The Crushed Rose

I know I've blogged about this song before, but I LOVE the song "Open Up the Sky". We sang it yesterday in morning worship and I felt like such fresh revelation was flowing. Part of the words are:

"We won't be satisfied with anything ordinary. We won't be satisfied at all. Open up the sky pour down like rain. We don't want blessings we want you."

Can we really say that and truly mean it? What I felt God impressing upon me was the fact that when we really mean that, we won't mind the trials that bring us to a deeper place of revelation... revelation of more of His glory. Take, for instance, the beautiful rose. It's fragrance can't be enjoyed fully until you crush it. We don't want to be crushed. But maybe, just maybe, He wants to release a pure, undefiled fragrance from our spirit. If you feel you are being tried, crushed... maybe He trusts you with that during this season.

Paul spoke of trials that sort of "kept his feet on the ground".

2 Corinthians 12:7 from the Amplified: "And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ([a]a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted."

Don't question the trials. They serve a purpose. It's all about our perspective. If we truly trust Him, we know He will not forsake us and will perform His perfect will through every circumstance we face.

Is "Just Enough" Enough?

This morning I was having my quiet devotion time and this passage just seemed to jump out at me!

Proverbs 30: 8-9 "Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me only food sufficient for me,lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, "Who is the LORD?"-- or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."

Can it really be that simple to us? It should be. Just give me my daily portion. ...nothing less, nothing more. I'm remembering the children of Israel and how God provided daily manna for them to eat. They weren't to gather more than they needed for that day. It was a trust issue. They were to trust that He would provide again tomorrow. That seems to be our problem sometimes. We think God has failed us if we can't seem to get all our debt paid off or have our emergency fund all stashed away safe and sound. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for those things! But sometimes I wonder if the unforeseen "financial trauma" that comes upon us through unexpected expenses of every form could be a test of our trust in Him. Sure, He could wipe it all out with blessings from His unlimited supply of resources. ...but what if?

Do we really trust Him? I can look back at times when our finances were in shambles... overextended... not exactly working out on paper... but we paid our tithes first and rested in the peace that He was working it all out. Those are actually some of my best memories. I remember sitting back and watching God miraculously work on our behalf when we put His Kingdom first. He teaches us so much in those times. I am thankful for His loving, guiding hand. I want to see Him in all things... the lean times and the times of blessings.

I want to be a "giver" instead of a "taker". Pastor Terry really compelled us to look deep within ourselves and ask that probing question this weekend: "Am I a giver or a taker?" So, I'm asking you (and myself again) the same thing and asking "is what He says is "enough" enough for you?" Other countries who aren't as blessed as us have the clarity to answer that question. They worship from a whole different perspective than us. We will stand in judgement before God with them one day. What will our answer be?

Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear

In Sunday school most of us learned that cute little song... "Oh, be careful little ears what you hear..." What voices are we listening to?

If only we could have Joseph’s outlook. He never questioned why or grumbled about the circumstances. He had Kingdom focus… Kingdom purpose. He didn’t think, “poor me”… I’ve been done wrong. He rose to the top in every adverse situation he was placed in. …whether slavery, false accusation and even prison… It was all about His perspective.

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish:”

We need our vision (and our hearing, or better yet, "filters") adjusted from time to time. I am blessed to be a part of one of the greatest churches on the face of this earth... a place of vision. Not everyone has that... I want to be more aware of that. Even if you find yourself in a dry place where no vision seems to be, let HIM realign your vision. It's as simple as getting alone with Him... away with Him. If we have Kingdom purpose… Kingdom perspective, we won’t allow other people's grievances to affect our overall purpose. Be careful what you allow into your ears... because it ends up in your heart and spirit.

Gen 39:2 “And the Lord was with Joseph…” vs 4 “Joseph found grace in his sight…” vs 21 “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

Skipping ahead 42:6 “And Joseph was the governor over the land” vs 9 “And Joseph remembered the dreams” vs 5 “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”

Only what’s done in love will last. Let’s make sure we are operating in love.

I Corinthians 13:8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

Joseph was continually ridiculed by his brothers for his dreams. It didn't seem to affect him at all. God gives visions and dreams that man cannot take away. Shut out every voice that is going against the dreams, visions and plans God has given you. Maybe you're the only one who knows what they are. Trust in what He has given you. If we have the right attitude, develop the fruits of the spirit in our lives, He will bring it all to pass in His time.

The World's Economy or God's Economy?

I try not to listen to the news too much. It's so full of doom and gloom. However, this morning I did. No wonder people's hearts are failing them with fear! If I filled my ears and mind with their reports, I would be paralyzed with fear. I'm so glad that as believers, we don't have to worry. We know where our help comes from!

Philipians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Psalm 23:1 from the Amplified "THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack."

The world's economy is of "no affect" to those who are completely trusting in Him, the source of all! Notice the Amplified translation of the 23rd Psalm... He gives food (daily provision), guides (direction), shields (protection). What more could we need? He delights in knowing that we trust Him completely. Have you told Him that today? I trust you with every detail of my life, Lord! I trust YOUR economy!

Healer

On the way back from dropping the boys off at school this morning I became overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion over Tanner's healing. It was almost 8 months ago but it was so miraculous! He was healed of scoliosis! One moment he had it and later that evening after anointing him with oil in our home, his spine was completely aligned! The wonderful thing is that now... 8 months later... I see a bigger aligning. God gave the healing to assure me that He was aligning other things in his life. He has aligned his heart and mind. God is doing such a huge work in Tanner's life. I am completely overwhelmed and amazed! I just want to publicly thank Him today... our Savior... our Redeemer... our Healer!


This is an amazing song... I can't get the link to work but copy & paste into a new window to hear... incredible!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvIEJ_PmqJ8

Healer

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in you
I trust in you

I believe
You're my healer
I believe
You are all i need
I believe
You're my portion
I believe
You're more than enough for me
Jesus, you're all i need

Nothing is impossible for you
Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossible for you
You hold my world in your hands

Am I Easily Offended?

Have you ever been around someone who was easily offended? You know the type... we all know them... you have to be so careful of what you say and how you say it because something is surely going to offend them. This thought has not been provoked by me encountering such a person recently but more from a prayer I caught myself praying this morning. I want to be an encourager... I want my words to be seasoned with grace. Lord, don't let me be easily offended. Let me have YOUR filter when I hear things... that's what affects how we interpret things. Are we listening from our angle or His?

Psalm 119: 165 from the Amplified "Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble."

If I am completely in love with Him... spending moments in His presence each day... loving His law, His Word, then no other words should affect me in a way to cause me to be offended or to stumble in my walk with Him.

BE THE CHURCH

Last night at church (www.thepentecostals.org), Pastor Terry preached on Matthew 25 and admonished us to go beyond "having" church and to "BE" the church. At the end of his message He started asking for volunteers to go to Kroger, Albertsons, WalMart and walk around and let the Spirit lead you to buy someone's groceries. People begin standing, grabbing their stuff and heading out to be HIS hands and feet. He then asked for people to go visit "shut-ins", nursing homes, those who use to worship with us and for whatever reason, no longer do. It was an amazing response.

We have all had "the crud" at our house and last night it was Bryan & Cameron's turn to be sick, so they were home. Tanner & I left church and drove to a friend's house who hasn't been to church in quite some time. When we knocked on the door, I could see her through the glass. She was so overwhelmed. She had just gone to pick up food and had been weeping and asking God to just send her a word... let her know that He hears her. She was relaying all of this to her husband when we knocked on the door. We had a great visit and an incredible time of prayer together. I'm just amazed at how awesome and amazing our God is. He cares about every single detail of our life!

Spiritually Fit or Spiritually Fat?

I guess this is really part 3 of the whole "Love in Action" thoughts... yesterday I mentioned about how we can become spiritually "fat" if we are only taking in and never giving out. Not everyone knows this, but in high school Bryan lost 80 lbs and I too, struggled with my weight and eating disorders through the teen years and my early 20's. Because of that, we are very conscious of what we eat. One thing I know is that to maintain a certain weight, you have to take in a balance of what you will exert out. For instance, if you LOVE to eat and indulge in fattening foods, you better offset it with some output of energy or it will stick to you and you will end up quite "fluffy"... :) It's no different in God's Kingdom. We are lazy, fat Christians if we only take in the wonderful, rich teachings and "spiritual food" and don't give what we've attained out to others. We should be conscious of what's been given to us. All of us have someone that we can pour into.

Ephesians 4: 15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

The Amplified says “Rather, let our lives lovingly [a]express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

If we love Him in word & deed, we should be “growing up to be like Him”. In Job 1:1, Job was described as perfect & upright. Job 4:4 says “Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.” What an example to us! Job was truly “growing up into Him”… love in action! I want to be an encourager... helping to lift those who are falling... those who have great need of Him!

More Love In Action

In John 21: 15-17 Jesus asked Simon Peter 3 times, “lovest thou me?” And Peter told Him each time, Lord you know I love you. Every time He told him “Feed my sheep”.

Every one of us should have someone that we are pulling alongside us… following us as we follow Him. Who are you feeding? This helps us keep the focus off of self. Even water becomes stagnant when the flow stops. We also become spiritually “fat” when we are only taking in and not giving out.

Isaiah 35:3 “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.” We are commissioned to look beyond ourselves.

I Peter 5: 2-4 “Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully; Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation). And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the [a]conqueror's crown of glory.”

The same passage in The Message:

"I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for— God has had it with the proud,but takes delight in just plain people."

Maybe you don’t think of yourself as a leader… but we are all leading someone whether we choose to or not.

Talk is Cheap... Love Is An Action Verb

We’ve heard that phrase so many times… “talk is cheap” or how about “actions speak louder than words”? Growing up in a home with 4 children, I saw firsthand how words vs actions works. We would push Mom to the breaking point many times and then when we sensed her frustration, we would humbly slip up beside her and say, “I love you, Mom.” At that point our words didn’t carry much weight. I remember MANY times how she would say, SHOW me you love me! Or… if you love me, wash the dishes. If you love me, take out the trash. If you love me, quit fighting with your brothers. Bummer! I didn’t want to do those things…

I John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” The Amplified says “in practice and sincerity.” The Message says “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.”

What does it really mean to love in deed and in truth? After all, love is the only thing that will last. Whether we realize it or not, love dictates every single thing we do. We will do things for love that we wouldn’t ordinarily do. Remember when you were first smitten with your spouse? Time was irrelevant. You didn’t watch the clock. You only wanted to spend time with him/her. You gave up sleep to spend that time. You didn’t mind that you would be a zombie the next day. Love was guiding your steps.

In Ezekiel 33:31 we read “..they come … and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." We don’t just wake up and quit loving one day. It’s a process. It’s neglect… whether with our spouse, or with God or with both. This verse speaks of covetousness… (inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy, eagerly desirous). Godliness with contentment is great gain. So, at some point we moved away from being content. We moved away from being godly. THAT’S when covetousness started moving in. Filling and emptying… filling and emptying… that’s how it works. He ordained it that way. He wants empty vessels to fill, but we have to make sure we let Him fill us and not something else.

Out of time... more to come... stay tuned... :)