"When We Pray Outloud" - 10/15/17 - I Corinthians 12-14

"Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other." (14:31)

It is such a heartsmile for me whenever it comes to praying time with His family.  As is the situation in most gathered groups, the talking immediately stops when someone says, "would anyone want to pray". 

All of us are on a different level in our walk with ABBA.  Unfortunately, we fall into the trap of "comparing", and believe our outloud prayers will sound stupid, silly, lame.  I find this so sad. 

To be able to hear words spoken from a persons heart to our ABBA is nothing but a treasure. 

These are the moments when my ears pick up on messages He is sending.  Their words may bring about an awareness of blessings I take for granted.   It may be that someone is hurting and needs comfort.  One may be inspired to share in a way that promotes growth in my life.  Accountability.  Encouragement.  More often than not though, it is drawing me into an intimacy with ABBA.  Through the words of others I am being shown - an open heart is what our ABBA desires.

I so love hearing others pray out loud.  Their words let me know, I am not the only one who is thinking the way I am.  All the emotions.  All the thoughts.  All the words.  We are all created in His image. 

Each time He gives us growth through the words of others. Prayer is yet another way He gives us unity.  In Him and each other.   So much of His Power comes through His Words from within our hearts.

How beautiful to the ears is hearing another opening up to Him, baring all. 
Being whom He made us to be. 

No frills.  no secret agenda.  Just words from the heart.







 

"We - Whom He raises us to what He is" - 10/14/17 - 1 Corinthians 9-11

"Because there is one loaf, our many-ness becomes one-ness - Christ doesn't become fragmented in us.

Rather, we become unified in Him.
We don't reduce Christ to what we are; He raises us to what He is."(10:17)

 

There is such an honor in being one to serve communion to His family.  To stand at the end of the aisle and pass the bread and juice to outstretched hands.  To pray over those my eyes take in until my heart feels as though it will burst.  To see His family, my family sitting, with heads bowed.  To see little ones watching, wondering, requesting.  To see smiles.  To see tears.  To see peace. 


To see His radiance shining through the faces as they are in communion with Him.

There is such blessing in knowing, without doubt, when the trays are emptied and put back into their places, the unity of my family remains.

There is such treasure tucked away into my heart.  Mind pictures of those I see Him shining through their eyes.  Their smiles.  Their tears.  Their hugs. 

How He fills my heart with those I am unified with.  Those I share communion with.  Those whom He has raised up to where He is.  Transformed them into the beauty I see. 

There is peace knowing because of the brokenness of Christ, we may live life unbroken together. 
His blood covers and unifies us. 
Our family in Him. 

 

 

 

 

 

"We - Are Watched" - 10/13/17 - 1 Corinthians 5-8

"Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused - maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.

Christ gave up His life for that person.

 

Wouldn't you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him - because, as you say, it doesn't really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin!

       

When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ.

 

A free meal here and there isn't worth it at the cost of even one of these "weak ones." (8:10-12)

 I read and wonder what it is I am selfish in giving up in order to help another in their walk.  Is it time?  money?  stuff?  food?  What is it I am loving more than loving His people.

As a believer, many are watching to see us in action.  When in Christ, there is something "different" about us, and it does/should draw attention.  It is being in Christ that makes us stand out from the world.

Do we ever hold on to the things of the world to satisfy our "self", even if it means hindering another ones walk?  I know of one who didn't feel the need to give up drinking in front of an alcoholic, believing it was up to the person to not submit to drink.  It wasn't part of their job to help them overcome. We are all on a different level in our walks, different strengths and weaknesses.  Different because we need each other. 

As we grow in Christ, we need to see it is our job to come along side of each other and help the growth.  When helping each other, we are really helping the whole family.  We are living a life that is pleasing to Him.

 What is it we are holding onto, satisfying "self", which is hindering the walk of a brother or sister?  Is it really worth it? 

 

 

"We Are All Needed For The Kingdom Come" - 10/12/17 - 1 Corinthians 1-4

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow.

It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow.

Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages.
What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving.
You happen to be God's field in which we are working.

Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation!

Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ." (3:6-11)

When I was quite young, one of my chores was to make sure the watering trough for the pigs was full. It was old, made of cement, with wide edges containing the water. Edges wide enough I could stand on them and as the water poured in from the well I would spend my time waiting by "preaching" to the pigs. I can't remember the words I said to them. I can vaguely remember my arms and hands moving about with passion. Looking back now, I smile, thinking I probably was quite the spectacle. 

I can't remember how many years I had this desire to preach. I do know I didn't have any converts or baptisms in the watering trough from my "congregation".

The silly things we do as children. 

Sadly there were years His fire, deep inside of me, died down to an ember within my heart. At times it almost went out completely, but thankfully our ABBA breathed into my soul and His fire has been back for the past 32 years.

 

Raging within me. Consuming me. It has taken me years of letting go of "my" way and following His, before I am now confident what my role is in The Kingdom Come. Content in where and how He is using me through the season of this life as His seed planter.  As His encourager.

As Paul writes, there are many jobs in the building of His Kingdom, and our ABBA is The Contractor. The One who calls the shots. Our Savior is whom we build upon. Our solid foundation. 

The Holy Spirit guides us to know what tools He has given us to be used for Him. His Word equips us with The Wisdom to put these tools to work - planting, harvesting, building. 

How much I love looking about and seeing how He uses each of us within His Family.  For Himself and each other.

 

Each and every one of us has been given a purpose. gifts. talents.

Each and every one of us.

 

Does it ever take your breath away that The Creator of all is utilizing "us". 

What a blessing and honor.

"We Are Prayed For" - 10/11/17- 2 Thessalonians

"Our God gives you everything you need, makes you everything you’re to be.

 ^"You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure;
it’s a must.

We have to do it.

Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully.

Why, it’s only right that we give thanks.

We’re so proud of you; you’re so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you.


All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for The Kingdom.

You’re suffering now, but justice is on the way.

When The Master Jesus appears out of heaven in a blaze of fire with His strong angels, He’ll even up the score by settling accounts with those who gave you such a bad time.

His coming will be the break we’ve been waiting for.

Those who refuse to know God and refuse to obey The Message will pay for what they’ve done.
 

Eternal exile from The Presence of The Master and His splendid power is their sentence.

But on that very same day when He comes, He will be exalted by His followers and celebrated by all who believe—and all because you believed what we told you.


Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—

pray that our God will make you fit for what He’s called you to be,
pray that He’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with His own energy
so that it all amounts to something.

If your life honors The Name of Jesus,
He will honor you.

Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving Himself freely,
The Master, Jesus Christ, giving Himself freely."1:2-10)

Throughout the all of His Word, we read accounts of how many have prayed for us.  
May we also continue to do the same. 

"In Him - We Are One Family" - 10/10/17 - 1 Thessalonians

"Grace and peace to you.

 

I always thank God for all of you
and continually mention you in our prayers.

I remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith,
your labor prompted by love,
and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For I know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you,

because our Gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power,
with The Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

You became imitators of The Lord, for you welcomed The Message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by The Holy Spirit.

And so you became a model to all the believers.

The Lord’s message rang out from you - your faith in God has become known everywhere.
You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."(1:1-10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"YES!!!" - 10/09/17 - Galatians 4-6

"May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely,

be deeply and personally yours, my friends.

Oh, yes!"(6:18)

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He Is - The High Priest - 10/08/17 - Galatians 1-3

"If I was "trying to be good," I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.      

What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work.

So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man.

Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with Him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ.

 

My ego is no longer central.

 

It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God.

 

Christ lives in me.

 

The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  

      

I am not going to go back on that.

 

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace.

 

If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily."

(2:18-21)

 

 

I was watching a show one night and one man was explaining to another the role of the priest in the church.  He said when we go to confession we walk away leaving our sins on him.  He is our intercessor to God. 

 

Upon hearing this description I realized if this were true, then The Sacrifice of our Christ on The Cross wasn't enough. 

 

Jesus Christ.  He is our High Priest. 

 

His taking upon Himself all of our sins, past, present, future, made the way for us to be with our ABBA.  His death upon The Cross tore the curtain in two, both literally and figuratively. 

 

I love knowing we are free to come before our ABBA at any time.  any place.  any way.  I love knowing we are able to climb up into His lap and He holds us close.  No longer separated by sin.

 

Because of our High Priest.  Jesus Christ. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Something Powerful" - 10/07/17 - James 1-5

"Make this your common practice:
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other
so that you can live together whole and healed.
The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.(5:16)


It takes a village. 

A village filled with His family. 

His family to share and live life with.  To grow.  To nourish.  To hold accountable.

To LOVE and pray for each other. 

I know first hand what it is like to struggle outside and what it is like to live within His Family.  I know first hand without them I would not be where or who I am today. 

I know I shall never again choose living without them.  They are parts of my heart living outside of my body.  How blessed am I with so many siblings. 

"Living together whole and healed."

 "The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."
How blessed I am in knowing, because of our prayers, our living by His standards, we are continually being molded into what and whom He designed us to be.  Through each other He is helping us to remove the garments that aren't His; garments which we have put upon ourselves.

 I stand amazed at how praying works.  At how it touches everyone, not just one.
 How prayer is oxygen that binds us together.

"Ridding of Stuff" - 10/06/17 - 2 Chronicles 35-36

And then he plundered The Temple of everything valuable, cleaned it out completely; he emptied the treasuries of The Temple of God, the treasuries of the king and his officials, and hauled it all, people and possessions, off to Babylon.(2 Chronicles 36:18)


One of my greatest delights are empty shelves and empty drawers.  I love how our ABBA has opened my eyes to an awareness regarding "stuff".  It came about some years ago while watching the show "Storage Wars". I enjoyed seeing what value they get for their discoveries, yet it constantly amazes me how so many persons just walk away from, forget, or just don't care about "stuff". At first I thought they were foolish, but then ABBA helped me see things from another perspective.
 
"Storage Wars" is an eye opener to see how others will one day dig into - and I mean that literally - without any care about the sentimental value of our stuff. It has caused me to reevaluate what I am keeping and why.


Every once in awhile I will watch an episode of "Hoarders" and relate it to going to the doctor. It becomes my motivation to look about this place ABBA has blessed us with and rid it of more "stuff". There are still some things I am hanging onto, but only because of the sentimental meaning behind them. Things I am working on getting rid of because bottom line - they really aren't something I enjoy, use, would have purchased on my own, or anything our kids want. I am trying to live with less. Not only because of the freedom for myself, but the freedom our kids will enjoy not having to wade through and rid of "stuff" when we are gone.


In The Scriptures, the people placed such pride and their worth in the Temple and within a short amount of time it was destroyed. Burned or carried away - totally dismantled. Today, I look about to see if I am allowing anything or anyone be what I place my worth, my pride into.

We are His Temple.  Upon accepting Christ, The Holy Spirit resides within us.

The "shell" of us will one day return to the dust it came from, but our "soul" will be joining our ABBA. We are to be a good steward of this "shell" (in which I fail miserably at times), and keep it in order. Keep it filled with only things that honor ABBA. Keep it clean. Keep it at the ready.

My daily "temple keeping" begins with His Living Word. I fill it within me, taking it into my heart and receiving nourishment from it throughout the day as I chew on it.

Continually He is helping me to not get my worth out of stuff accumulated. Helping me to not get my worth out of my work.

Helping me to not get my worth out of who I am, but "whose" I am.

"Now God has us where He wants us,

with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.

Saving is all His idea, and all His work.

All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it.

It’s God’s gift from start to finish!

We don’t play the major role.

If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing!
No, we neither make nor save ourselves.

God does both the making and saving.
He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work He does,
the good work He has gotten ready for us to do,
work we had better be doing.

But don’t take any of this for granted.

It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this,
didn’t know the first thing about the way God works,
hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ.

You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel,
hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large.

Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.

The Messiah has made things up between us so that we’re now together on this,
both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders.

He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance.
He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped.

Then He started over.

Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, He created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.

Christ brought us together through His death on The Cross.

The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility.
Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders.
He treated us as equals, and so made us equals.

Through Him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.

That’s plain enough, isn’t it?
You’re no longer wandering exiles.
This Kingdom of Faith is now your Home Country.

You’re no longer strangers or outsiders.

You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.

God is building a Home.
He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what He is building.
He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation.

Now He’s using you,

fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone,
with Christ Jesus as The Cornerstone that holds all the parts together.

We see it taking shape day after day—a Holy Temple built by God, all of us built into it, A Temple in which God is quite at home." (Ephesians 2:10-22)

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Enter Into His Covenant" - 10/05/17 - 2 Chronicles 33-34

^"The king acted immediately,
assembling all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem,
and then proceeding to The Temple of God bringing everyone in his train—priests and prophets and people ranging from the least to the greatest.

Then he read out publicly everything written in the Book of the Covenant that was found in The Temple of God.

The king stood by his pillar and before God solemnly committed himself to the covenant:
to follow God believingly and obediently;
to follow His instructions, heart and soul, on what to believe and do;
to confirm with his life the entire covenant,
all that was written in the book.(34:29-31)

It is all our ABBA desires. 
For us to give ourselves in covenant with Him. 

The only way to do so is to accept Christ.  Our Savior.  
Whom He gave because of Love.

 

"He Is - I AM" - 10/04/17 - 2 Chronicles 30-32

"he only has a bunch of mere men; we have our God to help us and fight for us!" (32:8)

 

 

 

If you were to believe the media, it seems as though all of the world is going to hell in a hand basket. 

 

With the state of our politics.  economy.  the countries about us.  the sanctity of family crumbling.

physical and emotional conflicts.  spiritual warfare. 

We could easily become overwhelmed by all the negativity in the air about us.

 

But our ABBA promises us,  "That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9) 

 

He is our hope.  our strength.  our peace and comfort.  our joy. 

He is in complete control.  

 

 "he only has a bunch of mere men; we have our God to help us and fight for us!".  What a great reminder when it feels we are up against something or someone too big for us to endure. 

Nothing.
Not a thing.
No one.

Not. one.

is bigger than our ABBA.

 We are not alone.    EVER.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"All Children - Such A Gift" - 10/03/17 - 2 Chronicles 28-29

"indulged in the outrageous practice of "passing his sons through the fire," a truly abominable thing he picked up from the pagans God had earlier thrown out of the country. (28:3)


When picturing the practice of "passing his sons through the fire," as recorded in the verses ABBA gave me today, my  heart is sickened when thinking about how so many parents toss their gift of children to the world. There are many recordings in Scripture of how far away from ABBA people became and the things they did to their children. Some practices would place the live babies into the walls they were building as sacrifices. There were times when children were eaten. beaten. sold. put into sex trafficking. aborted.

 Acts done then.  Acts done today.

And I wonder, how do you come to such a place.
When you take such a precious gift from our ABBA.  Made in His image. 
And toss that child over to the world.

 It happens when we walk away and are totally focused on "self" and not our ABBA.

So many children throughout time have not been treated as the beautiful blessing they are from our ABBA. They have not been trained up "in" ABBA, nurtured, protected, cherished, treasured, loved in the family He designed. In many streets, of any country, you will walk and see children on their own. Resorting to any means to survive. Being taken advantage by those who are stronger, many without any way to escape. Children who are "being passed through the fires of worldly desires".
  
Being a parent isn't about being a buddy or living life for "self". It is about sacrifice. It is about putting another's needs above your own - even when there aren't instant "rewards" or "gratitude". There are so many moments when you feel you aren't measuring up, want to throw in the towel, crying out for "Calgon to take me away", but you don't. The fruits of good parenting are so worth the tough love you put into raising your children.

It can leave your mind spinning with all the instructions on raising kids today.

His Word - it is tried and True.

Time after time He gives us accounts on how He parents us.
How He loves us unconditionally, even when we are unlovely. Even unlovable.

I know I have fallen short of His example many times over, but thankfully our children, when I have said I am sorry and asked for forgiveness, granted it to me. I know there are times when I have looked upon our children and felt anger, dislike at their actions, hurt, and rejected, but never have I stopped loving them unconditionally. 

From ABBA we know first hand unconditional Love, extended grace and mercy and need to grow in our desire to pass it onto the children, as well as the adults. 

I also know He is bigger than all our numerous mistakes - past, present, future, which helps as we pick up and begin again, after yet another "fail" moment.
  
His Word has taught me there is a difference between being a mother and a "mommy".

It is only because of Him am I able to experience the blessings, joys and fruits of this privileged and honored role of "mommy" I have been given.  Not only for our own biological children, but also of the many other "kids"  He has put into our lives.  I pray we are causing a ripple of His Love, which will continue to be passed down throughout all the generations of His children.

How empty our world would be without them.  To not look at and delight in seeing things through their eyes.  Hearing their voices.  Feeling their arms about you, their little hand grasping yours. Their big eyes taking in and loving you. Our gifts of treasure from Him are all of the children He has placed in our lives.  And hearts.

 

"All or Nothingness" - 10/02/17 - 2 Chronicles 25-27

"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly." (25:2)

 

Each fall it catches my eye when looking out into our woods.  Its blood red leaves standing out brightly against the fading greens and browns.  It is the only time I fleetingly enjoy this plant.  A plant I have come to hate. 

 

Yes, I know this is a strong emotion for just a plant, but it has been nine years now that I have been working in our gardens and fighting its invasive nature.  The Virginia creeper . Looking about in our woods, I can see it has reached the tops of many trees and in time it eventually will choke the life out of the plants it is wrapping itself around.  Clinging to any nook and cranny.  Getting a foothold.  I know this winter, when the vegetation is gone, we need to be out cutting and spraying.  No matter how many of the little plants I pull, vines I tear out, unless it is killed from the main trunk, it will continue to send out creepers, above and underground, taking over any territory. 

 

Much like sin.  satan, the father of lies, presents sin in a way that catches our eye in a flash of beauty and it isn't until our ABBA removes the rose-colored glasses are we able to see the deadly darkness sin really is. 

 

The times we tolerate, totally unaware -  sin is getting a foothold. 

Those times we do "what was right in the eyes of The LORD, but not wholeheartedly". 

 

The only way our ABBA wants us - is wholeheartedly.

 

He wants us to be head over heels in love with Him - as He is with us. 

To desire to be with Him each moment .  each second.  just as He does with us.   

He wants to be the center of our world.  our thoughts.  our everything.  Just as we are to Him.

 

He wants to be our one and only God.

 

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me."(Psalm 51:10) is my daily prayer, but just like the Virginia creeper, sin will come in and choke the life out of us as soon as we let our focus fall away from Him.   

 

Before we know it, we are serving Him without the whole of our heart. 

Our ABBA. Our Savior.  The Holy Spirit.  His Word.  His Family.  

They are the only "weed killer" that works - permanently.

I strive with all that I am to spend my time with our "Master Gardner",  helping me to be rid of the "Virginia creepers".  It is my desire for the garden of my heart to be "wholeheartedly devoted to God" and I have found He is the best "weed" defense there is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Training Up" - 10/01/17 - 2 Chronicles 22-24

"his mother training him in evil ways"(22:3)

After picking up Charles and Ella the other day, we stopped by Wendy's for a bite to eat.  Sitting at the table with our meal before us, holding hands, my heart smiled as I listened to Charles say a prayer for our food.  I asked them if they talk to our ABBA often throughout the day.  Both of them didn't hesitate and proceeded to tell me "conversations" they have with Him.  I love how they speak of our ABBA.  How they see Him as "real" and there with us, around us, everywhere.  How He is an essential part of their lives and beings.  At the young age of seven and four.  I love listening to these little Warriors and think about all they continue doing for The Kingdom Come with their lives.  I love how Adam, Ashley, family and His family are training them up in the goodness of our ABBA. 

I know there is nothing more the world and satan enjoy than for us to pick up doubt and run with it. 

There are times when looking back, I begin to focus more on the things I did incorrectly than what I did right in regard to being a mom. or a wife. or a Christian. or any other role I have been given.  But it is as the role of "mama" I tear myself down the most.

And then ABBA reminds me - I did do the most important thing as a mom. I introduced and trained up our sons to intimately know our ABBA.

Ashley and I were once discussing how we both feel we are "never good enough".

And it is true.  We will never be "good enough". 

This is why we need our Savior.  This is why we need His Grace and Mercy. That is why we need The Holy Spirit.  His Word.  His family.  That is why we need our ABBA and His unconditional LOVE.

satan wants us to recognize we will never be "good enough" and lose faith.  he wants us to feel hopeless in any situation.  to feel beat up.  trapped with no way out.  he wants to destroy us.

Our ABBA on the other hand.

He wants to fulfill us in areas we are not "good enough".  to build us up.  to give us hope.  courage. and joy.  He wants to complete us.  For it is only "in" Him, through Him, by Him that we become. 

Good enough.

I continually praise our ABBA for being so much bigger than all - yes all - of my "not being good enough".

How our ABBA so blesses. 
I am so thankful He is in complete control.

As we walk through this journey, He has put each of us into the lives of others, giving us the gift of training up someone or someones.  Be it for a season or a lifetime.  I am praying we are training them up for Him.  So all will become "good enough" in Him.