1 Peter 3:4
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
A meek and quiet spirit is said to be of great price to our Father..But as I've thought on the truths of the word over the years I've become pretty sure that it costs the bride everything. I'm aware that in the context of the word it speaks of a woman, but I'm thinking the truth applies to the spirit of Christ. "Wise as a serpent yet as gentle as a dove" is the term that identifies the mature. The strategies and wisdom of the Lord live in us ad we walk as we are led by the Spirit.
In this position we're in a place of rest. We cease our hard strivings, our own ways of doing things. And we yield to the lord. The practice of patience is our responsibilty. It means we often have to wait patiently when we really would like to do something that looks to us like it would make things work. We learn how to sit on ourselves in order to obey the Father. And we thankfully learn new measures of endurance. We live in a consistent lifestyle of waiting for the power from on high. The wonder we discover is that our Comforter and Counselor, the Holy Spirit, is able to make us love submission to the word of God and it's eternal purposes. There will be intense stretching times that build us up and change our hearts. Times when spiritual fruit is being matured. The word speaks of this position of peace as being "The hidden man of the heart"...God alone knows what the heart contains. In Christ we are able, because as we are pliable to the works of God. And goodness and mercy keep chasing us down. We listen intently for the voice behind us saying "This is the way, walk ye in it"...
Psalm 27:4
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Godliness With Contentment
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."
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."
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
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