"Listening For Him" - 05/04/15 - 2 Samuel 5:11-25; 2 Samuel 6:1-23; 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.”

"Happy" - 05/03/15 - 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.


 I am able to look back over my life and see how many times He has protected me, actually saved me from harm, throughout my life.  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 - as though that would have done any good - I know - stupid.  It was the small 2ft wide bed with blue rug growing in it that 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.

Today is an extra special day in this life He has given me.

We had our Adam and one child in Heaven and 27 years ago today,  we were given the gift of  our Nichalas.

Up until the point of having our Adam 30 years ago, 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. 

He began the process of transforming my life at the point of Adam.  He took the wasteland  of "me" and I have now 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. 

Rarely, when I find myself in situations outside my comfort zone, do I "put my foot out in front of running blades".  He has given me discernment and Wisdom from His Word in which I now live my life.  I stand back and allow my ABBA to be my protector.  I no longer live in fear abiding in the wastelands.  I live in the refreshment of His "living springs".
                                                        

"He Units Us As One Through Christ" - 05/02/15 - Psalm 133

How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It's like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron's beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.   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.(1-3)


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)    

                       

"If you allow - You are His Transformation" - 05/01/15 - 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 we are able to "measure up".

And through Him we become - His.  Transformed.  Made in His image.  Fearfully and wonderfully made.  Loved unconditionally.  Covered with His Grace and Mercy. Filled with The Holy Spirit.

 

Redeemed.   

 

 

 

"Dear My Beloved" - 04/30/15 - Psalm 102-104

When reading His Word - personalize it.

It is after all His Love Letter to you............

"Praise The LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name.

Praise The LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-- who forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases, who redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion, who satisfies my desires with good things so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel:

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat me as my sins deserve or repay me according to my iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for me - who loves Him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed my transgressions from me.

As a father has compassion on his children, so The LORD has compassion on me - who loves Him; 

for He knows how I am formed, He remembers that I am dust.  As for me, my days are like grass, I flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.                                 

But from everlasting to everlasting The LORD's love is with me - who loves Him,

and His righteousness is with my children's children-- with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

The LORD has established His throne in Heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all.

Praise The LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His Word.
Praise The LORD, all His heavenly hosts, me - His servants who do His will.

Praise The LORD, all His works everywhere in His dominion.
Praise The LORD, O my soul.(103)

"Source of my Life - The LORD" - 04/29/15 - 1 Chronicles 7-10

So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against The LORD , because of the word of The LORD which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, and did not inquire of The LORD .(10:13-14)


My devotional this morning pertained to Godly wisdom.  We are promised through the reading and studying of His Word we will receive the gift of Wisdom.  I think about the lengths Saul went in asking what direction to take in his life.  I think about the times he only went to himself and did what he wanted.  I think about how his actions led to his death. 

I think about how opposite my life would be, if not in His Word each and every day - drinking in the gift of His Wisdom.  His Wisdom which I strive to follow as I walk each step in this journey of life towards Home. 

Sharing this from In Touch Magazine:

Godly wisdom can be defined as the capacity to see things the way the Lord sees them and to respond according to His principles.

One of the great benefits of this mindset is peace.

Generally, when life’s running smoothly and all is well with us and our loved ones, we have no trouble experiencing contentment. But often when situations become difficult, God’s perspective eludes us, and our peace is rapidly replaced with stress, anxiety, and fear.

To view a difficult circumstance from the Lord’s perspective, we need to see it encompassed by the boundaries of His character and attributes.

Even when the particulars of life are beyond our control, the One who rules the universe remains sovereign over all things—down to the smallest details.
He loves us unconditionally and always works for our best interest.

Therefore, if He has allowed a situation, there is a divine plan and reason, and the outcome will be for our good and His glory.

That wise perspective will lead to a godly response—complete confidence and trust in the Lord despite any pain or hardship. Because of the indwelling Spirit, we have the assurance that He is more than adequate for whatever comes our way, which means we are sufficient in Him.

When difficulty hits, don’t let sound wisdom vanish from your sight.

Keep your eyes on the Lord.

By seeing every situation through His eyes, you can rest in His wisdom and good purposes.
Then stress will lift, anxiety will be replaced with peace, and confidence in the Lord will silence your fears.

"He Is my Eternal" - 04/28/15 - Psalm 81, 88, 92-93

"Thy Throne is established from of old;
Thou art from everlasting." (93:2)     


In all moments on this journey - what am I standing before? 

Is it before various idols I have chosen to worship?

Idols of worry, fear, status, money - idols of this world?
Idols which come between my ABBA and me.

Is it my ABBA - sitting on His Throne? 
The Almighty. 
The Eternal. 

What do I place my faith, my hope, my joy, my confidence, my all in? 
Do I go before Him each day and crawl up into His lap? 
Do I take for granted how He delights in me?
Do I take for granted He gave His only Begotten Son for me?
Do I take for granted because of Christ, I am able to come before Him continually? 
To share "me" with Him?
To be with Him?
To draw strength, God-fidence, Love from? 


My ABBA isn't sitting on a Throne away from me. 
He sits on a Throne which can include me. 
It's my choice to act upon His outstretched arms. 
Arms which want nothing more than to encircle me. 
Arms which want nothing more than to hold me next to His Heart.

Each moment.  Eternally.

"Song From My Heart" - 04/27/15 - 1 Chronicles 6

"Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of The Lord, after the ark rested there.  They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of The Lord in Jerusalem; and they served in their office according to their order." (31-32)                   

While reading today's Scriptures,  I noticed there in the middle of the listing of the High Priestly Line and their cities, was the section regarding the "Musicians' Guild". 

Throughout the years,  my sister, Teresa, would try to share her love for Christian music and I would politely nod.  Eyes glazed over.  Not really comprehending. 

And then the Holy Spirit began to dance within my heart to the words of praise being sung.  As I tucked more of His Word into my heart, I began to recognize passages being put together with the musical notes.  I began to fall in love with the worship of praise music.  I began to stand before Him, words washing over my soul, just listening and silently praying the words of the songs.  

There are many Scriptures validating our ABBA's love of music.  of praise.  Of its importance. 
It delights Him.  It is commanded of us.

When the boys were quite little and I would sing, they covered their ears and said, "No mommy,No".  I have always felt there will be a sound proof booth for me in the choir room of Heaven!  Many times I find myself not singing because the sound of my voice ruins it for me.  But then - then - there are times when I am alone in the car, or the house, and His praises are being sung and I can. not. help myself.  

I sing.  Or try to anyway.

He has brought to mind, He created my voice.  He knew before the world was formed the sound of my voice.  And He delights in it.  It isn't squawking to Him.  My voice is being lifted up to Him through the Love in my heart.  The Love that makes it a beautiful sound to His ears.  The Love for Him in my heart has not only transformed my voice - it has transformed the all of me.    

When ABBA hears me.  sees me.  thinks of me.  He sees me through the Love of my Savior.  My Christ.  And in Him - I am Holy.  I am Beautiful.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I am His Beloved. 

Loving my ABBA.  So much.

"His. I am His" - 04/26/15 - Psalm 73, 77-78

"Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 

My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made The Lord GOD my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works."(73:23-28)

Amen.

"Choosing To Be" - 04/25/15 - 1 Chronicles 3-5

"They were the potters....., resident potters who worked for the king." (1 Chronicles 4:23)

How often do I become so full of self - I forget - I am only a mere potter for God. 

 

He is The Master Potter and everything I have is coming through me from Him. 

 

I am only a vessel for Him to use, to bring glory to Him.

The day our Savior rose from the grave was the day which represents a new covenant between God and His people.  It isn't because of anything I have produced from the clay.  It is because of Christ and His works that I am free. 

 

All are free who abide In Him. 

If they choose to.

There is the story of the scientist who was going to prove God wasn't real by producing a diamond from a piece of coal.  He claimed he was able to produce the same beauty God did.  God agreed to the challenge.  As the man bent down to pick up the coal, God told him, "Wait  - you have to create your own piece of coal".   Being a resident potter, I am only able to produce from what He provides.  It is His clay, His wheel, His Hands which guide me. 

 

Again, I am only a tool.

 

If I choose to be. 

I pray throughout my growth In Him, I will never forget it is only because of The Sacrifice Christ made for me that I may be with our Abba eternally.  It isn't because of my works, my gifts, or talents. 

Only in Him - Christ - The King. 

 

If I choose Him to be - my King. 

"LORD - my LORD" - 04/24/15 - Psalm 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87

"How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts!

My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of The LORD ;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to The Living God!!!!

The bird also has found a house,
And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God.

How blessed are those who dwell in Your House!

They are ever praising You. Selah.

How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
In whose heart are the highways to Zion!

Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring;
The early rain also covers it with blessings.
They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. 

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.

Behold our shield, O God, And look upon the face of Your anointed.

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.                                                         

For The LORD God - is a sun and shield;
The LORD -  gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.                             
                            
O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!(Psalm 85) 

"My ABBA Named Me" - 04/23/15 - 1 Chronicles 1-2

"Adam" (1:1)

Throughout the reading today my eyes scanned over the many names.  Beginning with Adam.  The first man.  The man we all began from.  Our roots.

Many of these names I am unable to pronounce and wonder however did they come up with this mix of letters!  Some I recognize from other accounts in the Scriptures.  My brain kept thinking about how we are all given a name and we are all intertwined somehow, someway on this earth. 

The ripples of us. 

The ripples of those before us, those we create, those ahead of us will create - all will touch the ripples of others. 

I have been thinking most of the day about the names of persons in my life.  Names that come along with a ripple which had in some way of forming me.  I thought about the different persons I encountered today, learning their names and visiting, knowing our "ripples" were touching.  I stand amazed at how important we are to our ABBA. 

He not only knows us by name, He loves and cares enough to give us a name. 

When you bestow a name upon someone, it is usually a process which takes many times saying one over and over until the right one rings true in your ear and falls easily from your lips.  I think about the ones I love and how I delight in saying their names.  How I delight in remembering "ripples" associated with each name.  How I love to hear them call - my name.

The Scriptures today of all the names are not just a mixture of vowels and consonants.  They are the names of someone.  Someone, who are part of your family tree.  Someone, whose "ripples" have become a part of you handed down throughout the ages. 

I love knowing when I die, my ABBA has a new name chosen just for me.  One He will delight in saying.  Because that is just how much He loves me.  Just how much He loves all of us. 

He gives us a name He has chosen just for each one of us.  Wow!  Just hope I can pronounce it......

Kids Talk About God by Carey Kinsolving

"I think God will give me 'Bubba' as a new name," says Andrew, age 11. "'Bubba' means like a good friend. I think everybody will have a good name in heaven because there is no evil there."
If there's a southern section of heaven, Bubba should work just fine.

It's "Scooby Doo" for Drew, 7. "He's my favorite character, and he's always funny."

"My name will be 'Glitter' because my halo will glitter if I live the life that pleases God," says Jesse, 7.

Please notice the word "if" in Jesse's statement. Eternal life is a free gift received by all who trust the Lord Jesus as their savior, but kingdom rewards are earned by faithful service. Those who live in dependence on God experience the power of Christ's life in them. God has reserved new names on white stones for those who live overcoming lives.

"To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it" (Revelation 2:17).

Victorious athletes in the ancient Greek games received a white stone. In this case, God writes on a white stone a new name that only the recipient knows.

Michael Jordan is known as "Air" Jordan. Have you ever heard of Eldrick Woods?
What about "Tiger" Woods? Eldrick is Tiger's birth name.
I seriously doubt that anyone's new name in heaven will relate to their athletic prowess.
I wonder if the widow whom Jesus commended because she gave two mites (copper coins) to the temple treasury will be called "Mighty Mite." We can only imagine.

Husbands and wives sometimes develop endearing names for each other that they reserve for private moments. God has intimate, personal names for faithful believers.
"If God gave me a name, it would have something to do with horses because I love them," says Jordan, 9. "They are so beautiful. So I would be called 'Wild Stallion.'"

I've seen wild stallions running free in the Nevada desert. God wants us to run free and unfettered in our love and devotion to him. He gave us the desire for intimacy, beauty and adventure. All attempts to fill these desires apart from God end in frustration and futility.

We may think we're running free when we run away from God, but we've been bridled by the evil one. "Eternity in our hearts" is how the Bible labels our longing for reality. Author John Eldredge explores this longing like no one else I've ever read.

We like to put God in a box confined to our Sunday-morning church experience. But what happens when God appears in a burning bush, as he did to Moses? If God issues new names commensurate with our character and overcoming experiences, why not aspire to something interesting? How about names like "Fireball," "Burning Heart" or "God-Chaser"? An aspirant to such a name won't be sitting entranced for hours a day in front of the TV.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "But His word was in my heart like a burning fire" (Jeremiah 20:9).

“I hope my new name is 'Love,'" says Rebecca, 9.

Think about this: God wants to give you a new name better than any name achieved by the fame and fortune of this world.
Memorize this truth: Revelation 2:17 quoted above.
Ask this question: If God gives you a new name in heaven, what will it be?

  

"Each One of "You" - 04/22/15 - Psalm 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21

And these God-chosen lives all around—
what splendid friends they make!(Psalm 16:3)''

I just want to tell you, "thank you".   As the years pass by, I am continually blessed beyond crazy to be "friends" and "family" with those He has woven my steps within. 

I love He knew before time whom I would be "friends and family" with.  How He had already orchestrated the music of souls and created the song of life I now sing. 

I rejoice.  In. Him.  Through each of You.

Through each of "you" I hear His words of love, encouragement, accountability. 
Through each of "you" I feel His arms wrap around me in a hug from the heart. 
Through each of "you" I see delight in His eyes as they rest upon me, as I see His through "yours".  Through each of "you" I am reminded over and over what a beautiful ABBA we have -

for each of "you" are made in His image.

Each of "you" - breathtakingly beautiful. 

My heart floweth over.  My joy cascades.  My life is full. 

I so look forward to being together throughout eternity with Him and "you".
Thank you - each one of "you".

"Stirring The Pot" - 04/21/15 - 2 Samuel 1-4

"Abner called out to Joab, “Are we going to keep killing each other till doomsday? Don’t you know that nothing but bitterness will come from this? How long before you call off your men from chasing their brothers?”   “As God lives,” said Joab, “if you hadn’t spoken up, we’d have kept up the chase until morning!” Then he blew the ram’s horn trumpet and the whole army of Judah stopped in its tracks. They quit chasing Israel and called off the fighting."  (2 Samuel 2:26-28)

Our Abba, He grieves beyond our wildest imagination when His family is torn apart.  satan who enjoys nothing more than sitting back, watching the destruction, occasionally stirring the pot.  At what point is it, in which we have taken a person and dehumanized them?  To the point of not loving them, not forgiving them, hating them?  How is it that we come to the place where we want nothing more than to "kill" them? 





When we take the focus off of Him.  When we stop seeing life as spiritual warfare and take everything personal.  When it becomes all about "me" and not Him.  My way and not His. 

He tells us, "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet" (Matthew 10:14).  Notice - He doesn't instruct us to hate or not forgive.  Just to "shake the dust off your feet".  It may be we are not the ones to reach these particular ones for Him - reminder - He has a huge family!  We are to continue to love them as Christ, to Christ, and pray for them.  Not be caught up in thoughts of revenge, defense, anger, or bitterness.  Those thoughts are doing nothing, but burdening and darkening your soul.  Most likely, the person or persons you are obsessed with, are not even thinking about you.  (I know, how could they not??  Focus on Him, not self.) 

Be the Warrior and Vessel for Him that defies the act of destruction.  Continue to pray for them.  God is bigger than anything and in control of all situations.  It may be a person will never accept His ways, their hearts may remain hard, but do not let yours become the same.  Hate only the act of sin - not the sinner. 

This instruction may sound arrogant, but it is so we don't get sucked into the middle of a tornado of destruction.  There are times we "need" to separate ourselves, when we stand in/on His Truth, from those who do not.  Before we do not see everyone, each one of us, are created in His image.  Everyone, each one of us, He loves and desires to be His.  Everyone, each one of us, He gave His only Son so we may have eternal life.

Everyone, each one of us.

It is also so we do not have the mindset of "killing" others, who He desires to be a part of His family.  We may have to separate, denying the temptation to fall into bitter feelings or animosity towards someone.  So we may leave with peace in our heart and mind and do not take any resentment towards others with us.  In other words, we are not to take anger, hurt, blame, or regret with us when we "shake the dust".   

We may be tempted to be upset when we are rejected, falsely accused or blamed.  We are to leave it there and move on, praying that God will send someone in who does help them see His Truth.  Praying too, that we continue to see His Truth, stand firm in/on it.  To resist the urge of allowing "self" to interject our own twist to His Truth.  Staying firm in His Word daily.  Drinking it in, allowing it to consume our heart, mind, and soul.

No matter how much satan continues to stir the pot, adding his own special ingredients of destruction, we are to leave all thoughts of ill feeling behind and move forward with God's peace in our hearts and mind.  It isn't our responsibility for how a person responds.  It is our responsibility for how "we" respond, not allowing their negativity to remove our focus off of Him or to weigh us down. 

Shake the dust and move on. 

Move on to His next Divine Appointment. 

Focus on His face.  Focus on the many, many blessings He showers upon you, fortifying you. 

Focus on that this is a spiritual battle and we will have times of hurt. 

Focus on the end of your journey and your eternal home - Heaven. 

 

Heaven - where there is no satan.  where there are no more pots to stir.   

"Knowing" - 04/20/15 - Psalm 121, 123-125, 128-130

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?

My help comes from The LORD,
 
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow my foot to slip;
He who keeps me will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is my keeper;
The LORD is my shade on my right hand.
The sun will not smite me by day, Nor the moon by night.

The LORD will protect me from all evil;
He will keep my soul.

The LORD will guard my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forever. "(121)

Our ABBA - He does this for each one of His.  Have a wonderful day - Knowing.