Tag Archive | spiritual

The Position You Take

Your eagerness is a sign of a ready spirit; one that I can work with. You understand that, to be stubborn, is the direct opposite of willing. You cannot serve two masters.

I require a willing heart.

It is a lonely trail for those who wish to serve Me, yet remain stubborn, for I cannot use you until you lay that down. Do you realize that, to be stubborn, you serve yourself? You cannot serve two masters.

Do you call Me Lord, or do you take the throne?

I call you to sit in heavenly places with Me, but how you position yourself is the key. Recall the one who claimed the best seat, yet was asked to step down for another who was chosen.

Submit to My Word–expecting to serve, and I will call you higher, to a place you deserve. But to remain ‘stubborn’ and ‘planted’, you’ll soon be supplanted, by the one that’s willing to serve.

Serve My Word to ‘find’ your place.

You will find your ‘place’, when you are willing to serve.

“And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:35-45

“Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:7-11

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:24-26

Like No Tomorrow

Jul10

When it seems as if your life isn’t moving forward–think again.

Have you ever stopped to watch a hummingbird? The hummingbird moves its wings at an incredible rate and yet stands still in midair to drink.

When it seems as if you stand still, and your life isn’t moving forward, think of the hummingbird. So much motion–barely perceptible to the human eye, yet he drinks sweet nectar and lives.

I want you to leave the motion to Me.

Understand that even though you may not see it, much is happening on your behalf. I want you to find the sweetness in life.

If you worry about all the details, you’ll miss the BLESSING.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feed them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?” Matthew 6:25-27

If you worry–you’ll miss it!

Worry will actually cause you to stand still, for then we must stop and work on worry, to get you back in faith–to move forward.

You work too hard at reaching your destination. I want you to enjoy today.

Drink deeply the nectar I have for you in this day, knowing that tomorrow, there will be more.

“Your lips distil nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon.” Song of Solomon 4:11

Those who trust Me for their tomorrow, thoroughly, will enjoy their today like there is no tomorrow!

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.” Matthew 6:34

“As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” Psalms 103:15-18

“For he satisfies him who is thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.” Psalms 107:9

“I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man’s mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; also that it is God’s gift to man that every one should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil.

I know that whatever God does endures for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has made it so, in order that men should fear before him.” Ecclesiastes 3:10-14

“O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalms 34:8

No Wonder

Jul8

Don’t stop to ask yourself why.

So much precious life is wasted asking, Why?

Why not?

Why not accept the fact that you won’t always know why and move on?

If you need to know, you will, but sometimes answers come slowly, and some never will.

Trust never wavers–never stops to wonder why–for ‘why’ will cause you to wander. It is the root of doubt and will tear down your faith for you are stagnant when you wait for that which may never come.

Seek to know the answers in My Word.

For there you won’t wonder, for you will know why–when you see why you wait.

Do you see?

No wonder!

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

“But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.” Job 32:8

“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” Psalms 37:30-31

“Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to possess the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked.” Psalms 37:34

Those Who Follow, Lead

Jul5

Do you understand that I AM one with the Son and He is one with Me?

He is a part of Me, made representative by flesh and bone that you may understand. I AM too vast, you cannot see–I offer a part that you may believe and He is representative of Me on this earth; so the Holy Spirit represents Me in you–we are one.

“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” John 14:20

And if you’ve received Me, you carry Me–I dwell in you.

Therefore it is you that represents Me to the world, just as Jesus represented the Father to the disciples.

Do not take lightly what you have received, when you believed.

It is a Holy power you carry within.

Do you consider that, when you choose to sin? Do you stop and think that many are watching? They are gaining ‘permission’ by your actions in life, or so they think.

“He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” I John 2:4-6

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.” John 14:15-17

Do you make your brother stumble for the license you take–the path you lead?

Are you following to provide ‘right direction’ or are you forging through the weeds?

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” I John 2:10-11

Follow.

“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26

I will make your path straight and lead you to the gate of triumph.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14

Be a leader of right-standing. A true representative of the Holy One within you.

For many are called, few are chosen.

“No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil; whoever does not do right is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother.” I John 3:9-10

“–If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” John 14:23-24

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

“”But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”” Matthew 22:11-14

Boarded Rooms

Jul3

There are ‘rooms’ in your heart that you’ve ‘boarded off’ even to Me.

No longer allowing anyone to see, you hide the trouble inside, but trouble doesn’t hide–it festers and thrives. Trouble, like wounds that have never been healed; times you’ve been hurt–you thought it was sealed, steal your joy, laughter and love.

Like cancer beneath the surface ‘not seen’ corrupts the body, so ‘chapters’ hidden in your life bring strife. For you are fighting giants in your soul and no one knows–no one but Me.

I would have spared you, agony, but you made choices apart from Me.

Choices that stole your love away–stole the sun from your sunny day. And you suffer still, another day, for hiding this all away.

You’ve boarded up places in your heart–that is where we must start, to make this heart new again.

Your heart–aches to be free. Give it to Me.

Simply ask.

Invite Me, to each room set apart.

Pull the boards down, open your heart…

to Me

I AM Love; I’ll enter in. No one will see, inside, but Me. I’ll heal the wounds, remove the debris–cast your cares all upon Me!

Just ask.

I AM ready, are you?

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Proverbs 12:25

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalms 55:22

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalms 34:1-8

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10

“Blessed be the Lord! for he has heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

The Lord is the strength of his people, he is the saving refuge of his anointed. O save thy people, and bless thy heritage; be thou their shepherd, and carry them for ever.” Psalms 28:6-9

The Secret to Success

Jul1

Lessons often come hard and I would like to spare you that, and yet, not. For I know you will learn much from the difficulties you overcome; just as a parent watches his child struggle to accomplish a task, wants to stop and do it for him, but doesn’t.

Love refrains from making life easy, but Love never leaves.

I AM always here to guide you.

You will overcome, accomplish, conquer, whichever word you prefer, to describe that elation I call victory!

My children are victorious, for I empower them.

David conquered Goliath, overcame the lion, bear, yet from all appearance he was a boy–inside a man of courage–a confident man.

What was his secret?

That he practiced his slingshot?

He practiced worship; In all his ways he acknowledged Me.

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

He worshiped.

He was built up on the inside before the event; armored with My power, wherever he went.

Lions, bears, giants–no matter, I will see you through.

Worship Me intimately–The secret to success!

“Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!” Psalms 99:5

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him , bless his name!” Psalms 100:4

“Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, seeing he has defiled the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me fro the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” I Samuel 17:36-37

“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled.

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.” I Samuel 17:45-47

“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; there was no sword in the hand of David.” I Samuel 17:50

“O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” Psalms 95:1-2

“O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.” Psalms 95:6-7

Be Ready For More

Jun30

Dramatic changes are coming your way and you will find it best–

to learn how to rest.

Rest in My provision
Rest in My wisdom
Rest in My direction

All are My Love.

You are never alone–means that you not only have My companionship, but that you literally do nothing alone. My Holy Spirit teaches you from within–where to begin.

“And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.” John 14:16-17

Follow through, is an important key.

When you begin–you ask.

I give you a task.

Don’t continue to ask, but work on what I gave you. So many keep praying, keep asking, but never launch out into the deep for a draught.

“Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24

Blessing comes in obedience–stepping out in faith with what you know.

Continuing with more–

as you grow.

Peter took in the biggest catch of his life and then promptly left it to follow Me. You see, it’s not about the ‘catch’, but the direction I call you to.

The catch will follow you, as you go.

You are not pursuing a lifestyle, you are pursuing Me and a Kingdom–“My style.” I will give you all you need and more, as you continue to open each door and follow–

follow My lead.

“If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:26

Shall we proceed?

Be ready for more.

So much more!

“And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” for he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:4-11

More Than Enough

Jun26

I anticipate your needs, and make provision far in advance–long before you recognize the need.

I will always provide for My plan, that you may walk in My will for your life, but I AM more than necessity, I AM abundance!

“For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance;–” Matthew 25:29a

I delight to bring a sparkle to your eyes with surprises along the way.

Your need is My necessity.
Your BLESSING is My abundant Love.

I want you to think beyond making do; I want you to think of what matters to you. Do you understand that you are not children of the slave, but of the free?

A slave or servant would receive a meal to nourish; basic needs are met–clothing, food, shelter. You are the children of the King, and not just a king, but The King.

“And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:29

“For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise.” Galatians 4:22-23

See yourself with more than you need.

Always give more, with more in mind; for the measure you give will be the measure you receive. It’s all a matter of the heart, but first you must believe.

“–give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:38

Some find it hard to believe that their needs are met–are not able to reach for more, for their thinking is poor. Why would I want you to be struggling? It is for your sake, that I became poor, that you might be made rich.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” II Corinthians 8:9

Wealth is not the enemy. Money is neither good nor evil, it is a substance useful to meet a need. Therefore, it is the heart that offers, that determines the source.

“The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10:22

You need not be afraid of BLESSING.
You need not be afraid to bless.

There is so much more!

“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe.

But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.” Galatians 4:1-7

“Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now. But what does the scripture say? “Cast out the slave and her son; for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.” Galatians 4:28-31

“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. O continue thy steadfast love to those who know thee, and thy salvation to the upright of heart!” Psalms 36:7-10

Do You Know?

Jun24

Chains that bind are not benign, they are like cancer that continues to grow.

Think of what you know.

You know that I have come to set you free.
You know to put your faith and trust in Me.

So why are you not free?

→You don’t know←

You don’t know the One who loves you so.

You do not ‘know’ Me or you would be free!

For bondage cannot remain in My Presence. And sickness has to flee when you cast your gaze upon Me.

Do you see?

Peter walked on water, until he took his eyes off Me. Likewise, when you look away, you fail to see you are free.

“–So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” Matthew 14:29-32

Bondage grows when left to linger. You lack authority–given to set you free…

→Speak it with Me←

I AM your Word–given for you to command your life as you grow. The power that’s Mine, breaks chains that would bind–releasing you to go–

FREE!

I AM the Word.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” John 1:14

Do you know Me?

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.” II Peter 1:3-4

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:11-14

“As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know thy name put their trust in thee, for thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek thee.” Psalms 9:9-10

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalms 1:1-3

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

“Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Loyalty

Jun23

Loyalty is not to be taken lightly, for very few are found to be truly loyal to Me.

“Take heed to the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” Proverbs 4:26-27

Yes, the right words are spoken–deeds are done, but the matter of the heart is–that we must be one.

True loyalty finds you faithful; day after day; year upon year. Not looking for the way, but looking to The Way.

If I AM leading, you must trust to follow.
If I give instruction–follow it through.

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.” Proverbs 19:20

Your understanding need not come from knowing each step or from knowing the end result, but in knowing the one who orders your steps. In knowing and trust–

Follow Me.

Faithfully.

That is loyalty–to Me.

What is desired in man is loyalty, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life; and he who has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.” Proverbs 19:20-23

“So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and men of integrity will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.” Proverbs 2:20-22

“Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:3-6

“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And convince some who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 20-23

“Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12