Archive | February 2013

Draw Near

Draw near unto Me with full assurance and a pure heart; confident that I will perform My Word in your life. For if you believe with your whole heart, that My word is true, then you can know that it is impossible for Me to lie; it is impossible for Me to fail you.

Why do you fear child, as if I do not hear? What makes you think I don’t care; why the uncertainty?

Trust
Know
Believe

I have full confidence in you–a human that is frail. Will you have confidence in Me–a God of all power? I will prevail. Never be it said that I have let you down; it is impossible. I AM a God of all things possible to them that believe.

Stop casting blame on Me–on others.

Look to your own heart

Take responsibility

and

Believe!

“And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mk. 11:22-26

“–With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.” Mk. 10:27

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.” Is. 30:18

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Heb. 10:19-25

Be Still

Feb7

So many want quick answers…

Hurry–Hurry–please answer my prayer! Often the answer is already there within. The Word is nigh thee, even in thine heart. (See Rom. 10:8)

I am a rewarder of those who diligently seek Me. Quick friendships are shallow and have little value. It takes time spent together to build trust–to build a relationship that lasts.

The woman of Samaria, that came to the well didn’t know Me, but as I sat and talked with her she revealed to Me what she knew and had heard of Me; it allowed Me to clear her misconceptions, which made room for revelation and trust. It was then that she could receive–truly the answer to her heart’s cry.

She had many men in her life and was still empty. But in spending time with Me she was filled, and in joy and delight ran to tell all she knew of the one she had found–the Messiah. (See Jn. 4:4-42)

Come and draw from the deep well…

It begins within

Commune in your heart with Me and be still

Know that I am God

Find that I AM a Fountain of Life

I will be found by those who diligently seek Me

With all of your heart

Be Still

“Be still and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!” Ps. 46:10

“And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Heb. 11:6

” How precious is thy steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge in the shadow of thy wings. They feast on the abundance of thy house, and thou givest them drink from the river of thy delights. For with thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light.” Ps. 36:7-9

“Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Is. 12:2-3

Just Ask

Feb6

Look to the mirror within; what reflection do you see? Do you see your past looking back at you, as if it were still a fresh wound? Do you see your future, with gaping holes, for places you yet do not perceive?

Do you see Me–your Loving Savior reflected there in your heart? If your heart is full of Love to its capacity, then you truly see Me, for I AM Love.

If you see Compassion, Understanding, Wisdom and Strength…
If your heart is overflowing with Grace…
And softens with Kindness…

Then you truly emulate who I AM to the world.

If, however, you find that you behold the former, then I have Good News for you!

I came to set you FREE!

Invite Me fully and deeply into your heart–just ASK!

I will come in and fulfill your desires and needs.

I’ll fill up that gaping void.

You will truly want no more!

Ask

“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Rom. 8:28-30

“And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.” I Jn. 5:14-15

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Col. 3:12-16a

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” II Thess. 3:5

Eternal Vision

Feb5

Your standards are not My standards. Man is so temporal in their thinking–I AM eternal. I have made provision for you to be eternal; your thinking should then align with an eternal vision.

So many are focused on themselves…

What are my needs?

What shall make me happy?

What shall I do today? Tomorrow?

But…

What about your neighbor?
What steps have you taken to meet the needs of others?
How about your calling?

Every man that calls himself saved–bears My blood–his sins are washed–has a calling. I have a plan and a purpose for your life. Do you have that in your plans?

I have a plan of provision for your needs–they need not be your concern.

Will you then concern yourself with Me? Will you carry out your part in the plan for your life?

There is so much to be done. Life is so fragile–so quickly spent.

Spend your time wisely

Develop vision

Walk with purpose

For if you don’t have a destination you will never arrive…

Lets map your life together!

“And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.” Jn. 4:34-36

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” I Cor. 10:24

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Phil. 2:1-4

“– one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12-14

“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.” Col. 4:5

Inside Out

Feb4

Imagine a boat that was not cared for. The paint is chipped and water is able to seep into the wood. At first you don’t notice, for the wood has a natural resistance, but over time it takes on water…

And begins to rot.

As it rots, it begins to leak

As it leaks, it begins to sink.

If not cared for and tended, with great measures taken, it will eventually be worthless and not even able to do what it was created to do. But you cannot just paint over it to preserve it. You have to cut away and restore it. Cut out the rot and completely renew or renovate it. Then and only then, when it is brand new in structure, can you paint and beautify the outside and put it to good service and use.

The work must be done on the inside, the core structure, before the outward appearance can change.

“–No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old garment; if he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.” Luke 5:36-38

“‘And he said, “What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All These evil things come from within, and they defile a man.'” Mark 7:20-23

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not they holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”Ps. 51:10-12

“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34-36

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word. With my whole heart I seek thee; let me not wander from thy commandments! I have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Ps. 119:9-11

Soul Food

Feb3

A cleansing and purifying is at hand in the Body of Christ. Many have lain dormant for a long period of time. Some from fear, others from lack of direction, still others have suffered wounds from leadership or others in the Body.

I have given My Word as a manual for life. It is a life-giving source of food for spirit and soul. My Word is ever changing the heart of man, but itself is unchanging.

I AM a giver of life. I do not seek to kill and destroy. I bring LIFE!

So many confuse Me with the works of the evil one. This should not be.

Read My Word

I AM Love

Read My Word

I AM Healing

Read My Word–It is Life to those who find it and Health to all their flesh!

A Spirit dominated life will be a successful life. Do not be confused and disheveled in your thinking…

Hear with your heart
See with your spirit
Read My Word and LIVE!

“–It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” Mt. 4:4

“Come to me all who labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Mt. 11:28-30

“Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” Ps. 91:14-16

Truly Live!

Feb2

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another.” Gal. 5:24-25

Be at peace and be still from anxiety, but active in the ways of God. Flesh and blood have no place together, and are at odds with each other.

The one is…

Your Shield
Your Help
Your Great Reward

The other is…

Your Adversary

Your Selfishness

Your Thorn!

If you die to yourself, you will live unto Christ and be more fruitful than you ever thought possible or even imagined. Crucify the flesh and do not fulfill the lusts of it, and you will truly live!

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, indeed it cannot; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

“But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God really dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.”

“So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Rom. 8:5-14

Fullness of Joy

Feb1

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” Ps. 34:13

Very simple. Any words that do not align with the Word of God–that do not bring life and do good to the hearer are evil.

Seek good and pursue righteousness.

Plant seeds of kindness.

Plant for an expected harvest of good and you will receive it.

Do good and pursue righteousness, all the days of your life and righteousness will pursue you!

You will be overtaken, with blessing at every turn, and…

Your days will be filled with joy and laughter.

The heartache that has haunted you, will forever be vanquished–you will know no pain!

Enter into My fullness of joy!

“Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.” Ps. 128:1-2

“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips!” Ps. 141:3

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” I Cor. 10:24

“For the Lord is righteous, he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.” Ps. 11:7