Encounter 255

"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God."
Exodus 3:1-6

Moses was rescued from Pharaoh's death edict, ironically growing up as a son of privilege in Pharaoh's house. This 40 year phase of his life abruptly ended after murdering an Egyptian slave driver and being discovered by Pharaoh, and he fled to Midian, where he made a new life for himself, and then at about the young age of 80, Moses had the Encounter ... With God Himself. This is the first recorded encounter he had with the Lord that I know of, and it changed everything for Moses, ushering in a new phase of His life, as he stood in the undeniable presence of God. I'm sure as Moses tended sheep, he often wondered about his old life, and I frankly wonder how much his Midianite family knew about his past. But God had a plan for Moses, and Moses believed God (when faced with a burning bush, how could he not?). As he moved forward willingly, and obeyed God, he was transformed from a stuttering murderer to a powerful and influential leader of his people, Israel, as they were delivered from slavery, and eventually entered the Promised Land.
There is an Encounter awaiting each of us, and His promises for our lives, no less important than His plan for Moses! Some of us have had that Encounter, but for others it is coming, and will happen suddenly, often when we expect it the least, in the most unlikely time and place! One thing is for certain: when we are in the presence of our All Consuming Fire, it will change everything. Jesus is no respecter of persons- titles, earthly wealth, etc., have no influence over how He looks at us- our King looks at the heart, and He knows who you are, and where you are- in every sense of the word.
Get ready to take off your sandals, beloved-an Encounter is coming.

Swapping Burdens

2 "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2

   28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

When I was a child, I remember seeing a poster from Father Flanagan's Boys Town, of a boy carrying another on his back, trudging through the snow, the caption reading, "He ain't heavy, he's my brother."
The Lord brought this up from my deep memories, as my wife and some other friends - sisters -undertook the lifting of a small burden from a sister who at the moment is quite sick. The need to do household chores, laundry, cleaning, meal preparation, grocery shopping, etc., doesn't stop, and it's a small sacrifice to make a huge difference in someone's life, especially in consideration of what Jesus promises to lift off of us, swapping burdens with us. He tells us to give Him our troubles, cares, heaviness, weariness, and more, and He promises us rest, peace beyond natural comprehension, to lead us beside quiet waters and green pastures. He tells us to take His yoke on us, which is actually a lightness that lifts us up, and to learn His way, the way of love from Him. When we swap with Jesus we are actually strengthened and buoyed up beyond natural our ability, in turn enabling us to hoist the burden from others. This is just one facet of fleshing out what real love looks like.
So today, swap with Jesus, and look for someone that you can help with their load.
It ain't heavy...

Why Wait? 254

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Phil.4:6-7

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
James 5:16

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,"
Eph.6:18

Recently a sister shared with me how her doctor last week told her that she would never be able to sing again as a result of a surgery. I started to say to her, "I will keep you in my prayers", but then I heard the Lord tell me, "PRAY FOR HER RIGHT NOW!" guess what? I know she will sing again, because I know the power of my Father, and I know that He is in the business of making all things new and possible! I have been feeling this prompting towards immediate prayer quite a lot lately, actually. It is excellent to add a need etc., to our prayer list, but why even wait? The Lord creates situations where both need and opportunity converge, and we need not wait. What is required for prayer to be effective is to DO IT...there is awesome power in prayer, the Word goes forth and does not return void. What I don't want to do is have another prayer request become like leftovers in the fridge...good intentions that are left on the shelf that grow stale and are never acted on.
So as need and opportunity converge (and they will- constantly), act immediately,
no more waiting to pray.
Beloved, touch someone, place every need on the altar right now...much will be accomplished!

Entrance/Exit

20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
Revelation 3:20


"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."
1 Corinthians 10:13

Sunday while I was worshipping and praising the Lord in the sanctuary of our church, the Spirit directed my gaze from the cross to the exit sign and back again...He starting speaking to me about yet another truth, that Jesus is the Doorway, and as such is, both the Entrance- and the Exit. The entrance being the Way to real Life, and the exit being the escape hatch from sin and death. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to hear the Kol Dodi, the voice of the Beloved, and respond. This gateway is the entrance to salvation, fellowship with the Bridegroom, and the secrets to abundant kingdom life, but it is also an exit. This is our escape hatch, the doorway we are to run through when faced with temptations. When faced with these temptations we need to remember we are not in that place alone, that Jesus said that He is with us, and He will never leave us or forsake us, but we must avert our gaze, our ears, our thoughts to the Door towards real life. Dwelling on the Lord, all that He is, and giving Him all of our hearts, means that we have moved from- exited- that place of threat and temptation as we enter into His Presence. His love is better than wine, nothing this world has to tempt us with can compare to Jesus, the bright and shining Morningstar, the Alpha and the Omega.
Today. as you go through your day, set your mind, heart, and spirit on Jesus, lover of your soul.
Answer the knock at the doorway.
He is waiting for you today.

Created to Praise and Worship

"Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets."
2 Samuel 6:14-15

"The Lord inhabits the praises of His people"
Praise 22:3

 "24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah"
Judges 6:21

"23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him."
1 Samuel 16:23

“And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
(24) Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
(25) And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
(26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”
Acts 16:23-26

Created to praise and worship! This is the reason we live, move, and have our being. The Lord of the universe and all it contains didn't need us for his fulfillment, but we certainly need Him! I was trying to think of one bad outcome as a result of praising and worshipping, but there aren't any to think of! Praise and worship looses chains, shuts the mouths of lions, overturns impossibilities, drives out demonic forces, and ushers in victory where defeat loomed. The Lord inclines His ear, and gives us mercy instead of punishment, grace instead of judgement, exchanges beauty for ashes, when His people acknowledge His name and call on Him. So why is real worship and praise, exuberant, loud, joyful praise, so hard to find in most churches? Why do people have no problem cheering on their favorite sports team, or musician, or seemingly anything else, but have such a difficult time giving our All-in-All our all? Is He not the One who deserves our ultimate love and adoration? Shouldn't we be hoarse when we leave our church instead of the stadium? What are we so afraid of? If David can dance as the king in his underwear in front of all of Israel, then certainly we can "bring it" ,too. He already knows my every thought, but my Bridegroom wants to hear me, the Bride proclaim it...
I am a fool for Christ already, so I will no longer be ashamed to display all of my love, thankfulness, and adoration, and everything I have to give to the One I love most.

Running 253

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."
Luke 15:20

"As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him."
1 Samuel 17:48

"The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel."
1 Kings 18:46

Recently Holy Spirit impressed these scriptures on me, all with the concept of running, as in taking aggressive action,  confronting something or someone, or to vigorously perform a task.
In Luke 15, the story of the prodigal son, the father sees his wayward son returning, and exercising compassion, he runs to him, not holding back. He chooses to love and forgive first, even though he had every right to be angry.
In 1 Samuel, David does not just square off against Goliath, his mortal enemy, he runs straight at him, not waiting to defend himself against Goliath's onslaught. David aggressively chose instead to take the offensive, brings a quick victory as he trusted in the Lord who was (and always is) more than able to overcome.
In 1 Kings, Ahab must've been quite surprised when he arrived at Jezreel to find that Elijah was already there, and Elijah realized another installment of what it means to trust the Lord and act in His power. In my Spirit man I see Elijah, laughing, shouting, and Praising the Lord as he sped over rocky mountainous terrain faster than powerful steeds yoked to a chariot!

The writer of Hebrews encourages us to run our races.
It is all about perseverance and endurance,
a triumphant life that is only possible by throwing off the "flesh".
The junk of this world can slow us down and trip us up.
Keep the ultimate goal fixed in your heart, mind, and Spirit.
There is a destination, and we want to run straight at it,
not misled by our mortal enemy to die in the desert.
Exercise love, compassion, and forgiveness first,
meet your adversaries head on, gird yourself up,
get ready to do extraordinary things, asking the LORD contunually for them as we move forward.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,"
Hebrews 12:1

Faith vs. Human "Wisdom"

"Great faith is the product of great fights"

"How can one come to possess great faith? Now listen...here is the answer to that: first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn In the ear. Faith must grow by soil, moisture, and exercise."

"Fear looks, but faith jumps. Faith never fails to obtain its object. ...faith is an act."

Quotes by Smith Wigglesworth

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1

"Faith does not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
1 Corinthians 2:5

"We live by faith and not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:7

Simply put, faith is things that are hoped for that are yet unseen. Do you know the Word says in Romans 14, that "everything that does not come from faith is sin"?
What is more "logical"? For we know that "all things are possible through Him who loves us".
Unbelief is sin because really, folks, who and how can one have the audacity to doubt or be double minded about what the Creator of the Universe, the One who is Uncreated, the Always and Forever Immanuel, God-with-Us, The Shoreless and Bottomless Ocean, the One who has hung the planets and stars in their orbits, who loves us with a burning love and jealousy that is more intense than white phosphorus ignited ? It's not faith in ourselves, He just wants us to know unequivocally, that He is more than able! That's why the Word says that "without faith it is impossible to please God!" Does anyone like to be doubted, especially when they are seasoned and proven? Of course not.
Have faith, beloved, whatever the situation or need, He is more, much more than able!

Eyes

   22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Matthew 6:22-23

 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
2 Samuel 11:2-5

 "11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."
Romans 6:11-14

"Be careful little eyes what you see;
Be careful little eyes what you see.
There's a Father up above
Looking down in tender love,
So be careful little eyes what you see."


How do we use the instruments that our Creator has given us? The statistics regarding pornography addiction are staggering, and the effects even worse; "so as a man thinks he becomes" the scriptures tell us. I believe that this is part of the war we are engaged in, we must guard our eyes, first and foremost, as they are the windows to our soul, if we are to overcome this scourge. We are not to offer any part of us to sin- we are dead to sin and alive now- in Jesus! If there is temptation in our path, we turn away from it. We don't go to places we know we are not supposed to be- physical places or cyber places, the result is the same. A person cannot heap burning coals into their lap and not be burned. The point is that we are His property, "it is not I who live but Christ in me", He paid the ultimate price to redeem and deliver us, from all manner of sins. Through Him we have the strength (His strength is perfected in our weakness). The Lord knows what and who we are, and He has provided an escape, and He is right there with us, waiting to rescue us, but something's has to happen first.
Confession and genuine repentance is the place where Jesus meets us, where pride, hidden dark secrets and idols are cast off and nailed to the cross, the place where we move from defeat to victory.

Strengthening Your Core

"  16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:16-21

"Strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being (man)v.16, I love this verse. In physical training there is a great deal of emphasis placed on core strength training. Your arms and legs can be strong, but without a strong core, one is prone to back/spinal injuries, abdominal injuries, etc.. All vital organs are contained in the abdominal/thoracic cavity, and core strength in all the muscles that encase these organs, along with bone structures, is vital. Without it comes weakness, sickness, the inability to fend off injuries from even minor
events or challenges.
So it is in the spiritual realm! Our core must be strong to run the race with perseverance, as trials come and are overcome by faith, and the Lord's faithfulness, as our hearts are filled up with nothing but Jesus. He has begun a good work in each of us, and he will be faithful to complete it!

The Cost of Pride and Arrogance

Samson was the third to the last of the Judges, those who God placed over Israel in that period of Israel's history. His parents were aged and had no children, like Abraham and Sarah, and Zechariah and Elisheva (Elizabeth). The angel of the Lord told Samson's mother that he was to be a Nazirite, no grapes or fermented beverage should he ever drink, and Nazirites were never to touch dead things as they would be defiled. The scriptures tell us that Samson grew and the spirit of the Lord stirred him, but in reading through Judges 13-16, It's clear Samson had some issues: arrogance (an only child, and announced by an angel his parents probably denied him nothing). The Jews were not supposed to take foreign wives, much less a Philistine woman, as the Philistines were oppressing Israel, and their sworn enemies (to this very day, as Philistia is what is today known as Gaza), but at his insistence (being an only child, and "special") he went to Timnah, with his parents in tow, he killed a lion on the way, unbeknown to them, and later on the way back, ate honey from a honeycomb that bees had made inside the lion's carcass! He also had an obvious weakness for women- his first wife... Delilah...visited a brothel, and that is just what is recorded.
My impressions are that because of pride and arrogance, he did not treat sacred things as sacred, perhaps because the Lord had been with him since he could remember, he took those special giftings for granted. Killing a thousand men with a donkey's jawbone, he composed a song - about himself! He acted out of selfishness and often responded in a gut-level kneejerk sort of way, and the results were obvious. There are consequences, the last of which resulted in his capture, imprisonment and having his eyes gouged out by his enemies. The loss of his eyesight, though, resulted in his greatest spiritual clarity...weak and chained to a mill stone grinding grain, he had time to repent and dwell on the Lord,and as he did his strength was renewed. When the Philistines brough Samson out to make fun of him, he asked the Lord for restoration, the Lord redeemed him, answered his petition, and as Samson pushed out the pillars of Dagon's temple, he literally "brought down the house", destroying many of Israel's and God's enemies, as he died.

Set

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
1 Corinthians 11:1

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death"
Philippians 3:10

"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ."
1 Corinthians 2:16

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. "
Colossians 3:2-3

"'For in him we live and move and have our being.'"
Acts 17:28a


I want to know Jesus more and more. Just as my Savior poured Himself out for me, and made Himself as lowly and nothing, and took my place because of sheer love, He is the Creator of everything, I desire to give Him everything, to be hidden in Him, trust Him for everything. Today as I live, move, and have my being in Jesus, I set my face like flint towards Him, and against the accuser. When faced with trials, regardless of the nature, my mind will be set like concrete, reinforced with steel, on my God.
He is my defense and I shall not be moved.

Following Instructions

 1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” 7 And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the LORD.”
8 When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the LORD went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the LORD’s covenant followed them. 9 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 10 But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11 So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.
 12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the LORD and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
 15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a] to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.”
 20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city."
Joshua 6:1-20

"The mound, or “tell,” of Jericho was surrounded by a great earthen rampart, or embankment, with a stone retaining wall at its base. The retaining wall was some 12–15 ft high. On top of that was a mudbrick wall 6 ft thick and about 20–26 ft high (Sellin and Watzinger 1973: 58). At the crest of the embankment was a similar mudbrick wall whose base was roughly 46 ft above the ground level outside the retaining wall. This is what loomed high above the Israelites as they marched around the city each day for seven days. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for the Israelites to penetrate the impregnable bastion of Jericho."
- commentary I found online regarding the thickness and height on the walls of Jericho-
HN

When the angel of the Lord gave the instructions on how Joshua and the Israelites were to conquer this fortress city, I was amazed that Joshua never once questioned or seemed to doubt. In the natural, who couldn't help but wonder: how in the world can a city of such strength be conquered by taking a daily stroll around it, and blowing some trumpets? But there is more to this...in preceding chapters we read that Joshua had been handpicked because he was a true believer, Moses' right hand man, and he had seen the consequence of unbelief, but more importantly, what God was able to do, which was everything He promised, and then some! Joshua carried these instructions back to camp, told his people, they too believed, received, obeyed to the letter, and as foretold, Jericho's walls collapsed right on cue, all 46 feet high by at least 6 feet thick, and Israel's enemies were utterly, and suddenly destroyed, without remedy.
My spirit went for a few moments to life in Jericho during that last week. The people were most likely getting quite a laugh at Joshua and company, and why not? They had a proven defense system: a strong fortress, a king and an army, and a multitude of gods and idols, of whom should they be afraid? They didn't know their enemy or the one true God Joshua served. We don't know if they had a chance to repent like the Ninevites did or not. The Lord often does things suddenly, and this people found themselves on the wrong end of the sword on a morning that had started just like any other.
Beloved, we live in such a time. We live in a world that is like a huge Jericho. People have false faith and misplaced sense of security in things that are flimsier that Jericho's walls. Our Messiah is not slow in returning, He is giving the warning signs, they are everywhere, wars, famines, earthquakes, freakish weather, celestial signs, and more, but on the day the Lord "pulls the trigger", it will be another "suddenly", and for many there will be no remedy, no more than those who pounds on the hull of the ark when the rain started falling, and Noah had sealed the ship. It was too late.
Beloved, there is still time, and we are the emissaries, God's messengers. The fields are white with harvest, we are all called to do God's work, while there is light.
Jesus is coming, we don't know when, but we all know it's soon.
Get ready.

Liberation

" It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him."
Acts of the Apostles 12:1-10

This morning the Lord chose to drop this account of Peter's liberation into my spirit, there are a few things that jump out at me.
Peter was imprisoned because of what he was doing. It was Kingdom work, but nonetheless, his activities were the reason for his being shackled.
This police action and the miracles to happen took place during Passover, when God's people were suddenly and miraculously released from slavery by the Lord's mighty power, grace, and mercy.
Peter was surrounded by guards- there were either 16 or 18, either way there were many, and the chance of a jail break or rescue by human means were beyond human possibility.
Peter's rescue was the result of much prayer, especially in the face of impossible odds, and it was at nearly the last moment. I have found that the Lord often waits till 11:59, to stretch my faith, and when it's stretched, to stretch it even more!
Peter was obedient to the Angel of the Lord...he heard the instructions, and he responded, never questioning.

There are many situations where we are imprisoned, and we ourselves are the jailers. Shackled by a wide variety of evils: drug addiction, alcoholism, pornography, adultery, serial lying, false witness, selfishness...and perhaps the biggest: unbelief. We may consider ourselves beyond liberation and rescue ... our shame, and the guilt of bearing and hiding these dark secrets, and the lies of the accuser satan being whispered to the imprisoned can be overwhelming.
But beloved, this is where our Abba Father/Bridegroom/Deliverer/Redeemer operates best!
He is mighty...to do what...? That's right...say it! TO SAVE! Suddenly, at the last minute, when there seems to be no possible way out, when we call on Him, trusting Him, God is more than able, ready, and willing, to save.
Today beloved, get up, shake off those shackles, fix your eyes on Him, walk in freedom and deliverance.
He is more than faithful.

Unbreakable/ Promise Keeper

"From the west, people will fear the name of the LORD,
   and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.
For he will come like a pent-up flood
   that the breath of the LORD drives along.
20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion,
   to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
            declares the LORD.
21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the LORD."
Isaiah 59:19-21

"Oh the change when Jesus comes!"
-Smith Wigglesworth

At my awakening, God's lovingkindness brought repentance, and repentance broke my heart and Jesus came, flooding in. I know that my Redeemer lives, that His promises are yea and amen, that He promises to leave the ninety-nine and rescue the lost one. His truth is a sun and a shield around me, and He gives light and courage, no good thing will He withhold as we follow Him. When we stumble and fall, the Lord extends His Hand to us as we look up to Him, and pulls us up out of the mires -again.
As we seek Him, He promises that His Spirit will not depart from us as we run the race with perseverance. He promises that He has put his words in my mouth and on my lips, to gives us an answer for those who want to know why we believe what we do, and this is part of the spiritual legacy that He will impart to my descendants.
God's promises are unbreakable, He is the covenant keeper. He is faithful when we are faithless, at His strongest when we are at our weakest.
He will be there at the finish line to say," Well done."

Reflections of Hanna and Samuel

 "9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
 9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
 24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,[e] an ephah[f] of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25 When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there."
Excerpts from 1 Samuel 1

When my wife and I wanted to have children, we thought everything would go according to our plan, but it took 7 years and a miscarriage, and then a difficult pregnancy before Peri was given to us. Children are a gift from the Lord, and as parents we are but stewards, whose job is to train our children up, to help prepare them as we hand them the baton to continue to run this race. Today my wife and I are dropping off our daughter, Peri, at International House of Prayer- KC's Shiloh Retreat Center, as she begins a 6 week worship leader's internship program as her gifts will be sharpened. The Lord dropped that on my spirit as a parallel to Hanna dropping off Samuel at Shiloh, where she had previously asked the Lord for a child, as he embarked on his ministry.
As we leave her in the care of others tonight, we look forward with great anticipation. God is full of surprises, He is more than able to perform and perfect His work in us, when we say, "Here I am, Lord"

Mighty/ Approachable

" 1 Why do the nations conspire
   and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
   and the rulers band together
   against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
   and throw off their shackles.”
 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
   the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
   and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
   on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
   today I have become your father.
8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
   the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron,
   you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
 10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
   be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear
   and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
   and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
   Blessed are all who take refuge in him."
Psalm 2

Rulers and kings, including our current president, often revel in what they perceive as their own power, exalting themselves, never realizing the Lord and Master is the one who molds and shapes-everything. Even Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful ruler on the earth in that day was unwittingly used by a God he never even knew of.
We live a country so intent on separating church and state, on trying to keep the Alpha and Omega, the Shoreless Ocean, Maker of heaven and earth, in a little corner - like that's really possible! In the First Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin said, "This I know: God governs in the affairs of men". Christians are living stones- we are the Church, and we are to be led by the Holy Spirit. This is His world- every atom of it was brought into existence from nothing by just His word. The Lord calls us His "sons and daughters", and He if we ask He will make even the nations our inheritance (v.8)...let us ask, even right now, for our ruler's hearts to change, to desire to serve God with fear, and rule with trembling. Jesus will be exalted, one way or another, and it's His desire to see the nations lifting Him up, kissing the Son, and making the nation the object of the Lord's goodness, instead of His wrath.

Immersion

Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.
2 He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.
3 When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles.
4 Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins.
5 Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded.
6 He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.
7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8 Then he said to me, "These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and the waters of the sea become fresh.
9 "It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.
10 "And it will come about that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many.
11 "But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.
12 "By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."
Ezek 47:1-12


"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”[c] 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive."
John 7: 37-39a

"As the deer pants for water so my soul pants for you, oh God."
Psalm 42:1

I want to be immersed in the river at all times! When I'm surrendered, obedient, and focused, I am surrounded, and bathed in the living waters, like an unborn infant is surrounded in amniotic fluid. Just as the Lord allowed Moses to draw water from a rock, Jesus Himself, the Rock of Ages, is our fountainhead. Nourished and fueled by these living waters there is healing, fruitfulness, protection, wisdom, peace, joy, washing away the filth and grime accumulated.
I find when I follow His narrow way, the path of holiness, it leads me to the river, taking me deeper as I go forward, but to backslide is to back up, withdrawing myself from the river, and quickly finding myself in an arid spiritual desert, just as the Israelites found themselves coming through the Red Sea, but spending the next 40 years going around in circles in disobedience to complete what should've been a two week trip.
Beloved, today, go to the Rock that is higher than we are. Immerse yourself in all that He is,
Let His living water billow over you today.

Choices

 53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[e] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

As a follower of Jesus, we must choose what we feed on: between the world and its stuff-the flesh, and ultimately nothingness and death, or the bread of real, eternal life, which means partaking of Jesus' "flesh and blood", sowing in and filling up on, the Holy Spirit- which is life abundant. One of Jesus' last acts with His disciples was the Last Passover, dining on His "flesh and blood", as they broke bread and drank wine together
Peter answered the Lord Jesus simply: Where else should they go? Another way to phrase this , really, is "You are the only one to run to, there is no other real choice to make! You, Jesus, are our stronger tower, refuge, and hiding place.
There is an old adage: "You are what you eat".
Today, beloved, feed on Jesus.

Realignment

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."
Ephesians 5:25-33

In my meditations this morning, the scripture, "cleansing her by the washing with water through the word", was dropped into my thoughts, as when I turned to the scripture here I was sort of surprised/reminded of a couple things: a husband (which I am one) is to love his wife in the same same way Jesus loves us. The cares, concerns, and needs of the bride come first, over the husband. Wives shouldn't have to respond to selfish impositions and commands of the husband, because of force, threat, or the wrong interpretation of submission that many men lord over wrongly over their wives, but instead desire to please her husband by returning and reinforcing that love circle. Marraige between a husband and wife is an earthly reflection of a most holy union between Jesus and the Church, of which we are. Washing with water through the Word speaks of renewal, rejuvenation, and realignment, where our vision gets shifted back onto our Abba Father/Bridegroom/Master. He is the only source of real satisfaction, peace, security, joy, love, and acceptance. Our journey here is not supposed to be about us, it's supposed to be all about Him, and as long we walk this way, and listen to the voice of our Beloved, and not ourselves, the Lord will take care of the rest.

House Cleaning

 1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to Him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Our bodies are temples, and our hearts are always full, but with what? Before Jesus comes, these temples and hearts are dark places. Jesus is the Light that makes the darkness flee, and when surrender and a spiritual housecleaning comes, the junk gets washed away. Abundant life is not about abundant stuff that just becomes fodder for future garage sales.
Open the door of your heart, surrender and let Jesus fill you as only He can- and will.
He will take care of the rest.

Heart Problems

 What goes into a man's mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’ ”
“Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ ”
Matt. 15:11,17-20

The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
Jer. 17:9

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11

One of the oldest philosophical discussions revolves around the concept of Original Sin, and whether the heart of man is naturally good or evil. Children from the earliest ages do not have to be taught disobedience- it comes naturally. If we are honest with ourselves we must admit that we are full of darkness when left to ourselves. The word says that evil is bound up in the heart of children, in Jeremiah it reads that the heart is "deceitful above all things" ...Paul said about himself regarding his unknown struggles against his sin nature that "he was wretched man"...
There is no triumph of the human spirit, without triumph in the Holy Spirit. To declare otherwise is prideful and arrogant. Pride goes before a fall.
By hiding the living and active Word in our hearts, our deceitful sin nature can be overcome, performing supernatural heart surgery!

Indebted

"We love because he first loved us."
1 John 4:19

As I briefly listened to a few minutes of bad news (corruption, deceit, wars, murder, assaults, etc.) on two different broadcasts, one international and one here in the US, I realized it doesn't matter where these events happen, the thing that causes them is selfishness. Selfishness, and the desire to "look out for number one", is, in my opinion, misappropriated love. Today's scripture, "WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US" is one of the most powerful I have ever encountered. It unlocks the first and second commandments, " Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength", and "Love your neighbor as yourself" ... We become indebted in a strange and wonderful way, and walking in the fullness of these commandments is where our journey begins and ends. The Creator of the universe, El Shaddai, God Almighty loves...me ... and you! This is where belief in God or what some call a "higher power" can transition to relationship with Him- "draw near to God, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8a) ...the veil is torn, the Holy Spirit says "Come up here", as He gives us glimpses of revelation about Himself and kingdom principles.
Today, above all else, I will meditate on this amazing and most wonderful fact: He loves us, He loved us even when we were clueless and backslidden...beloved, think on these things, purify your hearts, and rejoice in Him.
His banner over us is Love.

Dealing with God's Enemies

3 Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
Daniel 6:3-5

“All who rage against you
   will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
   will be as nothing and perish.
12 Though you search for your enemies,
   you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
   will be as nothing at all.
13 For I am the LORD your God
   who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
   I will help you.
Isaiah 41:11-13

 1 When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages[a] on the plain of Ono.”
   But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” 4 Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
Nehemiah 6:1-4

 9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
Nehemiah 6:9


Enemies of God have always been around! Those who spread lies, would suppress the truths of God that they know, deep down inside is real, just as they know God is real, living, and active. Just as in the days of Noah, Daniel, Nehemiah, Bonnhoeffer, and now our times, as men and women like Geert Wilders, Glenn Beck, Governor Rick Perry of Texas, Mike Huckabee, Michelle Bachman and others, who are not ashamed to say Jesus is their Savior, that they belong to Him, and that they are led by God's principles. God's enemies always operate on mob principles, always spreading lies and trying to discourage and defame the believers, stirring up the masses who feed off each other...
When Nehemiah stood in the gap, stuck to God's plan, the wall was rebuilt in just 52 days, the enemies became frightened and their evil plans dissolved.
Beloved, until the Return of the Lord Jesus, when Satan is dispatched, there will be evil. Triumph comes when our eyes stay fixed on Him, and listen to the voice of the Shepherd who says, "Take heart for I have overcome the world."

All In

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God.”
19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.
 21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the LORD.”
22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.”
“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.
23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.”
25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD.
27 “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.”
28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.
Joshua 24:15-28

The meaning of consecration is dedication, and dedication means "all in", fully committed, just like a poker player who throws all his resources in "the game". The player is 100% committed, there is no waffling, pragmatic responses, or double mindedness. In the same way, I believe that our Bridegroom/Lord/Master desires a bride who eyes are fixed on Him alone- all in.
Today beloved, if you are feeling half hearted, or doing a bit of fence straddling, jump into the River with both feet...commit your ways, consecrate your heart, soul, mind, and spirit 100% to the Lord.
After all, He is committed to us.

Expectations, Disappointments, & Perspectives

Psalm 100:5, Psalms 106, 107, 118: "For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Matthew 5:7 " Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you."

Luke 17:4 "If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

 1 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
 4 But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant[a] and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”
9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”
   “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”
10 But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left."
Jonah 4:1-10

In human relationships we may develop expectations of a person, or people, as was Jonah's case. We may have a plan for that person, and when it doesn't happen the way we wanted it to, disappointment and anger can set in, followed by unforgiveness, setting up the root of bitterness to grow, which could choke off the Lord's plan. I recently had to face a situation where unfulfilled expectations I had of another person set up this exact scenario. It was only after the Lord used a close friend to point out this fact: We are to deal with others the way God sees us and deals with us- with lovingkindness, being tenderhearted, always seeing our talents, gifts, and goodness. If this is the way my Father deals with me, and my life at times had grieved and disappointed Him, but He throws my sins into the bottomless ocean of His great love and has puts up a sign that reads "NO FISHING", how can I not deal with others the same? Today, beloved, wield love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. We have been forgiven much, let us deal with others likewise.
His banner over us is LOVE.

Surmountable

"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
Rev. 12:11

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
Romans 8:37

Today is June 6, the anniversary of D-Day, the beginning of the all-out assault on the Axis powers, an enemy that was the embodiment of everything evil. The movie, Saving Private Ryan, has an excellent and realistic portrayal in the opening scenes of what the battle looked like. It was a beach landing at Normandy, France, and overlooking the beaches were machine guns, artillery, etc, shooting down onto the Allied soldiers. At great cost and with great sacrifice, tremendous trials and tribulation, and perseverance, victory in Europe was attained.

The Lord has me in a battle mode lately! I am being prompted in the spirit, reminded of the battle we are in, and the need for readiness, preparedness in the Spirit, and the need to constantly seek His face and spend time paying attention to the voice of our Bridegroom. What looms ahead for us is VICTORY. The Word reads: "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us". Read that again, beloved : MORE THAN CONQUERORS...!
Today, though personal trials may come, remember that victory is assured. Use the armor God has provided (Ephesians 6), wield your sword effectively (which is the Word of God) in the face of adversity, do what Jesus did! When He was tempted by the devil, He simply used the Word, saying IT IS WRITTEN.
Through Adversity and trials stand fast, victory is ahead...Take heart, the battle is the Lord's!

Church Life/ Being In His Presence

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."
Psalm 84:10

" As the deer pants for streams of water,
   so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
   When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
   day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
   “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
   as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
   under the protection of the Mighty One[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
   among the festive throng."
Psalm 42:1-4

‘I must arise now and go about the city;
In the streets and in the squares
I must seek him whom my soul loves.’
I sought him but did not find him.
Song of Solomon 3:2

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"
Psalm 100:4

When I'm busy with daily life, doing business, etc., I feel a longing deep down inside to be in His inner courts, to be with the Bridegroom. I miss Him during those times and I miss being in that special place- in His courts and in His presence. I have opportunity in the marketplace to share the Lord and let the light shine, but it's not the same as being in His Courts. There is simply no substitute, only He can satisfy, and that time at church is time to do what we are created for: worship, and to be recharged, realigned, renewed. Many are driven to attend church out of duty and obligation, their thoughts even before they are in the building are about how fast they can get out of there, thinking about other Sunday activities, sports etc., what's happening afterwards-and can miss the blessing of resting and soaking in His presence.
Beloved, enter His gates, be thankful, enjoy his presence, only He can satisfy.

Battle Stations

" 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 5:8-11

I remember reading a war story about a platoon that had fought a battle valiantly. The enemy had retreated, the soldiers thought they had won this skirmish and so relaxed a little bit. Setting down their weapons, and loosening the defenses, many of these brave men fell asleep. What they were not aware of was that their adversaries were watching, and when the opportunity presented itself the enemy swept in, causing great destruction and disaster.

Our walk, our lives involve two stories that are taking place simultaneously: one is a love story, between us and our Lord/ Master/Bridegroom/Abba, where He is pursuing us, calling us, wooing us, providing for and guiding us, and the other a war story: the one who comes to steal, kill, lie, destroy us is prowling about, active and looking at us, for that small moment of weakness, when fear, exhaustion, pride, lust and covetousness, etc., crack the door for him to sweep in and work evil. He wants to cast one living stone down from another, shattering one's witness that has perhaps taken a lifetime to build.
Beloved, this is no time to relax in the spirit! Be alert and sober minded, guard your hearts, minds, eyes and ears, put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:12) edifying one another, and have each other's backs. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. He will not relent...today resolve that you won't either.

Coming Out

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. "
1 Peter 3:15-16

"Thy Word is A lamp for my feet, and a light unto my path"
Psalm 119:105

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
Romans 1:16

For most of my Christian life, I lived as a "secret agent". If I was not acting the same as the unbelievers, I kept my faith to myself, at times I confess that I was even embarrassed...not exactly letting my light shine. It took a life altering encounter face to face with the "burning bush" that my Lord placed before me. It was this revelation and His love billowing over me so powerfully that has transformed me so much that I cannot stop talking about Him, that the food and drink I hunger for is His Word and the continual presence of the Holy Spirit. I am not ashamed, and I ask the Lord that those He places in my path would not see me, but only see Him in me, and that He will give me the words needed, as that rhema word that comes at the exact moment of need for that person.
Do not be ashamed, beloved, do not be ashamed. Today ask your Abba for both the opportunities, and the words, as you let that light shine through you.

Coming Through/Do Not Fear

So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
Daniel 3:26b-27

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:7

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalm 34:4-8

As I reread Daniel 3 today, the Lord showed me how the faithful three not only survived the fiery furnace, but didn't even have the smell of smoke on them! They trusted their God, who was more than able to take them through, and if He took them through such trials, He will also take us through ours. Sickness, persecution, unemployment and financial needs, death of those we love, temptation, discouragement...these trials that will surely come will produce perseverance and endurance. We need only to trust in our Hiding Place...the One who is more than able to deliver!
Beloved, believe today, and do not doubt or be double-minded....abide in Him, and be confident in His love for you...the Lord would say to you today: Cease from striving, remain in the shadow of the Almighty.
He is mighty to save and deliver, and He keeps His promises.

Who Will You Serve?/Courage in the Fire

15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”
They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”


Do we have such faith as these three men, who were only teenagers, 18 or so, when they had to deal with an ultimatum that could've cost them their very lives? So very confident were they, so sold out, they told the King to his face that they would never bow to him or any idols!
We live in a culture of compromise, double entendre, and pragmatism. In this world, there are no absolutes, everything is relative, truth is on a sliding scale, everything is up for sale. But beloved, friendship with the ways of the world is to be an adversary with and an enemy of God Almighty, our Father/King/Bridegroom/Master. When faced with situations where we must choose- to vacillate, relativize, pragmatize, and otherwise water down our witness and character, or believe, follow, and serve the Master of all Creation- does this really even require a decision?
Today be bold, be strong...God is with those who call on Him, those He acknowledges as His Children, and He will take us through the fire!