"GO!!" - 03/15/17 - Joshua 16-18

“How long are you going to sit around on your hands" (18:3)

 

Get off our duff.

Quite easily, we could sit in His comfort zone for hours, days, months, even years.

This isn't what He expects us to do.  The "comforts" He has blessed us with are to be an encouragement for us to get out and lead others to His "comforts".   To be His Ambassador.

"Go as I LIVE, making Disciples".(Matthew 28:19)

Can not very well LIVE if we are sitting in His "comfort room".

Yes, we can open up His "comfort room" for others to come and enjoy. 

Most often though, they are ones who have already found the "comforts" of being a part of His family.  Not saying spending time with His family is a bad thing, but Jesus gave us example after example in the spending of time with those who are outside of  His "comfort room".  He met them where they were.  

 

And most times, those outside don't feel "comfortable" coming into His "comfort room".  

It isn't until we are In Him that His "comforts" are no longer uncomfortable.

So - which do we choose.

 

Getting off our duff, out of His "comfort room" and getting into an uncomfortable place - which would be their comfort room. 

Or if they reject our invite to His "comfort room",  do we continue to sit back enjoying His "comforts" while not showing any concern for them.   Focusing so intently on His "comforts" we totally forget about or ignore those on the outside.

 

How easy it is after being in the world, recognizing it really wasn't a "comfort" place at all and we stop fighting the temptation to remain in His "comforts".  It is our natural bent to be selfish.  To become settled and lazy. 

To become, well, comfortable. 

Only through and In Him are we able to go against our natural bent and be transformed. 

 

He will change our vision to seeing those outside of Him as lost and the time is flying by.  We will begin to see all of us are dying and the last breaths could be - well - just a breath away.  He opens our eyes to see others as "Divine Appointments" in which we have to leave His "comfort rooms" to make.  He gives us the sense of  urgency in not breaking these Appointments.  He gives us an awareness it may be the last appointment the person He has lined up for you will have.  He tells us, "We may be the only vessel of Christ they will see".

We are commanded. 

GO!! 

As we live,  bringing those outside into His "comfort room".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"His Sea" - 03/14/17 - Joshua 12-15

"The Great Sea is the western border." (15:47)

Borders....Boundaries. 

God has put them there for a reason.  

And how often do we test the boundaries?  Walk the fence so to say.  Put our toe in the waters, testing the temps.  Thinking it is "just right" and wade on in.  At times even going underwater and checking out the bottom.  Scuba diving - looking for lost treasure.  Floating in that sea of sin.  Water lapping up against our blowup raft as we lay in the sea of sin basking in the sun. 

Our rose tinted glasses perched upon our nose. 

And then, 


                       





















                                                                      the shark comes in.


God gives us boundaries for our safety.  They are nothing to play with, cross over, jumping back and forth over the line. 

In doing so, we are only playing games with sin. 

I once heard in a sermon about a high fence that divided the land.  Buried too deep for animals to dig under and too high for any to jump over.  For generations the fence stood, as a boundary, until it was removed.  There were generations of deer born in these forest before and after the fence.  And today, even though the fence is no longer there, the deer still do not cross the boundary line.  They have been conditioned throughout the generations not to go beyond that point. 

Even without the fence.

How are we at our boundary line our ABBA has placed around us for our own good?  Do we recognize sin is serious.  It is not a game to play with.  Do we listen to The Holy Spirit, acting as our fence?  Have we conditioned ourselves to stay within the boundaries, even when we choose to ignore the fence?  Or do we go beyond into the sea of sin?

 His Word tells us a sin is a sin.  There are no different levels.  All of sin separates us from God.

Why? 

Because He is Holy. 

In Christ we are made holy.  Covered with His grace, mercy, forgiveness.   Never will He cast us out.  It is us who freely chooses to remove ourselves from Him and go beyond the boundary.  Going beyond not only the boundary line, but outside of Him.

Each time we test the boundaries, is an opportunity for sin to come in and harden our hearts. 

God has given us His seas and everything else we need within the boundaries "in" Him.

Whyever would we leave the sea of Him to swim in the sea of sin.  

 

 

 

"Our Helper" - 03/13/17 - Joshua 9-11

"The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua camped at Gilgal, “Don’t let us down now! Come up here quickly! Save us! Help us! All the Amorite kings who live up in the hills have ganged up on us.”  (10:6)

Fear only comes in when we allow doubt to become injected into our hearts.  Doubt that God is in complete control.   Doubt that He is bigger. 

It is then we need to call out in Him for help. 

But not because of fear. 
Because of faith in knowing He is "I AM". 

He has our back, front, and sides. 
He Loves us and wants only what is best for us. 

^"Joshua told them, “Don’t hold back. Don’t be timid. Be strong! Be confident! This is what God will do to all your enemies when you fight them.” (10:25)

At times when our focus is upon our enemies, they seem bigger than what they really are.  Bigger than life so to speak,  because we allow them to overtake, consume us.  We have taken our focus off of our ABBA and realize there isn't any way we are able to defeat the enemy on our own. 

In trying to overtake the enemy on our own, "self" always comes in and love goes out.  We become intent on revenge and destruction.  Usually for our glory and not His.  "Self" begins to feed from the rotten fruits of the world and not the nourishing Fruits of The Spirit.  "Self" will miss there may be some enemies He doesn't destroy because He is using us to bring them to Him. It is in the moments of "self" we forget "in" Him we are invincible.  .  

 He tells us to stand firm when putting on His armor.  Stand firm against the enemy.  Don't take the attacks personal - it's not about "us". We" are ABBA's most treasured creation and satan in his great hatred towards God is only using "us" to hurt our ABBA.  satan doesn't care one iota about "us".  His only intention is snuffing out His Light we allow to shine when "in" Him - for Darkness does not like The Light. 

And during those times of spiritual warfare, our ABBA constantly protects us - because of His great Love for us.

As long as we are on this earth in the midst of spiritual warfare,  we need to call out to God for reinforcement.  We need to cast aside the doubt satan is offering up and realign our focus onto Him.

Knowing, without doubt, as we fight in the battles, we stand in the winning side of The War.

"The Urgency" - 03/12/17 - Joshua 5-8

"The death toll that day came to twelve thousand men and women—everyone in Ai." (Josh 8:25)



It's important during our walk with God we don't get more about hating the sin than with loving all people.

 

 12,000 men and women were killed. All of these people were created by God. Made in His image.   Loved by God.  Desired by God to be with Him.

Sometimes when I read the many accounts in Scripture of all the people who were killed, Pharaoh and his army, etc, I remember:

Our Lord's heart would have been breaking.

He doesn't want to pick and choose certain people to save.

 

 He wants us all.

Because He is Holy though, when a person decides to cling to sin and not to Him, they will suffer the consequences of their choice - eternal death.  And even still.  Because of His great Love.  He gives us the opportunity to cling to Him through the gift of our Savior.  Right up until our last breath.

I pray all in Him will not become self-righteous knowing we are ones who will be with Him eternally. I pray for His family to look upon the lost with a sense of urgency in introducing them to Christ. 12,000 is just a drop in the bucket for all the lost souls who have died since the earth was formed. Every moment someone, somewhere,  has died without being in Him.

What exactly are we doing to be a part of the movement to prevent this?

Today there are so many causes people are passionate about. The world seems to be more about the rights of animals, environment than those of people. But as a Christian, how are we as a "soul rights" activist. Are we active or placid?  Do we take the opportunity in The Divine Appointments to sow seeds or harvest for Him? Are all of our steps marching in the movement to bring more souls into Him?

I pray each and every day all that breaks His heart is breaking those of His family and we take action.

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(Matthew 28:18-20)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Prioritize" - 03/11/17 - Joshua 1-4

"Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going.

And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind.

Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it.

Then you'll get where you're going;

then you'll succeed.

Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage!

Don't be timid;

don't get discouraged.

God,

your God,

is with you every step you take." (1:8-9)

 

 

Throughout the past years whenever I would try to speak to my G'ma Jones in regard to her salvation, I would be gently brushed off or she would change the subject.  I spent many moments praying for our ABBA to use me, if needed, to lead her to Him. 

 

Upon seeing her that day on our hurried return from Arizona a couple of weeks ago, I felt the opportunity had passed.  And still I prayed. 

 

Our ABBA.  His ways.  His timing.  He is so overwhelmingly amazing. 

 

Looking back over her last days I am able to see how His Hand was in the midst of all.  It was exactly two weeks ago today I found myself alone with her.  That in itself was a miracle because she was always surrounded by persons caring and loving on her.  For two whole hours it was just her and me.  And we talked. 

 

Another miracle.  During those two hours she never slept.  she never wavered in her mind.  she was there with me.  And we were alone with our ABBA. 

 

Out of the blue she looked at me and said, "I sure hope I get to go to Heaven." 

 

And I stepped through the door He was holding open. 

 

He answered the years of heartfelt prayers I had lifted up to Him and used me in letting her know, without doubt, our Savior is The Key to Heaven.  Our Savior, whom she accepted.

 

I smile.  At how overwhelmingly amazing is our ABBA.  It was shortly after He used me, our time together was joined by others and she began to be asleep more than awake.  And in the times of wakefulness, she wasn't ever alert as she had been during those two hours we "three" were together. 

 

I kneel before Him.  Humbled.  Honored.  Blessed.  He used me to be His vessel in bringing my g'ma Home.

 

And I would have missed this blessing had I not followed His prioritizing of my life. 

If I allowed myself, thoughts of death could consume me. Scare me. Become my obsession. God tells me to meditate on His Word - day and night. He promises me I'll get where He wants me to go, if I stay focused on Him. Life isn't an easy journey. But, walking in Him there are blessings in all things, situations. It is through Him I also receive strength and courage.

He has shown me to savor each moment. Do I look back at the end of my day and smile at how I have spent my time? I started keeping a separate journal this year listing only in it what made me smile that day. I don't want to forget, or take for granted, the big or small smiles He has given me. I don't want to let fear of growing older, of death rob me of those.
  

He tells me not to be timid. Embrace my fears, get to know them - dance with them - then they can no longer have a hold on me. He is with me every single step of the way. Being in His Word every day has transformed my heart and focus. He is everywhere I look. He is enabling me to savor life, set my priorities to His measuring stick not mine. That living here on this earth really isn't what it is all about. That really living is living with Him eternally.
 

There is nothing that can stop time except to die. Until that happens - it does march on. I am blessed with many memories. Blessed with the fact the reason I dread separation that death brings for those I love is because He taught me how to love deeply. He has blessed me with the promise as long as I am alive, there will be more smiles. Blessed in knowing He conquered death.
 

So my lesson from Him - "Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going" - be it with thoughts of aging, death, memories, things of this world. My number one job in my journey of life is to go and make disciples. Too many are dying not knowing Him. Too many moments are being spent without Him being the focus. Too many are living in total fear of death.
 

Over and over He has shown me to cherish each and every moment.
 

Make a date on your calendar with those He has put into your life.
 

 

And make it happen.
 

 

Time goes - too fast, too soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We, His Beloved - Believe" - 03/10/17 - Deuteronomy 32-34

"Benjamin: "God's beloved;

God's permanent residence.

Encircled by God all day long,

within whom God is at home." (33:12)


No greater joy.  No greater Love.   Our name is there along side Benjamin's. 

 

"We" are His Beloved. 

 

^"He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened. They saw."(Matthew 9:29)

In Him "Beloved" - He has touched your eyes.   “Become what you believe.”

It has already happened.

Open your eyes and see.

 

"Beloved, now are we children of God, and what we shall be has not yet been manifested; we know that if it is manifested we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."(I John 3:2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Dancing With Our ABBA" - 03/09/17 - Deuteronomy 30-31

 

 

 

"Look at what I've done for you today: I've placed in front of you

Life and Good
Death and Evil.

And I command you today: Love God, your God.

 

Walk in His ways. Keep His commandments, regulations, and rules

 

so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by God, your God,

 

in the land you are about to enter and possess. I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse.

 

Choose life so that you and your children will live.

And love God, your God, listening obediently to Him, firmly embracing Him.

 

Oh yes, He is life itself"(30:15,16,19,20)

                                                          
As the trees sway in the wind, the grass bows down to His breath, the leaves swirl in His whirlwind, the snow - glittering like diamonds - being gently lowered to the ground, He leads me in the dance of life.

Dancing With God.

I follow His lead, most times.
Occasionally even stepping on His toes those times I try to lead.

We twirl and whirl in the grand room of life - together - as He firmly embraces me. I listen obediently as He whispers in my ear which steps we'll dance. At times so in tune with Him, words are not needed as I follow His lead. When we rest and gather our energy for the next set, I draw strength from Him.

I have chosen His way of Life and Good.
In doing so - I live, I really live.
Exuberantly and blessed by Him.

I have fallen madly and deeply in love with my Lord.
My Abba.
My Daddy.
My very bestest friend.
And as I look out and see the amazing beauty of His spring, I yearn to dance with Him.
To laugh with Him.
To celebrate with Him.

I am so thankful my husband, our children, our grandchildren all dance with Him.  I am so blessed to be surrounded by His family as we delight in Him, as He does each and every one of us. I watch as we follow His lead, conquering steps which overwhelmed us before.   I am blinded by His light shining through my family wherever He has led them.  My heart smiles as we dance to His song of living.

"I have looked and seen. Before me He placed
Life and Good
Death and Evil.

I have chosen Life and Good.
Live and God."

 

 

 

 

 

"His Nourishment" - 03/08/17 - Deuteronomy 28-29

"a person who hears the words of the Covenant-oath but exempts himself, thinking, "I'll live just the way I please, thank you," and ends up ruining life for everybody. (29:19)


It amazes and saddens me how often we feel our actions, or lack of, don't affect others. 

 

There isn't an escape from the ripples we create in the river of life, regardless of if we choose to live for ABBA or "live just the way I please".  Who are you living for?  Is ABBA your first priority or self?  Do you continually place Him lower and lower on your "list"? 

 

There is a reason The Holy Spirit is within us, to be our Helper.  Our natural tendency is to serve "self".  There is a reason ABBA has instructed us to be in His Word so much that His Word is in us.  He tells us to wear it on our foreheads and carry it in our hearts.  ABBA gave us His Word, giving us a first hand account of our Christ.  Our Christ, whom we are to strive and become like.  His Word transforms us, but it is our free choice to set aside "self" and make Him our first priority. 


Psalm 1:1-3 "... read in an undertone day and night"

Joshua 1:8 "... book of the law should not depart from your mouth ... read in it day and night..."

Ephesians 6:17 likens God's word as being as important to a Christian as a sword is to a soldier in battle.

James 1:25 encourages Christians to 'persist' in God's word.


I have found, more often than not, as I grow in Him, study and knowing His Word, I fall back upon it when sin enters into my choices.  His Word has transformed my heart in ways that astound me.  His Word continually comes into my thoughts, my eyesight.  It has brought me closer to Him.  I love living my life in constant awareness of His being in and all around me.  He has shown me this life isn't about stuff, status, etc.  It is about the Spiritual warfare, which is all about us.  satan is trying to collect as many souls as he can, and ABBA is using us, His Warriors, in this war. 


"God put a million, million doors in the world
 For His love to walk through
 One of those doors is you
 I said, God put a million, million doors in the world
 For His love to walk through
 One of those doors is you" (Jason Gray - With Every Act of Love)


His Word is our manual, our inside "battle plan".  It is our direct link to The Lord of lords - our ABBA - our "bestest friend".
  

Many people make it a daily habit to read The Bible. When asked why he reads The Bible every day, one Christian replied: “If I repeatedly pray to God during the day and expect Him to hear me, why shouldn’t I also listen to God by reading His Word every day? If we want to be a good friend, why would we do all the talking?”

"His Dearly Held Treasure" - 03/07/17 - Deuteronomy 24-27

"And today God has reaffirmed that you are dearly held treasure
just as He promised"(26:18)

As I sit and read His Word, I am able to hear the hail beating against the window and tin roof.  The wind is throwing itself against the house, at times causing it to shutter in the fight to withstand the force.  I can feel the vibrations of thunder as it rumbles through the air, lightening illuminating the trees leaning over until they look as though they will break. 

My mom called not too long ago.  They have and are sedating my grandma to help ease her discomfort in what is probably her last few days here on this earth.  Although her vitals are quite strong, amazingly so actually, it is her ability to breath due to the fluids filling up her lungs that is causing her to be unsettled.   

Each time I pick up His Word, I pray I am listening and will know what Wisdom He wants to bestow upon me through my reading.  I am sharing with you, there was much doubt that I would come away with anything upon seeing today's verses.  I listened intently as I read.  Not feeling The Spirit move within me as He does when I know I am listening to what He wants me to glean from. 


Until I came across, "And today God has reaffirmed that you are dearly held treasure
just as He promised"

"You are a dearly held treasure - just as He promised."

Throughout the all of "not making sense", of "death", of "pain", or "sorrow", of "joy", of "laughter".  Throughout the all of "all".

"We are His dearly held treasure."

He wipes the tears with His gentle hand.  He holds us close in His strong grip.  He reminds us of what treasures we are.  He reminds each one of us how He loves us through so many. 

This woman I will be journeying to see when the storms have passed, has loved me unconditionally from the moment of my conception.  This woman whom I have learned from, shared so much of living with, created many treasured memories.  This one whom I have called Grandma Jones. 

I am blessed with so many well worn notes, letters, cards she has written to me throughout the years.  All of which are carefully kept inside my keepsake box with my other treasures.  I have been blessed with a life of two precious grandma's well into my adult years.  But the words I hold dearest into my heart are the words we shared when speaking of our ABBA.  I know they never stopped praying for me as long as they were able. 

So in my sorrow, I am selfish.  When given a "Taste of Heaven" here on earth, we are very reluctant to give it up.  Even when knowing they will be face to face with our ABBA.  I think about how death must grieve our ABBA more than any other sin.  It wasn't part of His plan. 

But in His infinite Wisdom He gave us the gift of LOVE.  Through our Savior.  Through those we share living here with.  He gave us the gift of LOVE to help ease our sorrows.  our pain.  to help us endure the time of separation before we are all in Heaven.  Together.  Eternally.  For He conquered this sin called death.  In Heaven - it shall no longer have a sting.

He comforts each one of us.  "We are His dearly held treasure.  Just as He promised."







 

"Removal Of The Excrement" - 03/06/17 - Deuteronomy 21-23

^"Mark out an area outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourselves.

Along with your weapons have a stick with you.

After you relieve yourself, dig a hole with the stick and cover your excrement.

 

God, your God, strolls through your camp;

He’s present to deliver you and give you victory over your enemies.

 

Keep your camp holy; don’t permit anything indecent or offensive in God’s eyes." (23:12-14)

Seriously, the thought came when reading these verses, "why would they have to be given specific instructions on relieving themselves?" 

 

Bathrooms have been discovered in ruins dating back before Moses' time with the Egyptians.  Even though living in tents, didn't they know what to do when they defecated? 

 

I also found it interesting " along with your weapons have a stick with you".  

 

We need the weapons He gives us always - particularly when we are most vulnerable. 

For that is when the enemy loves to attack.    

Obviously, this isn't a very sweet subject, but one God needed to touch upon.   To hand down laws regarding fecal matter.  These laws were to be followed as one way of keeping the camp free from diseases and unpleasantness.  

To keep the camp holy because God strolled through it. 

I then begin to wonder - how is my camp?  Just like human waste, sin doesn't offer up a sweet fragrance to the Lord.   What worldly fecal matter am I putting into my mind, my heart? What "spiritual weapon" am I carrying with me at all times?

As His, our bodies are a temple in which The Holy Spirit lives.  Our ABBA.  He lives within us.  He strolls through our "camp" and we are  instructed to "keep our camp holy". 



 

When I was younger, outhouses weren't all that uncommon at the homes of elderly persons who lived in the country.  Nor was it surprising to me that they were still being used.  I can remember my great uncles talking about  "the lazy fool who built their outhouse not 10 feet from their well".  Through listening to them, I learned also that they should never be placed near running water. 

God in His wisdom created the layers of earth as a filter for unclean matters, before entering into our drinking source.  Today, there are many third world countries where it is completely normal to relieve themselves wherever and whenever the urge hits.  These countries are riddled with diseases that can be traced back to this unhealthy practice.

 

 

 

 

I wonder how is it a people became so far removed from a healthy practice.


Much like a person becomes so far removed from keeping their spiritual camp clean. 

Through Scripture our ABBA teaches us a sin is a sin.  There are no greater or lesser levels.  Any sin separates us from Him for He is Holy and can not be a part of sin.  Any sin.  And yet, so many of us have decided it is okay to live in a camp allowing sin within the perimeter.  And when living  close to sin, it will seep into your being, just as the waste from an outhouse sitting too close to the well or the running water. 

 

This is why Christ had to become our filter, cleansing us, before our Abba.  We were living in sin.  In accepting our Christ, He has handed us our weapons to never put down in His Word and The Holy Spirit, who is always at the ready to fight for us.  Both weapons are there to constantly lead us in having a purified camp.  We are to daily wear His Armor.  Sin has to become far removed and buried outside of our spiritual camp. 

For we are His spiritual camp in which He resides.  His spiritual camp in which He strolls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Right There With You" - 03/05/17 - Deuteronomy 17-20

 "In a few minutes you’re going to do battle with your enemies.

Don’t waver in resolve.

Don’t fear.

Don’t hesitate.

Don’t panic.

God,

your God,

is right there with you,

fighting with you against your enemies,

fighting to win.” (20:3-4)

 

 

 

I love the promise of these verses.  Throughout His Word we are warned of the Spiritual Battles waging about us and He promises.

 

"God.

Your God

He. Is. Always. within and about us. "right there with you".

Fighting "with" you.  against your enemies.

Fighting to win"

 

We are told not to waver.  not to fear.  not to hesitate.  not to panic. 

 

And then we look and see.

There it is - on the silver platter again.

    DOUBT

 

 

 

Doubt sitting there, so tempting, so in our face - and we pick it up.  We tuck it down deep within that inside pocket of our heart.  Thinking it is such a little thing to carry with us, it won't matter. 

Funny thing about Doubt though. 

We never leave it alone.  It sits there, hidden, within that pocket in our heart and we are consumed with dressing it up.  We cover it with the blankets of fear, anger, insecurity - and we begin to waver in our resolve that we will win "in" God, the battles.  Second guessing about what, how, when, and we find ourselves either rushing ahead not following His lead, or stuck in the muck of anxiety and panic.   How satan then uses those emotions to keep us from being effective warriors. 

It is then I begin to pray that God will open my eyes to His Truth.

And He does. 

He shows we are in a spiritual warfare and there are some things which can not be explained - things others may doubt He can do or what we experience.  

 

Some persons when encountering evil feel the hair go up on the back of their neck.  Others may get goose pimples, feel an urgency to leave, or just sense a dark presence about them.  He has given me the ability to actually see a dark, shadowy presence. 

 

The last battle I encountered, Curt was with me.  We went into the situation without any fear or nervousness.  He had led us to this place and we were in His Hands.  I could see Him and His light surrounding us and hear Him say, "He had our backs".  There wasn't a need for us to use our words to defend ourselves.  His Word kept running through our hearts and minds, leading us in how to battle.  The Holy Spirit was moving inside and about us.  I came away seeing our words didn't matter - He was fighting for us.  Being silent before Him spoke louder than any words we could have uttered. 

 

More and more, through Him, I am keeping focused on His Truth as I live life in the midst of  constant and continual spiritual warfare.

As His Warrior, no matter the battle, we are standing strong in His promise -  "In a few minutes you’re going to do battle with your enemies. Don’t waver in resolve. Don’t fear. Don’t hesitate. Don’t panic. ABBA, your ABBA, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win.”

 

We stand firm in knowing, although the battles will continue on until our Christ returns. 

Our ABBA has already won the war.  Promise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Dearest Beloved" - 03/04/17 - Deuteronomy 14-16

"You"

"You"  are the children of The LORD

your God.
(Your own personal God.)

For "you"

"you" are a people holy to The LORD

your God.

Out of all.

Out.  Of.  All.

Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth,
The LORD has chosen

"YOU"!

"YOU"!!!!!

 to.be.His.

TO BE HIS!

to be His treasured possession.

 

YOU!!!!  HIS. TREASURED. POSSESSION.(14:1-2) 

 

 

"Holding On To Him" - 03/03/17 - Deuteronomy 11-13

 "God, your God, is testing you to find out if you totally love Him with everything you have in you.

 

You are to follow only God, your God,

hold Him in deep reverence,

keep His commandments,

listen obediently to what He says, serve Him—

hold on to Him for dear life!" (13:3-4)

 

 

Riding towards Home!








Holding on to Him for dear life!



It is our outlook on this ride which will determine our attitude.

 If we have trust and faith in Him - we are in for an exciting adventure.
 If our trust and faith is in ourselves, others, or some thing - well - fear is destined to be our guide.

 In living we will not be eagerly looking ahead, trying to see around the next bend in excitement. Instead we will be clinging to the rocks, trying to keep the raft from going forward. Wet, cold, shaking, a terrified wreck. Not only holding onto the rocks, but also trying to keep everything inside the raft. Completely oblivious that He is in the raft, due to being focused to what is going on around us.  We will be riding through life not focused on Him.

Exhausted and miserable comes to mind when picturing this.

 It is only in allowing Him to take the lead we are able to see excitement, joy, freedom.
 Even while in the middle of hidden boulders, we will be at peace knowing He is in control of our raft.

And all we have to do is hold on!

That is the best part. 
You know. 
The knowing without a doubt.
He is holding onto us during this ride so tightly we can not be wrenched from His grasp.

Unless we pry off His fingers and jump.

 And then, He doesn't ride on by leaving us behind in His wake.  He is keeping the raft there, waiting for us to figure out we begin drowning the second we begin living on our own.  He is there waiting for us  to come to our senses, see the raft and Him, reaching out to pull us back in the instant our hand is stretched out to Him.  And then, we continue the ride.  Together.

Unfortunately, each one of us have and will, jump out numerous times.
 Doesn't matter the water - rough or peaceful - for some reason,  we begin to believe "self" can do better outside the raft.

Through Scripture He tells us over and over, "That's where we are right now. So cut away the thick calluses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded - get back into the raft." Come on! We have a ride to enjoy."

 It has taken too much time, but finally I have ridden with Him to the place where I am thankful for the trials and tribulations of this ride. It is at the end of each hurdle I am able to see I am walking closer "in" Him. He has transformed my heart to see His glory in all. He has taken my hand and led me away from the "self pity" party I was attending.

I see now all tests are much like the boulders we encounter on our ride. He is able to maneuver around them with such skill and then, they are behind us. He is in total control of our raft in this journey called life.

Through Christ we draw such strength knowing He was tested in ways we will never be and being so totally in love with God - He passed. He didn't take things personal - everything was about God and our relationship with God. He wasn't about seeking revenge, seeking His own way, He was about Love - no matter what.

How His heart broke, and breaks, for the sorrows our God experiences because of our brokenness.   Because of the times we have/are jumping out of the raft.

"God, my God, who rescued me from the rapids, who redeemed me from a world of slavery and put me in our raft on which God, my God, has commanded me to ride. Purge the evil from my company." (13:5)

My prayers are for Him to continue purging the evil from us and we are totally loving Him with everything  within. I pray all will want only to hold on to Him for dear life, riding towards Home.

 

 

 

 

 

"Clothed In Him" - 03/02/17 - Deuteronomy 8-10

 

"So now, what do you think God expects from you?

 

Just this: Live in His presence in Holy reverence, follow the road He sets out for you,

love Him,

serve God,

your God,

with everything you have in you,

obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—

live a good life.

 

Look around you: Everything you see is God’s—the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it.

 

But it was your ancestors who God fell in love with; He picked their children—that’s you!—out of all the other peoples.

 

That’s where we are right now. So cut away the thick calluses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded.

 

God, your God, is The God of all gods,

He’s The Master of all masters,

a God immense and powerful and awesome.

 

He doesn’t play favorites,

takes no bribes,

makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly,

takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing" (10:12-18)

 

 

There are moments when I am startled at how quickly we humans can be filled up with hatred.  vengeful thinking.  bitterness and anger. 

 

We are told way back in the beginning of Genesis:

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?

"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?

And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door;

and its desire is for you, but you must master it."  

Cain told Abel his brother.

And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.…(4:6-8)

 

 

A few years ago, our Bible Study group did a study, "A Wardrobe from The King - putting on The Armor of God".  This has to be one of the best studies I have done.  At the time of the study, He knew I needed it for it went into into my heart and stuck.


Nothing is by chance. 

He has total control in all things. 

He knew my heart was at the place where I would be receptive and transform to equipping myself with His Armor each and every day.  Through the trials and tribulations I had been asking Him to remove the sin from my heart. 

Asking?  No begging. 

Falling head over heels in love with my ABBA has brought me to the place where I so want and desire to be more like Him.  By "cutting away the calluses from my heart", I am finally able to see and rejoice in Him in all things.  He is everywhere! 

My calluses were the result of picking up doubt and letting it escalate into sins.  Sin had become a part of my heart and was affecting my vision.  Being so willfully hardheaded in believing the lies of the world and not having Trust in His Truth was affecting every single aspect of my life - including my relationship with Him.

Instead of putting on His Armor, I was putting on my self-designed original. 

So much like the fashion knockoffs you can purchase through the black market.  They may look much like the original, but they aren't as well made, lesser quality products, and flaws galore when you really check it out.

I had fooled myself into thinking my design was better equipped for the spiritual battles raging about me. 

I had convinced myself I needed to be in control and handle the situations when they came up. 

 

That was "my" job. 
Not His.

 

Until I finally gave over my "self", I was so concentrated on keeping up my design, I was missing Him all around me.  Everything about me was focused on getting revenge or defense.  I wasn't living a good life.  My life was miserable.  The sick, ugh feeling, never left the pit of my stomach.  Fear, bitterness, hate - were only a few of my constant companions. 

 

I was entertaining the sin crouching at my door.

 

I began an in-depth study on our Christ sharing life with the Pharisees, His family, the crowds, the believers and unbelievers.  In how He dealt with them during His time here on earth. 

 Finally, I heard Him loud and clear and now put on His Designer Original each and every day. 

 

"So now "Deby", what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in His presence in Holy reverence, follow the road He sets out for you, love Him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—live a good life."

Love Him, serve Him, with everything I have in me.  Follow the road He "sets" out for me. 

Finally - put on "His" armor.  Let Him take care of the fight. 

"Live a good life". 

 

And the life I have may at times be filled with what the world deems as bad, my life - it is good.  So blessed am I for I stand "in" Him.  Clothed in His Armor.  Not my "self" designed original.

 

And the exciting part of His Armor - He has made a perfectly fitting Armor for each one of us.  All we have to do is put it on.  Each and every day. 

 

A Fight to the Finish

 ^"And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything The Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out."  (Ephesians 6:10-18)







 

"Break My Heart" - 03/01/17 - Deuteronomy 5-7

"all your sins, sinning against God, doing what is evil in God’s eyes and making Him angry. I was terrified of God’s furious anger, His blazing anger." (9:19)

 I pray often throughout the day for God to break my heart for what breaks His.  I pray often for Him to transform my heart, my mind, to be more Christlike with each breath I take.  I thank Him often for Christ, my Savior, who has covered my sins committed and those I will commit.  I thank Him often for His grace and mercy. 

And still - I do and will sin.  Continuing to do what is evil in God's eyes.

 His furious anger, His blazing anger.  Moses writes to us that he was terrified of this side of God. 

Am I? 

I know I can not and do not comprehend exactly what these emotions from God entail.  Everything He can do and yet He holds back.  He holds back because of His great love for me.  For us.  He doesn't want one soul lost.  He holds back, yet still disciplines.

In my prayer, to break my heart for what breaks His, I am thankful for the growth He has given me.  Encouraged and stand in hope He will continue to transform my heart.  When finding myself thinking about situations that bring me back to anger and bitterness, He touches my heart and then I remember.  He has held me accountable for the thoughts that focus on revenge and brokenness rather than those of forgiveness and bonding together.  His transforming my heart has given me a realization of how much a gift The Fruits of the Spirit are.  He is helping me to rejoice at the thought of what glory to Him would be shown if there was a true healing. 

During this process of transformation, He is bringing to the surface many hurts I had not given over to Him.  And realization I had not totally forgiven those who inflicted the hurt.  Recently I read an article about how I am to pray for my enemies.  It hit so close to home how I have said, "I love them through Christ", "I am praying for them", when really I was not loving or liking them.  Because I had not forgiven. 

He opened my eyes to see I was hurting myself and Him.  My not loving as He does - was and is breaking His heart. 

In shame and sorrow I am on my knees. 

For all He has done and will do for me - how can I not let go and love as He does - for Him. 

My heart isn't like a light switch.  I do step back into the old ways at times, but am finding, more often than not, I really am praying for those who have inflicted hurt.  I realize more and more I am meaning what I am praying.  It isn't just going through the motions.  I am able to not take personal the offensive things others say and do.  My Daddy has me covered - this is what He meant by leaving revenge to Him.  We can't handle taking revenge - it transforms our hearts into being all about us and the revenge is not done in love. 

He has opened my eyes to what it really is that causes me to react in an ungodly way. 

Double standards.

I can make jokes about it, point my finger at the other persons, but in reality - I am guilty of it.  Through Him, I have come to the point  I have confessed and am making the choices that go against my natural bent.  He has convicted me of the damage I have incurred.  How thankful I am He has done this through loving discipline.

Thankfully though, I am finally at peace when this action occurs to me.  I stand firmly in my Daddy and He is in me.  His ways are solid truth and there are no double standards.  He is who I get my worth from.  He is whose I am.   I know without a doubt where I stand In Him. 


As long as I am using His measuring stick and not the world's, I am not affected by those of the world.  This has helped me to step back from the hurt - not take it personal - recognizing this is about spiritual warfare. 

My Daddy is my Commander in Chief.  He is on the front line of the battle.  I have to never take my eyes, heart, soul, off of Him or I will slip and fall back.  I have to imitate Him until it is a part of me and it becomes my first nature to be Christlike. 

And I have found there is no better role model than that of Christ in forgiving.