04.02.12

Make a List!!!

Posted in General | 07:22

Jesus, I will make Your Name known anywhere You give me a platform. I will tell what You have done! You are my Lord, my God, my Savior...Abba Father, my daddy forever...You hear, You see, You are in control, Your covering IS over my life and the lives of those who love You. You send us out! Our story presses on and continues in each challenge. These are growth spurts! Growing pains. I look to You alone. You pour strength in. I will forever seek Your face. You never fail! I am fueled, fired up and built up as I remember the miracles You have done. I never tire of Your Word...it is FULL of them. As I read, faith rises! Then I remember the miracles that I have seen in my life. They are directly related to the promises in Your Word and I SOAR in fresh faith! Instead of a pro and con list about decisions I might make...I will make a miracle list! What I have seen in Your Word in the lives of Your people and what I have seen in my life. OOOO how my feet will be set to dancing! You NEVER fail! I am so grateful for Your new mercies. When I am weak, You are strong. I look to You...SOURCE of LIFE! My frailties are covered by Your love. Praises rises from my heart! amen

Psalm 105:1-5

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of His wonderful acts. Glory to His Holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord, rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles and the judgements He promounced." 

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03.28.12

No hidden things! Light up every dark spot!

Posted in General | 12:09

 

ummmm still trying to get this out...this is raw and real...the truth I'm about to write highlights this verse..."we are all sinners by nature and by choice" Romans 3:23

Through a variety of circumstances in my life lately, God has given me the privilege to feel what it is like to walk in shoes I have never walked in before...to be talked down to, overlooked, not given credibility, to be patronized instead of truely valued, to be pushed aside, misunderstood, and invisible in a sea of people. The circumstances that I am in are really a gift to help me see what I couldn't have seen otherwise. You only know what you know. You can't give what you don't have. These experiences have caused me to take inventory of my heart.

My eye has always seemed to notice the person that is alone or in pain so I always thought that my heart was in the right place because compassion easily wells up in me.  Just the other day, I walked into Walmart and it seemed that every infirmed, lonely or struggling person caught my eye. I felt Jesus say to me...."See them like I see them." It was abit like a slow motion movie. Usually I pray and then have to just look the other way because my heart hurts and I don't know what I can do.On that day, I heard the Lord loud and clear. He was digging deeper into the recesses of my heart than ever before. I have been painfully aware lately of pain in the lives of people. It is everywhere and comes in all forms. I know that as I pass by people all day long in traffic, stores,schools, church etc...I don't know their particular stories. Sometimes people say that when we get to heaven, we will see a sort of movie of our lives and how we lived. I know that there have been times that I have treated people just like I have felt treated as of late. I know that I am guilty of almost a subconcious class system way of thinking that can cause me to maybe patronize others that I really want to help. I know that my best for God can be an embarrassment to the King of Kings if I serve Him in my flesh. I never ever would want to do that, but sometimes we have to walk in it to SEE it. I ask Jesus continually to open my eyes to be able to see what He sees, serve like He serves and live His love out loud. He came and washed the disciples feet...He came as King and walked this earth with all of it's sin to save me from that yoke of bondage. He has given me the Holy Spirit to empower, teach, correct, guide and comfort. So today, I find myself blessed by the rod of correction and empowered to walk on the path He puts me on and fueled by fresh passion for His glory. Working in a Christian children's home, I have seen that when consistent discipline in love is given, children are set free from chains of their past. Even at my age God loves me enough to keep cutting the chords of bondage that the enemy has tried to tie on. 

O.K. trying to be more real...having trouble getting it out...I am ashamed of ever doing it... E V E R ...I wonder if anyone else will admit to it or forgive me for it...laughing at the "walmart people" jokes, seeing certain neighborhoods or cars and feeling like I am above those things, raising my eyebrows at peoples choice of clothes or  looks, thinking Bubba teeth are funny when real people have those kind of teeth and can't afford to get them corrected...I guess just in any way...feeling inwardly better or above...I AM NOT! O Lord Jesus, save me from the heirarchy of this earth and grant me true heavenly perspective. The ways of this world are upside down...what is important here so often must cause all of heaven to groan. O how I want to walk with all of heaven cheering!  

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03.27.12

Ouch, Ouch, Ouch

Posted in General | 11:31

 

New perspectives being kneaded into my head and heart...humbling...Thank You, Holy Spirit, for loving me enough to not let me settle when I begin to...no matter how old I get...I have not arrived until You call me home. Truth rising up in me...plain truth... Jesus, strip me bare of "self" and anything that might hinder the free flowing of Your Spirit through me. I want to always be willing to be a foot washer. amen   

 "O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. Jeremiah 18:6 

Hoping I can pour out what is rising up in my heart this week in the hopes of encouraging someone.  

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03.13.12

Layers of Truth. Needing this again today

Posted in General | 20:29

Reminding myself that I must come before You with transparency, with a soft, correctable heart, ready to be emptied of me & filled up with YOUR TRUTH & then going forth with a grateful heart wherever You call me to go...holding out Your love & hope! Reading 1 Peter 2: 4-9  "As you come to Him, the living stone - rejected by men, but chosen by God & precious to Him- You also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen & precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "the stone the builders rejected has b/c the capstone & a stone that causes men to stumble & a rock that makes them fall." They stumble b/c they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light!" SO much here...so many layers of TRUTH. I LOVE the Word...I will soak in it until the day God calls me home and never get it all. It is GLORIOUS...it pours abundance through my heart and I pray that overflows!  Today...this is what I gleaned: "The one who trusts in Him will NEVER be put to shame."  Placing all of my trust in You today, Jesus. Claiming this truth of Your Word. I don't have an answer for every question. I don't have a solution for every problem. I can't lift the pain off of those that I love or those I meet who are suffering. I can't comprehend so much when I look out into this world through the eye of the news media...BUT I KNOW YOU, Jesus...I walk in relationship with You...You are my God & MIGHTY IS YOUR NAME!  You do not miss a thing. You hear every prayer whispered or shouted on this earth. You pursue every heart. You hold out hope, relief, solutions, freedom...eternal & abundant life to EVERYONE! You will not waste a moment of the life of any person who turns to You. No matter what condition they find themselves in.  Beauty rises from ashes in Your presence! What a GORGEOUS TRUTH! In our frailty, brokenness, waywardness...You meet, lift, restore, pour life into us & then place us in the Body as an important piece of the MASTERPIECE You are building! No one can take our place. Your calling for each is purposeful and glorious in Your sight. You snap us perfectly in the Body to declare Your praises. May my life do that THIS day! amen  

YXSJSDFHJTWP

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03.12.12

World changers are growing here!!!!

Posted in General | 09:19

Have you ever watched someone live out Mark 10:24-32? I have taught the principles of this verse many times, yet this morning as my husband and I were talking about it...like so much of the WORD, we were aware of the many layers..."It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" The disciples asked,"Who then can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Peter said, " We have left everything to follow You." "I tell you the truth", Jesus replied, "no one who has left home, or brothers, sisters or mother or father or children or fields and with them persecutions for me and the gospel will fail to receive one hundred times as much in this present age to come eternal life. but many who are first will be last and the last will be first."

I know a beautiful, inspiring young woman who lives this every day. I have never seen anyone quite so clearly focused on the call of Jesus. She found herself blessed with 3 precious infants who were in need over a short span of years and has fully committed herself to raising them up to love and honor God with all that they are. She has literally laid her life down for that cause.(left everything) Honestly, I have never seen faith rise up in children like I see it in her children. She and her children are on their faces every night and I mean EVERY night...praying, worshipping and seeking the Lord though the Word of God. They live to bless others and yet trust God to provide for their needs every day. The  little resource they have is never enough on paper, but God has continued to provide. She has no insurance, no money to reroof her house, pay her taxes or purchase things many of us take for granted...she has never had an easy month or ever taken a vacation, but counts herself as RICH. OOO the upside down world we live in. She is RICH. A harvest is growing in her home that could literally change the world. Easy to discount from a worldly perspective...but she is quietly, faithfully following the call when it would feel to her at times that she is invisible. OOO but all of HEAVEN sees and cheers!!! She has left all to folllow this specific call of God. I have seen the flack of public opinion hit her and watched her press on in her call. She will receive the 100x that Jesus promised.  I am challenged today...Holy Spirit, show me what I need to surrender this day. The things I grip onto that I might not think are riches...are they of this world? Are they earthly instead of heavenly? Where is my focus? I desire to live & serve exactly like You ask me to...seen or unseen. amen

So as I share about this precious friend of mine...I want to ask for prayer for her financial needs. She has a $2000. tax bill due soon,needs a new roof or her homeowners insurance will be cancelled just for starters....we are doing what God has asked of us to help her, but are quietly asking the "Church" to assist her. She is very private about her needs and doesn't ask... EVER...she TRUSTS God and He always provides.  This is a case of the widow and the orphans from James 1.  Blessings!  

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03.10.12

My mad stream of solutions

Posted in General | 09:36

"From the lips of children and infants, You have ordained praise because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." Psalm 8:2 Soaking in this verse this morning.

The older I get...the more I have seen, heard and experienced...the more points of reference that I formulate, timelines I have, people I know who might have answers, places I can go for possible answers the more I want to rely on me...my "maturity" ...THEN I really listen to the heart of this verse...I am waiting for some HUGE answers from the Lord. I find myself doing what life has taught me to do...figure it out and knock on every door and of course, pray.  I am kicked with the reality of how I am to silence the "foe" SO I can walk ahead with clarity of mind. Really, this mad stream of solutions in my head causes alot of confusion. Wow...I DO know who the author of confusion is...

I must become as a child.

"A child left to himself disgraces his mother." Prov. 29:15

"Folly is bound up in the heart of a child." Prov. 22:15

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, You will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Math. 18:3

 

Oh Lord, when I run off to my "mature" solutions instead of coming to YOU as a little one...full of dependancy, expectancy, trust and love...confusion enters and my PEACE flees! When I lay aside my pride and "come" with that dependant heart...showing You that I BELIEVE You are who You say You are...PRAISE rises! My solutions and views that would leave me so frustrated, fall to the ground...I TRUST and BELIEVE  and am FREED to serve YOU in this day. Your answers ARE coming. I lay my life down...again...and You LOVE me in this journey. I am SO THANKFUL for  Your love, grace and mercy. You see my heart. I adore You, Jesus. amen 

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we shoudl be called children of God. And that is what we are!"  1 John 3:1 

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03.08.12

THIS IS HOW TO SEE!!!

Posted in General | 09:22

"Lord, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man, who despises a vile man, but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath, even when it hurts..."Psalm 15:1-4

Good morning Jesus...I read this and know this is what I desire to be like....To dwell in Your presence constantly... to live as You call me to live each day...no other way...So search my heart...show me where am I withholding or hiding any sin from myself or You. Don't let me ever compare myself to others...only You. Keep me from making excuses...Worry...what if I settle for a little pit of worry? Forgive me...I am saying to You that I don't believe or trust You. Please forgive me! Criticism of others...who am I? Forgive me Lord. Help me God to be transparent before You...that is what You require. Strip my heart bare. Gossip...prayer request gossip...save me from it! Much needs to be taken to Your throneroom alone.  Holy Spirit, I ask for Your perspective in all things for mine is surely tainted.  You have set many around me who love You wholeheartedly. Thank You for the inspiration they are to me...especially in my family! Jesus, for those who don't yet see, hear or understand about You...I praise You for Your grace and mercy...that same grace and mercy that caused my eyes to see and my ears to hear. You pursue them with the greatest love imaginable. Thank You for that ALL SURPASSING LOVE that envelopes the earth! When I sit at Your feet..still and focused...I SEE IT... I KNOW IT and my heart swells with HOPE!!! You ARE the HOPE OF THE EARTH! Forgive me for letting "news" reports ever dim my hope and shrink who You are.. Help me, help us...YOUR CHURCH... to rise up and hold out Your love and hope wherever we go THIS day and EVERY day. amen 

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03.07.12

Do this First!!!

Posted in General | 10:58

"The natural preceeds the supernatural" Maybe someone else needs to hear this as much as I did this week. Do you ever have those days when your feet just feel heavy? My heart is FULL of the TRUTH of the Word of God. I know to be fueled up and ready to roll each day in order to walk in the victory that God has called me to walk in, but some days it feels like I am just going through the motions. I really want to feel something else...see something else and it is just not visible to me. As Pastor Stovall Weems spoke these words last Sunday, "The natural preceeds the supernatural", the Holy Spirit encouraged me greatly! He taught on David's struggle with Saul. I am acutely sensitive to what David must have felt as Saul turned on him and he had to run for his life. Can  you just imagine the emotion and fear that sought to grip him? He had the promise of the anointing to be King and  the fullfillment of that promise WOULD come, but he was in the pressure cooker of testing and being shaped for the call. SO hard. His hope and vision had to be ALIVE. We find him over and over worshipping, praising, pouring out his heart to his Father and waiting on the fulfillment of the promise. Praise DID defeat the enemy. He took his natural feelings to the throneroom of God.(SO do this first!) He obeyed all He knew to obey. He waited. He BELIEVED that God was who He said He was and His promises were true. The SUPERNATURAL happened! So I press on today in this pattern so powerfully set before me through David's life. Sounds so simple, but in reality...we fight through our natural to get to the supernatural God promises. Keep fighting for his best in  your life!!! He is faithful! 

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