But you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the
excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light; I Peter:2:9
Dear Brothers and Sisters
around the world, You are loved by the One who know you best and loves you
anyway!
The called out
life is a life of daily dying to self and what self wants; a daily turning to
our Master with a ‘Yes, Lord” to everything, even to what is most against the
grain. Ac
To be earthly minded, living
each day moved by self-love, self-pity self-will—is to shut out the Light.
‘This
is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the
darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does
evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds
will be exposed. But he who practices
the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having
been wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
Sometimes there is a great
deal to be done in us before God can
come upon us in the Holy Spirit’s power and transform us. But if only we will
ask Him to change us and allow Him to sweep away every particle of unlove, of
pride, of resentment or unforgiveness, He will. My prayer is that everyone
reading these words will in deep
humility and courage, invite Him to search the depths of our heart and mind.
Every place that only the Holy Spirit can … for He knows all that is base and
hidden in the darkness there. Only then can He begin to do what He longs to do
in and through us. For He is the Light!
Many times on my walks I have
dropped to my knees and cried out “Change me, LORD!” For though I long to see those I love … change, I know I
cannot change anyone else, not even myself. I need to allow God transform my
life, a clean sweep. I am learning that the moment ‘self’ is exposed I must look
to Jesus. And when I fail I must refuse to be discouraged, realizing the more
you hunger to be like Him, the greater the battle. The enemy uses
discouragement as his ‘never fail’ tool in the lives of believers. Remember the
work is Christ’s. The battle is the LORD’s and He has already won the Victory;
we need only to receive it by faith.
This cannot be hurried. It
requires failure enough, to cause a ravenous hunger to be free. A longing
strong enough that we more than ‘want to’ turn away from the flesh, but are at
last willing to stop courting ourselves when we must instead be counting
ourselves dead to sin, crucified with Christ and risen with Christ. Do not let
these truths become the ‘same ole, same ole’. It cost God Calvary to forgive our smallest sin! Our sin never
surprises Him, but He provided armor for us for a reason.
He allows many trials to
come upon us, for when we decide to go deeper with Jesus we walk straight into
the crucible. Failure to succeed in our own strength is strong motivation for
us to become so sick and tired of struggling to live the Christian life, that
we throw our hands up and shout,” I give up! I can’t do it! It is impossible! I
think God smiles and says, ‘finally!’
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so
that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God. For what we
preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your
servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who
said, “Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to
give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of
Christ. 2 Cor 4:4-6 WOW!
Now, all the sweetness of
knowing Him more and more intimately begins to be reality. Then comes the
blessings of being divinely loved and the sweet taste of freedom when we die to
self and find the rest and peace that awaits us as we trust in Him. My feet are dancing! Words fall far
short of explaining this! And then exposed, for all that are courageous enough
to follow, is the truth that the worlds offerings are nothing but maggot filled
deceit, meant to blind and maim. The world’s offerings are empty and foreign
and impossible to be compared to what God has planned and provided.
Oh soul
are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness to see
There's a light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free
No light in the darkness to see
There's a light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free
Turn
your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
The one who surrenders all,
feeding on God’s word and applying it daily, will not only begin well, but
finish well. The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the Light
of His glory and grace.
Light of the
world, Divine Father, reign over us in spite of our passions! How could we find
anything to love outside of You? May the fire of Your love extinguish any other
fire! Give us the grace to love You and no other. And we will continue to love You
throughout eternity.FF Only You satisfy
Jesus. In Your name I pray, amen.
May Jesus Christ be praised!
az
http://youtu.be/GhVldzsGEck
