A Question

For You are the glory of their strength,

         And by Your favor our horn is exalted. 

    For our shield belongs to the LORD,

         And our king to the Holy One of Israel.   Psalm 89:17-18

My Sisters in Christ,

In my seeking time with the Lord I was pummeled by a question this past week and pass it on to you.  I felt the Lord was asking: Which would you rather have Arlene, a smooth path without speed bumps or a path so rough hewn and irregular I am compelled to draw near at every step to empower and rescue you?

At different times, without my consent, my whining reveals the truth! I would too readily choose a smooth path, remaining uninjured and certainly not bruised, instead I would float on a cloud all the way to my reward.  Seriously, considering all this means, would I really ‘choose’ such a path knowing God would have me count it a peculiar privilege to be whole-hearted for the Son of His love? There is no more perfect path for me than the one He has chosen.  O that we might emerge on the other side, after passing through deep waters, and find our testimony is not the trial, but the Lord of Life who never left our side. For now we know Him better.

The soul is tested by affliction to reveal how active our flesh is in us. It is God’s purpose for us to learn ‘what’ we are and 'who' God is for us. His faithfulness and loving watch-care are over us as we are weaned from the world and drawn to the Savior and the heavenlies. 

Do you measure how ‘successfully’ you are living the Christian life by the amount of  joy in your life? It  is tempting and may seem a viable way to measure how you are doing. It is not. The enemy is repeatedly clever in method and execution. The result of such a tactic is our eyes turn inward away from Christ. 

We are pulled kitty-wampus by so many desires and ideas. Until we acknowledge our life is safely hid with Christ in God, we will never be free from the enemies harassment. I have learned there is a vast difference between the shaming, nagging, finger-in-your-face condemnation of  Satan and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

“The enemy speaks in generalities, seeking to discourage and undo us by an uncertain sense of failure, confusion, heaviness of spirit and uncleanness. Our answer to this:

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

The Holy Spirit speaks specifically, and His conviction, although rebuking us, is sweet and clean and true and acceptable. He points out some exact and immediate action by which we have temporarily give in to sin. Satan points downward to despair, but the Spirit points upward to cleansing. M.J.S.

God has provided everything we need to live strong in the LORD! Read the verse from the opening again. As we stand strong in trial and another is impressed  because of how we handle things we know God is giving us the strength. It is Him they sense..... by His favor our horn (strength) is on display! He lets us reveal Him to a lost world!  His joy is our strength. His favor is our strength.  His grace is our strength. His glory is our strength! The word glory here is “God’s moral beauty and perfection as a visible presence.” Though it is not a substance He allows it to be visible through us. 

I hope you are sitting down and letting these words bathe your whole being. I tear up and my hands are raised at such blatant love with which He loves me. Do you sense His love for you? It is immeasurable. Next time you look in the mirror say this aloud with your name in the blank: “You are so loved _________ by God Himself!”   

Abba, Protect and keep these precious women you delight in and love so endlessly. I pray in Jesus name.

By faith... I choose the rough path, for the nearness of God is my good,

az

Do Not Lose Heart!

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. II Cor 4:7 My Sisters, treasured by Abba,   Constant sorrows plague the human race. How blessed we are that we can lay our sorrows and loss at Jesus feet and know His love. There is no God but our God. And He is full of compassion toward us and He is good. How privileged we are to have His word that we might 'know' how He loves us and His abundant provision for us to endure and live as Christians. Knowing His Word is so valuable and our only offensive weapon to resist the evil one.  Scripture is filled with 'knowing' verses. I John is referred to as the 'know-so' book. Have you ever counted how many times the word 'know' is used in just one short book? I Cor 4:14,16-18, speaks Truth to encourage us to stand strong in the LORD and not lose heart. Paul mentions the loving watch-care the Father over His son Jesus and it is the same loving watch-care He exercises over us.... "knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus... Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  Romans 8:28-29 tells me God chooses "all things" in my life, my circumstances, my sicknesses, my sorrows.. in view of His purpose for my life.  And we know God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God...  to conform them to the image of His Son. He chooses the best circumstances to accomplish this. As I choose to believe this I will not run from my circumstances, but trust Him.  God alone has allowed the voids, the losses, the infirmity in our lives and He alone can fill them with Himself. There will be a day when the voids are filled with His Presence and we will realize we have gained infinitely more than we have lost. E.D. When our Lord returns we shall lose all bodily weakness and infirmities, but better than our new bodies, my sisters, we will see Jesus face to face. He will look at you with a love that will undo you. You will 'know' His love as never before. Right now He asks us to be content and wait on Him and He offers rest. To rest we must 'still' ourselves before Him. Behold Him. Seek Him. We must confess sin and release our fears. How long has it been since you were still before His greatness, allowing His holiness, purity and righteousness and nearness to occasion discomfiture and embrace you? Allowing His rest to flow into your being? This is the God who treasures you, shares your tears and laughter and holds your every breath. I know these truths, but until i 'meek' myself, still myself, they remain true but aloof from me.  Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Who has set his heart on pilgrimage." Psalm 84:5 I am a pilgrim, just passing through. So often I live like this is home as I am not focused on my King, my Sovereign. When I live like I am home i begin to seek my 'rights' and life is all uphill. This week i heard Abba whisper... "My daughter, stop fighting me and rest in my hands."  To rest I must trust in what I know. Surrender fear. Appropriate Truth.  Abba, Daddy,  You are so amazing and I run to Your love. I need you. Change me! Remind me often I am not home yet. Teach me to lean into You when circumstances crowd me. I want to love you perfectly.... thank You for that day I am forever dwelling in Your Presence. I bow.... Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. I pray for my sisters to ‘know’ You intimately resting in who You are. In Christ, az

Hello

How can I pray for you this week?

Pure Olive Oil

My Sisters in the battle,                                            July 7, 2010 When you need an extra measure for the load you cannot bear; when the road demands another mile or two. There is grace sufficient, mounting on the wings of prayer; with extra measure God will meet you there. -- author unknown " Lo, I am with you always..." Matt 28:20 I am reading words I have read many times. Words so powerful they are beyond earthquake, Tsunami, tornado... yet, i must stop myself and make an effort 'hear' what a i am reading. God alone knows what my day will hold and how important this Truth will be.  So, I cornered myself with a few questions I didn't know I had!  "Arlene, why do you come to God's word?"  "Is it that you are hungry? Or do You come to meet a specific need?"  Now, I am scrambling for answers to questions I had not considered in this way. Why do I really come?  He waits for me! and so I come to His word.... yet when I come, do I come to Him or just to His word to have my need met? I know I often come with selfish motives, rather than coming to be with Him. Also, coming to His word is the main way I to come to Him. He is the living Word and His word feeds my spirit for it is life.  He delights to meet my need and prepare me for whatever the day holds. I so want my motives to be pure..... I long to know Him intimately and in turn be an undeniable light in a dark world. Pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. Exodus 27:20 The oil to feed the lamp must be pure for the lamp to burn continually. We are His lights and only He knows what is required for us to burn purely and continually? Are we willing for whatever He deems necessary for us to be vessels unto honor, sanctified and fit for the Master's use? I cringe mentally at what 'may be' when I should be crying out:  " Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts;   And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting' Psalm 139:23-24 Our Father has many reasons for administering trials- all good. Our suffering teaches us the futility of trusting in our strength and leaning on our own understanding; allowing us the privilege of proving God's faithfulness. Christians suffer the same difficulties or even worse than our counter-parts that do not know our Lord. But He is ever near to us and will carry us through.  "The world is divided into  two things- pleasures and afflictions; I am more afraid of the pleasures than the afflictions. In affliction you turn to the Lord. The danger is of being carried away by the very favors God has given to man." MS The cup, our Lord drank, was not from man or satan; but from His Father's hand! Nothing comes our way without first passing through our Father's hand. Nothing. Let the enemy hear songs of praise exalting our Savior though tears may mark your cheeks. He is worthy and choosing a grateful, praising spirit delights the One we come to. Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" John 18:11 Abba, Daddy, How unruly my heart when I shy from that which "may be"! Forgive my rebellion and how easily I am self-centered. Cast down imaginations and take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ. Cleanse me. Thank You for Your shed blood and the cleansing You provide daily that I may shine with brightness for You! I am so moved that I come to a God who is compassionate. Fill my heart with song that I may come to You and worship without ulterior motives. Hide me with Christ near Your heart that my ears may resonate with the beat of Your loving heart. You are life and breath. Let me bring You delight today. I pray in the Name of the One who allows me entrance into the Holy of holies. amen    Never alone,  az

Matthew 23:12

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

My dear Sisters who love the Lord,

Lessons in humility are unavoidable and oh so painful! In Luke 22 Jesus had taken the disciples aside to celebrate Passover with them. He shared these intimate words "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer..." There is no recorded response. He then states that this is His last Passover on earth. Can you feel the tense quiet in the lamp lit room? I have this desire to ask, "Do you hear what He is saying?" (Place yourself there in the semi dark room, a strong smoke odor from the oil lamp.) Again, He lovingly tells them this is His last Passover. No response. Then strange words follow. "This is my body given for you." No response. Wouldn't you expect at least one of them to be tuned in and ask "Lord, What does that mean?"  Jesus proceeds to reveal that He will be betrayed and the 'betrayer' is dining with them! They discussed who it could be but quickly fell into a discussion about which one of them was the greatest. I want to shake them into the present and ask "Do you hear what He told you?"

Does this cause you to have questions? Or does it make you uncomfortable because you may see yourself in the scenario? They were focused on themselves. He had previously warned them (chpt 21) "Be on guard" and "Keep alert". Did they become so accustomed to His voice they didn't hear? We know what happened next... they fell asleep in the garden leaving Him alone with His great wrestlings.

Jesus is our example of humility. Though He was deity, He arrived on earth through the birth canal of a young Jewish woman. I think how easily I just typed the last sentence. Do I truly hear the Truth of scripture anymore than the disciples, in the upper room? Do I hear the heart of my Lord, in His words, as I read? Jesus humbled Himself. As I read these words I saw something I have not seen before... the last four letters of the word 'humbled' jumped out at me with new life: 'b-l-e-d'. Scripture says Jesus "humbled himself and became obedient to death ...' Jesus bled and died. Humbling ourselves requires death. Death to our flesh, our  old sin nature. God requires it... read slowly and 'hear' the sweet words...

    Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

 Who, being in very nature God, 

      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 

 but made himself nothing, 

      taking the very nature of a servant, 

      being made in human likeness. 

 And being found in appearance as a man, 

      he humbled himself 

      and became obedient to death— 

         even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8

Never again will I think of the meaning of 'humbled' in the same way!

 Jesus placed all His trust in His Father rather than men. Isn't that why He was not cast down or discouraged as He dealt with the famous 12? And He is not cast down over me... this encouragement danced with me today! This is where I want my heart to dwell: on Him. 

"Jesus focused on the eternal goodness and beauty of God so that His heart was attached to God by a longing for unseen beauties of eternity. So real and wonderful was the realm of heaven to Him, that the world and it's temptations paled and held little attraction." TK

Abba, Daddy, 

Reveal my heart to me, as I read Your word. Expose anything which would keep Your word from rooting deep in my heart and bearing fruit. Show me my pride, doubt and unbelief or any resentments over loss and hardship. Let nothing in me resist Your Holy Spirit's work as You transform me into the likeness of Christ... i do so long to be beautiful for You. Dislodge any truth stuck in my head, moving it to my heart. Your love is so sweet and You are so beautiful. Thank You for Your loving watch-care over my sisters and I.  We long to have the attitude in us that was in Christ Jesus.  We bow before You in His Name; for it is  above all names....  amen

az