Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Christianity Is… A Topsy-Turvey, Very Adventurous Life!

Sometimes in life you find yourself sporting that topsy-turvey kind of look where everything you planned for your life is suddenly upside down and every straight path you marked out has suddenly become crooked and you can't see past the next bend in the road! I find myself there at times and to make it worse, I get myself completely fogged in by my doubt, fear and anxiety!

Ecclesiastes 7:12-14

Wisdom provides safety, just as money provides safety. But here's the advantage of wisdom. It guards the lives of those who have it. 13 Think about what God has done. Who can make straight what he has made crooked? 14 When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, here's something to think about. God has made bad times. He has also made good times. So a man can't find out anything about what's ahead for him.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

"What is happening to me? I look in the mirror and all I see reflected back is a fashion nightmare kind of a mess! I find myself mesmerized by the mirror reflection of my life disarray staring me down and I hear myself say: "Is that really me??? Is that me wearing a plaid shirt with stripped pants? That is not what I laid out for myself for this season of my life!!! No way! No reason! No Rhyme!"

 

1 Corinthians 13:11-13

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. 12For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as [a]in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand [b]fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been [c]fully and clearly known and understood [[d]by God]. 13And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

 

Can anyone relate to me today!!? Do you know what I mean? Have you felt that earth shaking feeling where nothing matches, nothing fits in your life and the plans you had, have been stolen away! Have you ever woke up with the feeling like you are wearing borrowed time and sense a panic attack coming on because you can't find your way out of your dead dreams to a true reality? Or could what you are feeling possibly be your stomach muscles tied up in a vice over the life-situation that you find yourself in! Better said!!!

 

John 10:9-11

I'm like a gate. Anyone who enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out. And he will find plenty of food. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they can have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

Harmony? What is that? I find myself in a life season where nothing seems to be in tune, my heart wants to sing this new song, but my will can't read the notes and my soul is playing its own thing! Everything seems hazy! Actually, my blurred vision during this season of my life, I have found that is caused by my mind gripped too tightly around the view point of my circumstances with those "What If" thoughts! Crazy imaginations is another way to describe those "What If" thoughts that have the propensity of binding up my emotions in three fold around the retina of my soul and consequently giving me a really muddled up perspective! Even if I find myself half blind after all that, I still hopelessly try to enclose some common sense around my will, thus and therefore I foolishly think I will be able to wrap my mind around my circumstance! Been there done that… doesn't work!!!

Colossians 3:14-16

And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]. 15And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. 16Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

 

Wow! This is a season in life where a lot of us find ourselves today saying: " I did not think I would be here at this time in my life! It doesn't seem to fit into my plan and my way! You know… I am right there with you!! I feel like my will was running at full throttle and it seems to have suddenly run itself into a brick wall that came up out of no where! Now I am pretty much willess!" Ever experience that sensation, it is not too good!! Yet reflecting back, I think that may have been the point of the brick wall!! It was for my good! Unaware, I slammed into it and nothing is the same and I remembered getting up dazed, yet still willful and I foolishly still tried so hard to find my way back into my dreams, my visions and my plans for my life, yet to no avail. I don't know my way out of this situation I am in… maybe that is a good thing as I said previously!!

John 14:5-7

Jesus Is the Way to the Father

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father also. From now on, you do know him. And you have seen him."

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

After I said all the above, I say this: Me, I chose to leave my will at the brick wall crash site . Yes I finally did it! After I laid it completely down, I put my hand in the Right Hand of God and submissively… I walked away from that horrible sight of my broken will, step by step, placing my feet in His footstep, one step at a time; one day at a time! By the way, it no longer matters where I am going, or that my clothes for the journey are not those I would have picked out, or not very much the style of the culture I live in! I am just learning to "be", be content with Him, with Jesus, His Life, His Way and His Truth!

Philippians 4:11-13

I'm not saying that because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. 12 I know what it's like not to have what I need. I also know what it's like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. 13 I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

I am realizing a new thing, a new notion that every day is brand new; the fresh morning mercy is dew upon my parched soul each and every day! Faithfully, His Mercy is new! Yes and Amen…. the miracle of the morning and its heavenly dew, it is wet and fresh upon my spirit each day! I can and I will walk a new pace with Him, into a brand new adventure where in Heavenly Hindsight, I see my dead will back at the brick wall! As I look ahead, I only see Jesus. His mercy is new every morning and I face this new adventure stepping out in that great, great and powerful truth. Nothing is as I planned it to be, yet in Jesus my life is new every morning… Great Is His Faithfulness to me. It is all good! I have a future and a hope! Walking On… Step By Step and Talking It Up! God's Mercy… His Faithfulness… Morning Dew Refreshing My Spirit… it is new and the Adventure is Great!

Deuteronomy 32:1-3

The Song: Listen, Heavens, I have something to tell you. Attention, Earth, I've got a mouth full of words. My teaching, let it fall like a gentle rain, my words arrive like morning dew, Like a sprinkling rain on new grass, like spring showers on the garden. For it's God's Name I'm preaching— respond to the greatness of our God! The Rock: His works are perfect, and the way he works is fair and just; A God you can depend upon, no exceptions, a straight-arrow God. His messed-up, mixed-up children, his non-children, throw mud at him but none of it sticks.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 

Therefore, or should I say, in retrospect I say this today: He is doing a new thing! Will you not know it!? Will you walk in the Light of His All Consuming Fire or will you continue to kindle your own self made fire and lay in torment and pain at the site of your crashed will? Again I say: "Will you lay down in torment or will you rise up as His Beauty does out of the ash of your personal will into the soul of y our spirit?"

Isaiah 50:10:-11

Who is among you who [reverently] fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor [in his heart]? Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God. 11Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame!--walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]! But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and in torment.

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

 

Isaiah 50:10-11

Who out there fears God, actually listens to the voice of his servant? For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, Here's what: Trust in God. Lean on your God! But if all you're after is making trouble, playing with fire, Go ahead Go ahead and see where it gets you. Set your fires, stir people up, blow on the flames, But don't expect me to just stand there and watch. I'll hold your feet to those flames.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 

What you wear today is up to you? Choose Wisely! I say, put on the garment of praise, the spirit of contentment and the will of the willess and WEAR HIS NAME BRAND! Wear His Name taking whatever clothing He gives you, all that is available, whether it matches your fashioned plans or not! WEAR HIS NAME and step out into life today experiencing a new adventure on the path of HIS MERCY that is new every morning and waiting for you to wholly embrace! Hold close The Holy Spirit and wear the Anointing of God… being found in Him today! It is a New Day!

Isaiah 61:1-5

THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, 2To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] [a]and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. 4And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 5Aliens shall stand [ready] and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

A Blue Collar Lunch Pail Thought!

My first thought after Michelle Obama's performance last night was that speeches don't make a person. Basically, we are not human doers, we are human beings! One of my favorite orators, Jesus Christ is the model that politicians need to take another hard look at. Jesus spoke, Jesus was… He did not perform a speech written for Him, He spoke genuinely of Who He was and from his speeches followed the depth of "being" found in the truth therein… a "being" that deeply portrayed the fullness of truth in His spoken word.

Hope spoken isn't real hope until it is being seen and heard outside of the platform of its originated speech. The hope that the politicians spoke of during the last congressional election was performance based hope in conquest of trying to win the senate; yet nothing came into being from that promised hope and it continues to "be" for us, the America people, (those who can count their houses with one finger) a downward spiral of dashed expectations, an unrealized hope! I believe the change America needs is deeper than performance based politically hyped speeches, where every word is calculated and every emotion is executed without spontaneity or true head to heart connection. I could see on that stage last night that Michelle Obama was "doing" a great performance, but I never saw her heart; she is an actress that lacks chemistry with her audience... As her young daughter evaluated her performance well: "She "did" good." Out of the mouth of babes…

Michelle's outward performance left me wondering… who will she actually be? To me, the Obama's are very good at synthetically performed emotions, picture perfect portrayals and a lot of words spun so tightly that they are bent without the genuine will to be! It is very inflexible; a good for all to see is not actualized into being good. It kind of feels like a stiff neck does where you are forced to see straight ahead and can't look to the left or the right.

The Obama's have no foundation that comes from "being" what they are willfully acting. It is words without the foundation of the truth of testimonial record. Most of their life legacy, their recorded reality, is not the same cuisine that they are force feeding Americans right now. They are not ready for the position that they seek because they only have the credit of their well done performances, not their actual being. They are not seasoned servants, therefore their portrayal of "doing" and portrait of "being" are not the same. Their doings, their actual record of service is very small, yet significantly prescribes their honest "being"; which seems opposite from their change of performance venue during this political race. They can testify that what they have done in the senate, those that they have associated with for 20 years, the things that they have said outside of the performance arena is not truly who they are, but they don't have the authentication of time spent serving their country "being" the characters they currently are performing on this political stage.

In the last congressional election, the Democratic Party asked us to participate in change, for a better America. They spoke it, and America bought into the recital of hopeful words and actually began expecting change for the better; yet since this congress performed on the political platform "the dance of change" our feet have been dancing to a different tune, a downward spiral of our good economy, of our good civility and of our good hopes because of a congress who doesn't want to "be" what they performed, and the only "be" that we have seen from them is the "be" of blame that has caused our country to "be lame"!

So, Yes I do have a difficult time believing the performance of Michelle Obama as she masterfully spun her words and emotions; I did not see the depth of her heart, the passion of her soul or the reality of her testimony that she loves deeply loves America. She "did" good. How will she be? Her spirit did not seem to match the performance of her will.

Our First Lady, Laura Bush she was ready to serve this country because she was a "seasoned servant" and what she said to us was backed up by a long record of "being" a life legacy that one could trust in the hope found therein her words. She spoke from her heart, she did not need to perform because she was already "being"; her testimony, her life legacy was her platform and it made her believable. She is by far the best First Lady, the most honest, forthright and genuinely hopes fulfilling First Lady that this country has ever had. She spoke it, she lived it.

Michelle Obama, she "did good" last night, but she is not ready to "be" our First Lady, she lacks the seasoning that can transform her performance from "doing good" to being. She "did good", yet how will she "be"?

 

 

 

Friday, August 22, 2008

Champions Glory-Dance Of Praise!

WE ARE CHRIST'S CHAMPIONS: Make His Praise Glorious!

 

A Champions Glory Dance Of Praise Begins With This Warm Up Exercise Of

Mind, Soul, Will And Spirit:

1 Peter 5:3-11

Don't act as if you were a ruler over those who are under your care. Instead, be examples to the flock. 4 The Chief Shepherd will come again. Then you will receive the crown of glory. It is a crown that will never fade away. 5 Young men, follow the lead of those who are older. All of you, put on a spirit that is free of pride toward each other as if it were your clothes. Scripture says, "God opposes those who are proud. But he gives grace to those who are not." —(Proverbs 3:34) 6 So don't be proud. Put yourselves under God's mighty hand. Then he will honor you at the right time. 7 Turn all your worries over to him. He cares about you. 8 Control yourselves. Be on your guard. Your enemy the devil is like a roaring lion. He prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow. 9 Stand up to him. Stand firm in what you believe. All over the world you know that your brothers and sisters are going through the same kind of suffering. 10 God always gives you all the grace you need. So you will only have to suffer for a little while. Then God himself will build you up again. He will make you strong and steady. And he has chosen you to share in his eternal glory because you belong to Christ. 11 Give him the power for ever and ever. Amen.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

CHAMPIONS IN HIS TRAINING MAKING HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!

DISGUARDING PRIDE! MAKE HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!

Pride is an impossibly heavy Yoke to carry if you are a Champion in Training for the Kingdom of God. When I start my training each day, I make sure I am positioned in God's Grace; I am yoked to Him and free of pride. Every day the enemy looks for ways to trip me up in selfish pride as he and his deceptive habits, put up stumbling blocks trying to derail my self-image off the track of my championship training and onto a path of self focus! My enemy lurks and waits for the perfect situation to taunt me and tempt me into discarding my humble training garments of praise and exchange them for his bling-bling clothing that is labeled with self-importance. The enemy wants to yoke me in pride, weigh me down so that I can't keep pace with my Coach, Jesus Christ and eventually lag behind and lose sight of Him.

 

CHAMPIONS IN HIS TRAINING MAKING HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!

STANDING FIRM IN BELIEF! MAKE HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!

I realize in every situation of my training day, I must stand firm in what I believe, even if I have to suffer the humility of self- denial that makes me feel like I am the tale runner and not the lead runner. I must believe what I know to be true, running my race impassioned not by feelings that change every day (subject to the weather LOL…) but by the Presence and Promises of my Coach. My Coach promised me that I would be the head, the lead runner not the tale end and I run my race no matter what my position is, with this in mind! God will give me exactly what I need in Him and this promise is simply enough to motivate me to train, to step out on the track and run my race today with excellence. As I am becoming God's Champion, He builds me up and My Coach will make me strong through the discipline of my body, spirit, soul and will. I will become a stalwart runner in this Kingdom race, secure in the hope of my incredible future as a Champion In Christ Jesus!

 

CHAMPIONS IN HIS TRAINING MAKING HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!

RUNNING WITH HOPE! MAKE HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!

As a Champion in Christ, we know that our training will not come easy! Yes, we may suffer for a little while, but we never endure outside of His hope; hope filled optimism like nothing we could ever imagine will help keep us steady, faithful and strong in the disciplining of our spirit, soul, body, will and mind. He has chosen me as His Champion in training and He has set me apart to share in His forever glory! Because I am His, undivided in heart and always loyal to My Coach, I Therefore, choose to stand firm and diligently train, giving Him my all in all and believing in Him wholeheartedly; because of what I know, not because of what I feel. Every day as I train as God's Champion, I press towards Him and make a sacrificial investment of my time, energy and life because I know He will double my investment and it will bring forth a forever Glory Glow in me and through me. I am His Champion, I am Glowing His Glory… Running in the Light of His Hope!

 

CHAMPIONS IN HIS TRAINING MAKING HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!

PRAISING… IN PURSUIT OF GLORY GOLD! MAKE HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!

As His Champion, I am promised to reap what I sow! That which I sow into my training as I become a Champion in Christ, I will reap in the joy of victory in Him! Nothing is wasted as Champions in Christ meticulously train; it is all used by Him, transformed into His advantage for The Kingdom of God! I believe in Him, therefore today is not about how I feel or what I see, it is about being found in Him, My Advocate, My Coach and continuing to faithfully train as His Champion to be… to make His praise glorious!! I was created to be a Champion in Christ Jesus and to make His Praise Glorious as I pursue Gold for the Kingdom Team!

 

Take A Moment To Listen To This Song Called "Glorious" By Martha Munizzi who runs as a Champion In Christ to the tune of: I was created to make His Praise Glorious!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ2eLG_G1ZM

 

 

 

Thursday, August 21, 2008

True Purpose!

Ephesians 3:9-11

I was chosen to explain to everyone[a] this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

(New Living Translation)(NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

 

The True Purpose Of God Is Not Always Seen, But Always Realized In His Truth!

About 10 months ago God moved us to West Jefferson. It was not a move of our choice, but a move of His Sovereign Purpose. We submitted ourselves obediently to the call of God to go to West Jefferson, knowing the full purpose of this move was not about the obvious. Bob took a job with a national company that was contracted to build a hotel for a 24 year old owner whose family is from India and builds hotels as part of their family caste position of "housekeeping". The next ten months of our lives proved to be a very amazing Adventure with God that started with us praying over the land where the jobsite would be, the city that we would be in that God's purposes, intentions and will would be done through us. Bob worked every day giving more that was required (minimum of 65 hours a week) and ran his race each day with the excellence of God's strength and character. As time went on, we were hit with every crazy thing you could ever imagine that could happen, yet Bob remained steady and true pushing this job through some really hard things, including one winter storm after another. We did everything possible to make relationships with everyone God put in our life path and Shine the life of Jesus through the Truth of His Word, evident in all of our actions and the faith of His Life active in our all in all. We made many divine appointments, one of them was the 24 year old Hindu owner who kept asking us out to dinner, kept asking us questions about our lives; a Hindu that did not understand the drive and motivation that kept Bob steady through all the trials of this jobsite, came face to face with The Living God.

During this 10 month periods, we made many, many divine appointments with God's Purpose; "Talking Up The Truth" and steadfastly walking in the Presence of God under the covering of His True Purpose. The jobsite became more and more dysfunctional as time went by and we realized that this also was God's Purpose; that we shine a Light of Truth through some very hard situations created by the greed and dysfunction of man's corrupted nature in action. We kept asking God what to do each and every day as we became fogged in by the dysfunction situation around us created by the working out of corrupt greed and all the ugliness that spins a dysfunctional weave around it! Recently, we could not see our way out, what to do next and we would cry out to God and His Truth and Light kept leading us to the greater purpose of God and we clung to that. The Lord told us to stay put, that He was in the middle of the chaos, that His Purpose was our strong foundation. Bob continued to pour his life's talents into this job; to keep it functioning he had to work very long hours, but also He kept shining the Light of Christ in every dysfunctional twisted weave of the relationships that were a part of this job. Bob continued to be God's Truth that led the way.

In the last two weeks, things were really coming to a head because the owner had not paid any of the contractors for two months. Yesterday the owner pulled an intentional act of greed, and in total desperation he turned against everyone, cutting off all by invoking his right to terminate the contract. He had a lawyer with him and asked Bob to leave the job immediately and take nothing with him. Bob prayed and asked God what to do. The Lord said: Walk in the truth. Bob told the owner that the files, the computer and everything in this trailer belongs to our company and my personal tools in this trailer belong to me and I will take them and then I will be gone. The owner said to Bob, you will not take the computer and the files and you will leave now. Bob proceeded to pack the computer and files in his truck. The owner left and came back with a police officer who came to arrest Bob. Only God…. The police officer was a man who knew Bob and knew his Godly reputation in West Jefferson. He took Bob aside and talked to him and Bob's boss on the phone and he decided not to arrest Bob but to let Bob take everything out of the trailer under his watchful eye and then he escorted him off the jobsite.

2 Corinthians 8:5

This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

You might think that we have wasted 10 months of our lives because we were sent to West Jefferson to build a hotel. Yes, that is what it looks like on the outside, but in the unseen the purposes of God were accomplished. Bob has never left a job unfinished in his 45 years of construction work and he has never been on a job that has been this dysfunctional. Did God hear our prayers that first day we walked the wooded site on that mountainside and prayed for His favor, His blessing upon this site? Yes He did… but His answers were not about a hotel job, but they were about His Hidden Kingdom Purposes, the divine anointing of His Will upon each appointment that we made in West Jefferson as we planted seeds of Truth as we Talked up His Truth. These actions of faith, founded upon the True Purpose of God will not return void. We spent hours and hours with the 24 year old Hindu owner of this jobsite, not at our leading but at his request. He wanted to be with us, yet in the end he totally betrayed Bob and said to him as he left the site yesterday: "This is not personal, it is business"! Bob was disappointed in his decision, yet he knew deep inside this young man had been changed forever by the Truth that has been seeded in his life, because it won't return void.

POSITION YOURSELF IN WHAT IS TRUE, TALK UP TRUTH!

Job 42:1

[ Job Worships God ] [ I Babbled On About Things Far Beyond Me ] Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?' I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head. You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.' I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise! I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Our flesh is tired from the battle, weary from working so hard, and being disappointed and betrayed by ugly human nature and in this case, in these 10 months taking the beatings that greed, self promotion and pride can bring upon the flesh! Yet we know that God chooses to anoint His Purpose in Sovereign ways, ways that we can't wrap our flesh around. Why would He not allow us the apparent victory of finishing this job, of seeing Him prevail in the nature of those so corrupted by the greed of this human race? That is a question we can't answer, yet somehow deep inside we know that the Purposes of God were accomplished even though the situation does not equate with our perception of success, we know that Kingdom success was in lifting up Truth and Light faithfully and consistently until the Lord said so! It was a winless, hopeless situation, yet the Truth, Integrity and Perseverance of God shone through it all… Bob Glowed God's Glory! In that is the true Purpose of God, that His Truth and His Glory is Talked Up!

In this situation we have learned much and we now have a passion for Truth, to Talk It Up, no matter what things are in the scene, we know that our Sovereign God is evoking His Purpose in the unseen. We also have a new passion to learn more about God's Purpose, because it is an area of our Christianity that we need to learn more about. Because most of the questions we ask God, our Why questions are because we don't know much about God's Purpose, how it works so Sovereignty when it wants and how it wants, despite our human striving, God's Purpose prevails in victory, that even when seen we don't understand the way of it. God's Purpose is truly a mystery that we hope He will reveal to us more of and teach us how to walk in step with His Purpose, despite the dysfunction in what we see. We must never stop being found in Him and Talking Up His Truth in our lives… no matter what is seen, we must live in the hope of the unseen Purpose of God!

PS… See James Duvall's Blog… You will see this Truth of God's Purpose in Action. A Worship Leader being betrayed and disappointed by a huge lie of another Worship Leader, yet not letting the disillusionment and disappointment derail the Purpose of God in the anointing of a song called: "The Healer". The Purposes and Anointing of God are Sovereign and they can be seen even through the failure of the human nature! Read about it! James Duvall Wrote: I Am Still Going To Lead The Song… http://jamesduvallblog.com

Colossians 1:8-10

Also he has informed us of your love in the [Holy] Spirit. 9For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [[a]special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the [b]full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [[c]in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things-- 10That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and [d]desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, [e]acquaintance, and recognition].

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

 

 

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Perusing The Psalms

Sometimes when I have a restless night, the Lord will always take me "Perusing The Psalms" the next morning! I go from restlessness to a position in His Grace, Wisdom and Hope for the day at hand as the Son Rises upon my dark night and shatters all its gloom with a Brilliant Morning Star! This morning The Holy Spirit took me Perusing In The Psalms… Psalm 20! After a restless night, my time with God brought me into the Presence and Peace of My Father God and for that… I am very grateful and thankful.

Peruse with me today….

Psalm 20

For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble. May the God of Jacob keep you safe. 2 May he send you help from the sacred tent. May he give you aid from Zion. 3 May he remember all of your sacrifices. May he accept your burnt offerings. Selah 4 May he give you what your heart longs for. May he make all of your plans succeed. 5 We will shout with joy when you win the battle. We will lift up our flags in the name of our God. May the Lord give you everything you ask for. 6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed king. He answers him from his holy heaven. The power of God's right hand saves the king. 7 Some trust in chariots. Some trust in horses. But we trust in the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall down. But we get up and stand firm. 9 Lord, save the king! Answer us when we call out to you!

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

Perusing The Psalms --Psalm 20

 

P-Purpose-Truth

Selah! VS 4 May he give you what your heart longs for.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

*My Prayer-HIS-THOUGHTS: KimberlyMac-Glowing In His Glory! Always-4Ever! Glow It!*

We always want this for our family and friends; that everyone would have what their heart longs for. Yet, somehow, I truly believe what everyone deep down inside longs for is Jesus. We were created to know Him, created to walk with Him in fellowship and when our heart longs, it longs for this even though it might be covered over by surface desires brought on by our fleshly appetites, it is still founded upon the deep need to truly know God, our creator, the maker of our moments.

 

3 John 1:4 (NIV) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Today's New International Version © Copyright 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society

 

 

 

*My Prayer-HIS-THOUGHTS: KimberlyMac-Glowing In His Glory! Always-4Ever! Glow It!*

Of all the things that I want, this is my number one true desire for my family, for my friends! If the Lord offered me anything in this world, I would choose this: that I would hear that my children, my family and my friends are walking in the truth… that I would hear of their "living legacy" being posted in the journals of this world on earth as it is and has been ordained in heaven! There is no greater joy on this earth, nothing the world offers can satisfy such as this! Jesus!

 

P-Promise

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed king. He answers him from his holy heaven. The power of God's right hand saves the king.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

 

*My Prayer-HIS-THOUGHTS: KimberlyMac-Glowing In His Glory! Always-4Ever! Glow It!*

If I know that the Lord saves His anointed, then the wise thing to do would be to turn to Him in my all in all. Listening to His Still Small Voice, shutting out the culture-clamor of the "mediatic frenzy" of my world and being directed by Him, positioned in His Grace and placed in the power flow of His Mighty Right Hand in my all in all today, I will believe that He is working in the unseen as my Advocate and I will trust, by walking out my hopes and dreams through my faith, activated because He loves me and has redeemed me, paid forward my future with His Life! What more could I ask for? He has saved me! I don't need the reality that the world shoves in my face every time I turn on the TV and human beings are airing, showing their dirty laundry for all to see! Such HOPELESSNESS!! I need the true reality of the Kingdom where I do belong, where there is a guaranteed place for me, a position of salvation. The True reality is found in the power of God's right hand as I willessly place my life in it and show to the world a legacy that is alive, hopeful and continuously looped in the Presence of God… My reality show is a living legacy, a life positioned in the salvation of God, being worked out in His Presence!

 

P-Praise

Vs 5 We will shout with joy when you win the battle. We will lift up our flags in the name of our God.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

*My Prayer-HIS-THOUGHTS: KimberlyMac-Glowing In His Glory! Always-4Ever! Glow It!*

The Name of Jesus! There is joy in the Name of Jesus. I lift up His Name with Joy because I know that the battle is His, the victory is His and the future is His. His Name Lifted High Above All Is My Joy…. My Strength… My Victory… It is a mystery, an unseen phenomenon yet the Name of Jesus lifted up, it brings strength, peace, joy, healing, and power to my life. The battle is the Lord's. The Name of Jesus is the Victor and the banner of His Love is always flown with true Joy over my life. My life is a sanctuary of His Presence that flies a banner of His Name signifying to the world the Joy and Strength within me! Jesus!

 

P-Prayer

For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble. May the God of Jacob keep you safe. 2 May he send you help from the sacred tent. May he give you aid from Zion. 3 May he remember all of your sacrifices. May he accept your burnt offerings. Selah 4 May he give you what your heart longs for. May he make all of your plans succeed.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

*My Prayer-HIS-THOUGHTS: KimberlyMac-Glowing In His Glory! Always-4Ever! Glow It!*

So Be It! God will answer me when I am in trouble, He will keep me safe. He will send me help, angelic and human help to strengthen my feeble knees in courage, to exhort and encourage me with promise and hope and to guide my steps in Kingdom Wisdom. He will accept my sacrifice of praise, my contentment of attitude and true satisfaction expressed by a grateful heart and He will bless me with His Presence. When my heart longs for His heart, all of His plans will succeed, therefore bringing great blessing and success, written upon my heart as a great story to be told, a living legacy to be shared! I pray this prayer for all those I love, for all those that have asked for prayer that You, Almighty God will answer, that Your Plan, The design that You have written in the journals of heaven will become the Heavenly Hindsight that they sing with joy and victory! Make it so!

 

P-BE….Just Do it

7 Some trust in chariots. Some trust in horses. But we trust in the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall down. But we get up and stand firm.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

 

*My Prayer-HIS-THOUGHTS: KimberlyMac-Glowing In His Glory! Always-4Ever! Glow It!*

Sometimes life's circumstances suddenly bring us to our knees, causing us to fall down under the weight of them. When we choose to trust God, to trust in the Principles, Promises and Truths of His Kingdom and lean not on what we see in this world or are dictated to by our current culture, we will get up, we will stand firm, positioned in His Grace and Power and be found rooted deeply in the Kingdom of God! Being found in Jesus is a firm stance, unwavering in faith having our feet shod in the Gospel, walking in this world, but not rooted of it! We will stand firm because our roots are deeply planted in the soil of the Kingdom of God, it is here where are lives are planted and bear the fruit of! Just BE His! He is simply enough today… Being found in Him! Jesus! Name Above All! Powerful, Mighty to Save… JESUS!

 

Hope you enjoyed the adventure this morning with The Holy Spirit and I Perusing Psalm 20!

God Bless You Much!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Catching Up With Family And Friends!

Dear Family and Friends,

I apologize for being out of touch for so long. I still pray for all of you on Tuesdays and Thursdays, it is my God-given passion! The Lord has changed my course a bit and I am not posting my prayers right now. I should have told you a while ago, but I have been in and out of town a lot these past few months with Bob's job, it has been a difficult summer... but we have grown through it all… because of Jesus!

   

Right now I am working on this really cool idea God has given me to work out. It will be a website, it is a website J…. about 65 percent done right now. Over the past year, I have taken about 6 online college courses on Website Creation, Website Code, Website Style Sheets and all kinds of fun stuff and I am now able to write my own XHTML Code and create a website. Kind of cool what God gives you the ability to do when He needs you to do something… He equips you. So look for this Website soon! I will post it when God is ready for it to open. This is also where I will post Family Prayer and Intersection 4:41 Servant Warrior prayer, that I have been sending out for years to you all. God is just opening up the airwaves, so that it can go further, because I have been faithful in what He has given me to do so far. This site will have so much more and it will be a blessing to the Bride of Christ. I also am putting in a Military Table to reach out to those in the Military… it is going to be amazing… so …. this is what has taken up all my time and redirected my focus a little bit.

   

Hope all of you are well… know I am still praying for each of you! I am posting some of my writing at www.kimberlymac.blogspot.com I have also found the joy of Facebook, that keeps me encouraging and exhorting others in Christ Jesus and being encouraged by them too! TALK IT UP!! Talking and Sharing! Talk It Up… I believe is what Facebook will do for The Bride of Christ, get us talking again… we are way to isolated by our busy lives, we have stopped talking and deeply caring for each other… I can see God's hand in Facebook, I can see that He wants His Bride to start TALKING IT UP!!! GLOWING HIS GLORY FROM HOME TO HOME…

 

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

 

"Our loving Lord pleads with us to turn our minds and hearts fully over to Him. The more fully we do that, the more completely we live by His good and perfect plan."

Quote By Joyce Meyer From Book: Battlefield Of The Mind

 

Jesus, help each and every reader of this short exhortation to be encouraged to live with undivided hearts, completely focused in Your perfect purposes and enjoying the goodness of Your plan! Psalm 86:11. So Be It! AMEN!

 

God Bless You Much! Glowing His Glory! KimberlyMac

www.facebook.com!  Talk It UP!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Being His Glory Duster!

My Life Is A Journey.

I Must Travel With A Deep Consciousness Of God

Hebrews 1:17b MSG Bible

 

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all of you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29 Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. 30 Serving me is easy, and my load is light." New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society

*My Prayer-HIS-THOUGHTS:KimberlyMac Shining 4-Him- Glowing His Glory-Always-4Ever!*

God wants to be a part of all of our lives as we live out loud, glowing a deep consciousness of His Presence. We tend to be religious and compartmentalize God, the very One Who created us; Who made our personality, designed our giftedness and gave us our talents and Who knows our future destiny, even down to the very divine appointments we are having in this moment!    

We think God should be a part of our Sunday and maybe a little part of our lives during the week and of course when we absolutely have a big need that we can't handle, then He should be a part of that! I think, after reading the above scripture that He should not be a cubicle in the closet of our hearts, He should be yoked to us Spirit-to spirit in our all in all. God should be a part of the whole consciousness of the composition of our heart attitudes, not just one ingredient mixed in when we think we need Him.

We need to learn a complete dependence upon Him, which I think looks like a deep consciousness of Him in our all in all, a Glory Glow always Glowing! We were not created to carry such heavy loads of independence that we put on all by ourselves, (like a two year old has a habit of pushing you away and saying: "I can do it myself") especially in our fast paced very technical world. Serving God should be easy, yet adventurous with Him leading our way and us stepping into His Lighted Footsteps, shadowing Him like a fawn does, stepping safely into the Doe's footsteps that keeps her under the shadow of protection.

Sometimes I think the independent spirit that is so prevalent in our culture and in us at times, does lead us to a heavy yoke of pride. I know it is good to be proud of what you accomplish and proud of each other but the pride that makes us carry heavy loads that are performance orientated… I wonder if that is what makes us so weary on the inside of our souls. We should be living a life energized by Jesus, being His living testimony that continuously speaks, ("Talking Up His Life's Message") through our life actions; a portrait of Him, of His amazing faith activated in our all in all, being consciously impactive and saying: "Jesus is simply enough"!

Being Yoked To Him! Walking Out Our Life Continuously Looped In His Presence, Conscious Of Him In Our All In All! How Does It Look? We Can Be Visibly Seen As His Life Abundance Overflowing In Us And Through Us; Spilling Out Of Us As The Issues Of Our Life Leave His Glory Dust All Over The Paths We Have Walked! (Kind Of Like Tinker Bell… My Favorite Symbol Of God's Glory! Just Like Tinkerbell Does, Spreading A Glory Dusting Over All, Giving Them The Ability To Fly Free, Shining Within The Light Of God…That Is How I Want To Live!) Glowing His Glory Is Our Destiny, Is Our Living Legacy! Glory Glowers! Dusting All Those Around Us In His Glory, So That They Might Fly Free In Jesus Christ, Yoked To His Light, His Love And Living In His Glory Always And Forever!

SO BE IT! Being His servants is giving Him the video camera view of all of our lives! 24/7, being found in the Light of His Masterful Presence, free from personal pride and yoked only to Him. I pray that for us today! Because really, we think that He asks us to "do" so much, yet all He asks is to "be" with us in our all in all and for us to believe in Him completely by being yoked to Him, walking in the Light Of His Countenance!

John 6:29 (Amplified Bible) Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

*My Prayer-HIS-THOUGHTS: KimberlyMac - Glowing His Glory-Always-4Ever!*

Lord, I pray That We Will Trade In Our Independent Human Manufactured Yoke And Put On And Wear The Yoke of Life Manufactured By Jesus And Designed To Fit Up Perfectly By Jesus! JESUS! NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES! You Are Simply Enough! AMEN! (Help us to take a clue from Tinkerbell and Shine, being Glory dusters in our all in all!)

PS… Put Your Name In The Prayer Declaration Below And Talk It Up Unto Jesus, Unto All….! Just Do It! Talk It Up! Jesus!

I Your Name Here step into this day shod with the shoes of gratitude that walk me into the Presence of Jesus with an undivided heart of timeless praise from now unto forever. I, Your Name Here, believe in You, I inhale Jesus Christ, therefore I, Your Name Here, speak and I exhale Your Spoken Word, Your Love and Your Passion for all to know You! I, Your Name Here will be Your Glory Duster! Glowing Your Glory, Being found as a reflection of Your Light, Lord Jesus. I, Your Name Here, will be found In You Today, Being Your Glory Glower And Glowing Your Glory upon every path You have destined my feet to travel today! Glowing For Jesus! Glowing Your Countenance In My All in All Today! Glory!