The LORD is my Shepherd

If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. I Cor 3:17 The Lord is my Shepherd... Psalm 23:1 My dearest Sisters, Beloved of the LORD, This past few weeks I have been pondering the sacredness of the moment. This moment. It is all we have. I am set apart by Him to live a life consecrated to His will. Sacred. Each moment a divine connection to all that is eternal because my position is 'in' Christ before the Father.  It was Christ's great work at the Cross which brought us to the Father. As believers we are not going to Hell, but do we realize positionally we are already in heaven? We are 'in' Christ and there for, in the Father's presence. Jesus death, His blood, His ascension, the sacrifice Lamb reigning from the Throne reveal one thing... we dwell in the Father's presence now. Eternal life doesn't begin when we breathe our last, it is now. If there be progress upward (heavenly) there must be progress in life and ways down here; you cannot see the need for a change in your ways here until you are transformed by the influence of nearness to Him there. You thus gradually find things here are not suitable for the order and nature of the things which are so attractive to the renewed heart up there.JBS The blessed position of a Christian is, that he has died even to the best things of the world, religious or otherwise, and he is alive to the highest things in the presence of the Father; for the Lord Jesus Christ is his life, in whom he is hidden. W.K. Do you believe this? Embracing this Truth changes everything. I have come to realize I am camped in enemy territory. This is war. The biggest problem is that we are sheep. As I meditated on Psalm 23 this morning I heard it with my heart. As a sheep I am needy, selfish, weak, foolish and fearful; in great need of a Shepherd. The most common place I have heard this Psalm is at a funeral. I refuse to think of it as a funeral Psalm any longer; this is God's word for the living. I encourage you to read it expectantly. Do you need Rest? Quiet? Restoration? Are their enemies in the camp (Fears or stubbornness)? Do you need to be still, stop the frenzied activity? Do you need to stop focusing on others and fix your eyes on the Shepherd? Psalm 23 overflows with abundant hope, strength, rest and peace. Let it flow over you and through calling you to be still and draw near the Shepherd; allowing His love to wrap around you because He enjoys you near.  Try focusing on the verbs and it will lift you up as they cover every area of need we experience. And vs 4 caused me to 'Bless His Holy Name!" Look at this: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me...  vs 4 The first two words quickened my spirit.  Place a blank after these two words and fill it in making it personal. Even though____________.... I will not fear. Why? You are with me. (The word 'will' indicates it is a choice of your 'will', not your feelings) EX: Even though I am lonely or even though I have failed, even though I am facing serious health issues, loss of a job, financial distress, death of a loved one.... ' even though' I will choose to trust You! A faith statement, irregardless of how you feel, for Who is with us? The Good Shepherd, who knows us by name and loves us immeasurably!  "I pray LORD you will fill each heart with faith to believe this without reservation." And I want to encourage you to read Psalm 23 once a day in as many versions as available for at least a week. (See attachment with different versions of Psalm 23) It is a wonderful thing to so enjoy the Shepherd, to be so satisfied with Him and find Him enough, we can say, “The LORD is my Shepherd, I have all that I need... for He is with me." This moment is sacred for He lives in me, I am His temple. I am absolutely dependent on Yeshua my Savior. The Lord Jesus stood where I was and now I stand where He is, and that is the only place I have before my Father. We may fail and grieve the Holy Spirit, but that is where we are set. J.N.D. Satisfier of our hearts, I come to You who are goodness and lovingkindess. You who are intentional in Your plans and loving watch-care over me. I am more in awe of You ever day and long to see You face to face. I rejoice because You are with me. I rejoice even though life is hard. No matter how I fill in the blank You are with me and You are the rejoicing of my heart. I lift up my sisters and pray You will speak in ways they could not imagine as they read Your words to them. I pray in the tender Name above all names, Jesus. Amen In the sacredness of this moment, az * If you get this via email also, go to your email and print out the attachment of 6 different versions of Psalm 23.

Listen, Do You Hear His Voice?

      

Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak;

         And let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 

    For I proclaim the name of the LORD;

        Ascribe greatness to our God! 

   The Rock! His work is perfect,

       For all His ways are just;

    A God of faithfulness and without injustice,

         Righteous and upright is He.  Deut 32:1,3-4 Moses song.

Dearest Sisters,

Can you imagine being in a place where everything says, “Glory”? Some day we will bow before the throne of the Lamb and cry “Glory”.

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.... And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." 

Rev 5:12a&13

We will be there. Hear me and let it lift your spirit heavenward.  YOU will be there! All the storms of life are over having lost all power to inflict. (if you are 'in' Christ, having repented of sin, believing He died to pay the penalty for your sin. You receive this gift of eternal life when you invite Christ Jesus to live in you and forgive you).

Psalm 29 has not let go of my heart but day after day has continued to buoy me. I must not wait until heaven to ascribe to Him glory and strength, the glory due His name! Praise, to the glory of His name is explicit revelation of 'who' He is and true worship reflects this back to Him.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name... 

And in His temple everything says, "Glory!" Ps 29

 To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source;

When earthly storms are raging with intensity of wind and pounding rain, my ears are deafened to another's voice. This is an analogy of our spiritual storms and I take warning that I must not lose the sound of His voice; often being a still small voice.

And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

I Kings 19:11-12

Psalm 29 describes a storm and the voice of the Lord which is not a 'still small' voice! Read the verses and let them speak. 

             The voice of the LORD is powerful,

         The voice of the LORD is majestic (vs 4)

It gives me the shivers as it goes on to say His voice shakes, thunders, breaks, strips, and think of an earthquake making mountains skip, Lebanon buck like a calf and Mount Hermon leap like a wild ox. Vs 6 NLT What would we be feeling, besides the ground shaking, if we were standing at the base of Mt Hermon? Fear? 

I ask again: What will it be like to gather before this Holy God on His throne and shout 'glory'?

Psalm 29 ends with our King sitting; reigning as King. He, who allows the storm and rules the storm and times the storm, gives strength and peace to His children. What greater gifts would we want or need to face our storms?

“Struggle yourself and be trapped; rest in Him and be free!" MS

"Many Christians keep themselves in a perpetual foment through hoping they will get into a situation where they can enjoy a better (and easier) Christian life. They feel enclosed in a net of circumstances from which they cannot escape. They are so wearied and baffled and beaten by the continuous pressure about them that they wish and itch for things to be different, quite sure that if they were only different Christ would be more real. It has not dawned upon them that at the heart of these very circumstances they are to find the Lord Jesus, find His grace sufficient, find the life more abundant." -L.E.M.

Abba, You who reign over the storms of life, Compassionate One, Keeper of our hearts, thank You there is not one storm we need ever face in our own strength. Examine our hearts and reveal where I may be harboring fear and resentment. Thank You for showing me where I struggle in my flesh to improve in me what You have condemned and my resulting disgust and despair are just a feeble echo of Yours! I am so thankful You are not looking for any good in me! The Lord Jesus is before You, completely acceptable to You and You have placed me in Christ. I long for all my sisters to taste the deep joy of our being in Christ; accepting our nothingness, released to rest in Your geat Love. Teach us to sing like Moses!  Lord I pray in the Holy Name of the Lamb who was slain.

Listening for His voice in the storm...az

My Be-attitude

"You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:14,16 fragments

... for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth) Ephesians 5:8-9

Dear Ones loved by our amazing Savior,

Sometimes I cannot get on paper what is filling up my heart as He discloses Himself to me and I want to go up on the roof (mine is flat) and shout His praises and dance before Him! Other times, surreptitiously, I am called to be flat out, my face covered with my hands in fearful delight. I am so in awe of Him and wonder why He would allow me near! These are not times you share with another but tuck them in your heart as purest treasure. I see Mary as one who definitely had a time of purest treasure receiving news from Gabriel that she was chosen to bear the Messiah of Israel. (Luke 1:26-38) Amazing and wondrous faith displayed. Hear her words.

Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38

As I put myself in Mary's place and imagine being told this amazing news, I wonder how would I respond? Would I believe and sweetly acquiesce? The Jews awaited Messiah for thousands of years it was wondrous to be chosen. So very young and her heart so tenderly accepting. Read her response again and 'feel' her attitude. (above) Would she have said these words if she knew they included future suffering and misunderstanding?  

I was reading in Matthew 5 when v14 tapped me on the shoulder and verse 16 stopped me. Taking a surprised breath I was unable to read on. I had read this dozens of times but as a 'fact', not hearing “You are the light of the world”. My mind raced. Just how was I to 'let' my light shine before men 'in such a way' <(what exactly does this mean?) that others, including those who are in the house (family) will see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven. Do I get to define 'in such a way'? Does it include all the Beatitudes just spoken? Is it my choice of what I will engage in to ‘bring’ Him glory? Did Mary decide what Gabriel would say? How many days have I made such decisions based on what fit my  plans? 

 As usual, I gave my day to the Lord asking that I might bring Him glory and please Him. ( a bit presumptuous as it was never 'my' day!) I knew how I would spend it. Things had been so busy I wanted to slow down and dovery little. My husband had different plans which stretched to 4 pm. It was a fierce battlet not to embrace resentment. Instead I attempted to keep a good attitude and count the flesh dead to sin. (Romans 6) My mind cried out, “It isn't fair”. But then life isn't about 'fair'' it about His glory. One small unnoticed act of kindness may garner more glory for Him than any planned act of service, in His name. What happened to my: “Lord, this is your day”? How quickly it became my will, not His. My reasoning was not of faith, but of flesh. Unbelief as to His word to me.

In Ephesians 5 it explains what it is to let your light shine, it is the fruit Light.  Jesus is the Light. I Tim 6:15-16 It is His Life and Light in and through us that brings Him glory.  Eph 5 tells us to: walk in love, walk carefully, walk redeeming the time, walk in wisdom, walk in understanding and the key to this walk is in vs 18 'walk filled with the Spirit'. After reading this I knew that to be the light of the world was not a legalistic effort to keep the Beatitudes Jesus had just given, but to have the Lord’s Light shining through all my cracks. It is His Spirit that produces and I only receive. 

He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. I Tim 6:15-16

I also saw  another Beatitude spoken by Elizabeth to Mary.. 

“blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” I want this beatitude to apply to me and to all of you my dear sisters, in such a way,  that we are transformed for His glory! God’s word is spoken to us by the Lord; as we draw near and read it with hearts of faith. May He give ears to hear and eyes to see His Truth. Blessed be His name. 

“You cannot live in the world without knowledge and learning. The kind of knowledge that will really profit you-- in soul as well as in body-- is the knowledge that comes as you learn how to walk with God in the humble character of Christ. That is, the intimate knowledge that comes as your spirit interacts with Christ's Spirit, and He begins to shine and become present in you. (as LORD) T.K .

 Lord, You who shelter me. Incline my heart to let Your Light shine enabling me to embrace what You send to my day in such a way it results in Your glory! How quickly I turn from Your way to mine. Change me. Hide me in the pavilion of Your love and grace, in such a way,Your way, that Your glory permeates my life and spills all over the place. Oh, to have hearts as Mary who lived in such a way her attitude was 'Be it unto me” as she trusted You for all she did not understand. Because You are the Light of the world and live in me I can shine in such a way that Your name, Jesus, is lifted high. Thank You for such a privilege as this. You not only died for me, I died with You. Mary's light shone in such a way in the darkness of her time... I pray my sisters and I will shine in the darkness of this age, wherever our day takes us and especially in our families. Encourage them for they are the light of the world!  Live in us in such a way as to cause our lives to have eternal impact.In the Name of Love I pray, amen

shine in such a way!

az

Focus and Hope

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:10

My Sisters who love the Lord,

I met my daughter at her appointment to entertain Joshua (4yrs) while she was with the doctor. The 4 story building with many hallways called for an adventure. Josh was leading, as we slunk, hugging the walls until we made it to the stairwell. Approaching the 4^th floor, I whispered, “ J-man will the enemy detect us? Are we safe?” Without a backward glance he replied, “Grammy, we just need to Focus and have Hope!”

These words echoed in my heart. Out of the mouth of babes... For His lovers, He is our focus and Hope. Oh, such mystery in the ways of our Lord with His lovers. He bids us draw near, come to Him. Now and again with other lovers, but so often altogether alone. He nurtures and comforts imparting strength none but His lovers know. Even further He discloses Himself and makes His word known to those who seek Him in spirit and in truth. Then we move on, awareness of Him in the present moment. Hope. We are safe. Grace.

“From this point, not craving for what, if continued, would become a spiritual luxury, they go on like the sun that rejoices to run the race.” ac

Some days I deeply long to be on my face before His throne and done with a profoundly disappointing separation. “Lord, I long to be with You. I long for home.” His poignant reply was, “Arlene, it is enough for now that I indwell you.” Searching words as well as comforting. Each moment a gift from Him. What would it be like to be content in the moment? Even more so, to be 'well-content'? “Lord, reveal our hearts even now uncover discontent.”

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. II Cor 12:9

Paul discloses a very challenging mind set; a spirit willing to receive whatever God deems good for Paul. Focus. Look at the list of what Paul boasts he is “well” content!  Paul was just a man. The grace God supplied him is ours in Christ. Christ's grace is possessed of unfailing strength. The phrase 'is sufficient' is in the perfect tense and means 'is continually being made perfect.' God is supporting our mind with His most powerful influence, causing me to rejoice with joy unspeakable!! Paul uses words like 'delight, gladly, boast'. Focus.

Again, I ask, “Do I really believe this?” When have I been well-content with suffering? Do I rejoice in the rest? (meaning is to spread as a tent over and dwell in). He is Rest. We never lose by suffering and affliction. His strength rests on us enabling us this very moment. Hope.

It does not say what Paul's thorn was but the word means 'a sharp stake used for torturing or impaling someone. God permitted satan to buffet Paul (means to beat, to strike with a fist). I see two messages one from satan to Paul, but God also had a message for Paul... grace. I love the acrostic for Grace: God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Sufficient grace, strengthening grace, transforming grace. Focus. Safety.

Our Father, You who are the Lover of our souls and give us grace sufficient and perfect. You who always hear my prayer, You my abundant Life-Giver! It blows me away to see how detailed Your provision is for me O Lord and that You not only love me, for You are love, but You like me and delight to have me draw near . Words fail Majestic One. Teach me and my precious sisters to be well-content and know Your rest, to focus and to have hope. Keep us from being willing to just have salvation and go to church and do churchy things. Give us a hunger that will move us to greater intimacy with You through Your Word, which lives. I love you and thank you for the privilege of sharing my heart with these sisters. O how you love them. In the Name of Him who left heaven to be our Redeemer. amen


Focus and Hope in Christ alone,


az

Apart from Me You Can Do Nothing

"You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep 

His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. Deut 13:4 

Abide in Me, and I in you...  apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4a-5b.

My Sisters, in faith, you have been prayed for this week, 


I have a question... is it normal to frequently ask questions while reading His word? I do. This week i hit the wall while reading John15. Verse 5 generated the sentinel question which stopped further progress. i heard... 'Arlene, do you believe this?'  i then had a great need to paraphrase the question:  'Do i truly believe apart from the Savior Himself, I can do nothing?' This leaves no room to hedge! But of course, if you were to come up to me and ask me this very question i would give the correct response. 'yes, i do.' Yet, Jesus said "by their fruit you shall know them'? How many 'works' such as teaching a Bible study, serving the poor, housing a missionary, giving financially, serving our family by cleaning, washing clothes, cooking, groceries.... are done in the strength of the flesh day after day after day?

If i am abiding in Christ it is 'not I but Christ', His life is flowing through me in all His glorious effortlessness; i will reap indescribable rest. Jesus work never fails and there is always the evidence of the sweetness of His love and grace about the work. The life of endeavor which is 'my serving Him because He has done so much for me' is not what the Heavenly Father accepts. Even the 'love' motive may be good; even high, but it is not adequate! It is not the motivation put forth in His word. The taint of the flesh is about it. I must go beyond the seemingly honorable 'love' motive, to the 'life' motive. My surrender, my yielding to Him in consecration will never be acceptable unless it is His life lived through me. "Not I, but Christ".

"Our consecration, surrender or commitment (our service) will never hold up if it is our responding to Him from any other motivation  than the response of His life in us. Yielding to Him on any different basis will simply amount to our 'trying' to live for Him in the self-life. And even if that were possible, He could never accept it, since in that realm there dwells no good thing (Rom 7:18) plus He has taken the old life to the cross and crucified it (Rom 6:6, Gal 2:20) M.J.S.

It isn't really about what we are doing, how successful we are, how great the crowds or how impressive our work but the real question is "by what power are we doing it?" This question speaks to my heart in Jesus words... "If anyone serves Me, he must follow me.."Jn 12:26 This connects with "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. Our flesh forever seeks to bypass the death sentence. To serve Him only, is to follow Him only and to follow is to deny my flesh and take up my cross. To take up my cross is to appropriate the Truth 'counting myself to have died' with Him and risen with Him. My cross cannot be separated from His Cross; nor His from mine. Anytime i side step the Cross, i am on my own and I can do nothing that will matter in eternity.


 I want to be a disciple... Disciple: One who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine of his teacher.

How easily i slide into doing things in the flesh. The flesh is easily at home, thriving in any situation, fooling many. What fuels this absurd effort is blatant, willful pride. Do i really believe my flesh is as bad as God's Word states? No. He must take me through trials that reveal my utter sinfulness. The only eternal thing i have to offer my precious Lord Jesus is what He has given me or done through me; as i am delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in my mortal body. II Cor 4:11 It is as His death works in us that His life works through us to touch others. That makes me want to dance!

The Christian life is nothing short of the life of the Lord Jesus (Col 3:4). It is His life reproduced in us. The common conception of sanctification is that every area of the life should be holy; but that is not holiness, it is the fruit of holiness; holiness is the Lord Jesus Christ. M.J.S. 

When the Lord convicts me of pride I am inclined to think humility is the answer but it is not. The answer to pride is the Lord Jesus as He is the answer to every need i have and i am needy. I must not expect the Father to give me humility, patience, or love as separate gifts of His grace; He has given me the Lord Jesus and if I would simply trust Him, receiving moment by moment His life being lived through me, He will be patient and all else i need. A leader may have a zeal in serving God and influence others for good but weighed in His divine balances be found sadly wanting in love and humility. You may never hear sharp words or see their impatience. Their critical spirit toward others my be deftly hidden so too a need to be in 'control', it would but prove how little the Holy Spirit of Jesus has mastery over their life.

All-knowing One, You who know a word before it is on my tongue, You who see my hidden sins that i am in denial over, i run to You, knowing i am carefully and lovingly handled by You. You do not reveal my sin to shame me but to cause me to run to Jesus. You gently lead me to Yourself. so i run. i am needy. i want to love You perfectly but all i can do right now is cry out, "grow me Lord". Yet, i am overwhelmed by the Truth of being loved by You it continually sets my feet to dancing. i pray for my sisters and desire for each one to grow in You, getting beyond the birth truths onto the growth truths. Give them undivided hearts and a hunger that only You can satisfy in Jesus. Encourage the down hearted, be Strength to those in need and a Refuge for those who need a sanctuary. i pray they will bathe daily in Your word for we can only be Your disciples as we continue in Your word. Whisper Your love to each heart and leave them in awe of You Jesus. In this precious, priceless name I pray. amen

To serve is to follow + to follow is to + take up my cross= worship

az

Though He Slay Me....

...join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God...  according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity...  for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. II Timothy 1:8-9,12 My Dearest sisters, whose names are engraved on the palm of His hand, you, who have been in His heart from eternity past, greetings in His most precious Name, Has anyone ever said to you, ‘Grow up!’? I resented this as a teen.  God’s word says: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro... (eph 4:14) That says to me: 'Grow up!' i still find at times i live in the arena of ‘feelings’ and wonder when I will choose to stop my childish behavior. Immaturity which insists God explain Himself; 'why' He has allowed a difficult situation to make itself at home in my life that is as unwelcome as a party-crashing, bull-elephant, without an invitation, it is now residing beneath my roof. I long to live the Truth of this quote found long ago in the journal of Arnot of Central Africa “I am learning never to be disappointed, but to praise “  Amy C. states this:.. it is a word of  peace. I think it must hurt the tender love of our Father when we press for reasons for His dealings with us, as though He were not  Love... as though what He chose to allow could be less than the very best and dearest that Love Eternal had to give.  Until i grow beyond this childish realm of ‘sight and feelings’ how can i go forward? I may thrash sideways or stress up and down, but not forward. I felt God ask me this week, “Arlene,when you do not see my hand or sense my Presence, will you trust me and endure as beholding Him who is invisible? (Heb 11:27) i wanted to shout.. “Am I Moses?” But I knew this quiet question was telling. My Father desires me to trust Him relentlessly, even if He steps back, with-drawing any sense of His Presence. Even when darkness is so great i cannot sense His Love and Grace enfolding me.      “There is no grace in delighting in the Presence and favor of the Father when they are resting consciously and continuously upon us; for this rejoicing comes from sight and feelings. But there is precious grace in the delight which is not dependent upon His favors, nor upon our enjoyment of them; but wich is wholly dependent and has its source in the Father’s explicit Word, and His eternal faithfulness.”CHM This is true but I wouldn't choose it.  When life hurts and grace feels far away and the hope, love and joy, are almost extinguished in my heart, when circumstances are overwhelming and fierce the temptations, and faith seems nonexistent and words to prayer refuse to come...  i must 'choose' to stand and fight by rehearsing the goodness of God. I must choose to verbalize aloud the Truth of His faithfulness and power and must also choose to rest in ‘Who’ He is. I must choose to honor Him and speak words of praise (even if void of emotion) for Truth is power and by speaking scripture i can put the enemy to flight.  Such as Job 13:15: ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him’.  Speak this Truth to Him: "Though You slay me yet will I trust You, Abba!"  Thank Him for praying for you. (John 17) Sing (by faith) regardless of how you feel! I bow before You Abba, You who are always Love, always Good, You who daily plan good for me. Give me an undivided heart that I might not just endure but endure with joy. That I might not just sing, but sing with all my being, to You who are worthy beyond understanding. Touch my sisters with Your Truth as only You can. Encourage and strengthen those who are weary and deliver those in bondage of fear... Guard them and give them laughter to day. I pray they will choose to behold You with a heart that chooses to be thankful over and again. Take them to a place near You, where they will rejoice in their suffering and fill their heart with faith to trust You, now, today for whatever they face. You alone are Strength and Hope and Wisdom and Love. You alone are good..... Lord thank You for letting me love You. I pray because You have provided this gift of kneeling before Your throne.  I love You.  az