I'm in Love and Not Ashamed

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes..." (Romans 1:16)

Recently, I was in effect told, that I speak too much of God by a very dear Christian friend and that he was agitated by my conversation. I love him dearly, but as I dwelled on it today, I got agitated myself. But then, I suppose some people can get tired of listening to a man or woman in love who continually shares examples or incidents spawning from the love relationship. At any rate, the proceeding declarations are what ensued as a result of the loving chastisement from my friend.



Declaration:  I will love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my
                      strength. (Deut. 6:5)

Declaration: I will impress his commands on my heart and on my children.
                     I will talk about his commands when I sit at home and when I walk along the road,
                     when I lie down and when I get up.
                     I will tie them as symbols on my hands and bind them on my forehead.
                     I will write them on the door frames of my homes and on my gates.
                                                                                                       (Deut. 6:6-9)

"For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matt. 12:55

Declaration: I will saturate my mind, myself with the Word and with the presence of the Lord.
                     I will not let anyone shut me up, because man does not live by bread alone but by
                     every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He is my bread, my source of
                     sustenance.

I am not a preacher, I am not an evangelist, I am not a prophet, I am not an apostle. However, I am a child of the Living God, saved by his grace and eternally grateful. I am a teacher, I am a discipler, I am a herald. I am in love and will speak of this love and this good news every chance I get. If this offends you, you need not engage me in conversation - I won't be offended. :-)

Declaration: I am a light on a hill that cannot be hidden.
                     I am the salt of the earth.
                     If my light is a bit too bright or my salt a little too heavy,
                     then yes, you may need to distance yourself from me
                     because my light will not be dimmed, nor my salt be thinned.

As the blind men on the side of the road cried out to Jesus as he passed by in Luke 7:37, 38, "O Son of David, have mercy on us," and the crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, they shouted even louder.
Declaration: So too, I will shout louder.
       
As the women who poured out their precious perfume onto the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with their hair. 
Declaration: So too, I will bow my head to the ground in humility and love and worship the King of  Kings and the Lord of Lords.

I will not be keep quiet. He is real and has done too much for me. The world needs to know he is real and personal. My testimony will not be silenced. I'm a woman in love and not ashamed.

God bless you!

A Letter To A Few

“Many are called but few are chosen.” Matt. 22:14

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because  narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matt. 7:13-14

Over the past five to six weeks I’ve been having a sense of spiritual urgency. It’s as though the Holy Spirit is saying, “ It’s time out for business as usual.” The time is near. The time is short. God is moving more intensely. Open the eyes of your spirit to the signs of the times. God is preparing to do something and only those who are alert, are aware and actively engaged will participate. Others will be completely ignorant though all the signs are there. “In the last days, there will be a form of godliness but men will deny the power thereof.”

Satan can also read the signs and he is stepping up his activity. He knows his time is short. He intends to do as much damage as he can. His end is sure, however, he wants to take out as many as he can with him. Church, wake up! Bride of Christ, wake up, be prepared for behold the Groom cometh! Will you be found sleeping like the five foolish virgins or awake and prepared like the five wise virgins?

This is a letter to a few. Pay attention. It is not business as usual. If you are being awakened in the wee hours of the morning – it is to pray. If you are having unusual dreams, it is to prompt you to pray. Are you getting more than usual calls from friends or family members about physical attacks of sickness, suicidal thoughts, major financial challenges, you must pray. Have you noticed increasing pathology in the church, or spiritual blindness – pray!

“Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds”! PRAY!!!!!

It’s fighting time. The countdown is near. It’s the last quarter. You watch and respond with intensity to the Super Bowl and it is just a game. This is your life and the life of many at stake. The Super Bowl teams are fighting for a championship title and putting their lives on the line for it. It’s just a game to those who are watching, but to the players, the coaches and the owners – it’s their life.

Don’t be distracted, that’s a ploy of the enemy. He is using everyday challenges and irritants, but intensifying them. Don’t be blind to his schemes. Don’t just accept the doctors’ reports as natural. Whose report will you believe? Recognize the source of the activity. We are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, rulers of darkness. PRAY!

This is a letter to the few.

My House Will Be Called A House of Prayer

Matthew 21:12, 13 "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.'"

Question: Why did Jesus drive out those who were buying, selling and money changing in the temple area? After all, were they not purchasing the doves for burnt offerings and sacrifices to God as commanded?

Reflection: I've been troubled lately at the amount of sales that goes on in the church to raise funds for this and for that. From the prevalence of bake sales and vending done within the church or right in front of the sanctuary on days when services, be it Sunday worship, Bible study, prayer meeting are typically held. I can't help but wonder how Jesus feels about all this? Even though in most cases our motives are pure, often times to raise money for the church activities or school activities - and I've been guilty myself. I just am becoming increasingly disturbed in spirit by the abundance of these activities without much thought as to how it affects those spiritually and physically sick and hurting who may be distracted by these activities when they enter or leave the house of God.  Is the message that the house of God should be viewed and reverenced as a house of prayer being lost?

It started with car washes, tag sales and bake sales in the community rooms to now interjections during announcements on overhead TV Screens right after worship or before the Word is preached. Is anyone else bothered about all this? Do you see any similarity to Matt. 21:12-13? Have we now become more dependent on natural commerical means to provide for our church programming rather than on faith in prayer? A couple other scripture references that come to mind are: Isaiah 55:8-9, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. As high as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Also,  Proverbs 3:5- 6, which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths."

These are just some thoughts that have been coming to mind. Your feedback would be appreciated.

Be Careful To Whom and How You Listen

Discernment

I had an interesting experience yesterday that reminded me a little of Matthew 16:23 where Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Except, in the conversation I had with the young lady, she did have in mind the things of God and still it could have been a stumbling block if I allowed it.

Okay, I need you to fasten your seatbelts and hang in there with me on this one, because it'll be a ride.

For the last couple days I'd been feeling a little spiritually off center as though I was missing the target. My mind was crowded and I wasn't spending sufficient time with the Lord in comparison to all I had going on. Yesterday was Bible study and I had an URGENCY in my spirit to get there, like a car that badly needed an alignment. I didn't know how I was going to get there seeing that my car is inoperable at the moment and I don't know my way around yet. So I called a sister from my new church who told me I could call her when I needed a ride. However, she was out of town. I shared with her how I was feeling a little spiritually off center and my yearning to be at Bible study last night. She reminded me that we are the church and that God is with us no matter where we are and gently rebuked me for doubting and displaying a lack of faith among some other well-intentioned advice. All of which was true. But either I didn't do a good job of expressing myself or she wasn't listening to the Spirit. There was also the factor that she didn't know me very well.


We prayed together about a couple things and I got off the phone. I was a little comforted, but still disturbed in my spirit. She's someone in leadership and one whom I respect. So I considered taking her advice and not pressing my way to Bible study. I left it in God's hands.


Shortly afterwards my sister came home and she offered me a ride to the church. The series of events that proceeded was beautifully orchestrated by God. It was not only that I needed to get to church to hear a specific message entitled, "Patience Under Pressure" by a visiting missionary from Guatemala, but there were 3-4 other specific encounters God had lined up for me at the church that evening! From the moment I'd gotten to the church premises my spirit had lifted and I knew that I was where I was supposed to be that evening. The missionary even said as part of his message, "that some of our friends and family may try to comfort or give well-meaning advice out of love but may not be part of God's will." Look at God!


Sometimes, all I can do is just "look" at God and shake my head at his awesomeness. We have to be so careful whom we're listening to. When Jesus turned to Peter in Matt. 16:23 and rebuked Satan it was because the enemy was using Peter to try to obstruct God's plan and purpose. It's important that we discern God's plan and purpose in our lives and for different seasons in our lives. We must be able to discern God's will, God's voice or we will miss out.


About 5 months ago I had a similar experience on a much higher level. My decision to relocate was being questioned and rejected by the spiritual and business mentors in my life. However, I'd heard clearly from God to make the move, so proceeded to prepare, by faith, to go. It was causing all kinds of upheavel and changes, but I kept praying and moving forward. A week or two before my move I had a major clash with the primary spiritual leader in my life at the time. I left his office with a resounding headache unlike any other I've ever had. I'd always had God confirm what he was saying to me through this leader. So why not this time when it was of such major importance? I felt like my head was in a vice and I couldn't think. I knew it was the enemy, but I couldn't pray. It was 10:30 at night after Bible study. I finally cried out as I was driving to Walmart in my car, "Lord, I need to hear from you. Send someone who knows you AND knows me." (Sometimes the person may know God, but not know the work God is doing in your life. Other times, they may know you, but not know God. I needed someone who knew both.)


I called a couple friends. They were unavailable or asleep. As I walked through Walmart searching for the packaging tape I was looking for to seal up the moving boxes, I held my head and groaned audibly. A very friendly young man came up to me and greeted me. I recognized his face but didn't know his name. I'd never spoken with him before but he greeted me like a long lost friend. I was on the phone seeking comfort from a friend when this practical stranger greeted me and wouldn't leave me alone. I told him I'd get back with him once I got off the phone. The headache wouldn't leave and I couldn't think so I got off the phone and continued my search for the tape.


I ran into the young man again and he offered to help me find the tape. After seeking help from a sales associate for me, he led me to the tape in a rear aisle in the store. Immediately afterwards he started sharing his testimony with me. Within the first 5 minutes of sharing the vice around my head released. My headache was gone. He had my full attention because I knew immediately God was speaking to me. I stood there transfixed as I listened to him. He went from telling his testimony to speaking prophetically. I was in awe. He was confirming the things God had previously said to me and telling me of some things that God was about to do for me. I marveled at God and how he answered my prayer. I thought, "Wow God, you're awesome! You knew that no one really knew what you were doing in me, or that no one knows me like you do, so you came yourself to speak to me through a stranger!" It was a very special "moment" (the guy spoke to me that way for almost an hour and a half)!


So this morning as I reflected on what God did last night and as I remembered again the care of the Lord to send his messenger to speak to me at such a crucial time 5 months ago, it brought home how critically important it is for us to be careful to whom and how we listen. In both instances the people who were giving me godly counsel, were indeed giving me biblical (Logos) counsel, just not spiritually discerned counseled, or Rhema counsel. Good people, good words just not in the right season.

"Be quick to listen, slow to speak..." James :19a

He Waters My Soul

Psalm 63:1-8
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you:
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.


Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
   __________________

What more is there to say?

Thank You for Being You

Hi Friends,
I've been a bit swamped lately, but should have a post in the next few days. I've enjoyed reading your posts and leaving comments. I hope my comments haven't been too lengthy. It's my way of showing thoughtful appreciation for you sharing your heart.

There is one thing that's been on my mind that I hope to share in more detail soon and would like your feed back. All you are believers. How do we reach the unbelievers through our blogs? I realize I may have to create a new blog to reach them, but my heart is burning within me for us to do more to reach the lost through this medium. Any ideas?
Chat soon.

Beverly

UNITY

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic; love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."   (1 Pet. 3:8, 9)


- Here again I am struck with the remembrance of Jesus' last prayer as recorded in John chapter 17, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." Paul's exhortation in 1 Cor. 13 also comes to mind, that the greatest of all the fruit of the Spirit is love.

- "Live in harmony with one another," Peter says. "Be sympathetic; love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." He tells us how to do it by not repaying evil with evil or trading insult for insult but rather with blessing. How are we doing? If we were to ask the world around us, "How are we doing?" By looking at our individual lives, I wonder what they would say? I think, sadly, we already know how they judge us as a whole. As I look around at all the churches on street corners, sometimes 3 and 4 on one corner, I wonder why we don't have more of an impact. Could it be failure to obey the above instruction? We fail to love one another? We fail to sacrifice ourselves for each other, as Christ did for us? Paul said in Phil. 2:3, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

- We're still too sensitive. Still too caught up in our flesh. Still following the world where "I" am the center of the universe; where it's all about me. That's the opposite of Christ's example and teaching. We're still babes, where by now some of us should be more mature. Father, help us please.


Continuing in 1 Peter 3: 10-12:
"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from evil speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

- Often God's promises are contingent on obedience to a command. Here he says if we would love life and see good days, we must refrain from evil speech. We must turn from evil and do good. We must SEEK peace and PURSUE it. This is continuous; a continuous dying to the flesh. We're in a marathon, not a sprint. We, the collective body of Christ, are in the Olympics, in case no one told you, and the world is our audience. In our race, many obstacles are thrown in our path to test our obedience, or to strengthen our faith and develop perseverance. When the other runners on the track push us or cause us to fall, how do we respond? Do we show sportsmanship or throw a tantrum? Do we get up and keep running as though it's just about us or care for any others that may have tripped and fallen or may have been hurt, like in Jesus' parable about the Good Samaritan?

- "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer." Ahhh, how that encourages me. He sees, He knows, He cares and He hears me. Whether man shows appreciation or not for the sacrifices, whether man understands or not, God does. It is He that we serve and desire to please. It is He who gives us the strength to keep going.

At the end of 1 Peter chapter 5, Peter instructs, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

- Many of us know the first part of that popular verse well, that "your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion..." But there's strong encouragement in the second half of that verse. "RESIST him... STAND firm in the faith, BECAUSE... your brothers throughout the WORLD are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."


UNITY:
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
                              - Ecclesiastes 4:12