A Timely Word

Most of as Christians seek a timely word.  Not just a word that sounds good but a timely word that is needed at that precise moment.  It is a living word and sometimes it comes from sources we didn't expect.

To be honest I have been a little anxious lately but when I read this verse this morning it put me at ease.

The verse is Philippians 4:19, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

God wants to encourage us.

Psalm 68:19 says, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation."

I don't want to be long winded about this but take a moment and seek God who knows our every need.

To Know Him- Continued

“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.  Cry out for insight and understanding.  Search for them as you would lost money and hidden treasure.  Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.  For God grants wisdom!  From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly.  He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity.  He guards the paths of justice and protects those who are faithful to him.  Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair and you will know how to find the right course of action every time.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.” Proverbs 2:2-10

From knowing to knowing.

We can all “know” the mechanics on how to do something through how-to-books, tutorials, YouTube videos and so on but if we do not apply the knowledge in experience- the knowledge just sits there in our heads.

We can listen to someone tell us how to ride a bike but unless we actually try riding a bike we won’t “know” how to ride a bike.

I find that true with the knowledge God gives us.    God doesn’t want us to just “intellectually” know about him and his wisdom and store it some mental grain elevator never to be used or eaten but he wants us to take that wisdom and apply it to our life through the situations and circumstances and trials in our life.   

Have you ever thought about as God’s people asked God why, what, who, when, where and so on...  was God’s faithfulness not also being tried and tested as well in the human soul?

What is being poured into the human soul? What is being cast inside the human soul in the furnace of life? Who’s likeness are we being formed into as we trust in God?

“… And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more…” Note: 2 Corinthians 3:18

Quick note:

We must live our lives in a manner that won’t bring sorrow or quench His Holy Spirit for we receive God’s wisdom and power through the Holy Spirit. 

Scriptures: Ephesians 4:30, John 16:13-15, 1 Thessalonians 1:5 & 5:19

Look how beautifully the Lord has dressed them.  They live in the Lord and the Lord lives in them.  Look and see how the Lord takes care of them.  Look and see how the Lord takes cares of them as they trust in him.  The Lord will not let evil overtake them. Look at the simple soul who trusts and holds tight to God – they glorify Him in their life.  Look how God clothes them.  And how they glorify Him in ways they didn’t even imagine.

Look at the peace that adorns their humble sincere façade.  They are intimately acquainted with God knowing he is constantly watching over them and involved in every detail.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit

This reminds me of Jeremiah 17:7-8, Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 8:11-14, Isaiah 11:2-5, Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 46:1-11, Matthew 5:3, Matthew 6:10, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 22:1-14, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:6-7,

Peter writes: “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.  He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!”  2 Peter 1:3

His divine power at work in our heart

Paul’s writes,  “And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”  Ephesians 3:17-19

His divine power is the intimacy we have living in our heart….  And in the heart the things of hope, faith and love grow.  And there they season and flavor the thoughts of the mind which produce godly words and actions.

Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

Quick note:

Experience:  (I won’t belabor this point.)  Definitely we know experience brings credibility of God in our life.  Experiences with God build intimacy between us the creation and our creator.  

The experiences we have are not just for us but also for others. 

For Romans 10:14-15 says: ^“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? ¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Quickened by the Holy Spirit.

As we mature and grow in God we find instances of “quickening”.   Quickening as I have come to know it is a godly spirit driven thought or urging that doesn’t come off the top of our head or our intelligence.  It is a word or truth or unveiled truth/revelation either heard in the ear or mind or seen in a vision of the believer.  It is used to warn, educate, direct, remind, encourage, correct, heal and empower.   You didn’t come up with it on your own.  It didn’t come from our “immediate intelligence.” It just showed up.  And when we think about it we know we can’t take credit for this because of how it came but it is just another reminder that God deserves all the credit and He is alive and working in us.

Quickening: Is for you or the one God wants you to minister to.

I am reminded of Peter in Acts 2 where is quotes Joel 2:28-32.  The Holy Spirit has been poured upon the believers of Jesus Christ.  The believers started speaking in languages they didn’t know -about the wonderful things God had done.  Some people wondered how this was possible for these people to speak their specific language when they weren’t even from the same region they came from.  Others started to mock the speakers saying these people were just drunk.  It just sounded like their language.  But Peter stepped forward and corrected them and the Holy Spirit dropped in his mind the scripture from Joel.  Think about it, out of all the Old Testament Peter picks that one scripture.

Often when we quietly and humbly seek God for help, He quickens our soul with a word just for that moment and season.

 David wrote, “I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD according unto they word.” Psalm 119:107

I remember feeling overwhelmed recently and God whispered, “Don’t worry, just pray.” Instantly a peace came over my soul.

So what does the concordance say about the word “quicken”?  

“Quicken” means: “to make alive”.  When I think of that phrase I think of the word “manifest.”  We a believers in Christ are to manifest God.  

1 Corinthians 12:7 says “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”  

To quicken means

1.           spiritual power to arouse and invigorate

2.          to restore to life

3.          to give increase life: thus the physical life

4.        to endued with new and greater powers of life 

We know this is only made possible because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

God quickens us to share a word with others and because it came from Him, the hearers have assurance that what we have said is true.   “…. It was not only with words but also with power for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true…” Note: 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Sometimes God quickens us to action or to do something.   

I remember a pastor told us a story of him and his family driving on a mountain road.  A man directing traffic told him to stop in this specific place but then God told the pastor to move the car to another place.   It was only a few moments later a big truck lost its brakes and came roaring down the hill and through the very place him and his family were told to park a few moments before.   If they had not moved, they would have been plowed over by the truck.

Even right now as I write this blog God is giving me instruction and insight.  He is stirring up and invigorating me and inspiring me with his word.  I have never gone to bible school or college.  It is He, the Holy Spirit, at work in me that is teaching.

Spirit and truth

How can you worship someone if don’t know them.  Have you ever wondered about that? 

I am reminded of Romans 1:21 “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused.” 

Jesus said “But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.  The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth,”  John 4:23-24

When we think of  “worship” we tend to think of it as “praise and worship”.  I remember going to church before I was saved and getting nothing out of praise and worship – and the reason I didn’t get anything out of it was because I didn’t know God.  I didn’t know the truth of God and God’s Spirit was not living in me.  So how could I have worshipped God in spirit and truth?

I have been finding in life that “worship” is more the “praise and worship” - it is a way of life.    Worshipping God is realizing and growing in whom God is… He is to be feared, respected, loved and we are to abide/live/and trust in His Spirit.  And in knowing Him we gain peace beyond our understanding, vitality in our being, strength of heart, comfort, and joy. 

One last thought:  Worshipping God in spirit and truth is to love God.  God gives us this commandment to love him but the commandment is not so much for him as it is for us.

If we know God who is love… and his love sustains and empowers us then to know Him has great power does it not?

Love is partnership between you and God:  His love helps us bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. His love never fails.  Note: 1 Corinthians 13:7

  

Affections

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A backpack loaded down and full of essentials… water bottles, and few nature bars close at hand and up the trail our hiking boots took us into massive green blanket of the forest where the monotony of switchbacks is rewarded with an eye full of natural wonders.   I can still see those crisp clear mirroring lakes, trickling streams, thundering waterfalls, roaring snow melt rivers and slow moving creeks filled with pacing mountain trout.  I still can see those green grassy inclines planted on the cliffs at the edge of the forests.  How the massive trees below looked so small.   I can see the curious squirrels looking for handouts and the whistling rock badgers playing hide and seek in the boulders.   I still can see the eagles soaring in the quiet air and the camp robber birds sitting and flying from the sparse hardy wind blown trees amongst the snow covered slopes of the mighty mountain.   I remember hiking through the mist and above clouds where the peaks got to see the last moments of evening sunlight.   It felt like it was just us and mountain.   Oh how I enjoyed hiking the mountains of the Cascades.

Of course there were those not so fun hiking trips as well.  Those times where the cold blowing rains were relentless and we were trenched to the bone, where my aching tired muscles yearned for soft bed and hot shower, where our bug repellent seemed to attract the mosquitoes then keep them away and we were more or less chased off the mountain by the swarming blood suckers.

During such trips my thoughts would rewind on what landmarks I saw along the path towards the beginning of the trip…  a fallen tree, a bridge, salmon berry bushes, a boulder, a stump, an exposed root, a sign, an abandoned mine, another switchback… “How far was that from the trailhead?” I would think.   

When we start paying “more attention” to the growing darkness and evil in the world we too can become tired and discouraged.  We begin taking more then just “tabs” on the “happenings” of world but we begin saying to ourselves, “There is another landmark Jesus spoke… now how much further was that to the trailhead so we Christians can go home?   This “happening”…. where does that fit in to the relation of Christ’s return?

Jesus words in Matthew 24 are referenced more frequently in our mind, are they not?

BUT we must be careful about this “OVER FOCUSING”….

For this negative focus is like putting a noose around your neck and just waiting for the floor to drop from under you.   This negative focus puts us in compromising positions and can even cause us to sin because we aren’t living in the hope of our salvation.  We, who are in Christ, have been set free from this life but focusing too much on the evil and darkness of the world can keep our soul captive and make us unproductive in Christ. 

For our life is not based on the temporal things of this world but on the eternal.

“Set your affections on the things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2

I won’t pretend and say the things that we are seeing and are hearing aren’t disturbing but God is reminding me to set my affections on him not this world.

“For we brought nothing into this world, and is certain we can carrying nothing out.” 1 Timothy 6:7

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.  For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.  And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

“Many sorrows hath the wicked; but he that confideth in Jehovah, love-kindness shall encompass him.” Psalm 32:10

“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

So as we continue to see the gathering of vultures, remember it's a journey and we are only passing through.
God has equipped us for such a journey.

May God reminds us daily....

Pursue who we are in Christ.

Live a godly life by being thankful towards God.

Live by faith by focusing on the things, which are eternal.

Love by abiding in His love.

Have perseverance through hope in God’s faithfulness and our salvation in Him.

Live in gentleness and humbleness by living in reverence for God.

"The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the LORD.  The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 29:19

 “May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”  Hebrews 13:21

For the Battle is Not Yours, But God's Pt. 9

 THE LOVE that SETS US FREE                  

 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Let all of Israel repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”

Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. Psalm 118:1-5 (NIV)

We often hear and see stories about freedom.   We are inspired by such stories are we not?  But freedom is more then being physically free; freedom is about being spiritually free.   If we are not spiritually free then physical freedom is of little comfort.  God is all about setting us spiritually free in the understanding of his love and wisdom of his love.

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his son and forgave our sins.   He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:7-8

God showered his kindness on us.  That means God’s kindness is passionate.  It is pure.  It is full of Him; it is not half-heartedly given but given in the fullness of HIS LOVE.
 
Through humble submission and trust in God’s love we gain a greater strengthening understanding and wisdom that expels the things that aims to tear down and undermine the love of God in our lives.  The love we desperately need at all times in our lives.   The love we especially need in those times -where the situations of life seem to be waging war against our soul.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.  So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world.  Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear.   If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:16-18

Think about what happens inside of us when we put an emphasis on the world, circumstances, others, and ourselves…  don’t we all succumb to the pressures of life?

I have never found putting emphasis and favor in the world, circumstances, others or myself a good thing.  These things can all change at a moments notice.  They are insecure and unstable but I find when our attention, focus and trust is on God and HIS love - worries and anxieties, comparisons, trying and difficult circumstances, what if’s, worldly enticements and persuasions, debilitating thoughts, are subdued and put to rest.

FAITH in God has a peculiar influence on our life, as we trust Him.  What normally would cause us unrest and anxiety- feelings of insecurity and alarm are reduced dramatically.   What would be considered as a daunting task before would be deprived of it definition of “daunting” by the reality of God’s love for us.

God wants to be our source of strength and spiritual supply.  God is our Heavenly Father but as our Heavenly Father he is also our Comforter, Encourager, and Advocate as well.

Ever think about why we suffer so badly internally at times?

I know when I have thrown a pity party for myself and am down right miserable, it has taken me sometime to get my focus where it is suppose, where my true source of joy, peace, hope, and happiness is meant to be kept in.  I know it’s only by Holy Spirit that I recognize where I have gone wrong in my thinking and by God’s grace he continues to perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish me in his awesome love.

God wants us to know the stronghold we have in Him.  Through faith, the Lord becomes the stronghold of our life.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

 THE PEELING of LAYERS
I have found that in the midst of battles combined with faith in God, battles do a lot for us to strengthen our faith in God’s love then if we had no battles at all.

Battles peel away the worthless layers of ourselves, the layers that get in-between God and us.  And as these layers are peeled away, they reveal another deeper aspect, confidence and assurance in our Heavenly Father.  And in this grace filled realization of our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness and love for us, a deeper faith is tunneled, channeled and solidified within us.   It is a faith, one cannot find if they don’t see a need for God’s freeing love.

Not to sound hokey but the deeper the need of God’s marvelous love, the greater assurance and confidence we have and the warm glow of God’s love lives in us.

Jesus said, “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3

Do you see your need?  Do you see a need for God’s spiritual blessings and love in your life?

I think how amazing this growing realization is -considering this would not be possible and known to us without Jesus Christ.

Think about it: Through Jesus we could call out to God to be saved.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, God has given us the Holy Spirit.  And He, the Holy Spirit, will not only raise our lives to eternal life in heaven but is now at work within us, raising us from our own understandings to building and maturing us in the “deep knowing” of God’s glowing and marvelous love.
 
God is working from what we were and understood to the core, which is HIM.  Where the soul was created and where it will end up.

“In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
 
I would venture a guess -none of us really have it together in ourselves but when we trust in God - we are put together.  Our soul is built up, protected, put on the unshakable foundation of ROCK. We are armored up in God’s love.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB)

BEYOND OUR MEANS
Ever felt, “THIS IS BEYOND MY MEANS”?   When we face something that is beyond our means we should expect in faith God will intervene in that situation.  We should remind ourselves and ask God to remind us of ALL He is. We should refresh our mind in all the things he has done.   We should humbly relinquish our burdens and concerns to Him admitting our weakness for such a task.  Then we should see how he abundantly answers.

David wrote “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3

In 2 Chronicles 20 King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah and Jerusalem found themselves in precisely in that type of situation - a situation beyond their means.

The king prayed along with all the people and this is how the LORD answered.

 “As the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives and children, the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there.  His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.  He said, ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem!  This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  Tomorrow, march out against them.  You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.  But you will not even need to fight.  Take your positions, then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory.  He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you! Then King Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground.  And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD.  Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shot.”

Wow! He tells them don’t be afraid or discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not theirs but His.   Then knowing precisely what is happening and going to happen he tells them to march out against them but they won’t even need to fight them.  He says pretty much, “Watch what I will do for you!”  Then he again tells them to not be afraid or discouraged for He is with them.

I think, “That is great!" and then God tells me, “Isn’t that what I do for you as well, not just in situations that are beyond your control but in every aspect of your life?”

We all have “mighty armies” in which we face in our lives but God says go march out in faith and see what I will do for you.  See that battles are already won.   See that I am with you.  See there is no reason to be afraid or discouraged.  God loves and takes care of us more then we could possibly know!

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope for?  Ephesians 3:18-20

For the Battle is Not Yours But God's Pt. 7

^“Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,³⁹ Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 (AMP)

Yet amidst all the things life can and seems to throw at us, we are more conquerors and have gained a surpassing victory through God, who loves us.

 What a thought! Have you thought about such words?

We are more then conquerors….

Ever study history…?

I was thinking about conquerors.  The warrior sultans of the once large Ottoman Empire, Julius Caesar of the Roman Empire, Alexander the Great of Greece, those who carved up Africa in the age of Imperialism, to Hitler… to name a few. 

To these conquerors a little more was never enough to them.   They wanted MORE!  They were unsatisfied no matter how much they had or possessed - their life was still an “empty life”.  Their victories were fleeting along with their empty pleasures that melted like snow in the spring leaving them with nothing.

They never seemed to figure out that the things of this world never satisfied them. 

They tried to find contentment in these things but only unrest followed.

God says we as Christians are more then conquerors… whatever was meant for us to meaningful gain, God has already won and given it to us.   

The war, the battle that mattered most has already been won by Jesus Christ.  Now we stand more then conquerors –we stand as children of the Most High God.

God has given us Jesus Christ and through Christ, he has given us the Holy Spirit, and through the Holy Spirit we have been given everlasting life in heaven and a profound wisdom not just for the mind to fathom but the heart to experience.  We have been given the opportunity to live in the riches beyond the human understanding where peace, love, grace, mercy, faith, joy grow and live.

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”  Ephesians 3:16-19

Is this not what all humanity is clutching for in some manner, shape or form but they look in all the wrong places?  Are they not looking for God’s love to fulfill and satisfy them?  Not realizing what they seek, they entirely dismiss and continually have walked away from- God’s love and assurance.

In Christ we are more then conquerors...  

We told we have gained such a surpassing victory by trusting and accepting Christ.  We have not done anything to conqueror this victory ourselves but it is through Christ.  Christ has won the victory for us and without him; there would be no victory.

It is as if our older brother Christ has shared his victory crown with us.  He has placed it on our head and like children we walk around not truly understanding what has been placed on our head.      

Think about that for a moment…. 1 Peter 2:9

Unlike victories we win on earth that soon become dusty, get put away, are forgotten, our victory is everlasting life in heaven.  It is a treasure where moth and rust and thieves cannot break in and steal.  (Note: Matthew 6:19-20)  
   

Does this mean we will never have to go through any circumstances and trials in this life?    

The answer is "No".   

Life is about trusting God to overcome all the difficulties and struggles in life.  God has made a promise to take care of us through all the ranges of circumstances in life.  A person who isn’t a Christian can’t understand this, they can’t understand if God is a loving God why would a person go through difficult and painful trials in life?  They only see the circumstances; they don’t see the relationship that is being strengthened through the circumstances.   They don’t realize what was meant to for evil (to steal, kill and destroy) God is using as an opportunity to minister mightily to that soul -in ways that he could not have if a person never found or faced circumstances that were out of their control.

Ever watch a person make bread dough? To get the yeast to mix through the entire piece of dough it is continually being pressed and knocked down and kneaded.  

Jesus used this illustration, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread.  Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough." Matthew 13:33

Yes this scripture deals with Christian individuals showing the love of Christ in this world but he also showed me something else with this scripture... He showed me how the battles we experience in this life help permeated God's love and faithfulness in our life.  We are not just permeated a little here and little there but God can use battles to permeate his assuring love in all our heart, mind and soul.   Where the kingdom of Heaven rules over everything  else.  

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.  We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.  We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.   Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Do you see your life as dough and God using the circumstances of life to mix the yeast (God's love and faithfulness) into your life?  Is he RISING you up in HIS LOVE? 

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.  Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

This experience of life is about building a relationship with God, seeing where our true strength comes from and waiting with anticipation to see what God is going to do.

I understand life can be a bit daunting and intimidating and even terrifying because of all the “unknowns” and our own imaginations and “what if’s” but what does God's word say?

^“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. ⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:6-8

Praying to God is surrendering all our needs, worries and anxieties to God.  We must ask God to help us redirect on our mind on his promises.  We must fight and resist the urges to make the battles of life our burden.  We must cast down imaginations and every thought that exalts itself above the truths of God.  We must with God's help bring every thought under the obedience of Christ.

^“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

God is not just the God of Abraham and Jacob but he is the God of you and me.   We forget what God sees in us.  He sees what we many times can’t see in ourselves.  God identifies Himself, as our God, our Heavenly Father, our Savior, our King, our friend, our helper, our provider, our Shepherd, our refuge and we are His children…. HIS CHILDREN. 

1 Peter 5:6 says "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" (KJV) 

Prayer: Heavenly Father we are calling on you as your children, to instill in us the realities of your love- in such a profound way in our heart and mind and soul -that we may walk graciously and be empowered by you in our everyday walk with you, that we may not stumble or be intimidated but glorify you as we walk in this life.  That we may understand the victory that has been placed upon us and in us. And we thank you for this in Jesus name Amen.

Let's remember we are more then conquerors, and we have been given surpassing victory in Christ Jesus.

  

For the Battle is Not Yours, But God's Pt.6

FOCUS, LOVE & THE HEART

To overcome any obstacle is to have focus. We are told, “Stand your ground” (Ephesians 6:4) but it’s difficult to stand our ground in battle if we can’t hear God over the noise- external or internal.  It’s hard to stand our ground when we aren’t in the line of sight to see God.

Thank God he has given us as Christians his Spirit so when we focus on Him, we can partake in His wondrous reinforcements to inspire and encourage our soul.

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body.  When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.”  Matthew 6:22

To live in contentment in any situation is to accept the supreme authority of God over our life… To find contentment is not dwelling on the dark side of the battlefields of life but remembering to look for the light of God’s faithfulness in the darkness.

 “And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness--secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.”  Isaiah 45:3


  It’s unanticipated in the human understanding, how in the challenges and trials of the Christian life- the hidden treasures of God’s love and faithfulness are given and revealed to us in a supernatural way or manner.    Fear is whittled away; the firm grasp on this life is lessened, the burdening baggage is abandoned, and the playground swings higher and higher as we are intimately shrouded in God’s love.  We are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3).

What the world considers absurdity becomes reality standing before them, as we trust God.   We may not even be aware of our testimony to world because we are so focused on God’s assuring love. What does this mean?  It will mean the crowing assurances in our selves and in this world have been shooed out of the canopy of our branches by a song, beautifully written and composed by God.   In these songs, our branches bear good fruit because of God’s assuring love.   The fruit will not be eaten or ruined by the crowing flocks but preserved and kept safe by God himself.

“For the LORD your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 


 Ever wake up singing a song or during the day a song comes to mind to remind you of God’s love?  Who do you think put that song in your head?

We all need to meditate and sing those songs in all the different circumstances that life brings.

“At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.  The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them.  After they had finished off the army of Seir, they turned on each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the outlook point in the wilderness, there were dead bodies lying on the ground for as far as they could see.  Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.  King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing and other valuables- more then they could carry.  There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!”  2 Chronicles 20:22-23


Sometimes it takes us days to see all the good things God had done for us, after the battle has been won and we are humbled by all God’s goodness.

 Ever see a little child being steadied by their parent’s hands as they begin to learn how to walk?  God, as our Heavenly Father, is also there to steady us as we walk in the uncertainty of battle.

David writes, “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”  Psalm 40:2

Do you see the little excited child in yourself, being led and held up by our Heavenly Father?

In the complexities of life we actually observe the great truth of the rod and staff of our shepherd that protects us and comforts us. (Note Psalm 23:4) They become as visible as the shadow of the tree trunks in the sun.

The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs 20:24


At times in life, we all want to know what is going to happen as we walk this path of life… and I don’t think that is bad.   We should always seek the Lord for guidance.  Conflicted or not, we should ask.   But more importantly God wants us to be abundantly aware of His watchful and provisional care of us.  He wants us to be surrendered to this empowering freeing truth as we are also surrendered to his will for our lives.

I find we as Christians know many truths in God’s word, the Bible, but they are no use to us if they are just words on the page that we have memorized and recalled having read them or hearing them many times before.   We are not to be just theologians.  The words of God are to have meaning and life in them. They are of have great value to us because God has shown them to be true and we sincerely mean them when we say and sing them back to the Lord.  The words of God are love letters to us – with so much depth we will probably not completely comprehend their entire meaning.

The words of God are to build a bond been our Heavenly Father and us as his children.    God not only gives us his word but provides proof to his word by his actions just as a father and mother are suppose to build a loving bond with their children.   But unlike our earthly parents, God knows us intimately and knows the story of our life- every detail, from beginning to beginning (from earth to heaven).

For God’s word to be active and of any powerful use to us we have to continually seek to have and live in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

Not a relationship with words on a page but a relationship that transcends the words on the page to a relationship with God and where the word of God comes to life.

A person is not in love with the love letters but the sweetheart who wrote the love letters.

The cry of my heart is to love God more - knowing the more I love God the more I will be able to experience the freedom of his love.  We won’t have to fear.  We won’t have to be afraid.  We won’t have to have anxiety.  We won’t feel less of a person.  We won’t have the circumstances of life manipulate and trip us up. We can be the person God wants us to be regardless of circumstances.  God can’t love you or me anymore then he loves us now it’s us that has to chose to live in his love more.

 Hillsong wrote a song years ago called “Show me your ways”.  I believe its was inspired by Psalm 25.   Here are some of the lyrics.

Show me Your ways
That I may walk with You
Show me Your ways
I put my hope in You

The cry of my heart
Is to love You more
To live with the
Touch of Your hand
Stronger each day
Show me Your ways

It is that the cry of your heart?  We all need God’s love to show us the way through this life.  We need God’s up close and personal presence, instruction and assurance in our life.   We all need to love God more so we can be stronger in his love. Jesus replied, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” Matthew 22:37


God’s love doesn’t take affect because in our anxious we forget God is with us. We forget God is omnipresent.  He is always present.  God is the Jello/gelatin and we are the piece of fruit in the Jello/gelatin.   Plus in the believer, the Christian, God doesn’t just surround us but is inside of us- the Holy Spirit,

 “for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  (Note Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:8)

That is why David wrote, “I shall not want.” in Psalm 23

That is why Jesus said, “Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:32

I guess the question is, are we living for ourselves or for the Father? Are we living to glorify God in our life?  Do our thoughts to our actions glorify God?

Thoughts we should be having in our heart,  “I do not need to fret about tomorrow because I know the Lord has prepared everything I need for tomorrow.  LORD thank you for preparing and providing provision for me this day and for tomorrow.  Thank you Lord that you will be with me.  Thank you Lord you will be touching and guiding me every step of the way. Thank you Lord it is not my battle, but yours.  I shall not want.”

    Thank you Lord that by thinking and meditating on these things in our hearts we may live in your love, in the moment and glorify you, in Jesus name Amen.