Let Go Of The Old

A little over a year ago, as a person prayed for me, he saw a wind blowing across my yard.  That wind was blowing some things out of my yard and blowing some other things into my yard.  Things were being rearranged. It was indicating some coming changes, even in the people I would be associated with.  He said, "It is all good. It is a fresh season."

A few months ago I was about to throw out a pair of shoes that had holes in them.  God told me to also take a particular shirt out of my closet and throw it away.  The shirt was old and faded.  It looked so bad that I would seldom wear it outside the house. But it was so comfortable and familiar that I liked wearing it.  I believe God was saying it is time to get rid of worn out, familiar, comfortable things to make room for the new that He is bringing into my life.

Sometimes when things are being rearranged we try to continue to hold onto things that need to go, while God is trying to lead us on into the new things He has for us.  In order to stay in step with where God is leading us, we need to let Him rearrange things, remove some things, and add some things.  Some old, comfortable, and familiar things must go to make room for the new.

Isaiah 43:18-19 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 

New Equipment For This Harvest

One night a few months ago as I was praying while trying to get to sleep, I began to see old rusty and broken down farm equipment headed into a field.  Off to the side I saw a massive field of grain.  I heard the Lord say, "You need new and updated equipment to bring in this harvest.  Yesterday's anointing and methods cannot be relied on.  You need fresh revelation, a fresh anointing and strategy of the Lord to bring in the coming harvest.  It won't be like the past, but in some ways it will seem similar to the untrained.  You must submit to the training of the Lord to be ready for this harvest. Today is the day of preparation.  It cannot be church as usual.  I am coming in power and glory, a glory that has not been seen before, in a measure that hasn't been experienced before.  Much of what is being called glory is not My glory.  It is a demonstration of anointing and power, but not glory."

I believe this is a word for the body of Christ to press in to receive the necessary training and equipping from the Lord to bring in the harvest 

To be honest I tried to leave out the last couple of sentences, but felt like I needed to put them in.  So I put it out there for you to judge.  

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 

Amos 9;13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed;

Nothing Can Separate From God's Love

Romans 8:38-39  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Nothing can separate us from God's love, not even sin.  Sin will bring a separation in the relationship, but doesn't change God's love.  God is and always will be love.

God always loved Israel, even when they were in sin.  Judgment had to come upon them, not because of lack of love, but because of love.  God's judgment on sin and love are not opposed to one another.  Just like when a parent disciplines a child it is because he/she loves the child.

I believe our perceptions concerning this get distorted when we get disciplined or punished out of anger or frustration. Or when we receive inappropriate discipline because of the mood of the parent. God never has a bad day.  So we never have to walk around "on egg shells" hoping not to upset Him.
The following two commonly known scriptures from Jeremiah are found in the midst of God telling Israel of the coming judgment upon them for their sin. Within these we see God's continued love and care for them in spite of their disobedience and the need for judgment/discipline.

Jeremiah 29:11-14  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. 

Jeremiah 31: 3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

In the following verses Jeremiah is remembering that God is indeed a loving and merciful God, even as he grieves over the condition of Israel/Jerusalem as a result of the judgment.

Lamentations 3:21-24 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Unmingled With Evil

Romans 16:19 ...but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

In the Greek, the word "simple" in the above scripture means innocent or unmixed.  It could also mean not mingled.  When I became aware of these possible meanings for this word, it caused me to think a little differently about this scripture.

In our culture it can be difficult to be unmixed with what is evil.  It can be difficult to not get the things of this world mingled into our everyday lives.  The ways of the evil one are all around us, especially in the media, which we are bombarded with.  Because of what is before us on a regular basis it is often difficult to be innocent, unmixed or unmingled concerning evil.  Sometimes this stuff gets on us without us even being aware of it.

I asked God how do we keep this from happening to us.

1) Avoid the media and situations that can defile as much as possible.

2) Be filled with and attentive to the Holy Spirit.  As a result, when your soul is being assaulted with evil you will be very aware of it.  You will be vexed even as Lot was over the lawless deeds he saw and heard (2 Peter 2:7-8 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) )

3) Cleansing daily.  Daily come before God and ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse you of all the defilement of the day.  Just like in Jesus day they washed their feet because the dust of the road they were traveling on got on their feet.  We need to regularly have the dust/defilement of the day washed off of our souls.

Let The Children Come

Mark 10:13-15 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Jesus still desires for the children to come unto Him and He desires to see them trained up in the ways of God.  The children need to be led into a relationship with God, taught to hear the voice of God, and to minster in the gifts.

In Tommy Welchel's book about the Azusa Street Revival he shares stories that were related to him by people who were there as part of that revival as children and teenagers.  God used the children and teenagers to minister as part of what He was doing at that time.  I praise God that the adults at Azusa Street did not push the children aside as the disciples tried to in Jesus' day. ("They Told Me Their Stories" by Tommy Welchel)

I believe in the coming outpouring/harvest God desires to mightily use children/teens/young people once again.

Recently I was in a service at a church where the children were encouraged to prophesy and pray.  It was great to see children, as young as 5 years old, prophesy, read or quote scripture God had inspired them to share, and to pray for people.  This all happened as part of an evening service in which the . adults doing the same.  It was wonderful to see this in action.

I believe God is saying, "Watch what I will do.  Allow the children to come unto me and see what I will do in and through them."

Quite a few years ago I heard someone say that other religions, especially the Muslims, train their children, while the Christian church in this country entertains their children.  God is desirous of seeing the children trained up in the homes and within the churches to be vessels through which He can manifest His glory.

There is a wonderful book titled "Visions Beyond the Veil", by H.A, Baker, missionary to China. (the grandfather of Roland Baker of Iris Ministries in Mozambique) The book is about the heavenly experiences that children in a Chinese orphanage had and how God ministered through them as a result.

God is no respecter of age. May we all become more childlike in our relationship with our God.  May we all do our part in allowing the children to come to Him and making room for them to be trained and grow in the things of God.

Toward or Away

The coming shaking will either push/press people toward or away from God. There will be those that run into the arms of Jesus and develop a closer relationship with Him. There will be those who turn from Him and some that even shake their fist at God and rage against Him.  Any trying situation can make us bitter or better.  The same heat melts butter and hardens clay.  Trying situations show what type of material we are made of and the bent of our heart.

My prayer is that whatever happens that I will run into the arms of my God.  May I ever burn hot in zeal for the Lord.  May my love for Him never grow cold.

Matthew 24:12-13 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

Romans 12:11  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

Under the Canopy of the Lord

Some of this is going to be a repeat of a previous post.  But I really feel like I should share it again.

Last summer I had a vision in which I saw a small group of people standing under a white canopy.  The wind was blowing very hard. Even though the wind was blowing quite hard the edge of the canopy was barely fluttering.  It was not going anywhere.  I heard the Lord say, "The winds of change are blowing and everything that can be shaken will be shaken. But we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken."  We have the kingdom of God within us. Every place where Christ rules is His kingdom.  His kingdom cannot be shaken and will stand forever.

Hebrew 12:25-29 ESV See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. 

I then saw that the people were standing on a rock and the canopy was anchored into the rock.  This caused me to think of Matthew 7:24-25 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 

The canopy of the Lord and the Rock are not going anywhere.  We need to find and stay in that place on the Rock and under the canopy of the Lord, in that secret place of the Most High.  We must abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91 is the place we must live.  The wind is beginning to blow and things are beginning to shake  and there is much more coming.  Now is the time to be prepared.  Now is the time to find that abiding place and stand there in faith.  And when the things swirl and shake around us we need to keep our focus on the Lord.  

Psalm 91:1-2 ESV He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 

A New Decree

In the same way that Mordecai refused to bow to the evil Haman, the righteous remnant will stand and not bow to the evil forces at work in the land.  And like Mordecai the righteous remnant will "mourn in sack cloth and ashes" as a result of the evil decree meant to bring destruction to God's people.  Like Mordecai, this people will challenge Esther to arise and petition the king. The result will be those who have perpetrated this evil will be hung upon the same gallows they have built for Mordecai.  And a new decree will be released that enables the people of God to stand and defend themselves against the intended evil.  The result will be great victory for the people of God and His Kingdom.  (In this case I believe Mordecai and Esther can be the same people.)

Since reading of the ruling by the Supreme Court I have felt a great grief and tears rising from deep within for the past couple of days.  Yesterday, while in prayer I began to write what is recorded above.

The spiritual battle we are in just ramped up to a new level.  In this fight we must remember that our fight is not against flesh and blood but against the evil forces at work behind the people functioning in the earth realm. So I do not believe it is prudent to attack the individuals involved in the ruling or those who are rejoicing over it. Our fight is against the evil forces that have deceived these people and have captured them and taken them into bondage.  Yes, some of the fight will manifest in the earth realm, but the real war is won in the spirit realm.  We must petition our King and receive a new decree by which we can stand in victory in the days ahead.

Mourning for the sin of the nation is in order, true repentance and not a pointing of the finger.   Repentance like that of Daniel and Nehemiah (Daniel 9:3-22; Nehemiah 1:4-11) who identified themselves with the sin of their people, as if they had committed the sin themselves.  They were connected to the people who had committed those sins.  So in prayer they repented as if they had been the perpetrators.  They stood in identificational repentance.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The Puzzle of My Life

There are many places God has taken me and many ways God has led me.  They are like puzzle pieces in my hand.  As I look at them I may not know how they all fit together. Sometimes I try to make them fit together, but it just doesn't quite look or feel right.  As I press on in God, I have even more puzzle pieces.  But I am not to be dismayed or perplexed trying to figure it all out.  It is part of the faith walk.  In due time God will give me the box for the puzzle pieces with the picture on it.  He will show me the picture of how the pieces fit together and I will be amazed at the masterpiece my life has become.  God had the finished picture in His mind from the very beginning.  I just need to trust that He really does know what He is doing and continue on in faith, even though I may not see how the pieces fit together.

Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

Acts 17:26 (NIV) From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 

The Roar of the Lion

God is raising up a governmental people in this day who will stand up and roar with the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  He is preparing a people who can stand in the face of opposition and persecution and roar as the Lion of Judah.  They will stand in the authority of Christ against the darkness with no agenda of their own, only the agenda of the Lord Jesus Christ.


Joel 3:16-17 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 

ROCKING CHAIRS

A few nights ago I had a vision of a circle of rocking chairs.  They were filled with people busily rocking back and forth and conversing with one another. A new person even came in and pulled up their rocking chair and joined in the fun.

I asked God, "Why am I seeing this? What does this mean?".....The response I heard was, "a lot of activity but going nowhere."  I felt that God was saying much of the church is very busy but not moving forward with God into what He has for us individually or corporately.

Oh  Lord, may we be done with the busyness and get on with Your business. May we stay in step with You moving forward with You day by day, step by step, not lagging behind, not running ahead.  May we not just be content to stay where we are because it is comfortable.  May we not fail to go on because we are afraid of the battles ahead, like the children of Israel who failed to go into the Promised Land because the giants looked too big.  May we not get distracted with the things of this world and fail to move on with  You.

Glory of God in Herkimer County

In September of 2013, I was at a series of meetings about intercessory prayer.  At one of the meetings we were encouraged to ask God to show us something.   There are two things that I saw that have really impacted me since then.  The first one was a map of Herkimer County, NY, which is the county in which I live.  It was lit up with the glory of God.  It was pure white light.  The borders of the county looked like they were on fire.  I immediately thought of Zechariah 2:5 "For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her."

When I came home from those meetings I went online to try to find more info about this county, to know better how to pray.  The first website I was directed to was the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce site. This picture was on the home page.

I was quite surprised to see the county in white with rays emanating from it to the rest of the state and beyond.  The location of the county within the state is very interesting as well.  

Even before seeing this picture I began to think about the fact that the county looks like a "key hole." That is of interest because what I saw after the county was a ring of gold keys that were glowing. God said, "He would give me keys to unlock this county and region."

Since that time I have been praying for God's glory to be manifested in Herkimer County and for God to give us keys to see this county and region unlocked.  

I believe the key ring had five keys on it.  Although at times I have thought perhaps it was only three. As prayed I about this several months ago, I would see 3 keys and then 5 keys and God began to speak to me about praying Isaiah 35 over the county. So we have been praying and declaring Isaiah 35 over Herkimer County.

If you live in this area or even if you don't and choose to join us in praying for this region, please feel free.

As a few of us have joined together to pray our theme song has become:

"And the earth shall be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
Just like the water covers the sea

Lifting up the standard for the nations
To demonstrate the purpose of His kingdom
His people unashamed to proclaim His name
And the fullness of the Lord fills all in all"

Herkimer County is part of the earth and it shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord!!!!!!

Your kingdom come Your will be done in Herkimer County as it is in heaven!!

On Time To Manifest God's Glory

Jesus greatly loved Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.  When Jesus received the news that Lazarus was sick He waited two days before going to Bethany.  In spite of His love for them Jesus restrained Himself from going immediately to minister to the needs of His friends.  He waited for the appropriate time, the time appointed by the Father.

When Jesus arrived at Bethany both Martha and Mary thought Jesus was too late.  They both said, that if Jesus would have been there sooner Lazarus would not have died.  But Jesus was right on time.  He was there to do the will of the Father.  Jesus was not there to heal Lazarus.  His mission was to raise Lazarus from the dead.  Sometimes we think God should do things a certain way or at a certain time.  But He does it in just the right way at the right time. 

Jesus waited until the appropriate time, the time ordained by the Father.  Because He did the glory of God was manifested as Jesus gloriously demonstrated that He is the resurrection and the life. 

John 11:21-26, 40-44 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?........40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. 

Blood of Love

The cleansing blood that flowed from Jesus side was blood flowing forth from a heart of love.  Because of the deep, deep love of God for all mankind, He sent forth Jesus into the world to become a man and walk the earth as a man, to experience every temptation that a man faces and He passed the test every time.  Jesus went to the cross as a sinless man to take on Himself the sin of all mankind. The spotless Lamb of God became sin for me and you and died that we might live.  Jesus' love made a way for the object of His love to be redeemed from sin and be reconciled to Him.

It is love that caused Jesus to say "yes" to such a task. Jesus delighted to do the will of the Father in coming to earth as a man. Jesus endured the cross despising its shame for the joy set before Him.  You and I, and the life and liberty that we can walk in, are a portion of the joy that was set before Him.  What amazing love the blood of Jesus has showered upon us!  What an amazing love is ours to partake of and share!  For true love is not something we can keep to ourselves.  Love is something that compels us to share it with others.

Jesus' blood is the sinless blood of God. God is love.  His blood is the blood of love.

1 John 4:8-11 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Psalm 40:7-8 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Hebrews 10:4-10 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrew 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

Cleansing Blood

Over the past few days as I have thought about the celebration of Jesus death and resurrection, I have been remembering an experience I had a number of years ago during a church service.  As we sang about the cross and the shed blood of Jesus, I saw a "vision" of Jesus hanging on the cross.  He looked down at me with eyes of incredible love.  Then as I stood there by the cross, blood began to gush out of His side and down over me.  It was like I was standing under a shower head from which His blood was flooding over me. As the blood flowed down over me I began to shine with bright white light, like the glory of God glowing forth from me.  I was washed clean by the blood and the glory of God filled me.  

1. 
   
2. NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD
3. by Robert Lowry
4. 
   
5. What can wash away my sin?
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   What can make me whole again?
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
   • Refrain:
     Oh! precious is the flow
     That makes me white as snow;
     No other fount I know,
     Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
6. For my pardon, this I see,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   For my cleansing this my plea,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
7. Nothing can for sin atone,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   Naught of good that I have done,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
8. This is all my hope and peace,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   This is all my righteousness,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
9. Now by this I’ll overcome—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   Now by this I’ll reach my home—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Even In Famine (part 2)

During a time of famine, Isaac was instructed by God not to go to Egypt, as his father had. But Isaac was to  go to the land that God would show him.  In the midst of that instruction God also restated His covenant that had been established with Abraham.  That covenant was established not only with Abraham but with his seed, which included Isaac.  Isaac obeyed God's instructions and stayed in the land.   In a time of famine, when little could be harvested, Isaac planted seed which God blessed and it brought forth one hundred fold.  God's blessing was upon Isaac because of covenant and obedience, even in a time of famine.  

Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

Isaiah 65:13-14 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: 14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

Even In Famine

 Psalm 33:18-19 (ESV)    Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, 
      on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19 hat he may deliver their soul from death 
      and keep them alive in famine. 

Today as I read through Psalm 33, verses 18 & 19 caught my attention. I was rejoicing and thanking God that His eye is upon those who fear Him.  And I was asking Him to give me a greater understanding of what it really means to fear Him, so that I may walk in the fear of the Lord.

I was thanking Him for delivering my soul from death. Then I got to the next phrase and it kind of stunned me for a few seconds.  "Keep them alive in famine."    Wait a minute shouldn't He keep me from being in a famine....no that is not what it says. I think too often we think God is supposed to keep us from difficult situations.  But that is not what is promised in Scripture.  What is promised is that He will take care of us in the midst of difficulties.

Psalm 34:19 (ESV) says "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."  We are not kept from the affliction, but we are assured that He will deliver us out of them ALL.

Jesus said "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (ESV)

I thank God for His promise of providing for my every need, even in the midst of famine!!!

.

Shedding Some Weights

At the beginning of a New Year people often think in terms of losing weight.  Although we are almost two months into the New Year it is certainly still a good time to think in terms of shedding some weights.

Recently during a time of prayer I saw a picture of people trying to walk, but they were held back by the weights they were dragging.  There were heavy weights tied to their legs, which hindered their ability to walk and certainly kept them from running.  I immediately thought of Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Then I saw bird trying to fly.  But it could not get very far off the ground because of weights tied to it that kept it from ascending into the heights.  Immediately I though of Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Holy Spirit please reveal to me every weight that is hindering me.  Please show me appropriate strategies for dealing with each one, so that I can be free to ascend to the heights with you, run and not be weary and walk and not faint.

Manifesting His Love

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and your neighbor as yourself. This is God's command to us.  On this hang all the law and prophets.  That is a pretty good condensation of what the Bible has to say.  When a religious leader asked Jesus who then is my neighbor, Jesus shared the story that we know as "The Good Samaritan."  (Luke 10:25-37)

That story gives a pretty good picture of what it means to love our neighbor and who our neighbor is.  Our neighbor is that person that is before us and is in need.  It may be someone that we wouldn't normally associate with. Reaching out to them may mean humbling ourselves. It may be inconvenient and costly to us.

Coming to this earth and taking on the form of a human being was something Jesus humbled Himself to do.  The beating and humiliation that Jesus went through and dying on the cross was rather inconvenient and costly. Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for each human being.  It was His love for you and I that caused Him to do those things.  Jesus delighted to do this.  It wasn't something He did grudgingly.

If we truly want to be like Jesus, that same sacrificial love must be manifest through our lives as well.That kind of love is not something we can find within ourselves.  It is a love that comes from God and is manifest through us as we submit to Him.  Lord make me a vessel of Your love poured out on those I come in contact with today.

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Psalm 40:6-8  Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. 

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.