"Ask" - 05/31/14 - I Kings 3-4, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 72

"God said, "What can I give you? Ask."            
"Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart, discerning the difference between good and evil." (I Kings 3:5,9)


In my intimate relationship with ABBA, He is there the same as He is for every one.  What is it I most desire?  To be Christlike, serving Him in every breath I take and release, or to serve self and make life all about me?                           
                                                                    

"EVERYTHING" - 05/30/14 - Psalm 119: 1-88

Because you have satisfied me, God, I promise to do everything you say. (119:57)


This verse brings to mind Abraham.  How He was so satisfied with God, His Faith was so complete, he was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac.  How I pray I will become as he was.  How I pray I will put my "love idol's" on the alter permanently.   To be totally "satisfied" in my ABBA.  To Promise to do Everything - Everything - He says. 
                                                                            

"Truth Living" - 05/28/14 - Psalm 111-118

 Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God,
Who cherish and relish His commandments,     


Their children robust on the earth, And the homes of the upright - how blessed!     


Their houses brim with wealth And a generosity that never runs dry.  


Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people - God's grace and mercy and justice!   The good person is generous and lends lavishly;  No shuffling or stumbling around for this one, But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.     


Unfazed by rumor and gossip,


Heart ready, trusting in God,  
  
Spirit firm, unperturbed, Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,     


They lavish gifts on the poor - A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
An honored life!
A beautiful life!     


Someone wicked takes one look and rages, Blusters away but ends up speechless. There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing. (112)


Striving to become more of Him - none of me.

"My Favorite" - 05/26/14 - Psalm 131, 138-139, 143-145

         Psalm 139


God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.   I'm an open book to You; even from a distance, You know what I'm thinking.   You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of Your sight.     


You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence.


I look behind me and You're there, then up ahead and You're there, too -  Your reassuring presence, coming and going.     


This is too much, too wonderful - I can't take it all in!    Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit? to be out of Your sight?


If I climb to the sky, You're there! If I go underground, You're there!   If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon,     


You'd find me in a minute -  You're already there waiting!     


Then I said to myself, "Oh, He even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!"   It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to You; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to You.     


Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out; You formed me in my mother's womb.  I thank you, High God - You're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made!


I worship in adoration - what a creation!  You know me inside and out, You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.  Like an open book, You watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before You, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day.     


Your thoughts - how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them!


I couldn't even begin to count them - any more than I could count the sand of the sea.


Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with You!        


And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! And you murderers - out of here! -  all the men and women who belittle You, God, infatuated with cheap god-imitations.   See how I hate those who hate You, God, see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;  I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred. Your enemies are my enemies!     


Search me, O God, and know my heart ;


Try me and know my anxiousthoughts ;  


And seeif there be any hurtfulway in me,


And lead me in the everlastingway.

"The Wedding Dance" - 05/20/14 - Psalm 5, 38, 41, 42

You know me inside and out, you hold me together, you never fail to stand me tall in your presence so I can look you in the eye.  Blessed is God, Israel's God, always, always, always. Yes. Yes. Yes. (41:12,13)


While watching the dancers at the wedding, I so admired their ability to let loose and have fun.  The way they didn't care about how they looked, how they moved, they were just enjoying the music and they were enjoying life. 


Even though I was perfectly content to sit and watch, listening to a great band play many songs from my youth, I did wish for their confidence.  The confidence to be and do, without the inhibitions of doubt, guilt, fear, and shame.  It isn't to be the life of the party in why I want this confidence, it isn't even confidence I really want - it is "God"fidence.  It is by having "God"fidence, I am able to be who and how, He designed me to be.


So, I am reminded when reading this verse, He is why I am able to stand tall and look Him in the eye.  He created me to be in His company, to share and live life face to face with Him.  He knows me inside and out - He knows what I am capable of and set me in the places I need to be.  Nothing is by coincidence. 


Growing in "God"fidence each step of the way and so looking forward to the day of letting loose
 enjoying His Wedding in Heaven
                                               dancing with my Groom.        


But you'll welcome us with open arms when we run for cover to you. Let the party last all night! Stand guard over our celebration.   You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers, for decking us out in delight. (5:11-12)

"More........Madly" - 05/12/14 - Psalm 65-67, 69-70

I love you more than I can say. Because I'm madly in love with you, They blame me for everything they dislike about you. (69:6)


To be at this place.  To be at this point.  To be so madly in love with ABBA.  For Him to be my only Love Idol. 


Only then am I able to see the Spiritual warfare about me.  Only then am I able to stand firm and not take attacks personal.  To see beyond the persons, their actions, and see their souls.  Crying out for Him. 


Only then, am I able to love as He loves.

"His Help" - 05/11/14 - 2 Samuel 10, I Chronicles 19, Psalm 20

"That clinches it - help's coming, an answer's on the way, everything's going to work out."

(Psalm 20:6)

The sky to the east was dark over in Missouri.  You could see the sheets of rain off in the distance.  I was in a dilemma - having another two hours to complete the mowing job I was on and another hour plus at another site.  The man had called me and asked if it were possible to mow for him until he had bought a lawnmower and his yard hadn't been mowed this season.  I had given him my word I would take care of his yard late that Saturday evening - before dark.  This storm blowing in hadn't been part of my plan.  My mind was wrestling over leaving Huber's and coming back Sunday to finish it up or to stay and finish it.  I prayed over what to do and He instructed.  "Stay and finish".  The drops of rain began to fall as I loaded up my mower, thankful ABBA had held off the storm (and kept away the lightning I was seeing) long enough for me to finish.  Pulling up to the stop light where I usually headed right to go home, I felt a strong pull to go left. 

There they were, right after the start of 8th street, two persons, huddled together against the wind, trying to pull their hoods over their heads.  He told me, "They are your Divine Appointment, give them a ride".  Instantly the "What if" thoughts came surging in as I drove past my turn.  They broke apart to look at me as I stopped, and I saw they were not two, they were three.  In the middle of them was a little girl.  Climbing in we took off and I deposited them another five miles to their home.  They had decided to take a hike and got caught in the storm.  Alone in my truck, dirty and tired, mowers behind me, I knew as my heart smiled - my ABBA needed me as part of His Plan.  He knew they would be in need of a ride. He used me.  His time - His way.  The skies opened up and the rains beat down when I had been home for just a bit.  I looked at Curt and said, "they would have never made it to their home before this".  The man when I called, wasn't at all upset.  Tuesday would be soon enough to get to his lawn. 


How much I love that nothing is a coincidence - our ABBA is always in control.

" Whose Am I?" - 05/09/14 - 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

Shuffling and stammering, not looking him in the eye, Mephibosheth said, "Who am I that you pay attention to a stray dog like me?" (2 Samuel 9:8)


Is your vision of self in line to how He sees you?


In your own personal love letter from Him, The Word, He tells you over and over how He sees you.  You are His Beloved.  You are His Desire.  You are so loved, He gave His only Son so you may live with Him eternally. 



Do you believe His Words about you or do you live life doing the "shuffle/stammer" before Him?  Do you live in false humility, feeling you are above Him?  What standards do you base your "self" on?  His or your own?  Or the world? 


Through our Savior, we are able to meet with our ABBA, 24/7.  Anytime.  Anywhere. 


We are allowed to crawl up into His Lap.  We are welcomed into an intimate relationship with Him.  He wants nothing more than all of you.  You.  As you are.


He wants you to be His.

"Just As I Am" - 05/07/14 - 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17

"You know me, Master God, just as I am." (2 Samuel 7:20)


How often we pretend to be someone we are not.  How often we lift up flowery, repetitive words, when all ABBA desires is raw, nakedness from within our hearts.  How often we go before Him and think He needs to be bowing before us, preforming our will, demanding, commanding and then going off in a snit when He doesn't respond as we think He should. 


Who do we think we are?  He is the creator of all.  He is the Lord of Lord.  King of Kings.  And yet, we live life as though we are above Him.  Some at times.  Some all of the time.  It is a fight that comes with being human.  As far back as Adam and Eve, it has and will always be until the end of our time or His return, the battle of "self" versus "God".  We choose who to place before all and who to worship and serve.


It is when looking at ourselves through our own eyes we will lose hope.  I know, without a doubt, I am His.  In Christ, I am covered through and through with His Blood.  His Grace.  His Mercy. 


"Through Christ" is the only way my ABBA sees me as Holy.  And only "through Christ" am I able to be with my ABBA.  My ABBA can not be a part of sin.  That is why Christ is needed.


Last night during study, Julie said her best time to converse with ABBA is in the shower.  Mine too!  I shared how I am unaware of being naked before Him, even though being naked in front of anyone sends me to nightmare city.  The shower is a constant reminder of how I am covered in and through Christ.  In my nakedness, He clothes me and I am able to stand before ABBA without shame.  Without pretense.  In confidence. 


Because of Christ, I am able to be with my ABBA in total freedom.  All that I am is already known, from Him, nothing can be hidden.  Only because of my forgiveness "through Christ" am I able to experience being totally myself before ABBA and knowing He loves me so - regardless of my sins. 


He sees me through Christ as "His Beloved" - fearfully and wonderfully made.

"Living Alert" - 05/06/14 - Psalm 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, 132

"Keep your eyes open for God, watch for His works; be alert for signs of His presence" (105:4)


I love when my focus is totally on Him.  Wherever I look, whatever I think - it is all about Him. 
How marvelous is life when lived His way.


Yesterday, out spraying, my senses were on overload.  The beautiful spring colors, the scents finding my nose and my brain responds in delight.
                                                    


I was thinking as I looked about, the newness of Spring brings about such hope, joy, delight.  The freshness of the colors, textures, smells surround us.  Exactly as He does in our hearts. 


Each day I pray to be aware of Him with all that I am.  I pray to be alert and at the ready for all Divine Appointments He has lined up for me.  I find those Divine Appointments are often more for my growth in Him, needed encouragement, a smile, an opportunity to share Him. 


How does living this way look for you?  What Divine Appointments has He lined up for you?


"Keep your eyes open for God, watch for His works; be alert for signs of His presence" (105:4)

"Caught!" - 05/05/14 - Psalm 1, 2,15, 22-24,47, 68

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (23:6)


Love this! Isn't it beyond wonderful, knowing without a doubt, we are His first, greatest, unconditional, all time loves! How I love thinking about "His Beauty and Love chasing after me every day of my life". How thankful I am I stopped and was "caught" by Him - our ABBA!

"Listen" - 05/04/14 - 2 Samuel 5:11 - 6:23; 1 Chronicles 13 -16

                         


"When you hear a sound like shuffling feet in the tops of the balsams, attack; God will be two steps ahead of you" (1 Chronicles 14:15)

This is one of my favorite verses.  He has given me such a gift in being able to visualize word pictures and each time I read this, I stand amazed.  In my mind I can see His army standing at the ready, silent, waiting, for the sound of shuffling feet.  No rams horn, no clanging cymbals, no shout out, but the sound like shuffling feet. 

They had to be listening closely, attentively, totally focused on Him and recognize His sound.  Throughout Scripture there are so many incidents where His ways of war seem so far out there.  So impossible that the only way winning was possible, was only because of Him.  There are times during the spiritual warfare, the battle plan seems to be opposite of what I feel is the right defense tactic.  

Trust.  Faith.  Focus.

He is in control. 

“Listen for the sound like shuffling feet.”

"Springs of Water" - 05/03/14 - Psalm 106-107

"Then He changed the wasteland into fresh pools of water, and earth into springs of water," (107:35)


I smile as the image of Jed Clampit from the Beverly Hillbillies, discovers "black gold - oil that is", comes into my mind as I read this verse.  How it represents my life, before and after, I gave it to ABBA.


Yesterday while mowing, He showed me how many times He has protected me, actually saved me from harm, throughout my life (and not only while mowing).  Once, while mowing atop a wall at the bottom of a steep hill my mower hit wet grass and started to head down over the 8ft wall.  In my panic, I tried to put my foot out in front of the mower to try and stop it - the blades still running.  The small 2ft wide bed with blue rug growing in it was what ABBA used to stop it.  Looking back at that day, I realized how easily my life could have ended.  I realized the stupid things we end up doing, trying to "save ourselves" when we allow fear to take over.  He also gave me insight to prepare for the "next time" I have to mow in a situation like that.  How to maneuver the terrain in a way that keeps me from the edge. 


Just like my life. 


This time today, 26 years ago, I was giving birth to our Nichalas. 


26 years ago. 


I am finding it hard to believe my "baby" is that old and our Adam is 29. 


Up until the point of having Adam, my life was a wasteland.  I was stumbling through life, living for "self", living in fear, living life on the edge.  My "fruits" were all about the world. 


How He transformed my life at the point of Adam.  He took the wasteland and it has become lush from the fresh waters.  He has taken the fruits of our sons and daughter, making them into springs of water.  He is using me and mine to give others "living water", so their lives are eternally refreshed. 


No longer, when I find myself in situations outside my comfort zone do I "put my foot out in front of running blades".  I stand back and allow my ABBA to be my protector.  I no longer live in fear.  I live in the refreshment of His "living springs".
 

"Unity in Different" - 05/02/14 - Psalm 133

1 How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! 2 It's like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron's beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. 3 It's like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that's where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.


The precious oil is being used as an illustration of "brothers dwelling together in unity." Most of us will ask how does that make sense?


The answer is found in Exodus 30:22-33. Here is a portion of that passage.Take also for yourself the finest of spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, two hundred and fifty, and of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin. And you shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil . . . And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me. (NASB) Ex. 30:23-25, 30


The oil used to anoint Aaron was holy anointing oil.   The holy anointing oil was a mixture of four spices in oil. The spices were myrrh, cinnamon, cane, and cassia. The spices were mixed together in olive oil. They were different spices mixed together to make a wonderful fragrance - a holy oil. What a picture of unity. It is a picture of very different people, yet people who are united.Conclusion:When these spices were mixed with oil, the oil became holy oil. It was not the oil that was holy but the mixture. By themselves the spices could not make a holy oil. God did not ask for three measurements of myrrh, but required four different spices. God could have used just one spice, but He did not do that. It is a great reminder for us that we need each other to provoke one another to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24).


The body of Jesus Christ is made up of all types of people. (copied)

"His Truth" - 05/01/14 - 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11,12

still, he didn't measure up (1 Chronicles 11:21)


Words.


They either build up or tear down.  We cling to them.  We hear them over and over and at times, we are the ones who say them to ourselves.  The ugly, dark comments we would never utter to another.  Out loud.


How often we berate, belittle, betray, and believe - lies.  Lies the world or self has spoken to us.  How often we allow those lies to become our "measuring stick", which only serve to tear down or apart. 


Our ABBA speaks only The Truth. 
                                                             


His standards are not double and they are firm.  Capture His Truth into your hearts.  Chew on them.  Delight in them.  Say them aloud.  Look into your eyes and tell yourself - "I am His Beloved".  


It is only through Christ and using ABBA's measuring stick that we are able to "measure up".


We do become what we believe. 

"He Raised His Hand" - 04/30/14

Tell me about your table. What do the nicks and the scrapes and the scratches tell you? Is your table like mine, a wooden diary whispering secrets?

Tell me about your table, and I'll tell you about mine: http://jenniferdukeslee.com/tellhisstory-the-beauty-of-imperfection/


At the auction, it was alone by the wall of the old home. Its legs had been removed and they were laying against its top, which was covered by layers of ugly old varnish. When it came time to bid on it, no one raised their hand - except me. I bought it for $2. I bought it at a time in our financial life when $2 was much like $2000. It wouldn't fit into the car, so I had to go home and get my Curt and our truck. He wasn't impressed with my "bargain", knowing our finances and how often my "bargains" entailed work from him. He kept his thoughts to himself as we loaded it into the truck and took it home. I put the legs back on by myself. The table wobbled. I tightened them and the wobble lessened. There were many moments, while sitting at the table, I would pick at the old varnish, thinking I needed to take the time and do it proper. It took the help of others to make needed changes. Upon closer inspection, Curt discovered I had put the legs on backwards. No more wobble. My mom, newly retired with time on her hands, took the table and upon its return it had transformed from ugly to beautiful. 

 Each time I am reminded of my "self" when I look or sit at this $2 table. At the auction, my ABBA is the only one who raised His Hand. He bought me at the price of His Son. He placed me in His Church, my new Home. It has taken the help of Him, His Son, The Holy Spirit, His Word, His Family, in the work of transforming my "self". He has taken the "ugly" and transformed it into "beautiful".