water has now been turned into His Living Wine, a rich, bold wine from the Fruit of His Spirit giving me that Fruit, to enbrace my life, to bring glory to His life. The Fruit that is all the goodness of the Lord, all the characteristics of my Jesus being poured into me, into my new wineskin that He made possible, that Jesus made just for me. New Wine, His Wine, poured out fresh each day as I let His Wine flow through me to all those around me, sharing that Wine with love, mercy and grace that only abounds in me from the Lord. I am nothing on my own, it is that Wine flowing through me, the flow of my Lord in me that gives me the new life I have.
Miracles, the miracles of Jesus, some people only think of the in terms of illnesses, death situations, keeping accidents from happening, and they are, these are beautiful and precious miracles of my Lord. But you need to look deeper and see the most miraculous miracles of all....what He has done in me, what He has done in you, and what He continues to do in us each and everyday.
This miracle, my Lord, that You did in me, I am lost for words to tell You how much I love You, how much I thank You for loving me so much, Your sacrifice for me, such a miracle to me. And then love, forgiveness, favor.....miracles, all. But now the new wine flowing through me, bringing with it the fruit of Your Spirit, turning the water into wine in my new wineskin, given wholly to You for Your use, to bless You and to bring You glory. This 13th day of September, 2011, I am flowing in the spirit, my spirit that flows up and joins the Spirit of my Jesus as He continues to turn the water into wine.....turning me into His vessel....satisfying my every need as I yield to His need.
The very first miracle ever, before, I believe Jesus was ready to show His power, His strength, was done at the bidding of His mother. I think that this was an example of respecting your parents, as He could have refused her, but He saw her faith in Him, He saw that she knew He had the power to change this situation and she looked to Him to satisfy the need. This miracle, so beautiful in itself, was only a prelude of what was to come. All the miracles of Jesus, from this wine to raising the dead, so miraculous, was only a taste of what would happen. The greatest miracle I believe was when my Lord and Savior went to that cross, endured such suffering and yet, still, walked up that hill to Calvary and was crucified in my place. That to me, that love, that beautiful love, to me is the greatest miracle of all.
Jesus turned the water into wine. I was driving home, listening to a beautiful song, "You do miracles so great...", and I began to think about the miracles that Jesus performed while He walked the earth. The Holy Spirit spoke to me, "Jesus turned the water into wine", and then He began to pour into my spirit the following:
The water, that beautiful flow of Living Water that was poured into my life when my Lord redeemed me, when He forgave my sins and took me from that pit of destruction I was in and gave me resurrection hope in Him. That healing Water flowed throughout my body, going into each and every door, pushing open those doors that had been sealed shut with shame, pride, horror of looking inside again, the Living Water went into each and every place and healed all the hurt, all the shame, all the fear that wasa trapped inside. Nothing was left inside me that was not washed first with the forgiving blood of the Lamb, and then rinsed with the Living Water of my Lord. Restoring me, giving me new life, a new heart that now had hope, and so much trust in my Savior, my precious Savior that gave so much for me, to bring me back to Him.
And then, after the Water had done it's work in me, letting the old man in me die, and bring forth the new, then He began another miracle. And it even greater than the last. My old self, dying like dead skin on my body, shedding off, never to return, just falling away from me; those old habits, old thoughts, old fears, all gone now; nothing left of them. Then now, at this time, I have a new body, a new wineskin in which to dwell with the Holy Spirit, my Lord's gift to me. A new heart, my spirit now new in the Lord, joined with His spirit to bring joy to my soul each day, all new. The Holy Spirit then told me that the Lord once again has turned the water into wine. The Living Water has now been turned into His Living Wine, a rich, bold wine from the Fruit of His Spirit giving me that Fruit, to enbrace my life, to bring glory to His life. The Fruit that is all the goodness of the Lord, all the characteristics of my Jesus being poured into me, into my new wineskin that He made possible, that Jesus made just for me. New Wine, His Wine, poured out fresh each day as I let His Wine flow through me to all those around me, sharing that Wine with love, mercy and grace that only abounds in me from the Lord. I am nothing on my own, it is that Wine flowing through me, the flow of my Lord in me that gives me the new life I have.
Miracles, the miracles of Jesus, some people only think of the in terms of illnesses, death situations, keeping accidents from happening, and they are, these are beautiful and precious miracles of my Lord. But you need to look deeper and see the most miraculous miracles of all....what He has done in me, what He has done in you, and what He continues to do in us each and everyday.
This miracle, my Lord, that You did in me, I am lost for words to tell You how much I love You, how much I thank You for loving me so much, Your sacrifice for me, such a miracle to me. And then love, forgiveness, favor.....miracles, all. But now the new wine flowing through me, bringing with it the fruit of Your Spirit, turning the water into wine in my new wineskin, given wholly to You for Your use, to bless You and to bring You glory. This 13th day of September, 2011, I am flowing in the spirit, my spirit that flows up and joins the Spirit of my Jesus as He continues to turn the water into wine.....turning me into His vessel....satisfying my every need as I yield to His need.
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