Saturday, April 30, 2011
Rejuvenate
In prayer I got the word, “rejuvenate”. Then was lead into the worship song, “Running”. If we’ve been distracted by the cares of the world, earthly pleasures that are fleeting and lost our once intimate relationship with God then return today. Sing out to the Lord, “I’m running after you”. There is NO SHAME in returning. He will rejuvenate (make fresh & new again) our relationship with Him.
Great Cloud Of Witnesses
Hebrew 12 ESV has been rocking my world the last few days. There is so much in such a small chapter.
Here are a few of my favorite snippets:
“…Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?”
“…that we may share his holiness.”
“…it yieldsthe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
“…lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, andmake straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
“This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicatesthe removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.”
“…let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thuslet us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
If you have time check out the entire chapter! I’m pretty sure I’ll be stuck here a while longer :)
Here are a few of my favorite snippets:
“…Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?”
“…that we may share his holiness.”
“…it yieldsthe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
“…lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, andmake straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
“This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicatesthe removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.”
“…let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thuslet us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
If you have time check out the entire chapter! I’m pretty sure I’ll be stuck here a while longer :)
Friday, April 29, 2011
Isn't She Lovely?
Last night while driving home I couldn't help but pray for women. I was so pressed to pray that tears flooded my eyes. I began praying about how women long to be lovely, cherished, and valuable. Yet, the world has taught women to act unlovely in order to get cheap, fast love. I don't think men realize how many things women encounter daily that chip away at their self-worth. The world has failed men as well because it's shown them how to lust after women, but not love them. So many women are living life with their love tanks half full and many times completely empty at that.
It's like trying to fill your car up with water, or olive oil. It may fill the car up, but the car wont run, unless you put the right kind of fuel in it. Same thing with women. There are a bunch of dysfunctional women roaming around with broken down minds, spirits and emotions. Lord bring healing! Awaken a generation of people who love. And cause every broken and hurting soul to come in contact with these awakened people. That their joy may be full. That they'd be rich in EVERY way, as your word says.
We love you Lord.
It's like trying to fill your car up with water, or olive oil. It may fill the car up, but the car wont run, unless you put the right kind of fuel in it. Same thing with women. There are a bunch of dysfunctional women roaming around with broken down minds, spirits and emotions. Lord bring healing! Awaken a generation of people who love. And cause every broken and hurting soul to come in contact with these awakened people. That their joy may be full. That they'd be rich in EVERY way, as your word says.
We love you Lord.
The King's Way
This song has to be one of my favorites! It's been in my heart all day today. The lyrics take me back to the basics. Jason Upton's music carries such a sweet, sweet, intimate anointing. When we decide to follow Jesus, our will can no longer be our priority. It's about His word, will and way. This song is a beautiful reminder. I pray it blesses you. Love you.
"There is a road that leads to peace, that leads to life, but few will follow. We're at the crossroads, which way will we go? There is not today a more holy way than the steps that lead me to the cross. Where my will can't be the priority, and these crowns I gain I count"
God Is Greater Than Our Hearts
"Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this, we shall know that we are of the truth and can reassure our hearts before him; whenever our hearts condemns us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, and whatever we ask, we receive from him because we keep His commandments and do what pleases him.” – 1 John 3:19-22 ESV
When we love in deed, we are not only blessing those whom our deeds are extended to, but we’re supplying our hearts the confidence needed to go before God. The Lord knows that our hearts will condemn us because we are with ourselves 24-7. We know when we’ve behaved poorly, when we’ve done something for selfish gain, and when we’ve hidden evil in our hearts toward others. We know it all, for we cannot escape ourselves. Others may not see our poor judgment outwardly, but we see and hear our own hearts.
Because we are so conscious of our own internal motives and hidden deeds that others may not see, our hearts continuously bring those things to our attention, causing us to feel unworthy to approach God with confidence. Yet, it's confidence that we need before God, if we want to receive whatever we ask for in prayers.
THE MESSAGE translation says it like this, “My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of, and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him.”
Even if we do good deeds, some of us know that our hearts will still find things to “accuse and condemn” us for. My heart seems to be a pro at that! It’s a trick of the enemy to keep us feeling lowly and undeserving of God’s goodness. Plus, some days are just bad days, and we act as fools. It’s the truth! Some days our flesh wins, and our spirit-man starves. What are we to do then? Not pray? Kick ourselves out of the game, and sit on the side lines? NO WAY! We have to remember from whom our righteousness comes!
I remember a dream I had many years ago. I had just been told, by someone I respected, that I wasn’t good enough, and the dream I had later soothed my soul and changed the direction I was headed in. In the dream, two of the homosexual men I was ministering to in that season, began manifesting demons. They began shouting and screaming at me in such chaos. In the dream, I shrunk back in fear because I kept hearing what that person told me about not being good enough. My heart kept saying, “You’re not worthy”, “You can’t do this”, “You’re not good enough”, “You have too many issues to help anyone”, and on and on with all sorts of lies to make me feel less than God’s best. Then, finally, the Holy Spirit rose up within me, and I stood up and said to the demons, “GO! In Jesus' name! Not because of who I am! BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS!!”, and the dream ended.
This brings me to my next point. Our righteousness comes from Jesus, not by our works. While our deeds may silence our “accusing and condemning” hearts, our ultimate peace should come in knowing WHO HE IS in us. For, “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.”
Now, when I pray and my heart begins to whisper lies about my “righteousness”, I simply say, “Not because of who I am, BUT because of who YOU ARE. You are Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord, my Righteousness. I’ve been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). You said if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).”
So "let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth", as a blessing to others, ourselves, and to God. But let us not forget that if our “accusing and condemning” hearts are not silenced by that alone, that Jesus is our source of righteousness. He died so we can live. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
It’s because of HIM.
When we love in deed, we are not only blessing those whom our deeds are extended to, but we’re supplying our hearts the confidence needed to go before God. The Lord knows that our hearts will condemn us because we are with ourselves 24-7. We know when we’ve behaved poorly, when we’ve done something for selfish gain, and when we’ve hidden evil in our hearts toward others. We know it all, for we cannot escape ourselves. Others may not see our poor judgment outwardly, but we see and hear our own hearts.
Because we are so conscious of our own internal motives and hidden deeds that others may not see, our hearts continuously bring those things to our attention, causing us to feel unworthy to approach God with confidence. Yet, it's confidence that we need before God, if we want to receive whatever we ask for in prayers.
THE MESSAGE translation says it like this, “My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of, and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him.”
Even if we do good deeds, some of us know that our hearts will still find things to “accuse and condemn” us for. My heart seems to be a pro at that! It’s a trick of the enemy to keep us feeling lowly and undeserving of God’s goodness. Plus, some days are just bad days, and we act as fools. It’s the truth! Some days our flesh wins, and our spirit-man starves. What are we to do then? Not pray? Kick ourselves out of the game, and sit on the side lines? NO WAY! We have to remember from whom our righteousness comes!
I remember a dream I had many years ago. I had just been told, by someone I respected, that I wasn’t good enough, and the dream I had later soothed my soul and changed the direction I was headed in. In the dream, two of the homosexual men I was ministering to in that season, began manifesting demons. They began shouting and screaming at me in such chaos. In the dream, I shrunk back in fear because I kept hearing what that person told me about not being good enough. My heart kept saying, “You’re not worthy”, “You can’t do this”, “You’re not good enough”, “You have too many issues to help anyone”, and on and on with all sorts of lies to make me feel less than God’s best. Then, finally, the Holy Spirit rose up within me, and I stood up and said to the demons, “GO! In Jesus' name! Not because of who I am! BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS!!”, and the dream ended.
This brings me to my next point. Our righteousness comes from Jesus, not by our works. While our deeds may silence our “accusing and condemning” hearts, our ultimate peace should come in knowing WHO HE IS in us. For, “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.”
Now, when I pray and my heart begins to whisper lies about my “righteousness”, I simply say, “Not because of who I am, BUT because of who YOU ARE. You are Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord, my Righteousness. I’ve been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). You said if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).”
So "let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth", as a blessing to others, ourselves, and to God. But let us not forget that if our “accusing and condemning” hearts are not silenced by that alone, that Jesus is our source of righteousness. He died so we can live. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
It’s because of HIM.
He is greater than our hearts!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)