Saturday, August 4, 2012

More Questions

Greetings in Jesus name by His Spirit for His glory,
I still have questions from last week. This verse blew me away. You may have some of the same questions I have, so read and see what answer comes. The answers will be many so enjoy and take a moment to write out your answers and even more questions you might have for it will bring Light and blessing to you! (To understand this devotional you may need to go back a week and read ‘Deity Explains Deity’ from July 26- on Dove’s Eye).
Questions:
Jesus came to explain God, so my question is: exactly what did He say?
What did His words and actions explain about God as He dealt with the woman caught in the act of adultery?
What did He say by healing the man born blind?
What clear picture did He reveal when He calmed the storm?
What characteristic of God, were we given a peek at when He fed 5000?
What was trumpeted when He was born in a smelly sheep fold?
What costly Truth was unveiled from His torturous death on the Cross?
What God-grace was laid bare in these words:
 ‘Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.’?
His life continually explained His Father. God’s Word lives and continues to explain God to all who will listen. We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Asking questions as you read His word will enhance your focus.
Ex:  The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life.
In Romans 6:23, what does God reveal about Himself? us? About His holiness and perfection? How is it offered freely? What are wages? How do sin and death correlate? Read all of Romans 6 putting it in context.
Each question you ask is a wonderful way to draw near. We need the Holy Spirit’s filling to live a life that explains God; for our God is greater than all we can explain. I still must ask: Is my life explaining Him to others? Even a small lovingkindness in word or deed, toward a family member, reveals His Him and declares, ‘God loves you!’ Think of it, what an amazing transformation would take place in the church. One final question: I am crucified with Christ… Gal 2:20. How would living this out in my life explain God?
“Evil and suffering formed the crucible in which God demonstrated (explained) His love to humankind. His love comes to us soaked in divine blood. One look at Jesus- at his incarnation and the redemption He accomplished for us- “ RA
explains that God did not merely empathize  with our suffering, but He, Himself suffered. The crowd lining the street watched Jesus carry His Cross, some weeping, some cursing, many wanting this injustice stopped, for they loved Him dearly. He did not stop the unjustice His Father ordained, because He loved us more than ‘dearly’. This one great, redemptive act purchased our pardon and would best explain God more powerfully than any words. The Cross shines like a huge beacon on the dark landscape of man’s rebellion and sin. God’s purpose in sending Jesus to live and die, was to explain God. His death shouts Hope and Love from the Cross; exerting thee only victory over death and sin God can accept.
God permits what He hates to achieve what He loves. JET
Heaven’s happiness won’t be dependent on our ignorance of what happened on Earth; it will be enhanced by our changed perspective… RA
Go Ye. Ye shall be my witnesses. (you are one who explains Me!) Matt 28 and Acts 1
Father, You who are God, Savior, Redeemer, loving us enough to die in our place, we thank you with all our hearts. Thank You for sending Your Son in flesh and blood; to explain to us, who are so slow to understand, that You love us and want to save us from our sins. And not just save us eternally, but deliver us daily. This minute. You bend low to lift us up, You pour out Your protection and grace in abundance each day. Thank You. Why does saying ‘thank you’ just not seem to be enough? LORD, I run to the blood, the cleansing flood that makes me whole, protecting me. Thank You for dying in my place that I might be at home with You forever. Until then, Lord, live this ‘explaining’ through me, Come soon Lord Jesus.
az
 
http://www.gramzkidz.com

The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it alsmost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video
Watch



Thursday, July 26, 2012

Deity Explains Deity


 Deity Explains Deity

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 1:18

Greetings in Jesus name to all who long to know Him more deeply,

The Gospel of John is filled with precious truth. Truth of what Jesus did as He walked the earth He had created. His Word draws me to Him, revealing His humanity, His deity, and His power. From the first verse of the first chapter of John, until its last, it all shouts, “He is God”!
Question: Why did John say Jesus was the Word (not ‘a’ word)? Words communicate. My words express my heart and mind to others. This made sense then that Jesus is God’s ‘Word’ to reveal His heart and mind to us. Also, words are composed of letters and Jesus Christ is the ‘Alpha and Omega’, as it says in Revelation 1:11, the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet. He is the eternal Word existing from the eternity past. He was in the beginning, not as a creature, but as thee eternal Creator. ‘Before Abraham was I am.” John 8:58 Jesus was born in the flesh, lived a perfect life and died a perfect death, as the perfect Lamb of God. Verse 18 grabbed my heart in a merry dance, filling my mind with more questions!
If you are like me, you like to have things explained. I appreciate understanding the how and why of things and a good explanation is invaluable to achieve that. Now hang on this is good! After stating in John 1:14, ‘(Jesus), became flesh, and dwelt among us’, John follows with this amazing statement (don’t miss this) in John 1:18:
‘No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Question: What? Jesus came to ‘explain’ God to a world that loved darkness more than the Light, because their deeds were evil? (John 3) Having read this many times, I had not previously noticed this verse until it jumped off the page aggravating my need to understand what was said. 'God explained God?’

I am reminded of the times my grandson got in trouble, his first words regardless of the situation were, ‘I know how it looks, but I can explain’. He couldn’t always explain. His actions silently influenced his explanation, for an explanation is more than words. He came to earth to explain God by living among us, by His words and deeds, His Loving-kindness, His miracles, His forgiveness, His grace and His power. Jesus life and words spoke volumes. The Cross being the Lord’s most poignant explanation to mankind.
  
Question for you: What exactly did He explain in his death and resurrection? What does it explain to you about God? In His written word the Holy Spirit declares the Truth of God to any heart that will humble itself. God loves you so much He took time to ‘explain’ Himself to you! Explained so clearly and completely I could understand and receive the gift of eternal life and be cleansed from sin in His blood. Hear me and let Truth bull-doze any walls you have built.

Question: Why would a Holy God bend low and explain anything to rebellious mankind? Only His love and goodness could so move Him. Does this move you to tears over the wealth of His goodness to you?

Question: Why does it take such a long time to realize that all is darkness outside of the Light of Christ?  
When the eye is turned away from the Lord Jesus darkness must set in. It is having the Lord Jesus as our Object, which alone gives us the power of truth. W.K.
Question:  Because He is the Light of the world and came to ‘explain’ God to a lost world, and He dwells in me, am I also called to explain Him?

‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and ___________. … (put these 3 words in blank “see God explained” ) Matthew 5:16

‘We continually ask God to fill you… so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work Col 1:9-10

I am to let my light shine as the Holy Spirit empowers me and produces His fruit in me because the plan to explain God to the world is still God’s plan and I am part of it! Galatians 5:22-23

Question: Am I fully surrendered to God so I can be used to explain Him to a lost world? Only as I count myself crucified with Christ.

“God of wonders, You who sent your Son from your side to explain who You are to the world, thank You. I praise You, for You declare Your glory in every sunset and sunrise. Jesus, you explained God in every word You spoke and everything You did. Your heavens declare Your glory! Now flow through me by your Spirit love through me, for Your love explains You. Thank You for my dearest treasure   Your written Word for it continues to explain who You are to all who’ll listen. Thank You for when I will see You in all your glory. May Your name be blessed forever! John 1:17-18 has filled my heart with a burning desire to live to explain You. I cry Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.  I pray in the name of your Son Jesus, for He alone can explain You. amen    

The next time you look in the mirror stop and say: ‘I am part of God explaining Himself to the world!’ Blows you away, huh? Me too.

az    




The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it alsmost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video
Watch


 

Saturday, July 21, 2012

I Am Glad I Wasn't There....

"I am glad I wasn't there." John 11:15                                                                                   July 21,2012

Brothers and Sisters who love the Lord,

I get such comfort from the story or Mary and Martha, included in the New Testament. God’s sovereignty always affects me that way and I am comforted. Such comfort with His Sovereignty strengthens my faith.

 Read again about their desperate prayers for their brother, believing the Lord would come and heal him. Hear deeply what you are reading and let it penetrate your being. “Oh Bread of life meet me where I am and feed me, by disclosing Yourself to me”.
When I think about this I want to go bathe, dress in white, and run to my kneeling place and be alone with Him! then without words (the hardest part) to quiet myself, refuse distraction (including all electronics) and worship Him. I want Him to take my face in His holy hands, and speak His love to me; and albeit more difficult, I want Him to speak humility into my being. “Create in me a servant’s spirit, LORD, that I may willingly wash my brother’s or sister’s smelly feet.”
There are many scriptural lessons in this story to challenge me, lessons which are wonderful, yet grow sterile when met by a lukewarm heart that has lost its fervency. We can read His word dutifully; yet stiff-arm the truth He longs for us to feed on for our growth. Cast aside preconceived thoughts on the proper way to approach Him. Lay aside ‘the way you have always done it’, grab your Bible and run to Him with a clean heart, expecting Him to really meet with you.

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you ears to hear His power and love as you read; feeling His Presence! Experience His deity and humanity. O how he loved Mary and Martha, loving them enough to say no to their request; preparing them for something greater and far better. His plan meant eternal glory. When you receive a no to your prayers do you question if it is a lack of faith? Or that God is not pleased with you? Think! Just as it was for Mary, Martha and Lazarus. His plan for you is greater than saying yes to your request.

 A precious young girl, Debra by name, is in Mongolia on a mission’s trip. Last week while working on a service project with her church, she was trimming weeds. In her desire to be modest, as the local paper snapped pictures from behind, she knelt down by the trimmings she was removing, and afterwards scooped up an arm full of the cuttings adding them to the pile of waste. She contracted a serious case of poison ivy on her legs, arms and torso. She is miserable, even as I write this. Many have prayed and asked earnestly for healing. The answer until now is ‘no’. At a prayer meeting before they departed she was prayed over again; as was a woman who had a headache. On the way to the airport she ask her mom and dad why the lady was instantly healed and she was not.  Had she sinned? What would you tell your 13 yr old daughter?

I believe God has something beyond wonderful for Debra for He’s trusted her with this painful trial too precious for us to understand. Which of us can say what will bring God the most glory? I believe He will receive much glory through her choice to trust Him and remain sweet; as she deals with poison ivy day in and day out during the rigors of serving and travel!
After Lazarus died when Jesus said,I am glad I was not there’; being honest, doesn’t it seem sort of rude, to be ‘GLAD’ about that which resulted in another’s death? But the truth is it was an opportunity for them to trust Him when life didn’t make sense. So too, we can please God with our faith when our circumstances scream that our faith is foolish! One day when gathered in heaven to see how it all turned out, we will finally understand what this story illustrates. Read and be blessed my brothers and sisters… join the crowd of Jews, the curious, the antagonists, the many friends of Lazarus and his sisters standing outside the tomb in this unfolding drama. (the following is a partial narration)
 “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’ When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then ….
Because His disciples didn’t understand, He finally told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
Martha ran out to meet Jesus. He said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they said. Jesus wept.  Then Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha said to Him, ‘but Lord…’
Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
I am dancing. I long to ‘believe’ and see His glory! This will only happen, as I fall at His feet, in faith, and am lost in Him. He longs for us to be consumed by Him. Here are some obvious truths we are called to embrace as we pray and believe. Warning: Do not make this about you and place the emphasis on your ‘believing hard enough’. It is not about you. It is about Him. His will. His glory.

1. Jesus Timing is perfect: Never too soon, never too late. God operates outside of time. He is not hindered by the world’s timing: nor does our finite perspective dictate or minimize His will and purpose for us as we walk by faith.
2. Jesus timing is right: for each person involved…. His sisters, and all who witnessed this miracle.
3. Jesus timing is good: He always works for our good and His glory
4. His timing reflects His will: working out His good purpose for us
5. His timing reflects His wisdom: for only He sees the future
6. His timing reflects His wonder: He touches our hearts and leaves us in awe!
His timing will always give us an opportunity to believe in Him and without faith it is impossible to please Him. Faith pleases God.

Read John 11 tonight before bed and let God pour the warmth of His truth into the deep places of the heart .


Bless you this week. You are loved by the King!
az

 

http://www.gramzkidz.com

The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it alsmost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video Watch



Thursday, July 12, 2012

Ask the Right Question

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. II Corinthians 5:17

Brothers and Sisters who Love the Lord
‘Who are you?’ or ‘Who were you?’
The answer to the first question is wonderful. The answer to the second doesn’t matter any more for those ‘in’ Christ. We hear many Christian testimonies from the perspective of the second question detailing their sinful past and then they finish with how God saved and forgave them and they are going to heaven. But have you heard a testimony about  
who they are?

 In how many faith stories have you heard this? ‘I was lost in sin and Jesus saved me and forgave me, giving me a new life. I am 'in' Christ. Dead! Crucified! Buried and risen with Christ and I no longer live." Probably you have not, unless you are at a baptism where it is partially and quickly reflected on.  
 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life, which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20
 
To apply this truth requires taking up my cross ‘daily’, denying myself ‘daily’, and following ‘daily’, without insisting on understanding everything. Roman’s 6 instructs me to live counting it true.
We begin our Christian life with salvation truths, but we mature by growth truths. We must move on past the second question to 'What is God doing in my life today? (growth truths)  Always He is creating the likeness of Christ in us. As we mature in our faith we find the first question to be the important one, leading to the ever expanding truth that we are ‘in’ Christ and He is everything. How did we get ‘in’ Christ? 

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Ephesians 1:13
When we were born again, God put us ‘in’ Christ, knowing we could not do this ourselves. We are as powerless to be removed, as we were powerless to put ourselves in Christ. 

 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28
Positionally in Christ we are pure and holy and practically in Christ we are free from sin’s power and its consequences Romans 6:14 (but not its presence)
Who am I ‘in’ Christ? I am God’s masterpiece! He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
Do you believe it? Hear this my sisters and brothers:

“On what ground is our faith tested? It is on the ground of our very relationship with God and God’s attitude toward us. The concentration of the enemy is upon that point- to interfere with our link with God.” FWG 

‘In Christ’ is the most precious phrase in the Bible. This or its equivalent is mentioned over 130 times in the New Testament.

The Lord Jesus is our link with the Father. It will never be about us and what we are in ourselves. Jesus is the answer to God’s absolute requirement for holiness and payment of our sin debt. He is the answer to every accusation and every attack of the enemy. Jesus knows our weakness, He knows all we try to hide from others, He knows every struggle we face and remembers we are dust. He is Peace, compassion, mercy and love. God is for us! He is the answer to our loneliness and fears. He is strength in our weakness and joy amidst tears. May be you need to climb up on His lap and let Him hide you near His heart.
Let this thought explode in your heart and fill you: When God looks at us, He sees us through His Son, His perfect Son. Our position is perfection, for we are ‘in’ Christ. We cannot even give God cause to love us. It is only our pride to think we have anything to offer Yaweh, for He is Holy.  But what causes my heart to tremble are these four words…


 “God opposes the proud” (James 4:6) but gives grace to the humble.

I need all the help I can get and I find even human opposition can be tiring, so I do not want the living God opposing me!!!  Pride is ever at the door and there will never be a day I, in myself, will find acceptance with God. The same truth that convicts me of my sinful, hopeless condition, also, when realized, sets me free and gives me absolute security in Christ. My acceptance is not about me, but about Jesus!! How can anyone doubt a believer’s security when once realizing his or her position in Christ? Infeasible! I am dancing in awe of Him! Hallelujah!

God doesn’t see me through my past, He sees me through Jesus. LW

When I am working on a sculpture, the day comes when I am done carving and polishing the stone. It is finished. There is nothing more to do. Jesus said, ”It is finished” and He meant it! He did it all and He is the same yesterday and today and forever!!  We only need to receive what we need, not produce it.
Father God, Lord of all the angel armies, You who never change and are not trapped in time, I bow and with tears of praise for putting me safely, securely and forever ‘in’ Christ. My past no longer exists before You, not even yesterday, thank You, precious Lord, for establishing me in such amazing freedom and continue to establish Your word in me, as that which produces reverence for You. I was dead in my sins and You made me alive together with Christ.  Forgiving all my sin. I am so thankful my acceptance depends entirely on You! Thank you Jesus, in your name I pray,  standing cleansed and forgiven in Your sight. Amen
Much love dear ones, I pray often for each of you, for He knows you by name,
az

Gospel:
 http://youtu.be/BrJW4zdsdQc
 Watch

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

I Am Not A Moses.....


 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm150:6

My Brethren,
As I knelt in prayer before my heavenly Father, I spoke these words of honor and relationship: “Abba, Daddy, Holy One…” when I was interrupted, stopped in the moment by this thought! ‘I speak the words, “Holy One”, but do I even have a clue what they truly mean or understand a smidgeon of the Truth they represent?’ Holy is a word I relate to God, yes, but what if He suddenly chose to reveal the Truth of these two words to me? What if His great and terrible Presence, His Almighty being, were suddenly manifested before me? These words I am writing would be the last words you would ever read from my hand!  This frail, temporary body is not designed to be in the manifest  presence of the Holy God and I am certainly not a ‘Moses’!

Imagine with me how it would effect us if we experienced what the Jewish people did as they waited on Moses to intercede on their behalf with the living God? They came to a mountain they were not to approach. And there was the blazing fire and darkness and gloom, whirlwind and trumpet blasts and God’s words, reverberating like thunder, and so frightening that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, for they feared greatly the command given by God, “If even a beast touches the mountain it will be stoned.” And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”
 How would this change your view of God?

Then there is the difficulty of reconciling His holiness with the truth of God being a God who loves me! Thee Omnipotent, Creator God, Eternal and unapproachable sees me in Christ, forgiven and made holy. But there is so much more than being loved and forgiven. I am invited to come boldly to His throne although His holiness has not diminished! This is beyond imagining! Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, has opened the way for me. Albeit we do not hear much about God being a consuming fire, nor are we reminded often of His holiness, His word is adamant: God is holy. We can fall into the thinking that our sins are not really so bad now, because we have Jesus as our Savior. But I must give account of every idle word, every attitude, and every deed, before this holy God. God’s view of sin never changes. Why? because He is holy.

Hear the ending words of Hebrews12:
Therefore since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12:29

For many Christians, their view of God comes from a kind of spiritual fun house mirror, It is distorted and inaccurate.  L.W.

How do you see Him? As a cosmic kill-joy? rules-focused? demanding? hard to please? In the beginning, God created man and He will not now be ‘created’ by man. Are you frustrated trying to reconcile these thoughts with your view of God? Not only is God Holy, He always has been Holy, and always will be Holy.  And what is so astounding is that He is Love. Run to Him. He loves us immeasurably and unconditionally. (My feet are dancing) But being loving does not negate His holiness! Not a smidgeon. God, wake your church and give us a reverence for You that will knock us to our knees. For He is not the ‘man upstairs’, He is not ‘our buddy’, nor a divine vending machine we can require to pop out answers to our two-bit prayers!!  (complicated by the fact we want only the answer we deem best.) And of course He is to keep all trouble far from your door and make us happy. Any less and we are upset with Him. In our unbelief and presumption, we conclude ‘God is not good’. But it is us that are not good and our Father loves us too well to leave us as we are.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  I P 1:15-16

The more we are conformed to the world the more our view of God is warped. May God forgive us and bring us to repentance. Only being in God’s word will transform and strengthen us in truth and give us a correct view of God. In our world the word ‘holy’ is frequently misused. It pricks my heart with sadness to hear carelessly spoken exclamations such as ‘ holy cow’ or ‘holy smoke’, not to mention the endless abuse of the word ‘God’.  My heart is torn a bit more every time I hear His precious name used in vain. I have decided every time I hear it, I will bring Him praise immediately. He alone is Holy and worthy of all praise.

We are commanded to praise the LORD! Yes! It benefits us! God says He inhabits our praises.(I have some questions…) Doesn’t that Truth bring you to your knees? Don’t you want to cry out ‘LORD, quicken me, fill me with a desire and hunger for You. Teach me to praise You.’

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in holy array. Psalm 29:1-2

Father-God, You who are Holy beyond comprehension, You who never break Your word and are to be reverenced and worshiped as Holy! I bow, unworthy in myself, but acceptable in Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer. I rejoice in You. ‘Give me a heart that hungers for you to be manifested in me! Establish Your word to me as that which produces reverence for You. Awaken in me a desperate desire for You, a deep, awareness of Your holiness. Cleanse me from wrong attitudes and corrupt thinking about who You are. Give me a heart of surrender to bring You glory and enjoy You now and forever. I tremble before You… and I cannot help but love You. I pray in the name of the Lamb of God, my sacrifice and Savior, amen.

Praying for you all this week,
 az 

The Gospel:
 http://youtu.be/BrJW4zdsdQc

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

In Hope Against Hope

LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.Psalm 38:15

Dear Saints in God’s waiting room,

We join many infamous people when we experience God’s waiting room. All the way back to Sarah and Abraham who were waiting on God to keep His word to them about an heir from their own loins. Their waiting room was clouded by the unreality of such a promise ever being fulfilled. Fact was it was impossible! No two ways about it! But the Truth is ‘there is nothing too hard for God.’

‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,’ Jer 32:17

‘In hope against hope, Abraham believed God. Without becoming weak in faith,’ Even though the facts of their circumstances shouted ‘impossible’ at the promise of God, Abraham believed. In spite of his own body which scripture says was ‘now as good as dead since he was about 100 years old’ and ‘the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith; giving glory to God, and being fully assured (he believed) that what God had promised, He was able also to perform”.  

Wow! Doesn’t it set your feet to dancing?

When I pray I want action, a response. I want the ear of God and I want His intervention. The least desired answer to my prayer is ‘wait’.  There is so much waiting in life. I like ‘green-light’ days. When I drive, I want to get to where I am going without the red lights. (I know, I know I am dreaming of another life) Yet, I know if I do not learn to wait I will be continually frustrated with God and His timetable. I have been waiting until it hurts for the salvation of some of my nearest and dearest. As I wait I have learned to exercise my ‘will’ and give thanks to God for all He’s doing that I cannot see.

I have learned much in the unwelcome waiting times. The Holy Spirit has stretched and shaped me for His glory. Do I understand what God is doing? No. But this great are His purposes. I know He never makes a mistake and His purposes are great, beyond my mind to imagine and all for His glory.

Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Jer 32:19a

Let me remind you and myself that God does not hurry in His development of our Christian life. He is working from and for eternity. We mature and become fruitful by the principle of growth and much time is involved. Fruit ripens slowly through the storms and the rain and  the blessed sunshine.
If we do not acquiesce to this we will experience continual frustration and will find we tend to take matters into our own hands like Abraham and Sarah did.

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20

Are you in a season of waiting now? The waiting room can ‘feel’ very lonely. Part of being Spirit-filled and surrendered is learning to endure with joy in our waiting. God does not ‘owe’ us anything. He is always working for our holiness not our happiness. As we learn to trust, we learn to rest more and more in Him who is our life… ‘being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6

I am collecting ‘wait’ verses to feed me and strengthen me to wait on the LORD. I like to put them on 3x5 cards to carry with me walking or waiting at a long light, or in a waiting room.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7
  
It is hard to wait in a situation we cannot control or change. You run to God pleading with Him to do something, but all you hear is ‘wait’. My prayer for you is that you will choose to trust Him for every trial and every situation you do not understand just as David who recorded his struggle in the Psalms.

“When God’s answer is wait, a question is imbedded in that answer: ‘Will you trust me?’ L.W.

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. John 14:21

Father, You who lead us from self-dependence to Christ-dependence, You understand how easily we get frustrated, how hard it is to wait, how tough it is to be in a place we do not want to be. If we could, we would short-circuit such experiences and run for cover outside of Your provision. Thank You for loving us enough to reign us in and continue working in us the likeness of Your precious Son Jesus. We want to believe like Abraham! Work in us Your endurance and fill us with faith to trust You. As hard as it is to wait it is so sweet, so profitable when You disclose Yourself to us. It is worth all the trials and waiting for the sweetness of You, are You not our exceeding and great reward? It is in Your Name and for Your glory we pray, Jesus, amen and amen

You are not alone in your waiting,
az

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Right Handle

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The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it almost defies understanding. Jesus death on the Cross was for you.