Open Book

Do you ever think about how our lives as His servants are an open book to be read of all men?

I Corinthians 3:2-3 "...you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody. You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with [the] Spirit of [the] living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

He wants to write the pages of our lives. Every turn in our path is a new chapter He is writing. The only way some can be reached is through the lives of His servants. Each chapter serves a divine purpose... not just for us (His servants) but for those watching. Being hidden in Him guarantees that we will react properly to each change and obstacle we face. He has a greater purpose for all of us than we can even imagine!

Make the Journey!

I had one of those divine "God moments" with a good friend this morning... one of those "if I don't make this connection right now I'm going to DIE" moments... it is so incredible how HE works! I don't have permission to share details but the whole conversation and process in her life led me back to Monday's entry in my prayer journal. This is what I felt Him speaking that day and as she & I shared back & forth, it was meant to be told today... you blow our minds, God!

"Anyone that makes a commitment to start walking toward Me, with Me, spending more time in prayer, can't help but be changed into My likeness. Abiding with Me brings change in hearts, desires, priorities. How I long for all my children to make this journey! There are limitless provisions for those who will set themselves apart... steal away with Me. I begin to get directly involved in the affairs of their lives. They will find all things settled as they align themselves with My purpose."

I want it, Lord! I want every provision You've made for me... I want Your desires to be my desires... I want a pure heart before You!

Please Lord...Send Someone Else!

This morning my daily reading was in Exodus 3 & 4... so I'm thinking about how Moses wanted a "safety net" when God revealed to Him the purpose He had laid out before him. He didn't feel like he could speak well enough. God told him "I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say..." His anger was kindled against Moses for "wimpin' out" but He used him anyway. It wasn't His "perfect" plan... He sent him Aaron as an "assistant" and "mouthpiece". What a lesson to us of His grace and purpose for our lives. He didn't choose another to take his place (although Moses thought that was a better idea). He still spoke to him and used him... just added the assistant.

Sometimes He calls us into "uncharted waters"... areas where we are so unsure of ourselves, doubting our abilities... Boy, have I been there more times than I want to count! However, when He calls us, He will be with us. He equips. He prepares the way. Deep within every one of us is a calling that is specific to us individually. It's up to us to submit to that calling.

As He led Moses back to his people from Pharoah's house, so will He lead us... those of us who want to be used by Him. He will lead us to those we are to affect. I felt this so strongly in prayer this morning... not to worry or stress over the people that I feel I am having "no effect" on. He knows who to send and how to reach them. Our only job is to be obedient to Him and sensitive to His voice and His direction. Follow His leading. He has established a path before me.

Psalm 16:11 "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy, at the right hand there are pleasure for evermore."

Acts 2:25 (Amplified) "For David says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down (from my secure and happy state)." Verse 28 says "...you will make known to me the ways of life..."

More Listening for the Whispers...

I shared some of this in Sunday school yesterday but felt like blogging it... we are all recovering from "Because of The Times" conference at our church... totally worn out physically but recharged spiritually! The week before was such a great time of prayer focus. On one of those days I had been at the church praying and felt like He was saying, "Don't try to dictate the ways I will speak to you... just always be ready, aware, listening... quiet times with Me teach you the discipline of listening."

Now I normally use the 15 minute drive to work to talk to my mom on the phone & "catch up"... on this day I didn't. As I was driving (in silence) I just began to weep because I could just so clearly hear HIS words... so I got out my pen and somehow managed to drive and write (very messily, I might add!)...

"Every open and closed door serves My purpose in your life. The more you learn to trust me & let me guide you, you'll begin to recognize these changes before they actually occur. Let me be your counsellor. I'm all you need. You don't have to qualify or merit My words spoken into your life. All you need to do is listen... train your ear... get alone with Me... drown out the other voices in your life. When you listen, you will change other's lives--my reflection changes hearts. No words have to even be spoken... just "reflect". As I flow out of you, so does my healing, changing, power flow into the lives around you. Humility, lowliness of mind... that's My way... because then you don't try your thoughts and words. You recognize that it is MY thoughts, MY words!

Why are my people so quick to run to mentors, parents, friends, teachers, to everyone but ME, the Life Speaker, the "answer"? My Word holds the answer to every problem or perplexity that the human mind can encounter.

Surrender to My will ensures that all you attempt to do will suddenly be accomplished with ease. Trying your own way brings frustration. I long to anoint everything your hand touches. Let me be LORD of ALL that concerns you!"

I know that is lengthy, but that's just as I heard it... I want to share every single word that He gives me because I find that it usually isn't just for me. Lord, let us all be "funnels" through which You pour out your words, your Spirit, your compassion, your love!!!

Eyes of Faith

Romans 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

I felt this scripture so strongly in prayer the other day. I looked up the word "just". It means "guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness". Another meaning was "in accordance with standards or requirements".

Of course, to understand faith we have to go to the faith chapter. Hebrews 11:1 (and I love the Amplified version) "NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

So... if I understand this right, part of being just (living according to God's standard/His requirement) is... we don't get to fully know the whole picture but believe it anyway! ...seeing it as though it were already done.

What is time to God? He is not bound by time as we are. He knows the end from the beginning. Whatever answer or miracle we may need... it is already performed. He encompasses all time... It is already done--we just have to move forward until we step into the reality of it... when it will actually be manifested to our human senses! We don't get all He has intended sometimes because we don't accept all He has planned... we don't see it big enough! Our ceiling is His floor (heard that this weekend & thought it was such a cool way to describe our vision!).

Real faith accepts the answer though we don't see it in the physical. Lord, give us eyes of faith!