Giants Of Life Reduced To "Iddie Biddie"!

"The Goliaths of life" ~ we all have them, we've all been there, at sometime or another!
"A Goliath" is something that is BIGGER than ourselves, something that needs to be confronted, but everything within us wants to run! "The Goliaths" in our lives are those things that would send chills up the spines of everyone around us, with fear and trembling, to find themselves in our place!
When we look at the story of David, we can draw courage, to move against the fear, and find the strength to be able to stand, even, in the most difficult situations!

Though, this story is familiar to many, let's look at it, today, afresh and anew and glean all we can!
Saul has served as king for 42 years, but in 1Samuel 15 God rejects Saul, as king, for his disobedience and sends Samuel, the prophet, to anoint David, as king in chapter 16. (Though we've talked about some of this, in a previous blog, it's necessary for us to be reminded of some of the facts, for today's lesson.)

When Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king, they're all asked to pass before him. Samuel was focused on stature and appearance, as Eliab passed before him, but the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART." (This is a key passage in our study today!)

So, seven of Jesse's sons passed before Samuel, but God did not choose any of them. So, Samuel asks Jesse if he has any other sons. "There is still the youngest, but he is tending sheep." Samuel says, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So Jesse sent for David and he arrives and the Lord says, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So, "Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on THE SPIRIT CAME UPON DAVID IN POWER."
(We want to remember this.)

The scriptures tell us that God removed his Spirit from Saul and that an evil spirit tormented him. His attendants talked him into allowing them to call David to play the harp for him. Saul sent for David and made him an armor-bearer and David played for Saul when he was tormented by the evil spirit and it would leave. Saul was pleased with him.

In chapter 17, "The Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sucoth in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammin, between Succoth and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped the in Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing 5,000 shekels, on his legs he wore bronze  greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and it's iron point weighed 600 shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him."

Goliath came out and shouted at the ranks of Israel to choose a man to come out and fight against him. If the man was able to kill Goliath then the Philistines would be subject to the Israelites, and if Goliath won, Israel would become subject to the Philistines. Goliath continued to come out, daily, and defy the ranks of Israel. On hearing his words the Israelites and Saul were terrified!

Jesse's 3 oldest sons followed Saul in the war, "but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep at Bethlehem."This particular day, Jesse sent David with food for his brothers and for their unit. When David reached the camp and dropped off the supplies, he greeted his brothers. Goliath stepped out from the lines and shouted his, usual defiance, and David heard it. When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him with great fear. David asked, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?" They answered, "The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel."David's brothers, hearing his words, burned in anger against him, thinking him wicked and conceited.

What David had said was reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him. David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him." Saul replied, "You are unable to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." David answers, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from it's mouth."

There's alot at stake here! Remember the loser's army becomes subject to the other. Would you want a boy, like David, to go fight for you? I guess, it depends on whether you're looking at the outward appearance and his abilities or whether you're looking at the heart and who God's Spirit is empowering! If the opinions of others were followed here, David would not have been a likely choice! But God was in control! We have to remember that God called David for a purpose and God was empowering David to fulfill it. Don't forget, David's heart was why God chose him!

David says to Saul, "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, (here it comes) BECAUSE HE HAS DEFIED THE ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD. THE LORD WHO DELIVERED ME FROM THE PAW OF THE LION AND THE PAW OF THE BEAR WILL DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF THIS PHILISTINE."

At first, we may take David as immature and conceited too, but David is not boasting in himself or his abilities; he takes no credit for himself at all! David boasts only in the Lord! David is saying that the battle is the Lord's! He is recalling those "spiritual markers" in his life when those other "Goliaths" showed up and God delivered him! This is where David gets his confidence; it's not in himself at all! He's remembering God's past victories! David's view is, God can do ALL things, NOTHING'S TOO BIG FOR GOD.

David took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones and put them in his pouch of his shepherd's bag and with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. The Philistine is boastful and curses David and David said, "You come against me with the sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by the sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give all of you into our hands."

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran, quickly, toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine and killed him! Really a pretty amazing story!

But what is more amazing is, GOD IN DAVID! David has lived in God's presence and now, anointed by God, God is empowering David to do His will! His confidence wasn't in himself, it was in the God he had come to trust, even with his life!

God had chosen David because he was a man after God's own heart! Where's your heart? What's your giant? Are you trying to fight it in your own strength, or have you made the battle the Lord's? Can you stand in confidence, in the Lord, and confront your giant?
Satan wants us to respond in fear, he seeks to make us tremble; he wants us to run! He wants us to fail!

God wants us to respond in faith, to confront the fear, to move against it, in His strength, in His power! He wants our hearts to be His!

What's more important, here, than any giant, is that our hearts belong to Him! Can you say, "Lord," whatever the outcome, "I'm pleased, if it pleases you!" (That's a tough one!)
Are we going to confront it, in the name of the Lord, or crumble in the lack of our own strength? God will decide the outcome! No one has power over us, without His okay! Our job, house, land, retirement, children, spouse, health, whatever has us trembling in fear, like the Israelites ~ IS NOT THE GIANT!!! We've believed it to be, in our minds! In our minds, we've made it BIGGER THAN GOD! We've believed it to be impossible; something TOO BIG for, even, the Lord! We've minimized God! I'm sure it's a BIG deal because, whatever it is, it matters to us or it wouldn't feel like a giant; but we're not seeing things from God's perspective. I struggle with this, at times too. Nothing can happen to God's children unless God okays it and if God ordains it, there's nothing ANYONE CAN DO TO STOP IT! It's true, we might not like the outcome! But GOD IS in control! Fear will not change it! These battles are won on our knees!

If you're reading this, I'm praying that God will show You Himself, in the midst of (HIS) battle! Won't you give it to Him? I'm praying God will give you a "spiritual marker" to look back on, like David did with the lion and the bear, so you will be able to reduce the next giant, in your mind, to "Iddie Biddie!

There's just enough grace for today, tomorrow, at this moment, belongs to God! Don't touch it! He will give us the grace needed tomorrow, for tomorrow! Sleep and rest, in Him tonight ~ after you read all of Psalm 139; it will help you have a proper perspective of God and yourself. If we're gonna tremble, let us tremble in respect for the Lord!

I leave you with Psalm 139:16b which says,
"All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be!"

God already knows the outcome, HE ORDAINED IT! Whether we like it or not, the outcome, is His chosen journey for us! It's already written in His book! I'm praying for you! Trust Him, and KNOW, whatever, the outcome, it's all been sifted through His fingers of LOVE! Praise Him, even now, for all He's gonna do! I'm praising Him, now, for all He's doing in you and for you, as you wait upon the Lord! Whatever it is, remember, it's "IDDIE BIDDIE" in comparison to God!

In Jesus Name We Press On!

In Jesus name we press on!

God gives us just enough strength and grace for today, alone! Not for tomorrow or next week, but for today! If we are focused on tomorrow, we will grow weary ~ He provides the strength for today, IN HIM, no more!

Below are the lyrics to a song by Selah called Press On. If you can relate to valleys deep and mountains steep, I want to urge you, my friend, to press on, in Jesus name!

Press On By Selah

When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard
When we're battered and scarred
When we've spent our resources
When we've given our all

Chorus:
In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

Repeat

Dear friend, whatever your battle, I encourage you, in Jesus name to press on!

I want you to be  lifted up, to be encouraged! "What", you ask, "if I haven't given my all?"

None of us are perfect and we weren't when He died for us, if we were He wouldn't have had to die! Repent, my friend, and turn to Him ~ press on! You cannot change the past, you have no control over it! Put it behind you ~ humble yourself before Him, repent (ask forgiveness) and do what? Yes, we press on! A forward focus, turn and live for Him, "In His Name And For His Glory"! Press on!

Psalm 91 is a powerful passage! We picture God like a mother eagle guarding her brood and them at total rest, in the shadow of her wings. They do not fear, they don't know to; they are, completely, trusting in her care, just as a baby depends and trusts it's mother for all things! Don't we wish for this kind of rest? A rest that is complete!

Psalm 91:1-16 says,

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.'

Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

*He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings will you find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

*If you make the Most High your dwelling ~ even the Lord, who is my refuge ~ then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

*'Because he loves Me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name.

*He will call upon Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

*With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation."

Also, Psalm 63:7 says, "Because You are my help, I SING in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me."

Can't you just picture the awkward looking baby birds, chirping in the shadow of their mother's wings? There may be a storm, but they are hidden and unaware. Mom may be getting pelted with hail or rain, but her babies sing, happily, beneath the shadow of her wings, completely, protected. They know no fear!

In this life we struggle with anxiety and fears and we will till God calls us home, we're human. God promises if we make the Most High our dwelling and we call upon Him ~ He will answer; He will be with us in trouble, and He will deliver us and honor us. Wow! Why???? ("Because he loves Me, ' says the Lord.) That's pretty powerful stuff! It doesn't say we won't have trouble, but He does promise to be with us, to deliver us and to honor us, if we make Him our dwelling! He promises to rescue us, to give us a long life and satisfy us, to show us His salvation! It even says He will command His angels to guard our ways! How cool is that?

It's easy to want the help when we fall into trouble, desiring God to fix it, but there's something much deeper here. There's a love relationship, there's a trust in the Lord that goes beyond running to Him, just in our need. There's an abiding in Him; there's a life that looks to Him for all things! If we love Him, if we trust Him, then we will trust Him enough to walk in His ways, to follow and keep His commandments ~ we will believe that they are good for us  ~ this is love!

"Love casts out fear", if we love Him we will rest in Him!

Like you, my feet are made of clay, I'm human; I have not attained this, God is not finished with me yet! I am a work in progress! I am seeking, I am in pursuit, to strengthen my love relationship with the Almighty. I covet your prayers and I'm praying for you! Don't get frustrated, don't quite! We are made of clay, we need to forgive ourselves, our weaknesses and continue to look to Him! Press on! One day at time, one step at a time! (And somedays, one moment at a time!)

Christ died for us when we were still sinners ~ if we have turned to Christ, in our sin and repented and believe, accepting His sacrifice on the cross, on our behalf, then our sins have been paid for and we have been claimed RIGHTEOUS! 

Do we really grasp that? He's paid for what we've done! Picture that for a minute! God writes on your shirt with eternal ink, "RIGHTEOUS"!

So, let us, now, out of love, and appreciation, walk in a new way! Let us allow Him to work out that righteousness in us! We have been claimed righteous and given the Holy Spirit to empower us to walk in that righteousness. But, now, let us fix our sights on that calling! The calling to "be holy as He is Holy"!

Philippians 3:14 rings in my ears,

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do no consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But this one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

If you're feeling a bit unnerved and a lack of confidence in this calling read on!

James 1:6 says,

"Being confident of this, that HE who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (God's going to work this out in you!)

2 Timothy 1:9 says, "Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, NOT according to our works, but according to His own purpose and GRACE which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity." (We can not do anything to earn this righteousness ourselves, it's a free gift; it's by grace alone!)

1 Corinthians 9:24 says,

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." (With all your, heart, mind, soul and strength!)

Hebrews 6:1 says, "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God."

There is a pursuit here! There's a forward focus, not a focus on the past, but looking ahead, seeking to live out that which we've already obtained! We are working with Him, instead of struggling against Him, as He works to complete us! He is maturing us! Our eyes are fixed on our heavenward call, it is the prize! Our reward is there! Our home is there, this earth is a temporary dwelling! We need to live for eternity! Let that be our focus!

My friend, ask God to write this on the tablet of your heart! 

Let Him be your ONE pursuit, you will not be sorry! It's His responsibility to mature us, to see us to completion, it's our responsibility to work with Him; to keep His commands and to hide them in our heart that we might not sin against Him! When we fall short, we ask forgiveness, and press on!

Don't be discouraged! Oh, how I wish I could hug your neck!

I leave you with this next passage as a prayer:

Psalm 17:6-8 says,

"I call on You, O God, for You will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonder of Your great love, You who save me by Your right hand, those who take refuge in You from their foes. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings."

Did you know you are the apple of God's eye? I leave you today with that awesome thought! Is He not mindful of where you find yourself today? He knows about it all!

*Reminder: The challenge!

I continue to challenge you to put Him first in your life. To rise before dawn and kneel before your Maker. Sit at His feet and let Him share with you the passions of His heart. Align yourself with Him, as you begin your day in Him. Get into His Word and let Him be your Teacher! The challenge is to try it for a month! One hour every day, before dawn, while all is still quiet! He will simplify your life and reorder your world! I'm praying you will take the challenge! Press on!

A Heart Of Forgiveness Is A Heart Set Free!

We can become confused by pain, suffering and trials and feel God has forgotten us! They will either draw us closer to Him, in a more intimate relationship or they will cause our fellowship with the Lord to be broken, in our anger and bitterness toward Him. Which is, usually, your first response?

If you're angry with God, tell Him ~ be honest! (He already knows) It can't be ignored, it has to be dealt with. Even, our intimacy, in human relationships are broken when we refuse to forgive. Ask God to come and melt your heart and show you your situation from His perspective, to forgive you.  If you are angry with someone else, your fellowship with God will be broken till you can forgive and make it right. Run to make it right, God will honor your effort!

Matthew 6:14-15 says,

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

We may not feel they deserve to be forgiven, but we, certainly, have desired God to forgive us, even when we don't deserve His forgiveness. Besides the person we are so angry with, isn't the one being eaten up and tortured inside by the unforgiveness, it's us!  God calls us to forgive, for our benefit ~ it frees us up to walk in peace with God and man.  In doing so, we are leaving it in God's hands to deal with the other person, justly. Let go and let God! God's word says we should pray for our enemies, so, go as far as, to even, pray for God's grace and mercy to be shown to others; remembering He forgave you. Ask God to search your heart and to cleanse and forgive you, call it what it is, SIN, and don't sugar coat it, be truthful with yourself and with God. We, also, need to forgive ourselves. We, often, bring our problems on ourselves, but God is gracious and forgiving! Repent and turn back to Him!

God knows what you're going through ~ pray:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and  grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Psalm 51:10-12

Psalm 51: 17 says,

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, God you will not despise."

What is a contrite heart? It is a repentant heart, a heart that is broken.

1 John 1:8-10 says,

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He's faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:11-14 says,

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." (Thank God for His forgiveness)

Now, that all issues are dealt with, we are in the right position to fellowship with a Holy God! Do you realize you have access to come before the throne of Grace? Come into His presence, search for Him in His word and ask Him to give you a passion for Him and His statutes. You are on the right path, my friend! I'm so proud of you for your heart is seeking after God! He will guide you into all truth! Look to Him for all things!

I know it's difficult that God is unseen, but if you seek Him, daily, you won't just find Him, but you will come to know Him and, even, trust Him. You will see Him, acting on your behalf, in ways unimaginable, in ways others don't see! We can feel funny making those first, feeble, attempts, not knowing how to begin. Relax, ask God to show you Himself, He desires for you to know Him, He will make Himself known to you, but don't get impatient. (Your most intimate relationship on this earth, didn't happen over night, it was built over time and on trust.) When you read His Word, ask God to be your Teacher, to show you it's treasures; ask for wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 2:1-9 says,
"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair ~ every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."

Proverbs 3:1 says,
"My son, do not forget My teaching, but keep My commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity."

God has given us His word as a "plumb line". A plumb line is used by masons and carpenters to establish a true vertical. If you're going to "plumb up" a wall, you're going to make sure it's, perfectly, perpendicular, that it's straight. God's Word, His commands, are a plumb line or a standard to measure our lives by. As we read God's word, it shows us where we need to make changes, to align our lives with Him. He is our plumb line!

Psalm 119:9-11 says,
" How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."

God's desire is for us to know Him, intimately, and love Him with all our being (heart, mind, soul and strength)! To put Him first and foremost in our lives! "This is the first and greatest commandment."

Mark 12:30 says,
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength."

John 17:3 says,
"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

John 14:6 says,
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except by Me."

John 14:21 says,
"Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love Him and show Myself to Him."

How do we know we know God?

1 John 2:3-6 says,
"We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, 'I know Him,' but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His Word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did."

I'm praying for you, my friend! Continue your pursuit! Ask God to draw you, to give you a forgiving heart, to give you a heart that seeks after Him, daily! A heart of forgiveness, is a heart set free!

One Nation Under God ~ Taking It Back One Heart At A Time!

Ask the people around you, "How are you?" The most frequent answers you'll hear are, "Busy!", "Weary!" or "Tired!"

Daniel 7, speaking of the end times, says that Satan will weary the saints! We're there aren't we? Can you relate? Some, here, are working two and three jobs, just to get by! Gas and food prices are still climbing!

I'm reminded, through this blog, how many people are hurting; how many have lost their jobs, retirement, houses and lands. Many expecting to retire at the age of 60, have had to go back to school or be creative in how to continue to provide for their families.

We've been, greatly, blessed to live in a nation that has been flourishing for most of our lives; but for many, the future is looking bleak! In the down turn of our economy, the people we've placed in office seem to be confused and fighting over what to do and we don't know if economy will come back! Our nation is in debt, a figure, we wouldn't begin to know how to write on paper!

Christians are concerned about the spiritual and moral conditions of our country and our churches. What once caused us to hang our heads in shame, is, now, the new fad! People are living in sin and not even ashamed of it! Our country is in spiritual and moral decay! But there is something we can do about it!!! Are you willing?

If we look at the history of God's people (Israel) there is much for us to learn about God's ways and requirements. When Israel walked in obedience God blessed them and their land; there has always been the connection between the two. When they grew proud and rebellious God disciplined them and when they continued in sin, they were taken into captivity; their crops were taken by the enemy or failed to produce. When they turned back to God, He heard their cries and God rescued them and blessed them and their land was prosperous once again. This has reoccured over and over, again, in history.

But listen to what God says about any nation in Jeremiah 18:7-9 says,

"If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down or destroyed, and if that nation repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned."

2 Chronicles 7:14 rings in my ears,

"If my people, who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face (presence) and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Three things God asks us to do: #1 humble ourselves before him #2 turn from our wicked ways #3 and to seek His face (presence). When we do these, He promises to: #1 hear from heaven #2 forgive our sins #3 heal our land. 

As believers, God's people, we are responsible to be a Light in the darkness, but our Lights have grown dim! Satan is winning the war, he's taking more ground! He's wearied us, we're tired and burnt out! Our lights, no longer shine, brightly, when we're walking in sin!

We've grown too busy to spend time with the Lord, to hide His word in our hearts, that we might not sin against Him. We've forgotten where our strength and our power comes from! We've ceased to put Him first in our lives! We've lost our impact on a dying world! We're trying to do it all in our OWN POWER! That's why we are tired! We, as God's people, need to turn back to Him; to repent and seek His face; to be renewed and refreshed, to shine, brightly, once again! What we really want to do, we make time for! We have as much of God as we want!

Roman's 12:2 says,

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God ~ this is your spiritual act of worship."

Does our worship look more like a living sacrifice for God, or do we come to God for our own comfort? We have a tendency, as humans, to put ourselves in God's place and expect Him to serve us!

I challenge you to put God in His rightful place! Repent, turn from sin and seek His presence. Let's stop complaining about the state of our union and take it back! Sit at His feet, get plugged into our POWER SOURCE and put weariness and business behind us!

Be still, my friend, cease striving! Let God be God; let Him simplify your life! Put GOD FIRST and He will show you favor, as you walk through your day, HE will lighten your load! It's true! He will reorder your world! You will have time you did not have before!

Matthew 6 :33 rings true!
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."

Psalm 1: 1-3 says,

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

Are you tired of feeling withered? Be still and listen to His still small voice! Learn to enjoy living again! Check out the blessings of the righteous below!

Psalm 37:18-31 and 39-40 says,

"The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. But the wicked will perish: The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish ~ vanish like smoke. The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off. If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They're always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him."

Let's be Light and dispel the darkness in our corner of the world! Let's bring revival to our land one heart at a time and let us say, boldly, "Let it begin with me! Let's win it back ON OUR KNEES! Let's power up! We have direct access to the Throne Of Grace! Let's run to Him DAILY and be renewed and strengthened, so we shine, brightly, once again! 

If you're reading this, I could just kiss your face! Why? Because you, my friend, are a Seeker! You are in PURSUIT of a Holy God or you wouldn't bother to read this! He promises ~ if we seek Him, we will find Him! We were created to be VICTORS, NOT VICTIMS! Let's pursue revival in our own hearts, first, and then we will be an impact in a dying world! Make God, your ONE pursuit, the most important and first thing in your day and He will bless your socks off! I'm praying for you!

Imprisoned With Praise!

In our last blog we were discussing, "A Life Lived In His Presence Is A Life Of Praise"!
In today's passage of scripture we will see what impact a life surrendered and lived in His presence has on others! A life lived for God is a powerful life! A life surrendered, walks in His power! Check it out!

Acts 16: 22-26 says,
"Once we were going to a place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed  Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
When the owners of the slave girl realized their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."

These men were upset at their loss of money, not what Paul and Silas were, actually, doing. It was in an act of revenge that they took them before the authorities; they were angry! Notice, they made no mention of their loss of money, at all, but focused on putting fear of them in hearts of others: "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice." I think it's funny that the fortune teller, who was demon possessed, knew exactly who they were! Boy, he was a great witness! Lol.
(Take a look at what happens with the crowd; the fear tactic worked!)

The scriptures say,

"The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them stripped and beaten. After they had been SEVERELY flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them, CAREFULLY. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. AT ONCE all the prison doors flew open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
The jailer called for the lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved ~ you and your household." Then they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then, immediately, he and his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God ~ he and his whole family."

Paul and Silas drew their strength from God, to be able to respond to their circumstance with singing and praise; that is not a natural response in their circumstances! God's presence in them, gave them the ability, to move beyond the human response, that would have, likely, been one of despair. God's Word says they were SEVERELY flogged so they had to be in severe pain, but rose to the occasion to praise God for in their circumstances! Their faith gave them a different perspective; they believed that they were in God's hands and that He would use, even their persecution and suffering for good! They were, physically, imprisoned, but their minds weren't. We don't have to be imprisoned by our circumstances either!

As Paul and Silas sang praises don't you wonder what the other prisoners were thinking?  It says, "the other prisoners were listening to them". These men were known to be "men of God" though there wasn't alot of respect given them. Their message and their praise set the tone for what happened next! Look at God's response to their imprisonment and their praise!
The earthquake, would in a normal situation, just been considered just that, an earthquake. But look at the jailer's response after he's told not to take his life, "We are all here!" God has drawn this man to his knees, trembling, in repentance. God has opened the eyes of this man's heart to see this as the hand of God and he trembles on his knees before them. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

God had sent two men, in His name, to seek and save the lost. They had been willing to give up their lives, to live and walk in God's presence; to be His hands, His feet, and His voice. They didn't have the power to change the jailer's heart or the power to give him eyes to see God. God was present with them and God was using them to join Him in what He was already doing. God was there to draw and save the jailer and his family. God was on a mission and He had two men that were willing to do all He asked; to share the message God sent them to share. God was the power behind the message, He was pursuing the hearts of men. God was using these two men that knew Him, so intimately, that their first response to being persecuted, flogged, thrown in prison and put in stocks was to PRAISE HIM! God was WITH THESE MEN! Could He not have provided the earthquake "at a more opportune time" and  caused everyone to run and the flogging and the imprisonment to never happen. Sure! God could have saved everyone in the prison, if He so desired. We don't always understand God's ways; that's why He's God and we are not! Our hearts are filled with questions as we read this passage; some of those questions won't be answered till we get to heaven.

But I know this ~ I want to live and walk in the light of God's presence! I know I need His help to do that! Their faith unnerves me! I want to love God that much, that I would have that kind of strength to have that kind of response! But if that's my thinking, haven't I missed the point? They weren't acting in their own power, their relationship was so personal with God, that they were moving in HIS POWER, not their own! The power of His presence!

We, so quickly, move to independence in our thought process! We're trained in our workplace to be confident, self motivated, to be decisive and independent (self made). God requires just the opposite: humility, self surrender, to look to Him in every thing and to be, completely, dependent. We are meant to be set apart from the world! We will be ODD, ridiculed and laughed at and yes, as we become more like Him, we will be persecuted!

How does the world view you? As a friend, like them? Or as a weirdo and too heavenly minded to be any earthly good? The question that really matters is, "Where is your relationship with God?" What does God think about you? A life lived in His presence is a life of power and impact ~ "In His Name And For His Glory", not our own! A powerful life for God, begins at His feet! Want to be used? Get plugged into the Power Source ~ the Vine!

A Life Lived In His Presence Is A Life Of Praise!

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders. Psalm 9:1


There's nothing that makes my heart soar quicker than to recall memories of God's faithfulness or the telling of them! They strengthen my faith, just in their memory!


A heart filled with praise and thanksgiving is a heart filled with joy! Joy has nothing to do with circumstances, joy is an attitude of the heart; that can be chosen, even in the midst of hardships. A heart filled with gratitude comes from a Godly perspective, in the way we view the world around us. A heart of faith is joy filled and seeks to praise and be grateful for, even, the smallest things! It sees the good, even in difficult times. It chooses praise and a spirit of thanksgiving! A joyful heart remains at rest and trusts; not the seen, but the unseen! It believes; it has a fixed focus on the Lord and not on the problem! It is a day to day struggle for us all to maintain a proper heart attitude, a grateful heart!


I Thessalonians 5:18 says,


"Thank (God) in everything (no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks), for this is the will of God for you (who are) in Christ Jesus (the Revealer and Mediator of that will)."


Did you know that a heart of gratitude is God's will for you? This is what He desires! In every situation! This takes work and some maturity!


Colossians 2:7 says,


"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with THANKFULNESS."


A heart rooted in Christ, knows Him, intimately, His character has been proven over time and faith then is chosen over doubt, which overflows into thanksgiving! A heart of faith looks to Him as a sheep does to a shepherd, trusting him and depending on him for ALL things!


Psalm 79:13 says,


"Then we Your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise You forever; from generation to generation we will recount Your praise."


Listen to Psalm 23 from that perspective:


"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."


The sheep are totally dependent on the Shepherd for everything! When we fall from a spirit of dependence on God into a spirit anxiousness, we've just decided our problem is BIGGER than God and He can't handle it. We move in to take control; to help fix it. We need to captivate those thoughts, immediately, and turn to God in repentance and entrust them again to Him through prayer, with THANKSGIVING and in humility.


Often, we come to God with list of prayer requests (complaints), forgetting who He is and, often, are not humbled before Him, as we make OUR WILL known to Him. Our focus is not on the Lord, but on the problems, as we see them outside of His perspective. As we make our desires known to God, we can tend treat Him, as if He were some kind of genie, at our beckon call. We are not seeing Him as Preeminent at all, but have raised ourselves and our wants above Him. There's no humility in this approach, no surrender to His will, but a loftiness or pride; as we can, even, put a certain amount of blame on Him for our demise. Sometimes, even, accusing Him for His lack of caring; demanding our way, as if we were God ourselves and KNOW what's best. Ever been there?


Focusing on the problems, as we list them before the Lord, only causes us to spiral down, as we are reminded with the listing how hopeless our situation is.


Putting God in HIS rightful place as Preeminent, all knowing and our all encompassing Source of Strength, puts our focus in a position to kneel before Him, a right view of ourselves. We recognize His Sovereignty and power and only then, do we see our problems from the proper perspective: as small and in His complete control!


Philippians 4:6-7 says,


"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."


This peace comes by God being the focus and entrusting these petitions to HIS WILL, not our own; letting God be God and surrendering of our will to Him. An ability to rest in and trust that His will is best and believing He has all power to control the outcome. We are believing HIM to do what is best, even if it's not what we'd choose.


Psalm 7:17 says, 


"I will give to the Lord the thanks due to His rightness and justice, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High."


We are choosing to believe God will choose rightly and act justly and are able to praise Him even before we see the outcome; knowing and believing Him to do what is right. This is peace! And it's overflow is a heart of continual praise and thanksgiving! It can be cut short by a lack of faith, by worry or fear; but, also, can be reestablished, as quickly, by repenting and turning back to a stance of faith and gratitude. 


2 Chronicles 7:14 is one of my favorites!


"If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land."


Take a look at our responsibility in this passage (as His people): #1 Humble ourselves ( a right perspective of God and ourselves) #2 To seek His face (His Presence) #3 Turn from our wicked ways. If we follow through on those three requirements, then God promises three things: #1 To hear from heaven #2 To forgive our sins #3 To heal our land. 


When we choose a right perspective of God, to follow His commands then the blessings are many! He's worthy of praise! He takes care of His people! But even when things are hard, choose  a right perspective of God and self (a humble heart) a kneeling position, a heart of praise and thanksgiving and you can know the joy of peace and rest in His Presence! A life lived in His Presence is a life of praise!

God With Us! Out Of The Darkness And Into The Light!

Throughout history God has proven Himself to be a "GOD WITH US",  time and time again. From Genesis to Revelation, we see Him as very PRESENT in the lives of His people. He was present in the beginning, at creation. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God".

John 1:1 says,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made."

Now drop down to verse 14 of the same chapter ~

 "The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Again in the New Testament in Matthew 1:22-23 says,

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son and they will call Him Immanuel" ~ which means, GOD WITH US."

In the Old Testament, in the garden was God not with Adam and Eve? (He walked with them in the cool of the day) What about with Noah, with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? What about Moses? The Israelites? (As God lead them out of Egypt, on dry land through the Red Sea) Was God not with them in the desert? How about as He lead them into the promise land? What about Gideon? What about Samuel the prophet? You name some! There's alot more!

In the New Testament was God not with Joseph and Mary, as Herod pursued them to kill the child (baby Jesus)? Was God not with the Magi, when He warned them to go back another way? Was He not with the disciples? When Peter walked on water? What about with Paul when he was in prison? How about doubting Thomas? Did Jesus not come, so Thomas could see His hands and feet and believe? Thomas didn't believe, yet Jesus came!

Look at the very last verse in the Bible, Revelation 22:21 says,

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be WITH GOD'S PEOPLE. Amen."   With who???

From our birth, we bear His finger prints, as He created our inmost being and through out our lives on this earth, until our death, we see His intimacy continues as a God who is WITH US.

Psalm 139:13-16 says,

"For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be."

He never leaves the side of those He loves: He holds, He guides, He counsels and then takes us to glory!

Psalm 72:23-24 says, 

"Yet I am always with you; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward You will take me to glory."

God is WITH HIS PEOPLE till He takes us Home! God knows us completely, better than we know ourselves. He loves us with an everlasting love!

Psalm 139:1-12 says,

"O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thought from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in ~ behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast."

As we walk through this life on earth, we may have many trials and sorrows, but we DO NOT WALK ALONE. God promises to strengthen, to help, to uphold. God keeps His promises!

In Isaiah 41:10 God says,

"Fear thou not, for I am WITH THEE, be not dismayed; for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee; yea, will I help thee, yea will I uphold thee, in the right hand of my righteousness."

Psalm 89:14-16 says,

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed (happy) are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in Your name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness."

Do you acclaim Him? Have you learned the secret of walking in God's presence? Do you know Him? He can be known!

Deuteronomy 31:6 says,

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord Your God goes WITH YOU; HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU nor forsake you."

One of my favorites, Hebrew 13:5 (AMP) says,

"Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money (including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions) and be satisfied with your present (circumstances and with what you have); for He (God) Himself has said, 'I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. (I will) not, (I will) not, (I will) not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let (you) down (relax My hold on you)! (Assuredly not!)

I want you to know, no matter what you're going through, at the moment, that God loves you and is WITH YOU! You may feel He's forgotten you or that He is far off., but He is not! Whether you are going through difficulties at work or at home, in relationships, illness,  or whatever you are experiencing, God is a very PRESENT help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1) God is going to take you by the hand and lead you THROUGH it, if you will seek Him. It may be scarey and you may feel afraid, but God wants you to enjoy peace and rest in Him, in the midst of it all. I know you just want Him to take it all away! But trust Him, He has a purpose for what you are enduring! He will use it for good! Be patient! Wait on Him!

You may be, saying, "Sheryl, you have no idea what I'm going through! I can't even share with others what's happening to me; it's too embarrassing; I'm not even sure how I found myself in such a dark and lonely place."You're right, I don't know what you're going through, but I've been in some of those dark and scarey places before myself. Places that I felt Satan seem to be winning ground and I felt lost and like I was falling into a deep and dark pit. It may be complicated, but God knows the way out!

2 Corinthians 10:13 says,

"No temptation has seized you, except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Psalm 40:1-3 says,

"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and put their trust in the Lord."

Psalm 46:1 says,

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

You may be saying, "Well, Sheryl, there's no way out of this mess! My life is in ruins! You may be right about a mess, but I promise you, my friend, that WITH God, all things are possible, there is hope! Please don't look at your life without God in the equation! Leave room for a miracle! For God to comfort, to cleanse, to refresh and renew! Leave room for God to work it out in you and for you! Put your hope in Him! Don't trust in what you see, but trust in the unseen! Trust God!

Psalm 77: 1-9 says,

"I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah
You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired: 'Will the Lord reject  forever? Will He never show His favor again? Has His unfailing love vanished forever? Has His promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger withheld His compassion?'"

My friend, the place where you are may seem so dark; you may, even, feel like you've lost sight of the Lord who you once lived for, but God has NOT lost sight of you! I promise, if you can't see Him it's because He's carrying you! God is gracious, turn to Him and cry out for His help, He will give you what you need, not what you deserve!

Psalm 71:19-21 says,

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God is like You? Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again."

Though it may not feel like it,  my friend, this too shall pass! God knows where you are, though, you may feel all alone, He is WITH YOU! Seek Him! He promises to be found by you! (Jeremiah 29:13) Draw near to God and He promises to draw near to you!

Years ago, I found myself in a dark place, afraid and not knowing what was going on inside of me. I found myself in a very scarey place and wasn't sure how I got there! I trembled, as I told the pastor, my father in-law, at the time, that I didn't know if I could stay for the morning service. Lol. All the sudden he started the service early, people were looking at their watches!

Things didn't change over night ~ it was complicated! And the question that I hated the most was ~ How are you? It was innocent and caring question and, often, wasn't even expecting an answer. But it tormented me, because I knew I wasn't okay.

If you're reading this and you're not okay . . . I want you to know that God knows about it! Give Him time to work, hold on a little longer! Be honest and tell Him what you do know! Then trust Him to change what you can't! Find one person that you know you can trust and confide in them! It's okay to need help, we've all been there at one time or another. I'm praying for you! If you're reading this and it doesn't apply, PRAY,  because there are those to who it does!

The Eagle's Nest

Years ago we were pastoring a Grace Brethren Church in Homer, Alaska. We were living in the parsonage, located on the church property, which overlooked the picturesque Kachemak Bay. Across the road was a 70 foot bluff, which towered over the bay, and the snowcapped mountains painted the backdrop. There was a tall sitka spruce that clung to the top of the bluff and mounted high, in it's top branches, was an eagle's nest.

From the parsonage window I had the joy of watching this massive bird raise her eaglets. The Lord and I fellowshipped, many a morning, over hot tea and the Word, as she fed them. What a joyous time we had together and the many lessons that He, often, drew, from outside the parsonage window, to help me better understand His Word; Isaiah 40:27-31 being one of the most precious to me. The last verse in that passage He put before my eyes in living color ~ I will never forget it!

Having watched the mother raise her eaglets over many months and, finally, sending them off on their own, we stood in the parking lot, out in front of the church, one day, as she was perched, firmly, on one of the sitka spruce's highest branches. With great force, she leaped into nothingness, her wings full spread, with all the faith that the wind currents would bring her to rest and carry her higher and to my amazement they did!

A six foot wing span she carried and that majestic bird didn't flap them once! Effortlessly, she rose, circling higher, head and eyes lifted toward her Maker, as she climbed to heaven's heights. She soared without any effort of her own, till she was just a speck in the sky. To look away, even for a moment, meant trying to find a pin hole in the sky and in that moment, God's Word pierced my heart:

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

God's Word is not dusty and old, but "alive and active and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and the intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12)  and that day it spoke to my heart in a way never before!

How often we trouble ourselves over the storms of this life, but how, clearly, the Lord beckons us to learn from the eagle's ways ~ to rise above the storm, mounted up on wings like eagles. Effortlessly, to rise on the gusts, brought by the storms, to the heights above, where there is stillness and rest (in Him). To lift our head to our Maker (to focus on Him) not on the storm, but to be lifted up! (Waiting on Him, trusting!) How powerful is His Word, how great is His creation and how Mighty is our God!

Some look at creation and worship it ~ I see His creation and am in AWE of it's Creator! How about you?

Are You Connected?

I don't know about you, but I really desire to be effective; to spend the last third of my life or however many weeks, months or years I have left, being an effective tool in the hands of my Maker. I want my life to count for eternity! I want to be that "agent of spiritual awakening" that I feel God's called me to be! A brother in the Lord, with a similar calling, that I talked to just this week, uses a different word, "Igniter"; I like that! I want to be fruitful and not to labor in vain. I want to challenge others to come to know the God I love!
How about you? You know, we've, actually, been called to "bear fruit"! Are you praying for loved ones and family members to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Are you desiring to see change?

John 15:1- 11 says,
"I am the true Vine, and my Father is the gardner. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the Vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

This is Jesus speaking, he says just prior to this in John 14:28 that he is going away; he's preparing his disciples for his death in John 14 and giving them further instruction in John 15. He has said that he will send them a Counselor in John 14:15, the Holy Spirit, but says "if you love me and obey what I command"~ "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth." Jesus is talking to the disciples, believers, his followers. He clarifies this in John 14:17 when he says, "The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

In John 15:1 Jesus calls himself "the Vine and his Father "the gardner". He says that the Father cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, but that the Father prunes every branch that bears fruit, so it will produce more fruit. He clarifies it again in verse 3, who he is speaking to, when he says, ("you are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.") He tells them to remain in him and that he will remain in them. They don't fully understand all Jesus is saying, but he will remain in them through his Holy Spirit. We are the branches (v.5) and he says we can not bear fruit by ourselves, we have to remain in the Vine. John 15:5b says, "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart form me you can do nothing."

We've, actually, been appointed, as believers, followers of Christ to go bear fruit.
 Look at John 15:16, it says,
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit ~ fruit that will last."

Have you been praying for your friends and family members, your co-workers to come to know Christ and wondering why you aren't having a bigger impact on them? Christ is showing us, here, we have to stay connected to the Vine. If we want to make an impact on those around us, we are going to have abide in Christ and in his truths; as we do, God will peel away the layers and allow himself to be seen in us. As we are connected to the Vine, the power source, we are being fed and will be a healthy branch and will bear much fruit! God keeps his promises!
Criticism and trying "to fix" our loved ones only beats them down; feeling superior, lording over them, is NOT going to win our loved ones to the Lord, it will only turn them away.
I love the quote by Billy Graham's wife (which I believe applies to everyone, not just husbands or wives). She said, "My job is to love Billy, God's job is to shape him up." How often we play the Holy Spirit, thinking it to be our job to change others. If we want to win those we care about to the Lord, we do it by letting God change us, sitting at his feet! We turn and love others, as he has loved us, unconditionally.
Prayer, abiding in the Vine, meditating on his truths and living them out, speaks louder than words! We aren't looking to be seen, we're looking to be changed!!!
1 Peter 3:15 says, "But, in your hearts, set apart, Christ, as Lord." (Put him first!)
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." To "be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have", is a life lived in hope, that reflects the Lord in such a way that a question is put forth? (People will ask!) A radiant life draws attention, it does not seek it!
If you want to be effective, sit, humbly, at the master's feet, seek him and come to know him, intimately. The more, intimately, you know him, the less you are seen and the more God is glorified in your life. The more opportunities God will give you, to answer the questions (with gentleness and respect).
If you want to be the "fruit bearing" disciple, we've been called to be, it comes with a cost: abiding in the Vine!
Take the challenge! Sit at Jesus' feet! Rise before dawn, spend, at least an hour in his word, prayer and listening to God! Get connected to the Vine! Try it for a month! I hope God will impress on you the intimacy that abiding in the Vine brings! We can do without a little sleep, but a branch apart from the Vine withers and dies; it bears no fruit! How's your branch looking?
Take the challenge! I hope for you to see Jesus as your power source! Apart from him we are nothing!
In Him we can do all things! Praying for you!