Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
This word is one that has been a constant in my walk with the Lord for quite a long while. And I can say that I've found it! However, don't misunderstand, that doesn't mean that I've been totally content in every circumstance I live in. It means that I've made the search for true godliness my life goal. I'm convinced that this the way to the unsearchable riches of Christ.
But truthfully, I did discover along the way that the process could be both gloriously beautiful while also deeply painful. It's been a long process but I'm making good progress. This is not to boast in my strengths but in His. The road I've traveled on my journey has been bumpy. I found so much I liked and enjoyed for a season and then suddenly they were gone. I had to learn to overcome fear of beginning again after what looked so much like defeat. I learned to adapt to the loss of houses, friendships, finances, ministry resources, and losses to death. I experienced times when what had been given was taken away and all my current dreams crashed to the ground. I had watched this process in many ministers that I had listened to and learned from and now I was in the middle of it. What I had heard became reality to me. I knew it was the kingdom within way and then I discovered that godliness was a lot different than I had thought. I discovered it was a matter of the heart and that it took a good fight to keep it. I found out that Satan endeavors to make us his instruments and that our open heart and mind is his access. And that we have to seek to learn how to delight in the good fight. The mind of Christ has to rule us.
As I pressed in I saw hard times of tears and silent heart searches through all of the 'Why's' and "Wherefore's' of my losses and my messes. Then finally, times of the joy of discovering that all was not lost after all. I still had my comforter. My counselor still led me through with wisdom and grace to re-adust and gather new dreams together. This is a broad overview that doesn't truly reveal the grit and sweat of the trials. It's just a report that through my pain processes I found a new and deeper contentment that I had ever had before and life finally got good again. And I grew and learned a lot through it all. I learned that whatever he gives, he is great enough to keep and comfort us if the time comes that he takes it away. I learned that his love is greater than any pain or loss. Every difficult season taught me more about our Father's mercy and greatness over all things pertaining to life and godliness. Every lesson learned through fiery trials has brought me a new measure of peace and contentment. Each new crisis drove me closer to my source and as I kept running to him I learned over an extended period of time that the real presence of Jesus and His living word in my life is the only thing that brings true satisfaction. It brought me to place in which nothing could interfere with my search for Him. Now I am free. My expectations are set in his heart and He is my contentment. Now He is my home and what he wants me to have is what I want.
Gal 5:
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
All of the pain and trials have been a lesson and a guide to the cure of all hurts and the solution to all problems. The lover of our souls and the healer of our hearts is our great reward!
"When the seasons change and the unknown waits quietly up ahead, I remind myself of the truth. The Lord is with me. He is my Protector I am not alone. I don't have to be afraid."
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Seasons And Times
Because we are in a shift of times and seasons I'm doing some deep thinking about God ordained seasons. And God ordained season changes. From the beginning of time God set the order of the seasons in place and it has never changed.
"The seasons come, the seasons go, we get a little sunshine, rain and snow. Just the way that it was planned to be."
Isn't that a profound and true to life statement? It's the first verse in a song I loved as a very young lady. To me it's a good reminder that the wisdom of God can be found in unusual places. The phrase reminds me a lot of a similiar truth found in scripture in the book of ...
Ecclesiastes 3:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
I think we're all a lot alike. There are some things I like better in one season than I like in another. We welcome the new season in and then after awhile we tire of the imperfections in the current season and we're ready to welcome in a new one. This is the natural God orchestrated rule of the seasons of the earth and weather patterns.
However, very often season changes are ushered in by life changes that we really don't desire or welcome. There are times in which we've enjoyed a time to laugh and suddenly we've encountered a new season which is not so laughable. In fact, there's a time for weeping upon us. It could be a serious change in our health, a relationship, a death, a child's trauma. But whatever, it's one we're powerless to change. We have to learn how to adjust to the new. For kingdom of Christ people are able to learn how to seek and trust God. he knows the way through and he will guide us.
The troubles and trials of life come upon all of us. And just as troubles come, there are sweet times of joy and wonderful cycles of life to celebrate. Times to mourn through and times to dance through. Times to hate the bad and times to love the good. We gain and then we lose. We keep and we cast away. And no human being can escape this natural order of life. The people of God will suffer most of the same things that the natural man does.
Yet, for those who open up their ears and hearts to the voice of the Lord and his body we can walk in light. When we listen for instruction we have choices we can make that the world knows nothing about. And even if we've slumbered and have missed some lines and precepts, He still waits for us. We can still arise, and fine tune our ears to his voice.
Isaiah 28:
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
If we are not alert as we should be we might miss keeping up with his lines and precepts. But there is a season of mercy and grace.
Isaiah 30:18
And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
All of us at times will face season changes we're not pleased with. That's unchangeable fact. But we have a fountain of wisdom and mercy we can run to. We have a comforter and a counselor. His mercies are new every morning, and through our wise choices we can have his help to adjust to all that comes. He is our Almighty God and He has all power over the depth and duration of hard seasons. He will work with us as we co-operate with him. As we seek His counsel he will build wisdom and endurance and we can walk through our sufferings with grace. And soon the difficult times of trials will become stepping stones into a more abundant life. As we grow bolder in God we can even laugh our way through.
There's just no end to the wonders available to us in God! He is always near and waiting for us to respond to his love with our willing and submissive prayers.."Yes, Lord, show me your way through this and out of it"
"The seasons come, the seasons go, we get a little sunshine, rain and snow. Just the way that it was planned to be."
Isn't that a profound and true to life statement? It's the first verse in a song I loved as a very young lady. To me it's a good reminder that the wisdom of God can be found in unusual places. The phrase reminds me a lot of a similiar truth found in scripture in the book of ...
Ecclesiastes 3:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
I think we're all a lot alike. There are some things I like better in one season than I like in another. We welcome the new season in and then after awhile we tire of the imperfections in the current season and we're ready to welcome in a new one. This is the natural God orchestrated rule of the seasons of the earth and weather patterns.
However, very often season changes are ushered in by life changes that we really don't desire or welcome. There are times in which we've enjoyed a time to laugh and suddenly we've encountered a new season which is not so laughable. In fact, there's a time for weeping upon us. It could be a serious change in our health, a relationship, a death, a child's trauma. But whatever, it's one we're powerless to change. We have to learn how to adjust to the new. For kingdom of Christ people are able to learn how to seek and trust God. he knows the way through and he will guide us.
The troubles and trials of life come upon all of us. And just as troubles come, there are sweet times of joy and wonderful cycles of life to celebrate. Times to mourn through and times to dance through. Times to hate the bad and times to love the good. We gain and then we lose. We keep and we cast away. And no human being can escape this natural order of life. The people of God will suffer most of the same things that the natural man does.
Yet, for those who open up their ears and hearts to the voice of the Lord and his body we can walk in light. When we listen for instruction we have choices we can make that the world knows nothing about. And even if we've slumbered and have missed some lines and precepts, He still waits for us. We can still arise, and fine tune our ears to his voice.
Isaiah 28:
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
If we are not alert as we should be we might miss keeping up with his lines and precepts. But there is a season of mercy and grace.
Isaiah 30:18
And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
All of us at times will face season changes we're not pleased with. That's unchangeable fact. But we have a fountain of wisdom and mercy we can run to. We have a comforter and a counselor. His mercies are new every morning, and through our wise choices we can have his help to adjust to all that comes. He is our Almighty God and He has all power over the depth and duration of hard seasons. He will work with us as we co-operate with him. As we seek His counsel he will build wisdom and endurance and we can walk through our sufferings with grace. And soon the difficult times of trials will become stepping stones into a more abundant life. As we grow bolder in God we can even laugh our way through.
There's just no end to the wonders available to us in God! He is always near and waiting for us to respond to his love with our willing and submissive prayers.."Yes, Lord, show me your way through this and out of it"
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Seeking The Lost Sheep
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:4-7
This blog is about a call and some personal experience in learning obedience. The scripture about leaving the crowd and following Jesus out to a place apart for the purpose of the salvation of one has been a large part of my ministry thus far. I was asked by the Lord to leave some good things to do some better things and I obeyed. He called me aside from the churches I was involved with and told me to work with him for my unsaved husbands welfare and salvation. It's a long story that few can understand or accept, religious people especially. Although it was very unusual I have no doubt that it was a true call. That mission took several years and it produced wonderful fruit. Then after my husband died I set out with the Lord on the next phase of my journey. I made some wonderful new friends and set out to learn how to surrender to God's will for the rest of my life. He has used me in the interim to do a few things on the web and in my family, but the heart search for the depths of him is my priority. That search is still ongoing, and I keep seeing that I am too easily distracted from it. The important thing is to always know his voice and to go where he calls us to go. There is a joy in the journey with him.
So I'm seeking and searching and that scripture from Luke is speaking to me again. I'm taking some time to draw closer and dig deeper into my relationship with the Lord and it's so rewarding..I've often heard about how we need to let God out of the box we've put him into..and I'm inviting him to look into my life and beliefs and do that very thing.
I want to be sure I hear all he is saying to me in this hour. We are in a season in time that is calling for us to be pure and flowing with him in his times and seasons. He said if we do not seek to be prepared for these times we will not make it through in true faith.
And I encourage you to ask him to make you a person after his own heart also and allow him to do whatever it takes to fulfill all of his good pleasure in your life.
Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost
This blog is about a call and some personal experience in learning obedience. The scripture about leaving the crowd and following Jesus out to a place apart for the purpose of the salvation of one has been a large part of my ministry thus far. I was asked by the Lord to leave some good things to do some better things and I obeyed. He called me aside from the churches I was involved with and told me to work with him for my unsaved husbands welfare and salvation. It's a long story that few can understand or accept, religious people especially. Although it was very unusual I have no doubt that it was a true call. That mission took several years and it produced wonderful fruit. Then after my husband died I set out with the Lord on the next phase of my journey. I made some wonderful new friends and set out to learn how to surrender to God's will for the rest of my life. He has used me in the interim to do a few things on the web and in my family, but the heart search for the depths of him is my priority. That search is still ongoing, and I keep seeing that I am too easily distracted from it. The important thing is to always know his voice and to go where he calls us to go. There is a joy in the journey with him.
So I'm seeking and searching and that scripture from Luke is speaking to me again. I'm taking some time to draw closer and dig deeper into my relationship with the Lord and it's so rewarding..I've often heard about how we need to let God out of the box we've put him into..and I'm inviting him to look into my life and beliefs and do that very thing.
I want to be sure I hear all he is saying to me in this hour. We are in a season in time that is calling for us to be pure and flowing with him in his times and seasons. He said if we do not seek to be prepared for these times we will not make it through in true faith.
And I encourage you to ask him to make you a person after his own heart also and allow him to do whatever it takes to fulfill all of his good pleasure in your life.
Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Paths And Promises
I'd love to share with you a few fresh hearthoughts about our quest for God. I am a seeker and I know there are quite a few others who have made that a very serious priority in their everyday life. I do know that hearts are stirred when likeminded people of God find another who seeks the heart of God. I'm talking about the ones who truly desire to know him as Father and God and are willing to pay the price. I have learned that there are those who do set out on a quest, but some get sidetracked into a quest of seeking what they can get from God. Right now, as I said that my thoughts went back to another day when a mighty man of God spoke a word that warned me and all who listened about "using God" rather than loving God and seeking to know him and serve him. That was a word I needed to hear, because at the time I was very young in the Lord and I was not yet established in gospel truth. I began to realize that my heart was not right. The word brought a heart change and the motive for my quest was purified a little. I began to have a more realistic God perspective.
I really believe that all men want and need peace and love, and that many do know it can be found in God. We all have needs. Mostly, we come to God with our hearts set on self. We have our lists of desires and causes and our assumptions of what godliness really involves. And while it's true that a small measure of the blessings of God can be realized by a surface search, I warn you that any promise of peace and the blessings of God without a full heart surrender is a promise of peace that can lead to destruction. The broad road, the false gospel of peace, peace, when there is no peace. We will have no strength to endure and stay in the race, hearts will grow weak and worldly pursuits will overcome us.
The truth is that the true road is narrow. A life in God which qualifies men for the wonderful blessings for obedience of Deuteronomy 28 must be built by God himself on the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no other way to eternal peace.
We as a body are in a season of sifting and shaking. God is inspecting foundations in professing believers. He is coming into his garden searching for sweet and good quality fruit. What will he find when he visits us? I hope he will find a fire for him and his truth in our hearts. He will work mighty wonders of refining and multiplying fruit when we have been careful to cultivate hearts which are sincere and humble. We've got to go back to the heart of worship It's all about Jesus, it's not about us.
I really believe that all men want and need peace and love, and that many do know it can be found in God. We all have needs. Mostly, we come to God with our hearts set on self. We have our lists of desires and causes and our assumptions of what godliness really involves. And while it's true that a small measure of the blessings of God can be realized by a surface search, I warn you that any promise of peace and the blessings of God without a full heart surrender is a promise of peace that can lead to destruction. The broad road, the false gospel of peace, peace, when there is no peace. We will have no strength to endure and stay in the race, hearts will grow weak and worldly pursuits will overcome us.
The truth is that the true road is narrow. A life in God which qualifies men for the wonderful blessings for obedience of Deuteronomy 28 must be built by God himself on the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no other way to eternal peace.
We as a body are in a season of sifting and shaking. God is inspecting foundations in professing believers. He is coming into his garden searching for sweet and good quality fruit. What will he find when he visits us? I hope he will find a fire for him and his truth in our hearts. He will work mighty wonders of refining and multiplying fruit when we have been careful to cultivate hearts which are sincere and humble. We've got to go back to the heart of worship It's all about Jesus, it's not about us.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Strife Storms And Love Winds
Phil 2:3:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves...
I think on this one scripture and see how very challenging it is to walk in this godly grace. And speaking strictly for myself, although I'm very well along in years, I still find that the life lessons I've learned have not equipped me for this kind of love. My attempts to live this out in times of strife have revealed things in me that I need to seek the Lord's grace and mercy to deal with. We can go along doing wonderful good deeds and show mercy to many as long as all is rolling along smoothly. But then a storm. We pride ourselves on position and authority and when the lines we've established are crossed by someone we often react in very inmature ways. We need growing up instruction and graces.
Happily, Jesus comes to rescue us from our childishness and conflicts. He has loved us and equipped us with his wisdom, a deep ever present well of a better and a sweeter way. Because we are sensitive to Him He causes us to pause and think. He comes with thoughts of compassion, "I wonder why she/he is so irritable? I wonder what has hurt him/her?" thoughts. And personally, my old hard heart goes through a new melting process. The truth is that If I'm the more mature I can be graced to act like it. Now by his love for us all we're better able to respond with love and comfort. And the storm blows through, leaving us both better off than we were before it came. I know that we are all as small children to him we have to be taught how to behave. And little by little we find that sooner or later the lessons we learn cause our joy and love to be fuller. We've finally fought through to a new triumph over a spirit of strife and it has to flee.
Give no place to the enemy and his fiery darts of irritation and hatred of anyone! The devil wants to force us into unforgiving soulish responses that set off fights. Don't allow the enemy to steal your joy and faith. Forgive yourself, forgive others and God will restore. His promise is that we will dwell in peaceable habitations.
Peace releases the glory rains from heaven over our lives...Humility is built up in us as we walk through these valleys in submisive truth. And our ways are renewed.
A song about how Jesus is our storm chaser.....Storms Never Last......https://youtu.be/Jch9tsVSv-w
Monday, September 22, 2014
Mercy Missions
I was just meditating on a word from a strong saint that talked about how God uses tensions and life trials for good purposes. I love to learn from the word and the anointed elders. I know the word does teach us that we are counted worthy of maturing in Christ by our willingness to suffer according to the will of God. It even makes it clear that we learn lots of wisdom from trials and also that Father expects long suffering to be joyful.
I am one who is very well advanced in years and I have a heart for other aging saints. That doesn't mean I'm against the young, it's just that we who have grown in the Lord have lived and learned a lot. In my lifetime I've been through a lot of hard trials. Before I met the Lord, and that was many years of life, I never learned much from trials. I got through them one way or another, but they never actually worked for my good. I got bitter and weary, lost a lot of friends, money and property, and nearly lost all hope. And I saw no way out, because I thought then that these things were just a normal way of life.
I was outside the covenant of grace then, as so may suffering human beings are. However, I'm new now. I have a new life and a new mindset. As I've studied on this over the years it seems to me that the old life trials and their burdens and the new trials and their lessons have given me a wisdom that God is allowing me to use for his kingdom. Now I'm pretty well seasoned, I have some years of experience in both kingdoms, the world and the kingdom of Christ. I have a new depth of word knowledge and I have an ever present help in my Father. I have a new compassion for those who suffer with hard life trials. I do know how hard it is out there in the world and how weary and hopeless a poor man with few resources and little education can get. It can be overwhelming. I hope to be led by the Lord to such people and follow his leading in helping them to find new life. The love and the strength of God through Jesus Christ can help the little man, any man who will be willing to humble himself and open his heart up to the ways of Christ's kingdom. Bow low and never forget how desperately needy of heavens help we all are. The mercies of God are new every morning!
I am one who is very well advanced in years and I have a heart for other aging saints. That doesn't mean I'm against the young, it's just that we who have grown in the Lord have lived and learned a lot. In my lifetime I've been through a lot of hard trials. Before I met the Lord, and that was many years of life, I never learned much from trials. I got through them one way or another, but they never actually worked for my good. I got bitter and weary, lost a lot of friends, money and property, and nearly lost all hope. And I saw no way out, because I thought then that these things were just a normal way of life.
I was outside the covenant of grace then, as so may suffering human beings are. However, I'm new now. I have a new life and a new mindset. As I've studied on this over the years it seems to me that the old life trials and their burdens and the new trials and their lessons have given me a wisdom that God is allowing me to use for his kingdom. Now I'm pretty well seasoned, I have some years of experience in both kingdoms, the world and the kingdom of Christ. I have a new depth of word knowledge and I have an ever present help in my Father. I have a new compassion for those who suffer with hard life trials. I do know how hard it is out there in the world and how weary and hopeless a poor man with few resources and little education can get. It can be overwhelming. I hope to be led by the Lord to such people and follow his leading in helping them to find new life. The love and the strength of God through Jesus Christ can help the little man, any man who will be willing to humble himself and open his heart up to the ways of Christ's kingdom. Bow low and never forget how desperately needy of heavens help we all are. The mercies of God are new every morning!
There's More Beyond
I'm sure we've all heard about shifts and especially paradigm shifts. A paradigm shift is a deep shift out of an old framework, or structure. It could possible be a mindset and accompanying lifestyle, it might be a method of ministry. At any rate, it's a time of change into a new thing and it's to be embraced with joy. Change is a sign that we're growing. In the shifts of the Father we will experience a brand new God perspective and order. New freedom and new boundaries. When it's God's time these shifts might come in as a storm, but as we endure with patience they always bring wonderful changes.
We can climb a mountain of doubt with the strength of the power of Christ's blood. We will ride the winds of the Spirit into lofty places we've never visited before and go where we could never go on our own,. We'll become a new Me we've never known. I've been there and I've soared as on the wings of the eagle into free and beautiful places.
I'm so glad to say that all things are becoming new.. I am closer to the cross than I've ever been. And I know there's much more beyond!
We can climb a mountain of doubt with the strength of the power of Christ's blood. We will ride the winds of the Spirit into lofty places we've never visited before and go where we could never go on our own,. We'll become a new Me we've never known. I've been there and I've soared as on the wings of the eagle into free and beautiful places.
I'm so glad to say that all things are becoming new.. I am closer to the cross than I've ever been. And I know there's much more beyond!
Lessons Old And New
Proverbs 19:20-21 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. Psalm 27:13-14 “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Over the years I have sought the Lord and asked his help in sorting out my memories and guiding me into a right way to view events of the past. And I'm thankful that I found a few to walk with who were also seeking the fullness of Him. With God's help and the help of others he sent I learned early that true godly wisdom is needed to live in the power, love and sound mind of Christ. I began to see that we are to learn to ask, seek and knock relentlessly in order to get aligned with the heart of God. We are to learn to view both the past and the present as he sees it. His desire is that as we walk through life with him we will experience deep healings to the heart and soul. Jesus is the good shepherd who restores our souls and He alone sees the wounds that were caused by past lifestyles and hurtful relationships. Speaking for myself I know that over many years there was a loss of trust in the authority figures in life and I lived with deep soul wounds. And I caused pain to others and those guilt feelings that were deeply buried lingered and came back to trouble me. . These old seasons of life can be very painful to think about. There is a deep desire to want to escape from all thought of the old. But there's wonderful good news! There is a healing savior who knows how to apply the healing balm of Gilead. His work in us is to draw us nearer so that all the heart and life is open to whatever he needs to do. The truth is that until we have allowed the fullness of God's work in us we will always carry those seeds of heart woundings and disrespect for authority. Our reactions to all that goes on around us comes from what is rooted in our hearts. As the storms grow stronger and more frequent we see things surface that we didn't realize were there. We have to surrender to his processes because we need a deep all the way to the roots work. I had a thought about a "root canal", a dental procedure, The sickness of the tooth and the resulting pain goes so deep that nothing except surgery to the root will heal it. Think of our heart infections and trauma in a similiar way. The healing balm of the pure word of God through Holy Spirit anointing acts like a laser beam doing deep surgeries. In God's word we're taught to "Think not on former things, for I will do new thing." Now, as we submit to his purging processes He will give skills to use our past mistakes as altars to his greatness and as lessons for others. I've heard it said that he wastes nothing and I know it's true. He is able to bring beauty out of the ashes of the past. He is able to give us new perspectives and to cause us to see the wonders we enjoyed in our past life even through it was lived in the midst of darkness. He is able to fill us with the joy of living in the right now blessing with him as we move along on our journey home. The rewards makes the price of our fully sacrificed life well worth it. Father, I ask that you touch hearts and bring change in deep and eternal ways.. I hope what I've shared here will enlighten and encourage you to ask the Father for any wisdom you might be needing to bring healing. It's so good to soar into new places with Him free of the hurt. |
Prayer For Strengthening
Jesus,
draw us closer and be stronger than our fears and mightier than our
discouragement. You are our hope and our savior, the Mighty Redeemer
King who thought us worthy of dying for. The battle rages and we get
weary. We find it hard to fight through to the breakthrough. We've heard
many words of promise for the victory we need. But in our weakness it's
so hard to stand strong against the storms that
are swirling around us like a hurricane. We need refreshing and rest.
Jesus, we are weak but you are strong. Touch us in deep places of the
heart and make us new. Wash us clean tonight and restore the joy of our
salvation. Give fresh resolve and new strength to run the race. Help us
to rise up and to hold fast to our confidence in the integrity of your
eternal word. Thank you for your enduring graces. Prepare us for the
wonderful new day of tomorrow.
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Comfort, Comfort My People
God said in his word that his people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. As I've sought to learn a little more about what his Father's heart I've learned some valuable lessons. Father God is not talking about intellectual greatness nor impressive scriptural smarts. he is talking about knowing him. Knowing His greatness and goodness and his love for all humanity. His desire is that we seek to know him intimately as our heavenly Father who cares for us in ways beyond our comprehension. This knowledge is the joy of salvation. There is just no end to the loving kindnesses and tender mercies of the Father. In the stillness of his mercy His love is a river that washes over us gently. He is our Beloved and we are blood bought family. His eyes are always on his land and His people and His eternal purposes are always for our good. Hold fast to him in trying times because he is able to use all we walk through to strengthen us and make us more Christlike. As we bear fruit he purges us so that we will bear more fruit and that our fruit will remain.We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and we know with certainty that he is causing all things to work together for our good and for His glory.
Story Book Lives
Have you ever thought of yourself as a letter to God's people? Paul spoke about this in 2 Corinthians 3. Living letters. Life stories written on our hearts as we live our lives seeking God. His desire is that men can read our lives and realize that God is real. That men will see his Son in us. Moment by moment he will watch over us and refine and purify so that we will be his witnesses to many. As we walk with him and grow into new maturity he will write new pages and new chapters. I've heard some prophecies along the way that made me think I might someday write a book. Actually, I'm finding that my life is a book. He put a dream in my heart years ago. In a vision he said "Salvation of the souls of men". That is a story of bringing heaven into the earth realm. The kingdom of Christ within. And it will be my life story. My story is unique and so is yours, because all who are called can become new creations for his glory. Never despise the days of small beginnings. Someone needs to hear your story.
There's no way I can perfectly describe to you the joy of knowing him. His love is deep and it's wide and there's just no end to it fro those who are his. He loves to guide the willing into wonderful new life places. Remember that there is a season for everything, and in His time He makes all things beautiful. Be encouraged, think on how Esther's life story became a story for his glory!
There's no way I can perfectly describe to you the joy of knowing him. His love is deep and it's wide and there's just no end to it fro those who are his. He loves to guide the willing into wonderful new life places. Remember that there is a season for everything, and in His time He makes all things beautiful. Be encouraged, think on how Esther's life story became a story for his glory!
Peaceful Submission
The beloved old song says it so well. I'm learning that a lot of the songs are good prophetic teachings. This one makes it clear that submission to the Lord is what causes the fruit of blessed assurance to be full and sweet to the taste of all. It causes glory divine! My friend, we must realize that obedience is not about learning how to get God to do what we want, no matter how noble it might seem. It's all about becoming one with our Beloved. Jesus died so that we can overcome all opposition and apprehend power, love and a sound mind that cannot be distracted from the purposes of God. He is King of a great kingdom that cannot be shaken and we are invited to learn of him and to take his yoke. I can tell you that it is a process of total commitment to get to the place he has prepared for us, but the rewards are rich, sweet and eternal. His love is so gentle yet so overwhelming. His mercies never fail, and His grace is all sufficient as we remain yielded vessels. I hope that sweet submission to his ways and his blessed assurance will become our heart focus!
Welcome to my new home on Blogger, I hope to share some life lessons I've learned as I've traveled with the Lord along the way. Thus the name I chose for my blog. I've learned from the life experience of others and I hope to share some of the things that have inspired me. Hopefully I can weave a few lovely threads of wisdom into story form and others will be inspired.
Beginning lesson. The wisest thing I ever learned was to give my life to Jesus Christ and allow him to be Lord over it all. His love is so sweet and his ways are trustworthy and powerful for the good of men who love him and seek him.
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