Desires We know As LIFE

My thoughts…

I was thinking about us… humanity… God’s chosen creation… And how He created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27).  How that image is to reflect God… I then thought of what we all desire as humanity.

We all desire hope… joy… peace… grace… what is faithful… righteousness… morality… justice… love… acceptance… courage… humility… self-control… purpose… security… and eternal life in Heaven. 

And it is clear when we read God’s word… these desires have not only been put in us by God our Creator but can only be had, satisfied and answered and given by God our Creator.

But by denying God in our daily life, we deny and deprive ourselves of what we desire most (what we somehow know as “Life”).  And nowhere else to turn we turn to the substitutes of the world that fail, never satisfy and destroy our soul.

When we deny God we reflect the fallen and hungry world BUT when we take hold of God’s hand like a little child- LIFE comes…  For we were made by Jesus Christ.  

“He was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made and without Him nothing was made that has been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men…” John 1:3

(Take your hands and lock your fingers together.  One of your hands illustrates your soul and the other illustrates God who is Life.)  God created our soul to yoke “perfectly” with His Spirit just like our hands fit together perfectly. Note: Matthew 11:30

Several verses in the bible say, “Clothe yourself with Jesus Christ.” This would also illustrate how the Spirit of God perfectly fits our soul.   

Allowing our soul to be yoked, calibrated, receptive, obedient, abided in the Spirit of God manifests His good, perfect satisfying will in our life (Romans‬ ‭12:2‬)‬‬ and produce what is says below. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no Law.”  Galatians 5:22-23

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

The Spirit alone gives eternal life.  Human effort accomplishes nothing.  And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63   Note: Galatians 3:3

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life... (John 14:6) It makes perfect sense then if He created us then He is the source of what we desire to fulfill and define as LIFE.  But in order to experience and have what our soul desires, we have to come to Jesus the source of LIFE.  We have to surrender our life to Him and make Him Lord and Savior over our soul. He is the only way we will ever experience LIFE and LIGHT for our soul on a daily basis. 

“For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled it with what is good.” Psalm 107:9

Come and experience the way, the truth and the life in your soul!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus I know by the way I have been living I have not only failed to experience LIFE in you but have looked to other things to try to satisfy my soul and in doing so have sinned against you - for I have looked upon them as if they were gods.  Forgive me.

In my faulty human understanding I have also sinned against you and others as well.  In this I ask humbly for your forgiveness.  I have heard that you created me and my rightful place is with you.  You are the LIFE and LIGHT in which I have sought for so long.  Jesus I surrender my life to you.  Be my LORD and Savior and fill me with your glorious Spirit that I may not strive in the ways and understandings of men but in your perfect will for my life. 

Thank you Jesus for laying down your life for mine that I may have life and life more abundantly in you.   Help me to know you and grow in you according to your word.  Help me find a spirit filled bible believing church that I can grow and be part of.  Help me as I read your word to understand it and have it enrich my soul as you guide me in reading it.  Enrich the soil of my soul that the roots of my faith will grow deep in your love.  In the measure of faith you have given me- I pray this in your wonderful name- In Jesus name Amen.

*May the Spirit of God be poured out upon you according to your honest words of faith in Jesus Name, Amen.

THE TREE

I was shown a vision.   There was this dark gray forest, a forest I thought at first were hairs on a dog in the moonlight.  But as I looked more closely I realized these were no hairs of a dog at all but trees.  They were trees without any limbs or branches.  There were thousands of tree trunks and they were all leaning like a great wind at blown them in all the same direction but within this sea of grey slivers I was guided to a single warm yellow light.  I looked closer and realized it was a tree, a tree of light.   It was small and I would had probably missed it if it hadn't been pointed out to me.  It had branches and leaves and it was standing upright.  A tree of light.... in a "barren" wilderness.

It does remind me of dream I had of a ocean and a forest.  A ocean that was pouring onto the land stripping the trees of their bark and laying their fruit to waste.   The trees were no longer getting their water from the mountain but the poisoning ocean.

If you have the Spirit of God living in you, you know the ocean is the sea of immoral humanity.  It poisoned the trees with it's sinful values, rules, mandates, human understanding and so called "improvements".  You can also figure the mountain is God, the source of life.      

The forest in this vision also had been stripped.... and a darkness had come upon it.

When you think of the word “gray” what does it mean to you? 

Gray isn’t black and white.  When things are not black or white, then there is no real sense of right and wrong.  When these things become gray how do we define things like justice, morals, sin, love...? 

When people do not stand on what is right or wrong or know right from wrong then they are blown this way and that way like grass in the wind.  They can believe anything is right and true even though it is not.   Truth is not a matter of opinion.  Truth comes from God, what is written in His word.  When you have no REAL truth living in your soul then you just have a "barren" existence.

Think how those trees were stripped... why were they stripped?

Existing isn’t life but “Life” happens when God (TRUTH) is allowed to be engaged in a person’s soul.  JESUS made this possible.  

Christians, God wants us to be that tree of light in a gray world.  He wants to sing in our branches-so to speak.

Yes Jesus said.... “Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”  But He ALSO continued with: “ But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.  And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come…” Matthew 23:12-14

Has the end come? No! Of course not, so why act as if it is so…  Our true HOPE is Alive and Well. And that hope in us is contagious because God, unlimited in encouraging resources and trustworthy promises, is OUR SOURCE!

  

Jesus spoke and there was light.  Jesus came into our life and a newness beyond our imagination came into our life.  We were transformed were we not? Light had come into our life! Truth had come into our life.

Jesus said “I am truth, the way, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John said "God is light" (1 John 1:5) and if you have Jesus then His light is to shine in you for He is the light of mankind. (John 1:4)

Jesus said to those who believe in him, “You are light of the world- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.  Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead put it on a stand and let it shine for all.”

Let the goodness of God flow through you!  TRUST and call upon His goodness with expectation… and in this, the calm peaceful pleasant perfect centering will of God will be manifested in your life! Yes Joy!  And the dark things of this world will become POWERLESS in your life... as the saying goes.. "This too shall pass..."

Do you remember what Psalm 1 says?

"Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. 
 But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law.   They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail.
  Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.  But this is not true with the wicked.  They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.  They will be condemned at the time of judgment.  Sinners will have no place among the godly.  For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”  

Be that tree of light! No matter how small a tree you might think you are- God notices and points you out.
  

Who Is On The Throne of Your JOY?

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“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

Last week I took a “Narcissistic Personality Quiz.” http://psychcentral.com/quizzes/narcissistic.htm

The N.P.Q measures narcissistic mindsets and tendencies… in how one looks at authority, their own body, superiority, entitlement, manipulation, equality, self-sufficiency and vanity.

I did not score high enough to be a categorized as a narcissistic individual but I found the questions interesting and I remember when I had such “narcissistic tendencies” and once acted and thought upon them.

I then read 2013 article on new.discovery.com that reported that data has shown an increasing amount of Americans are becoming narcissists.     http://news.discovery.com/human/narcissism-epidemic-college-students.htm

This was not surprising considering how self-absorbed our society has become and in doing so has become a joyless society. 

We can point the finger at a lot of things… such as the baby boomers or our expectation and reliance on convenience.  But that's not it .... It's who's on the throne of our life.

What happens when life isn’t convenient? 
  

My youngest got a free ticket to a theme park as a reward so we went for the day and while we were patiently standing in line at the concession stand for a refill in our cup, a group of people walked up to the counter and demanded that they be served even though they could see everyone else was waiting in line.  And when the people at the concession stand wouldn’t serve them they got down right rude and disrespectful.  Where did they get that idea of entitlement over all those other people waiting in line?

Who was ruling on their throne? 

I guess you could say we saw a principle of God’s word come to life that day because the many who thought they would to be first ended up last and those considered last ended up the first.

Ever feel bad because you don’t get recognized for doing something?  Where does that come from? 

The N. P. Q is a simple man made test.  It does not adequately measure the accuracy of how God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.  I may not be narcissistic in the world’s eyes but that doesn’t mean “I” or “me” doesn’t wants to crawl up on the throne and paint and color the circumstances of my day.   
  

We as Christians must remember we are children of our Heavenly Father.   God allows us to crawl up on the throne of our hearts to experience that we are not the source of our own joy.  Some learn this and some don't.   And He also allows us to sit on his lap to KNOW HE is the source of our JOY.  

Ever seen the LORD smile? When He smiles there is nothing like it and it fills you with so much goodness that there is no room for the negative symptoms you were experiencing. 
   

We must surrender the throne of our life to Him.  We also must be patient and wait upon the LORD and He will establish our hearts where they need to be set.  He is the good medicine for our heart.
 

“For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.” Ecc 5:20

Are You Practicing the Art of Joy that God Intended for You?

Your Value in A Reactive Society

Aren’t we all simple vessels? I consider myself a simple person and I am amazed in how God can stir and bring His words into such a message using this simple vessel. I know most definitely it is not I who puts the message together but God’s Holy Spirit.

Yesterday He started this message for His young adult bible study and He has continued this morning as I felt compelled to just sit and write down the words that came to mind and I could not help but get a deeper truth in His words and receive a joy from them as layer upon layer was added upon each preceding layer.

Message.
We have become a “reactive” society. I have seen and heard this and it has become an increasing problem on Christian radio and broadcasts, which has trickled down to some podiums of our churches and into our congregations. Not that we shouldn’t be aware of radical organizations such ACLU wanting to take away our ”religious freedoms” but when the radical issues become so big in our mind– there is no more room for godly thought.

This is one of greatest strategies of the devil - that if a man’s focus is bombard by the injustices and issues at hand, he cannot focus on the solution who is God Himself.

Who should matter most in the Christian mind and heart? God.

No problem or man should stand between another man and God.

The issues maybe problems that need to be addressed but we should not allow the issues of the day come between us and the peace God gives us.

We need to get out of the habit of reacting “largely” in how others value us and value our beliefs and/or how we perceive how others value us or value our beliefs. Throwing more gasoline on a fire has never put out a fire- that goes in our broad ways of communicating and our interpersonal communication.

The way we see our value in relation to God will greatly affect our outlook in life.
It will also affect the way you react to those around us.

Have you ever allowed a circumstance or a person get the best of you? Sure you have- because everyone has in some shape or form.

I don't know what the technical term is but I call it "static" like the static on your radio. Static happens when we are no longer receiving from God because we have allowed our spiritual antenna to be blocked by the way our flesh wants to act in a given situation.

One of the ways to get over that static is seeing the reality of God in our life. He is one we can always go to. God is a merciful and gracious God who empowers us in his grace and mercy but we must know in our heart and mind as well that He is also a loving God who wants to invest Himself in our life.

For the mind can carry the knowledge but it means nothing if that knowledge isn’t incorporated in the heart and directed by Holy Spirit.

God’s Love
We are righteous by faith but faith must encompass God’s love.

Remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:2
“…. And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move without love I would be no good to anybody.”

Spiritual gifts are great but they must be encompassed in God’s love when used or else they are worthless.

God's love is worthless to empower us if we just intellectually know God's love in our mind but not in our heart. You are not "in" love with someone intellectually but you are "in" love with them in your heart. Same with God, we must be “in” God’s love (heart, mind, soul) to receive the benefits of God’s love.

1 John 4:15 says

“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.”

You see John is saying we “know” God’s love. We know it in our head, our heart and our soul. God has shown, directed and proved to us this through His love to us.

Living in the Light or the Shadows?
1 John 1:5 says

“God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth.”

When a person grasps God’s love and stands in God’s light there is a dramatic difference in their life then when they hadn’t understood God’s love and light.

We run into problems spiritually when we choose to stand in other people’s shadows and our circumstances or the injustices- creating "static". For those are not truths to stand in rather Jesus said we would face troubles and trials in life but we overcome those things with understanding and knowing God’s love.

I rather live in God’s light then another person’s unpredictable shadows and my circumstances and the injustices in life. How about you?

If you value your enemy, friends, sweetheart, spouse, children, parents, other family members outlook on you more then God then you are sure to fall into darkness. For you have set their opinions of you above God’s loving opinions of you which are to encourage you and strengthen you to do what is right regardless of how others think and treat you.

Matthew 10:28-31 Jesus says what?

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both your soul and body in hell. Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

Laugh when such fears come to mind. Don’t be afraid or offended or hurt by those who don’t value you as much as God the Father “loves” you. When we acknowledge our worth in God and trust Him above all other opinions and other things in this “temporary experience” our life changes and is empowered by God’s love.

I know it can be tough lesson but think "childlike faith." A child thinks about things in the simplest terms and isn't concerned with all the details. They know Jesus loves them because the bible tells them so and so they believe.

If we are afraid, offended or hurt by someone let it be a gauge of where we are placing our value in. Are we placing our value in mere people or the situation or God Himself?

1 John 4:18 continues with

“Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we fear we are afraid it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that His love has not been perfected in us. We love each other as a result of His loving us first.”

No one likes to be judged or feel like they are being judged but we must continue to live in God’s love so the grace of God can empower us to do what is right. God loves me and so I do.

Sometimes in our personal life we need to take a moment or two and we need to step away from the situation and get our focus on where it needs to be – “Where do I stand with God not this person who seems to have a problem with me?”

Many people hated, misunderstood, judged Jesus and even though Jesus was and is God, He drew his strength while he was down here from the Father’s love. He was “in” the Father's love.

Are you one of Jesus’ disciples?
Jesus prayer for his disciples,

“My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father- that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be, as we are- I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.” John 17:21-23

Do you see “and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.” If you know the value of God’s love in your life there is assurance, certainty, and power.

To “know” God’s love is to not just know how to live a godly life “but” to live in God’s love and there in relationship with Him we have assurance of eternal life.

Jesus says in John 17:3

“And this is the way to have eternal life- to know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ the one you sent to earth.”

We must not stand in another person’s shadow, which can be confused as light. Don’t be a child when it comes to this idea for though the moon lights up at night it does not produce it’s own light. God is our source of light....

A Christian needs to stand in God's light - just as they will have to stand and give their account of their life before God. Stand in your Father's light for He loves you.

Understand we only dishonor God when we put someone before God in life and if we have done this and the words and expressions are cast upon us -we can easily trip and fall. Life is messy but let us not make it messier with our ways of thinking.

We all must live in the understanding of our true value is not in people or circumstances or injustices but in God Himself. We are God’s children.

Jesus points me to this scripture in Matthew 6:22

“Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep this darkness will be.”

We must continually ask ourselves, “Is my eye constantly open to the mighty encouragement of God’s love?”

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father. I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:5-11

Do as Jesus says, “remain in His love and you will be filled with joy” in the midst of unpredictable people, circumstances, and injustices for your value is in Him who created you.

Shining Wisdom

Ever read the first couple of chapters of proverbs and what it says about wisdom? Wisdom is wonderful but it only wonderful with the right heart and mindset.

Satan has Godly wisdom but it is useless because it is not carried out in love. He twists God's wisdom just as he does the principles of God's love. He takes God's wisdom and uses to maim, wickedly condemn, encourage flames of pride, to be "politically correct" and cause division amongst followers in Christ and those in this world. Satan hates to see peace in God's chosen creation and he rather use God's wisdom to steal, kill and destroy.

Wisdom is not presumption or hunch or supposing or take a jab in the dark. It's not unfairly using someone's past against them. Those only do more harm then good.

Godly wisdom is trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not depending on your own understanding. It is seeking his will in all you do and having him direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5-6) God's wisdom provides an opening or portal of light and many sometimes that opening is not just for the person who receives that wisdom but also for the person who gives that word of wisdom. He/she who uses God's wisdom in love sees the precious positive affects it can cultivate. I find many times in teachings I am not just teachings those around me but God is teaching me as well.

Remember Job and his buddies? They presumed the reason for Job's gigantic misfortune was because of some kind of sin Job had not confessed.

Remember Peter asking Jesus if the man was blind because the man's parent's sin or the man's sin? And Jesus replies "He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him." (John 9) We were born spiritually blind so the power of God could be seen in us after God has touched us.

Remember the Jew's who knew God's word but were blind to their own Savior standing before them? (John 8) Remember where your true insight comes from.

Remember you can speak God's word in not the right mindset and cause more hurt and damage then healing and insight? God's word is a sword. It is sharp. (Hebrews 4:12) You respect a knife when you are using it do you not? Do you love the word of God to use it correctly? Are you listening to the direction of Holy Spirit as he guides you through the spiritual operation of life or are you doing it to prove your own point? Sometimes we don't even need to be proving a point but we ignore God's wisdom because we are focused and wrapped up in other things in life and we see with human eyes instead of Spirit-filled eyes. That is when we stumble. (Proverbs 4:12)

God said everything is useless if not done in love. True useful wisdom goes hand in hand with love. If your are spewing God's words of wisdom because of irritability and religion then you have lost the entire point. What are you trying to prove? God can't prove himself? Guard your heart for it affects everything you do. (Proverbs 4:23) Remember love is patient, kind, not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It doesn't demand it's own way. It is not keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices when the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance. (1 Cor 13:4-7) We can go to church and gain all this great knowledge about God but if we don't embrace it and share it in a loving manner then it is wasted.

I suppose that comes partially with maturity as well..... Oh Lord have mercy. I don't mean you become suddenly boring but you are earnest and humbly passionate about God's powerful ways of grace. True wisdom brings down walls doesn't help put more up.

God's wisdom in God's love is true, honorable, right, pure, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8) God's wisdom gives an individual integrity. It isn't about pleasing the norms of society.

Godly wisdom seat belted into Godly knowledge brings joy. (Proverbs 2:10-11)

True wisdom shines the light of Christ.
"The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18)

A LIFE WITHOUT WALLS

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." Jeremiah 1:5

It is startling to think that before we came into being, God had a plan for our life.

That should speak volumes about God’s love for us.

As an artist, I like for whatever I create to have a purpose and a future. I don’t want to create something that is going to be forgotten in a few years or stuck in a closet or an attic…

I believe God is the same way. He doesn’t create things that don’t have a purpose…. I may not understand that purpose of a mosquito but there is a reason for all the things he created.

Have you ever tried to put God in a box? How about your perceived notion of God in a box?

I find that when I try to put God in a box and tell God what He can and cannot do in my life I only put myself in a box.

A place with walls feels safe but it doesn't allow us to see or experience any further then those walls.

God never puts walls or limits upon us but we do. We are the ones that hinder God’s plans in our life when we decide what He is capable and not capable of doing in our life. We are the ones that hinder his love from touching our life.

God isn’t going to force himself on anyone. That is why he gave us a choice. He loves us too much to put walls up around us for he has a plan for our life that is without walls and limits.

That life, however, comes with trusting God not us or others.

Sometimes we put other people’s opinions over what God thinks we are capable of doing.

We believe in circumstances over what may come out of those circumstances.

We are the ones who dash our hopes.

Would a tree that is pruned ever grow back its fullness, if it were capable of holding its misery?

When we trust in God, nothing is impossible. When we trust God, it doesn’t just affect our lives but the lives of others as well.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

What kinds of negative things do we hang on to? What do we treasure that hinders God’s plans in our life?

Do we treasure the potholes of life over the healing rain that fills them? What would a child do in rain puddle? They would jump into it with pure joy and delight spreading it all over everyone that is near them. God isn’t about potholes but filling those potholes with his love.

I would have never dreamed up the things God has done in my life and is still doing if my life.

Remember God isn't about putting up walls in our lives but helping you tear those walls down.

It is the God in Us.

I have been thinking about my encounter of seeing Jesus in the tree.

The other day I shared with my sister about my encounter with Jesus in the tree as I read what the Spirit of the Lord lead me to. Isaiah 41:11-20 said, "I will plant trees- cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir and pine- on the barren land. Everyone will see this miracle and understand that is the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, who did it."

The Holy One of Israel is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 61:3 "To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory."

Then one of my favorite psalms came to mind. Psalm 1: "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper."

King David spoke about this joy and how this joy gave him strength. Psalm 73:24 "You will keep on guiding me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."

We are trees planted by the Lord and because he has planted us we trust in Him. Though the storms come, the winds blow strong, the conditions of the weather of the situation may change drastically but we are kept upright by the Lord's Spirit which is in us. For the Lord's Spirit is in us and He gives us joy in the midst of diversity. For in diversity we turn to God and because he loves us he turns to us.

He cares for those he has planted and "those mountains" are soon torn apart into dust and tossed up and carried away in the wind for we know this can not happen unless we turn to the LORD, our GOD.

And when people happen to ask, why don't you settle, why you believe, you don't try to get even... you can say, "It is the God in me".

Vision of Jesus In a Tree- Joy

Last night I just spent some time in the presence of the Lord because I have been feeling this mixture of negative feelings lately. I was more or less feeling misunderstood, undesired and even resented and hated and this caused me to rebuke and wrestle sinful and dark thoughts and suggestions.

I thought, " This is how the Lord must feel when we don't desire him." He must feel hurt, hated, misunderstood and taken for granted."

I continued to stand my ground but it was HARD. So what did I do...? I turned to God for I know how great a friend He is to me. (He is also probably the only one who understands me.) I turned on some Hillsong music, put in my ear phones and let the Spirit of the Lord take hold and there I saw Jesus in a tree. He wasn't surrounded by some mystical light but it was just him.

He wasn't in the top of this tree but I kind of felt like he climbed down this tree so I could see him - not so he could see me. He smiled at me and when he did I felt this unexplainable joy as I smiled back and even chuckled.

I wanted to continue to stay in his presence of unexplainable joy but then the Spirit of the Lord had me lay down (though I was sitting the entire time in this reality) and as I did I began to weep. And as the Spirit of the Lord comforted me, I started to be drained of these negative feelings and burdens.

I got to see Jesus again as the Spirit raised my head and once again his smile made me smile and chuckle again and then the Spirit of the Lord lay me down again and I started to weep again until I was drained of all this negative feelings and burdens, Exhausted I then went to bed in peace.

How wonderful to feel the joyful presence of the Lord.... who takes our burdens and smiles upon us.

Numbers 6:22-27 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: `May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.' This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people, and I myself will bless them."

The Will of God Brings Fulfillment in Life

Fulfillment is nourishment to the soul. You can try to get nourishment from a lot of different things in life but only God’s will brings satisfaction. The world tries to convince us everyday that we not be satisfied us unless we do this, get that, try something better but what does the world really know?

Just look at all the things us humans have consumed, bought, believed, tried, and now are useless or forgotten. Things are constantly changing, becoming unpractical, no longer in style, are worthless and lose value shortly after we buy them.

God's will however never changes and his will is perfect for our very soul. It brings us fulfillment that the world can not even understand or touch.

Jesus spoke of this right after talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. The disciples were trying to urge Jesus to eat but he smiled and said "No. I have food you don’t know about." Seeing his disciples were confused and fixated on the physical and not the spiritual of this matter, Jesus the awesome and merciful Lord he is, explained to his disciples what he meant.

John 4:34 Jesus says to his disciples "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. The harvesters are paid in good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One person plants and someone else harvests’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and you will gather the harvest."

Doing the will of God brings lasting fulfillment. It brings a type of nourishment and fruit that will be long lasting.

Jesus says in John 15. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine and you cannot be fruitful apart from me."

You cannot have joy or lasting fulfillment apart from Christ. You can not understand and mature in Christ and be fulfilled with lasting joy if you do not stay in the will of God.

Paul writes in Galatians 6:8 "Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit (of God) will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."

Jesus tells us, ‘Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I remain in them, will produce much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father."

A satisfied soul produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control which perfectly fits and lives in God's will and you are free from "internal" conflict. Galatians 5:22.

If you just follow your basic instincts and sinful desires you will produce evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sinful behaviors that lead to destruction. Paul writes anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21

God wants us to live a fulfilling life but we are hard headed and stubborn and we just have to figure things out in the most difficult ways. You and I can not have a fulfilling life apart from God’s will and we can not accomplish anything fulfilling away from Christ. If you and I part from Christ our efforts will be worthless and will only bring us heartache and strife. But in accord and/or harmony to God’s will we do produce fulfilling results.

Jesus concludes with "I have loved you even as the Father as loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and I remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it- the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for using my name. I command you to love each other."

Yes to find lasting fulfillment we must give up our old lives that we cling to. Our old lives only continue to hinder our way to lasting fulfillment. Our old lives and old ways of thinking only makes us run from first to second base and sometimes not even that far. Wouldn’t you rather just hit home runs instead? Would you rather make that basket then have the ball stolen from you as you are heading up court? Wouldn’t you rather make it over all those hurtles then trip over each and every one and never make it to the finish line?

Our old lives not only never give us fulfillment- but put us in real danger of never knowing Christ and his power to save and enrich our lives beyond anything we knew possible.

If you are looking for fulfillment in everything else but in Christ then it is pretty obvious Christ has chosen you but you haven’t found him yet.

I like Psalms 1 "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season with out fail. Their leaves never wither and in all they do, they prosper."

Find the will of God in Christ Jesus and fulfillment and joy will start maturing on those branches of yours.