Tag Archive | Word

Hands That Serve

Cleanse your hands for the coming of the Lord is near.

Cleanse your hands, for it is your hands that serve. And hands that serve, serve to express the heart of the man. There are many ways to serve but, while man looks at the hands, I look on the heart. For the heart does not lie; it is in the heart that truth resides.

I alone am able to judge the heart of man,

For I alone see the truth of the heart.

And I alone am able to produce a heart of truth.

You see, man can give without any thought of kindness behind the act of giving. Man can serve with no desire to serve but, from compulsion, perform what is ‘expected’.

Filthy hands.

Wash your hands by cleansing your heart and, out of a pure heart of love, offer your gift. Of such a heart I will receive. Of such a heart I will be pleased.

Clean Hands–Pure Heart.

You see it’s not about the hands, but a matter of the heart. Serve Me with a pure heart.

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” I Corinthians 4:1-2

“You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the doors.” James 5:8-9

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart.” I Peter 1:22

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God.” I Corinthians 4:5

“Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.” II Corinthians 9:7-8

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” Psalms 24:3-6

My Treasure Trove

Oct25

(Often the enemies of God are those in His own household, who refuse to know the Truth. They have been entrusted with the gospel to grow and yet they refuse to know.)

My Word rests in their house as gold, and yet it remains as a heap–not dusted, not noticed, not read.

Know this–you will remain in stagnation unless you are fed. You have no need to be spoon-fed, for you have the Word at hand; put it in your heart. It is life to those who find it and health to all their flesh.

Will you start?

Will you rise up off the couch of despair and declare My Word to be true for you?

It is sufficient to free you from every disease. It fed the multitudes; brings many to their knees. For it is the gospel that cleanses, reveals and restores. Never changing, it remains the same. but it is ever changing those who partake of the Word that saves them–the Word I gave them; that heap of gold–My Treasure Trove!

“Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” James 1:17-18

My Life–written for you.

Does “enemies of God” sound harsh to you? Yes, maybe so, for it was My enemies that nailed Me to the Cross–sin that drives the lost. Your sin that I took upon Me, that I might call you friend.

And I do,

love you.

It is love that causes Me to correct. Love that calls you to connect. Love that beckons you to see, that I have placed a banquet before thee.

“And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.'” Mark 8:34-38

Come, eat it in the presence of your enemies–for that banquet is Me.

Eat it and LIVE!

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.” Psalms 23:5

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.” James 1:22-25

“Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them.” Luke 12:35-37

“For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” I Peter 4:17

With All Your Heart

Oct21

If home is where you heart is, where is your home?

Is it where your heart dwells, or where your expectation lies? Do you flee from evil to arrive home, or do you dwell in peace–never to roam?

Your body is home for your spirit, does it dwell in a peaceful setting? If your members are at war within yourself, there is therefore no rest for your spirit. If your thoughts do not agree with your spirit, are you not at war within?

“For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.” Romans 7:22-23

Peace, be still, and know that I AM God

“Be still, and know that I am God, I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!” “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalms 46:10-11

Are not My thoughts higher than yours?

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

I will lead you to a safe harbor–a place of rest and peace, but this will not be until you release your cares unto Me and make the commitment to follow one path–Me.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.” I Peter 5:6-7

Can anyone walk two paths at once?

If you are split and divided, will you not stay in one spot? There are only two kingdoms. Make a choice, and follow with all of your heart!

“Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, ‘ Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.'” Matthew 12:25

“‘He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.'” Matthew 12:30

“‘Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.'” Matthew 12:33

“–‘For out of the abundance of the mouth the heart speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.'” Matthew 12:34b-37

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” Psalms 23:1-3a

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” Isaiah 55:6-8

“For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12

The City Of Light

Oct17

The land that I have spoken of often is Zion. It is a city upon a hill–a beacon for all to see. For that city is Me.

The New Jerusalem

–a city of Light, for in it every face shines bright the Glory of the Lord; and all who dwell there know that one day they will go to the city of their King, the new heaven. It is a city of joy, for those who once knew no joy were ‘born’ there.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for behold, I created Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” Isaiah 65:17-18

“On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Among those who know me, I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia–“This one was born there,” they say. And of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”; for the Most High himself will establish her. The Lord records as he registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah Psalms 87:1-6

Adulterers, murderers, thieves and the like are given a reprieve to find a life, once cast away–a body given to burn, may find new life in Me.

You need not wait for that hour late, for that will be too late–wrong gate. Call upon Me, while I may be found. Draw upon Me, while I AM near. For those who seek Me find it clear, that My Love is immense–it covers all the grounds and knows NO bounds. For those who turn from wicked ways, turn with their whole heart, and ask for a new start–never to part.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

“–But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” Isaiah 66:2b

Grace

‘Amazing Grace’ is a song that is sung, but do they understand? My Grace that is given is Grace that is ‘won’ by decision!

Once you’ve begun, My Grace is sufficient; in My Power it is done–a new city you belong, where righteousness dwells–

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted in him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” I Peter 2:21-24

New Jerusalem

A city set apart; all inhabitants given new start. They shine, for My Glory rests upon a heart given fully to Me–thankful that never again do they find the need to flee. They’ve known the life of fear, and to them it’s abundantly clear–this measure of My Peace.

New Jerusalem

The dwelling place of God. A city set upon a hill–a city that shines, for the Glory of God invites all to come…

That’s Me, and may you say–that’s me!

“–We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. Trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:1-4

“For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, says the Lord; so shall your descendants and your name remain.” Isaiah 66:22

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is heaven.” Matthew 5:16

A Real Life

Sep30

The path of the sinner is unknown to him. He doesn’t believe his destination, that of Hell, therefore he ‘knows’ he is not headed there. And so he ‘tries’ different pursuits, if they ‘feel’ right, and continues as long as no obstacle blocks his way–come what may. He is often a ‘victim,’ in dismay, of what ‘life has dealt him’–many say.

Child’s play

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 16:25

Are you ready for a real life? One that holds plan and purpose? I know the beginning and the end and My plan for you to see, is where you enter in.

When we begin–you’ll see!

“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

It is so much more, your life I’ve prepared, than an escape from Hell; it was designed, with you in mind, before the day you were born!

“Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalms 139:16

You are My legacy–

The children I left behind and I cherish each of you. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children–how much more have I left for you?

“I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” John 16:28

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22

“A righteous man who walks in his integrity–blessed are his sons after him!” Proverbs 20:7

I had you in mind, when I designed the end of all time–the legacy of My Life given. Traced through My Blood, an endless genealogy, many like you, but they are not you. I had you in mind, from the beginning of time, with a purpose for only you!

You can waste life, choose to be left behind, or seek Me to see this plan through.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” Isaiah 55:6-8

“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Come, see your life through My Eyes–see your life given.

For the One who gave did not stay in the grave, and neither should My plan for you!

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.” Proverbs 19:20-21

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure. For thou dost not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the Pit. Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:5-11

“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. Psalms 128:1-2

“Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

Breath of God

Aug27

Catch a deep breath

Can you keep it? No, what isn’t exhaled becomes absorbed into your system. If you take no further breath, you will die. So it is with…

My Word
My Presence
My Love

If you do not further refresh, you will die. Maybe not physically, at first, but by gradual decay; as a flower fades, your spirit loses strength. And as the flower withers, so stagnation comes to your spirit–your inner man…

The core of your strength

Body fails
Beauty follows
Earth swallows
Hope is lost

Catch a deep breath and run to My arms–held wide for you to abide in My ever-present love!

All is not lost
I’m still here
Still near
And I still hear

Call upon Me without fear…

While there is yet breath!

“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7

“For ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides for ever.’ That word is the good news which was preached to you.” I Peter 1:24-25

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God will help her right early. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalms 46:1-7

“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. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:4-11

I AM Speaking

Aug25

Adjust your thinking as if in tuning a radio to a frequency, you can adjust your thoughts to be focused in the spirit to hear more clearly, succinctly. I AM not in your mind, but your mind cannot be ‘drifting’ to hear clearly through your spirit. Just as that radio frequency may drift and, though you hear the sounds, you may catch what is being said and yet you may not.

Focus–be in tune

Seek Me until you hear clearly, and then remain focused until I AM finished speaking. Some wander–their thoughts interfering, right in the middle of My statement. Would you be so rude to a friend or would you be attentive? Do you care to hear what I have to say or are you doubting that it is I speaking to you? Would you be upset if I were to only listen to half of your prayer, as if I didn’t care?

I do care

And it is because I care, that I AM patient and forgiving and I choose to speak again. Will you focus?

I AM speaking

And I would like to speak to you!

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.” John 5:44-45

“So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; if any man’s will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” John 7:16-18

“So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.'” John 8:28-29

“–he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:2-5

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15

The Wonder of It All

Jul20

I plant My Word in your heart that you may grow a heart of love–My Love. The kind of love that does not take–it gives. And gives and gives and gives.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.” John 15:16-17

My Love never tires or strains–it remains constant. Therefore, your ‘crop’ will produce fruit that lasts, remains and doesn’t strain. So many struggle and try so hard, as if fighting their way through life. I can do nothing more to take this away from you, for I have already done it all. I took it once for all, that I might live, to give My all.

Do you see?

Do you believe?

Then receive.

Do not strive to add to what I have already completed

It will negate the gift, for you cannot receive what you do not believe is yours to receive, and if you truly did believe, then you would have received.

For it was given

And, it was completed

So receive it

It is yours to receive–believe it!

Now, receive it to give.

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.” Mark 11:24

“‘–Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?’ Then the heads of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God–” I Chronicles 29:5b-7a

“Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord; David the king also rejoiced greatly.” I Chronicles 29:9

“When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?” Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

“They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.” Hosea 10:4

“You shall give to him (the poor man) freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him; because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. for the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in the land.” Deuteronomy 15:10-11

“Thine O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over all. In thy hand are power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank thee, our God, and praise thy glorious name.” I Chronicles 29:11-13

“O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep for ever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of thy people, and direct their hearts toward thee.” I Chronicles 29:18

Hope Springs Eternal

Jul16

The substance of a heart is much like the substance of faith. You cannot see the substance of a person’s heart, for it is hidden inside, but you have an idea of its makeup and, by outward expression, you receive an understanding of how it feels, reacts, responds. You speak to that person and you can tell if there is love within.

So it is with faith–you don’t see it, but you have an impression that it is there, and it is revealed by the outward expression of hope. In other words when hope takes action, a response of faith springs forth–hope springs eternal.

If you put action to your hope, faith emerges, and as faith emerges, you are encouraged. As you are encouraged faith grows–springs out of your heart as a stream of life…

Flowing

Allow this faith to flow from your heart, through your mouth, mixed with the Word, and it shall not return void or empty. Hope shall spring eternal.

Your answer will come!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Rom. 15:13

“He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water'” Jn. 7:38

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.” Prov. 18:4

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1 KJV

“–because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” II Cor. 4:18

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” II Thess. 2:16-17

White Spaces

Jun24

An empty vessel may have nothing to pour, but such a one is in the perfect position to be filled. I allow times in your life to come that would seem uncomfortable–dry and empty somehow. Now this is not to be misunderstood. There are parched seasons that are simply the result of starvation–neglect of My Word, this is your doing and not My heart for you. This season I speak of, I have called. I’ve pulled back to allow you to empty out. The cup that you always see full is now quite empty.

Do you trust Me? Trust that I AM in this with you?

If I AM your source, then I must be trusted in good times and lack–I’m not one to hold back, but I’m training you to reign and, therefore, you must be rein trained. For if you have a tender mouth, you’ll speak when I command, and not of your own accord of this I must demand.

Do not be afraid of silence

Think of it as white spaces; for when you then hear, it will be distinctive and clear. Practice this and you will see, and will soon agree, that what you hear will become more dear when I choose to speak to thee.*

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.” James 3:1-3

“For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:20

“And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and has made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.'” Revelation 5:9-10

*Please read blog comment as well