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Saturday, December 1, 2012

Consecration Part 2

Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.  
I will not do anything that will master me.” 1 Corinthians 6:12  

       Lord, is there something that is mastering me?  Is there something in my life that You are not ruling (and that I am not even ruling, but it is ruling me)?

     As we ask God to show us areas where He would have us make changes to be set apart unto Him, the answers will probably look a little different.  Therefore as we implement changes that He may bring to our hearts, we will most likely run the risk of being looked upon as being self-righteous, as sheltering our kids, or even being maligned (see Matt. 10:25)

Or we may run the risk of looking at others’ lives and what He allows them to do or not do and let the lines get blurry for our own lives.

      Let us, each one, entrust ourselves to Him, for His guidance and not look to others.  John 21:21-22  “So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, ‘Lord what about this man?’  Jesus said to him, ‘If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me!'

Let us, each one, follow Him.
Let us, each one, consecrate ourselves.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”             2 Thessalonians 5:23,24

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Consecration

     "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one (out of the power of evil).  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth."  John 17:14-19
  
        Both the words consecrate (or sanctify) in the Old Testament (Qadash) and sanctify in the New Testament (hagiazo) mean 'to place in a relation to God answering to His holiness'.  Neither word means merely “to set apart", but “to set apart for God

       As you read through the Old Testament, God is forever telling His people to come out from among, to separate themselves, for the purpose of not being pulled into their evil practices.

       What if we all asked God:
What would You call me to separate myself from in this life that I am living? 
How would You have me make a strong stand for those in my sphere of influence (for instance, my kids, friends, small group, Bible study group, those I mentor, etc.) to be consecrated unto You and Your purposes for their lives?

Where would He say that I am of the world and not just in it?

Where would He say that I see sin and look upon it and my heart does not break like my Father’s heart breaks? 


If the instruction was given today to "...put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midstEzekiel 9:4, would I get a mark?

Where are my thoughts or actions contrary to the Word of God and my heart does not grieve?

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
                        Try me and know my anxious thoughts, 
And see if there be any hurtful way in me 
And lead me in the everlasting way.” .....
Psalm 139:23,24

....to be set apart for You answering to Your holiness. 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Set a Guard, O Lord, Over My Mouth


 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
   Keep watch over the door of my lips.
       Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,....” 
Psalm 141:3,4b             
          
              What a difference it is to ask the Lord to keep watch over the door of our lips, rather than to just be determined within ourselves to set a guard over our mouth.  How many times have we resolved, in our own strength, and failed to live by Ephesian 4:29, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear”?  

                Imagine if we truly invited our Lord to set a guard and to personally keep watch over the door of our lips and then truly believed that He answered that invitation. 

What would we then be convicted of and not be so comfortable with? 

What do we indulge our flesh with that we could not so easily do if we invited the conviction of the Holy Spirit… to guard and keep watch over what comes out of our lips AND what goes in? 

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”                                                                                        1 Corinthians 10:31 
             all to the glory of God
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing”                   
all…and…any   

         Lord, we ask that You set a guard and keep watch and fill us with the real knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we will walk in a manner worthy of You, to please you in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power, according to Your glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to You, Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light,Col. 1:19-12 giving glory to You in all that we do. 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Move Forward


“Oh Lord, You are my God;
I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name;
For You have worked wonders,
Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.” Isaiah 25:1


Plans formed long ago, with My perfect faithfulness.
I AM.
May My name be exalted above all things of earth and heaven.
I AM God – alone.
And I will not give My glory to another.
Worked wonders………….plans formed long ago…………with perfect faithfulness.


Bow the knee to Me and to Me alone.
Do not bow (in weeping and fear) to the circumstances surrounding you.
Do not bow (in discouragement and fear) to the people around you.
Do not bow to fear.
I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and sound judgment.
Work out what has been entrusted unto you.
And do not bend the knee to any other.
Do not bend.
Do not let your hands fall limp.


Put your hand to the plow and
Move forward.
Face set, 
With a listening ear to hear My voice guiding you
On a mission of love, power, discipline
To give out to those around you.
To do good as you have opportunity.
I have chosen you to stand before Me, to minister to Me, and to be My minister.
Do not be negligent now.  2 Chron. 29:11



You are My witness and My servant whom I have chosen,
 so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.
   Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.
 I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no savior besides Me.
 It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,
so you are My witness, and I am God. 
Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
I act and who can reverse it?Isaiah 43:10-13
I make a way…..Isaiah 43:16

Sunday, November 4, 2012

In the World but Not of It

                     "I have given and delivered to them Your Word (message); and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world - do not belong to the world - [just] as I am not of the world.  I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil [one].  They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them- purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy - by the Truth.  Your Word is Truth."  John 17:14-17 Amplified

        We are to be IN the world but not OF it.  We need Godly walls/boundaries to know the difference between being in the world and impacting it, and crossing that boundary and being of the world and it impacting us- our thought life, actions, attitudes, ideas, and standards.  

       If we are in the world and its influence, and ‘eating of its delicacies’, more than in the Word and its washing, we are bound to be pulled into its practices and thought patterns without even being aware of it.  

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
       Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds of wickedness
with men who do iniquity
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.” 
Psalm 141:3,4

        As a result of not setting up boundaries, are we, as the body of Christ, tainted by the world?  Have you made a covenant with your eyes, to guard you as to what you watch, (Job 31:1) and asked God to put a guard over your mouth, to keep watch over the door of your lips?  

Be cleansed by the Word of Truth.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Do Not Be Ashamed to Proclaim Him

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My word in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."  Mark 8:38

 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, …….For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able ….. 2 Timothy 1:8,9,12 (read 1:8-14)

 If we are not willing to suffer criticism or an awkward moment or conflict as we share the hope that is within us, then we are honestly probably NOT willing to suffer for the gospel as His Word directs us (if we won’t even risk much less).   Have we given into Satan’s lies that we should not offend anyone?  Have we bought into the enemy’s lies of political correctness and what is inappropriate?- lies designed to cut off life and immortality for others around us who need to know Him- who need life!  He IS the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Him.John 14:6

              Oh Lord, we do not want to live this way. We repent of this sin of holding life inside of us and refusing to offer it to those You place in our paths.  We lay this fear at the cross to die, and we  take up Your Spirit, of power and love and discipline.  We shod our feet with the gospel of peace and take up the shield of faith to extinguish all those flaming arrows of the evil one, and we buckle on your truth, take up our sword (Your powerful Word), and pray for those souls You would have us reach.  Make us mighty warriors- make us unafraid- to give life to those in great need- it is You that they LONG for.  

Change us, O Lord, and we will be changed.  Only You can.
(see also Excel Still More: Woe to Me?)

"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.  For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:8-10

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…Romans 1:16

Oh give us Your eternal perspective Lord…                               
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20 (He makes the difference.  See also: Excel Still More: I Will Be With You)

May Paul be our example: "Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.  For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God."  Acts 20:26,27

"...to open eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me."  Acts 26:18

"We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.  For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."  Col. 1:28,29

       May we be bold and ask God to show us who He would have us unashamedly share with even this day. 

"..what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.  This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all."  1 John 1:3-6

Monday, October 8, 2012

My Light WILL Dispel Darkness

 I am God, and there is no other.  So bow to Me alone. 

      Are you bowing to what the world says is right, or what My Word says?  Are you taking your cues from the world, or My Spirit?  Keep your eyes "fixed" on Me -that you will not be swayed by the propaganda1 of this world's system (led by the enemy himself, even posing as an angel of light 2 Cor. 11:14).  Beware and be shrewd (Matt. 10:16) and know truth like the back of your hand -have it always before you -that you may be more familiar with My truth than you are with the deceitfulness of this world.  Stop being led astray by this world system, which is in the enemy's hand1 John 5:19 .  Open your eyes and behold the ways of your God.

      Do you claim Him as your own and yet live in opposition to all He has set forth as truth?

You can either live for Me or against Me.  There is no neutral ground.  PRAY- for strength.

     We need to be built up in FAITH for these days ahead.  Faith in a big God, but also faith in TRUTH- that His truth will prevail.  His truth is true regardless of who chooses to believe it or not.  We cannot go forward believing lies.  We cannot just believe 'peace, peace' with God where there is no peace
(Jer. 6:14,8:11). There is no pretending.  We cannot 'think' that we're okay and be okay.  We must obey, to be okay.

      His heart is clearly spoken and revealed.  Where can we flee from His Spirit?  Nowhere
.  So the only good choice is to embrace truth, even if we are persecuted for it (2 Tim. 3:12), even if it flies in the face of today's view of tolerance and love.  How is it loving to condone sin that God must judge?  (The enemy has duped us by making biblical issues seem like political issues, in order to attempt to gag our mouths).  Take back the ground given over.  Shout, 'Enough!' and 
watch the walls fall down, only to BE rebuilt on firm foundation (the truth of My word spoken). Who will shout!?  Who will go? 

Say yes to the Lord and take your place
-to loosen the chains of those harassed by the enemy,
-to open eyes to SEE the FIGHT- to see the war in the heavenlies,
-to acknowledge that we are at war,
-and to fight for victory.


Take courage.  

John 16:33 "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." 

     The victory is yours, but you must fight for it.  It will not come as you 'rest on your laurels' (to be satisfied with one's past success and to consider further effort unnecessary).  Fight in word and deed and in prayer and fasting.  Loosen the chains and loosen My people to speak forth My word in power and truth.  


     My word is true, and My light WILL dispel darkness!  Darkness CANNOT withstand My light.

       So go light up the world with My love and My power: Christ exalted, high and lifted up, with praise going before you.  You will 
slay them with your presence as you go forth in My anointing.  Darkness cannot hide, and darkness cannot withstand!  It is just the 'natural quality' of light. 

 So be a light unto the world and SHINE for My glory and fame.  Don't hide it. 

 Shout it from the rooftops.

1 definition of propaganda-information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movementinstitution, nation,etc.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Letting Go of Control- Part 3

       You do not realize the seriousness of the opportunity you give the enemy(Eph. 4:27)   as you indulge your own desires and the lust of the flesh. You have given him a 'place' to torment you and keep you stuck; it’s another place that you try to control- it is not submitted to Me.  

          It does not affect My love for you, but it does affect our relationship. Perfect love casts out all fear(1 John 4:18); let Me love you perfectly.  Do not grieve My Holy Spirit. (Eph. 4:30)  Do not keep Me from all that I want to do in your life.  You are essentially choosing 'this' over My blessings, the many gifts that I want to give you.   Will you believe?  You choose to not hear so that you won’t have to decide if it’s real or not and can go right on your way and relax and wait and dream of how you want Me to use you.  

Stop dreaming, and be used.   Let Me have My way and make you a 'fit' vessel. 

      "My yoke is easy"
(comfortable or pleasant) "and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:29)  You are by default choosing the harder way.  "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)  Try Me out and see the consequences of obedience.  Know Me and serve Me with a whole heart and a willing mind; for I search all hearts, and understand every intent of the the thought.  If you seek Me, I will let you find Me.(1 Chronicles 28:9)  Had I "told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when" say............(from 2 Kings 5:13)...  

In listening to the Lord, what instruction will you choose today to radically obey? 

     Wash and be clean- let go of your control and idols- don't forfeit the miracle. 
"Little children, guard yourselves from idols."  1 John 5:21

Friday, September 21, 2012

Letting Go of Control Part 2 (of 3)

       Could your present 'resistance to something God has spoken' be a problem with 'control issues'?  We are all plagued with them, and serving and ‘doing’ for Him are things that we 'feel' we can control.   Would you find, if you honestly contemplated it with a 'search me and know me' attitude of prayer, that there are times when you find it hard to allow Him any control in this relationship?

Hear His quiet whisper, 'Do you trust Me, My child?"

    See this thing that you hold in your right hand (this thing that you think you are in control of, but is actually cutting off your life)-see it for what it is- a lie. (Isaiah 44:20b) And bring it before Him right now.  It may feel comfortable and necessary (and even like where you want to stay), but it is not. It is a lie; it cannot keep you safe.  Allow Him to be your Stronghold.  You cannot control your life and live anywhere near the abundant life that you long to live and that He desires for you to live.  Open your grip and release it -letting go of even GOOD things and 'neutral' things that are okay for everyone else, but just do not work with what He is particularly doing with you, as an individual, at this moment of time.   LET GO OF THE GOOD SO THAT YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO GRAB HOLD OF THE BETTER. 

Ephesians 4:26,27 (Amplified) says... "do not sin"......"Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil- give no opportunity to him." That word, opportunity- topos in the Greek, means place.  "Place.  As occupied or filled by any person or thing, a spot, space, room.  In Luke 14:9, to give place to someone means to make room.  See Rom. 12:19; Eph.4:27." (direct quote from Zodihiates Complete Word Study Dictionary).

      How serious are you?  Do you really want to be free? Are you serious enough to close up the place, that opportunity that you give the enemy of your soul?  No sin is 'small sin'.  And even "...to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17

      So what is it that YOU are working hard at 'controlling' for yourself? What 'quiet', or not so quiet, instruction of God have you been resisting?  If it's a quiet one, you may not even be fully aware of it; you just know that something is 'off' and that you need some Psalm 139:23,24 time before the Lord:

 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way."

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Letting Go of Control Part 1


        Do you find that sometimes it is easier 'to serve God and do for Him' (which is good) than it is to sit at His feet in prayer, to seek His face, and quietly listen to Him (which is better)? 

        Are you afraid of what He might say to you? Has He already given you instructions that you are currently resisting?   Maybe He has asked you to do some hard thing that is outside of your comfort zone, or something that you don't fully understand the reason behind the instruction, so you’ve unconsciously decided that you just won’t listen for awhile- maybe that thing will go away because ‘surely He wasn’t really asking me to do that'.  Or has He asked you to give up something that, until He asked, you never knew meant so much to you?

Oh, that age old question, 'Hath God really said?'  

      There was a leper who didn’t like Elisha’s instructions to be healed.  He was told to go and wash in the river seven times (2 Kings 5).  Naaman was furious because he had different expectations and other rivers were better- could he not wash in them?  He wanted to do it his own way.  The means of being healed weren’t up to par for him so he had a choice, would he go- would he obey? 

       His servant said something very profound “..had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

       Do we not, in a sense, have this same response?  We come to God for help, to hear His instructions, and instead of hearing some 'great thing', we hear, 'Wash and be clean'- 'let go of your control and idols'- and in response, we decide to close our ears and to work harder.

      Did the leper really want to be healed, enough that he would do what he’d rather not do or didn’t understand?  Or would he forfeit the miracle?  Naaman washed "according to the word of the man of God", and "his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.”  And he responded, “Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel…”  

      There is no other god, no idol, no comfort, none of your own ideas of how you want things to go- there is nothing- worth missing all that God is.

 Oh may we not forfeit the miracle.  Choose to believe and obey His instructions.​ You know that it's Him because it won't go away.  Listen to Him, obey, even though you don't understand, and expectantly watch for the consequences of that obedience.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

The Consequences of Our Obedience

      There is not a single 'useless' step of obedience.  No matter how small and insignificant it may seem or how big and impossible, be assured of this: anything that God calls us to do will not be wasted or inconsequential.  

     There are consequences to our obedience.  

We usually only think of this idea in the negative connotation and agree, 'Yes, there are consequences to disobedience'. 


     Yet because He has a plan and a reason for even the simplest of instructions, there WILL be consequences as you obey- consequences for you and probably many others whom you may never even know your life touches.  

Trust Him. 

     No call of His is purposeless, and there is never a WASTED step of obedience!  Never.  Not one little step.

So step out in faith in your big God and allow Him to quiet all of your fears in His mighty love.

     Destroy the speculations (what if this.... or what if that...) and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God (‘well, I know that He’s been faithful before, but what if this time…..’)-  destroy all those lofty FEARS and ‘shakings’ that are raised up against your real knowledge of Who He is and has promised to be, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

     As those FEARS raise themselves up, immerse yourself in His Word.  As you see Him in His Power in His Word, He will get BIGGER in your whole soul, and the fears will HAVE TO submit.  YOU SERVE A VERY BIG GOD!

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.."  2 Corinthians 10:3-5

     What is God purposefully asking you to do today? Not sure? Then ask Him and listen.  Submit to trusting Him and walking that thing out in real life.  Stop just contemplating obedience.  

 Obey.  And watch as the consequences unfold beyond anything you could 'think or imagine'.


"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen." Ephesians 3:20,21

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Would You Dance?


I have come to heal the broken hearted and bind up their wounds.

I am intimately acquainted with all your ways: your joys, your fears, your insecurities, your strengths, and all your weaknesses- and I LOVE YOU!!

I created you. I love you, and I have a special calling on your life. 
 I have prepared good works for you that you should walk in them. 
Would you walk in them, My child?  
 Would you choose to believe in My love and choose to come along? 


“The winter is past, the rain is over and gone”, 
would you put it behind you
 and follow Me?
Would you dance?

Would you let Me lead you into the abundant life that I have especially, uniquely prepared for you?  Yes, you!!

Would you accept this personal invitation to take your seat at the banquet table, to partake of all that is rightfully yours as My child, and to overflow with living water to those around you?  Would you 'shine' to powerfully impact the world around you- with LIFE- “to open their eyes so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me”? (Acts 26:18) 
Yes, you- I want to use you.  And I can.

I want to heal up all the brokenness in you, the hopelessness and all the fear and fill you with hope and peace.
 Rejoice in Me always.  Be anxious for nothing; but by prayer,
 let your request be made known to Me-with thanksgiving. And My peace, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Would you dance?

Sunday, August 19, 2012

As the Bride of Christ Lets Him Lead

 “My beloved responded and said to me,
‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along.
‘For behold, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
‘The flowers have already appeared in the land’
The time has arrived for pruning the vines,
And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.
‘The fig tree has ripened its figs,
And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.
Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along!’”
Song of Songs 2:10-12

 Imagine this scene:

        You enter a seemingly empty but magnificent grand ballroom, but then there He is. There is Jesus, dressed in His best, holding out His hand, awaiting yours, and saying, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along.”

     It’s an invitation just for you. 

     You arise, and your crimson garment immediately turns white as He takes your hand- the hand of His beloved bride.  He secures you in a gentle embrace, and together you begin ‘THE DANCE’. 
      
      He leads in a beautiful dance. All you must do is relax in His loving arms and LET HIM LEAD.  

        With your eyes fixed on Him, all of your invisible defenses, all your sense of failure and shame, and all the subtle sin that has held you in its snare for far too long, just fall to the ground around your feet as if you have just shed old skin.  And you leave it behind as you dance along. 

     It’s a dance of life and love and abundance, and it is all His leading.  Amazed at how easy and effortless it seems because you don’t know how to DO this, you stand in awe of HIM.  What a gentleman!  And when your feet get all blistered and tired, He picks you up and cradles you in His arms and keeps dancing. 


     Oh, to follow His lead through this unpredictable life- to follow Him through the good and through the fiery trials- as "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:12.  Oh, to stay there in His arms of love and power and take refuge there and not run away and head for cover.

“In repentance (returning) and rest you shall be saved,
In quietness and trust is your strength.”
But you were not willing,
And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,”
Therefore you shall flee!
“And we will ride on swift horses,”
Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.”
Isaiah 30:15, 16

     Do not be one who is unwilling.  There is no escaping.  But there is peace in our Savior’s loving arms.  We are a people who want to be DOING something.  Repentance, rest, quietness, and trust just seem a little too simple and not enough.  So we begin to take the lead in the dance and direct the next step and then the next and the next until we look around and find that we’ve stepped off that ballroom floor. Without even realizing it, we have taken ourselves out of the dance, and we long to be back there.  

       He is waiting with outstretched arms, saying, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one and come along!”

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long (wait) for Him.”
Isaiah 30:18

     How He longs to be ENOUGH- 
                              to truly be all you want and need because He IS all you need.

(Spend some time meditating on Psalm 91.  "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!...under His wings you may seek refuge;  His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.")

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Sit with Me


“In repentance and rest is your salvation.”
Rest.
Pull away to be with Me.
Obey, even though it doesn’t make sense (as there seems to be no time to do it all).

I am the Maker of time.
Come and see if you are supposed to be 'doing it all'.
You can’t hear Me if you don’t slow down.
 It would not be running away from your responsibilities;
run to Me,
and I’ll have you right where you need to be.
 To be useful!


Sit with Me. 
 Trust Me.  
Don’t even think about yourself.
You don’t have to believe one iota in yourself or your abilities.
Believe in Me.

Prepare the way of the Lord.
 Make hearts yearn for Me and My Word
and obedience to it by your life-
that the King of Glory may come in.
Who is this king of Glory? 
The Lord- STRONG and MIGHTY, MIGHTY IN BATTLE, the Lord of Hosts.
He is the King of Glory.

There is a choice set before you today:
You can be busy doing all the 'right' things- what you feel you
should be involved in, what you should be a part of,
 or where you need to have influence -
 and risk the possibility of being spiritually shallow,
or 
in repentance (from the busyness of all this,

                          from the lack of feasting on the bread of life,

                                       and from prayerlessness)-

                 ...in repentance and REST- 
waiting, spending time in My word, obeying-
you can go deep in relationship and intimacy and depth
 and knowledge of Me and My word 
and have something (Me) 
to give as you influence those around you.


 “The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him.” Oswald Chambers

You still wonder what you can possibly give up:
As you put Me first, you will see clearly the other priorities. 
 Like the blind man in Mark 8: 22-25, he did not see clearly at first either:

“And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him.  He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’  And he looked up (gained sight) and said, ‘I see men, for I see them (they look to me) like trees, walking around.’  Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.”



The picture is a little fuzzy right now, but as you spend time with Me, you will see this picture clearly- it won’t look like trees walking around.

        As you, too, look intently into My face in prayer and into My word, you will be restored and begin to see everything clearly. Don't settle for just seeing 'men like trees, walking around'!  Press in; excel still more.  

.... fixing our eyes on (looking to) Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, ....so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.