By James Goll via my friend David Shepherd - three points for the coming storm that few will receive because they think God winks at sin.
Times of shaking are coming. His plumb line is being dropped, the canon/plumb line of His Word, and of His character being dropped in the midst of the Church, the nation and the nations, resulting in chiropractic adjustments to achieve His purposes. As this occurs we are seeing storms coming.
1. Storms of God's Judgment—Our Response: A cry for mercy requiring brokenness and tenaciousness.
2. Storms of Dark Demonic Attack—Our Response: An authoritative place of intercession, requiring faith, endurance, boldness, believing in the promises and no common ground with the enemy.
3. Storms of Consequences of Sins—Our Response: Repentance requiring humility, lack of defensiveness.
Each storm requires a different Biblical response, but in one way each storm requires the same response—Desperation and Intercession. Ultimately every storm can redemptively be used for God's purposes and to forge character in us. James 2:13 states: "Mercy triumphs over judgment."
Let us pray into the storms of life and lift up a CRY FOR WISDOM AND MERCY IN THE MIDST OF EVERY STORM. I tell you, we have crossed the threshold into the DAYS OF GREAT STORMS and the DAYS OF GREAT VISITATION!
Let us be salt and light! Call on His name! Let us be ambassadors of hope for such a time as this!
DAWN'S reply - CONFIRMATION GIVEN to this message:
Wow. It is so good to watch how God will allow us to see things and then confirm them. This really bared witness! Aside from what we spoke on yesterday in our 'conversations', David, about authority and intercession, here are a few other ...ways it was confo'd (new word?) to me this morning BEFORE I read this.
Some may seem 'crazy' or ' a stretch to some' but this is how it works with me from God:
1) Yesterday, I spent the day wallpapering a friend's home. A "plumb line' is needed in order to keep the wallpaper 'in line, straight, properly placed', it is a critical part of the process - just as it is necessary in the natural/spirit for the very same reasons.
2) Last night, I (finally) went to be around 2:15-2:30 am. I had just fallen asleep, when I was JOLTED awake. I 'heard' a door slam loudly, then 'felt' the entire bed shake (like it was almost in an earthquake for a moment) and finally 'heard' a noise like glass rattling next to me from the SHAKING I felt in the spirit. It was so real, these things really happened - I KNOW. If I didn't know better and understand the spirit, I would argue with anyone who said otherwise that it actually didn't happen in the natural.
3) A cry for mercy requiring brokenness and tenaciousness... this is the place that God is putting so many people right now. I am one of them. Broken, tenacious for the kingdom...desiring mercy.
4) My scripture reading for this morning was in the book of Jeremiah. Chapters 1 and 2. I would encourage you to read these these chapters as you will see that they completely line up and confirm "the coming storm that few will receive because they think God winks at sin..." Whoa.
I was blown away that I had just read that a few moments before reading this. It's too long to post, so 'people of the North', get out that Bible of yours and read it for yourself. (Hint: Jeremiah 1:13-16, wink, wink) But, please read both chapters in full to get it all.
5) And lastly, "for such a time as this"... It has been prophesied that I carry the 'Esther Mantle". 3 times now actually - with the last one being just last Wednesday! The Word given was that I have been prepared "For such a time as this" -- AND SO ARE YOU. We are about to discover that there is a purpose for God’s appointments.
This revelation is made through an exchange of communications between Esther and Mordecai in the book of Esther.
Ester was a simple Jewish girl became the queen of the Persian empire. It was a rags to riches story unexcelled in human history.
The chronology of the book indicates that it was about five years later when the bubble burst and we find a crisis for God’s people. DO YOU GET THIS???? LET THAT SOAK IN FOR A MINUTE, PLEASE!
The culprit who caused the trouble must have been Hitler’s Old Testament hero. He was a vicious, anti-Semitic Amalakite named Haman, evidently a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalakites, whom King Saul had kept alive in disobedience to the command of the Lord (1 Sam. 15:8, 9).
When Ahasuerus made him prime minister, everybody in the palace bowed down to him except Mordecai. He would bow his knee to none but God, and that infuriated Haman. He vowed not only to punish Mordecai, but to exterminate every living Jew in the Persian empire, and incidentally, that would include those in the land of Israel as well, for they were part of the empire. Haman got the king to agree to his plan and it was sealed with the king’s ring, the irreversible law of the Medes and the Persians. It was another hasty decision that Ahasuerus would live to regret.
“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly. And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. And in each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay on sackcloth and ashes” (Esth. 4:1-3).
Esther sent one of the king’s chamberlains to find out why Mordecai was in mourning. Mordecai sent a message back explaining the whole diabolical plot, of which she was unaware, and encouraging her to intercede with the king. She answered quickly, reminding him that no one entered the king’s presence without being invited unless he was tired of living, and that the king had not invited her into his presence for a full month. There was one slim possibility—if the king saw her and extended his golden scepter, she could enter.
Mordecai may have missed God’s best by not returning to Israel, but his spiritual insight had increased since then. He was beginning to understand something of God’s sovereign grace and divine providence, beginning to see that God can use even the adversities of life to accomplish His purposes.
He sent word back to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esth. 4:13, 14).
Esther is really no safer than any other Jew. When it becomes known that she is Jewish, her life will be endangered too. Mordecai is convinced that God is going to care for His people Israel, however. They may be far from Him, but He cannot let them perish, for that would be contrary to His promises. If He does not use Esther to deliver them, He will use some other means. He is a sovereign God.
WE ARE AT A TIME THAT REQUIRES THE TEARING OF OUR SUPERNATURAL CLOTHES AND PUTTING ON SACKCLOTH AND ASHES!!!
These Jews (Christians) were away from their land by their own choice, out of the place of blessing, separated from their place of worship. But they were PRAYING, and God WAS watching over them, superintending their circumstances to GLORIFY HIS OWN NAME.
He is doing the same for us even when we are not aware of it.
CRY ALOUD, SPARE NOT, LIFT UP YOUR VOICE LIKE A TRUMPET, AND SHOW MY PEOPLE THEIR TRANSGRESSION, AND THE HOUSE OF JACOB THEIR SINS. Isaiah 58:1.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
My rant for the day. :) I feel better now.
We can’t say how we arrived at this place for sure,
Only know that you, God, are the only cure,
People keep calling daily on the line,
Wanting to talk about things for the hundredth time.
Mr. we are doing our best, why do you keep calling,
You’re becoming a pest... don’t you know?
We’re not tying to take anyone for a ride,
Just trying to adjust to the changing of the tide.
No one can help it, this process is going so slow.
Our life has changed, haven’t you heard on CNN,
Things just aren’t what they once have been.
Small business had to close after 15 years,
Who would have imagined, so sad,
Yet you keep on pushing, wanting more,
We can see that green-eyed monster lurking.
And while you push nothing more is happening
‘cept a bunch of unnecessary jerking,
The middle class is slowly disappearing,
Can’t you see, don’t you care, man
Stop the madness, stop that insatiable printing…
Pay attention, please…
Lest we lose the value our dollar has,
And find ourselves falling deeper still,
But, nonetheless it is all a wash in the greater scheme of things,
What matters is that we keep trudging up that hill.
Onto that hill of Calvary – the only place there is hope,
Where the economy is stable and the landscape sound,
Where greed, lust, envy, and maliciousness can’t abound.
Where peace is the motto, joy is the cure,
The rushing of a river, glistening against the shore
Where glory abounds and righteousness is pure.
You may try to pull us away, shake and quake us,
Yet, it is all futile, because still will we pray.
You see, mighty is our God and His arm is sure,
He will NOT be mocked and he will rescue the pure,
For those who are His bride, those of whom He is in love,
He will rush from the heavens with a mighty shove,
So many are looking forward to watch him arrive,
And fulfill that great promise to all those dead and alive.
Where is your victory, oh death where is thy sting,
Quickly forgotten, with a triumphant ring,
The blast of that trumpet calling all of us home,
Or the end of our lives- whichever is the ringtone.
For so long humanity has waited and until this time,
Humbly we will wait, Lord, here in the battle line.
Thank you for strength, for peace, mercy, grace,
Wisdom, honor, joy and so much more.
It is in the end, which YOU will shine.
‘cause the one thing learned it is not about us – it never was,
All purpose, all life, is about your fulfillment–
And we are truly humbled and grateful
That you revealed this in your kindness,
And opened our ears and eyes,
Blessed Savior, redeemer, and friend.
Only know that you, God, are the only cure,
People keep calling daily on the line,
Wanting to talk about things for the hundredth time.
Mr. we are doing our best, why do you keep calling,
You’re becoming a pest... don’t you know?
We’re not tying to take anyone for a ride,
Just trying to adjust to the changing of the tide.
No one can help it, this process is going so slow.
Our life has changed, haven’t you heard on CNN,
Things just aren’t what they once have been.
Small business had to close after 15 years,
Who would have imagined, so sad,
Yet you keep on pushing, wanting more,
We can see that green-eyed monster lurking.
And while you push nothing more is happening
‘cept a bunch of unnecessary jerking,
The middle class is slowly disappearing,
Can’t you see, don’t you care, man
Stop the madness, stop that insatiable printing…
Pay attention, please…
Lest we lose the value our dollar has,
And find ourselves falling deeper still,
But, nonetheless it is all a wash in the greater scheme of things,
What matters is that we keep trudging up that hill.
Onto that hill of Calvary – the only place there is hope,
Where the economy is stable and the landscape sound,
Where greed, lust, envy, and maliciousness can’t abound.
Where peace is the motto, joy is the cure,
The rushing of a river, glistening against the shore
Where glory abounds and righteousness is pure.
You may try to pull us away, shake and quake us,
Yet, it is all futile, because still will we pray.
You see, mighty is our God and His arm is sure,
He will NOT be mocked and he will rescue the pure,
For those who are His bride, those of whom He is in love,
He will rush from the heavens with a mighty shove,
So many are looking forward to watch him arrive,
And fulfill that great promise to all those dead and alive.
Where is your victory, oh death where is thy sting,
Quickly forgotten, with a triumphant ring,
The blast of that trumpet calling all of us home,
Or the end of our lives- whichever is the ringtone.
For so long humanity has waited and until this time,
Humbly we will wait, Lord, here in the battle line.
Thank you for strength, for peace, mercy, grace,
Wisdom, honor, joy and so much more.
It is in the end, which YOU will shine.
‘cause the one thing learned it is not about us – it never was,
All purpose, all life, is about your fulfillment–
And we are truly humbled and grateful
That you revealed this in your kindness,
And opened our ears and eyes,
Blessed Savior, redeemer, and friend.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Thoughts on tithing...
Some thoughts to consider about Tithing...
Tithing began before the law was introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according... See More to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too.
We give tithes like Abraham gave them—not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, shouldn't we, who live by grace, be doing any less when we have a better covenant (Heb 7:22).
There is a passage in Hebrews, which deals with this issue directly. It is Hebrews 7:8:
In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
Melchizedek received Abraham’s tithe. The Hebrew writer shows that Melchizedek is a prefigure of Christ. We can conclude that just as Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek we give a tithe to Christ who is declared to be living.
Early Jewish believers had no problem with tithing since they had done it under the Law and gave it to the priests. They simply gave their tithe to the elders of the church and did by love. However, as the church became less Jewish this issue came up to the church fathers. They answered the question of tithing with Matthew 23:23:
"Woe to you, ... See Moreteachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Notice Jesus said, "You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglecting the former (tithing)." The fathers argued, and rightful so, that Jesus word ends the discussion. Since Jesus said not to neglect the former—being tithing—then no believer should neglect tithing. I wholeheartedly agree!
Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, so this means every word that comes out of His mouth is eternal. He cannot say anything without it being “spiritual law” and everlasting. Jesus emphasizes this point by saying, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt 24:35).
Paul also uses the pattern of tithing under the law in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 and says,
Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from ... See Morethe gospel.
Paul argues that just as the priests got their food from the tithes of the people, so the preachers should live the same way. This passage clearly shows the mentality of the apostle and his understanding of carrying over the concept of tithing into the church.
The passage often used to contradict this is 2 Corinthians 9:7:
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The argument goes something like this: "Each believer has a right to decide for himself what to give and should not be told what percentage he should contribute."
The problem with this argument is that the above passage is not dealing with giving to support the church, but rather giving to the poor. Under the Law, giving to the poor was a freewill offering. The Law commanded freewill offerings as well as tithes:
But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. (Deut 12:5-6)
It is quite inconsistent for people to appeal to freewill offerings yet claim that tithing has been abolished. Both tithing and freewill offerings were incorporated in the Law as the above passage shows, but they preceded the Law, thus they both should be practiced.
One last thing, notice the resemblance of the language Paul uses in the first passage in Galatians and compare it with the Old Testament passage about tithing:
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. (Gal 6:6)
And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (Deut 26:11-12)
Tithing began before the law was introduced. The Law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according... See More to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too.
We give tithes like Abraham gave them—not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, shouldn't we, who live by grace, be doing any less when we have a better covenant (Heb 7:22).
There is a passage in Hebrews, which deals with this issue directly. It is Hebrews 7:8:
In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
Melchizedek received Abraham’s tithe. The Hebrew writer shows that Melchizedek is a prefigure of Christ. We can conclude that just as Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek we give a tithe to Christ who is declared to be living.
Early Jewish believers had no problem with tithing since they had done it under the Law and gave it to the priests. They simply gave their tithe to the elders of the church and did by love. However, as the church became less Jewish this issue came up to the church fathers. They answered the question of tithing with Matthew 23:23:
"Woe to you, ... See Moreteachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Notice Jesus said, "You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglecting the former (tithing)." The fathers argued, and rightful so, that Jesus word ends the discussion. Since Jesus said not to neglect the former—being tithing—then no believer should neglect tithing. I wholeheartedly agree!
Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, so this means every word that comes out of His mouth is eternal. He cannot say anything without it being “spiritual law” and everlasting. Jesus emphasizes this point by saying, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt 24:35).
Paul also uses the pattern of tithing under the law in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 and says,
Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from ... See Morethe gospel.
Paul argues that just as the priests got their food from the tithes of the people, so the preachers should live the same way. This passage clearly shows the mentality of the apostle and his understanding of carrying over the concept of tithing into the church.
The passage often used to contradict this is 2 Corinthians 9:7:
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The argument goes something like this: "Each believer has a right to decide for himself what to give and should not be told what percentage he should contribute."
The problem with this argument is that the above passage is not dealing with giving to support the church, but rather giving to the poor. Under the Law, giving to the poor was a freewill offering. The Law commanded freewill offerings as well as tithes:
But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. (Deut 12:5-6)
It is quite inconsistent for people to appeal to freewill offerings yet claim that tithing has been abolished. Both tithing and freewill offerings were incorporated in the Law as the above passage shows, but they preceded the Law, thus they both should be practiced.
One last thing, notice the resemblance of the language Paul uses in the first passage in Galatians and compare it with the Old Testament passage about tithing:
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. (Gal 6:6)
And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (Deut 26:11-12)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Many will say on that day, 'Lord, Lord..."
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
In this verse, Jesus does not say that a few misguided souls have a false hope of heaven. He says MANY. He is talking to people who think they are Christians. Nowadays there are a lot of people who say that they are Christians who will not enter heaven. These are people who think that they are going to make it in to glory on their lip service. But when they stand before the King and Judge, they will be rejected.
When Jesus says "Depart" you can't appeal and try to get a second chance, you got to go. I KNOW they will be terrified. Included here? All those who choose to "worship" God according to their own beliefs and not God's word.
To be a Christian, you must repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus.
REPENT means saying, "I'm sick of sin and living my own way. I want to live under God's commands!" (not on human reasoning and logic)
BELIEVE means believing that Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose on the third day and accepting His sacrifice for you. It means saying "Yes Lord! I love you! I want to serve you!" James says the devils believe and tremble--saving belief is more than acknowledging that the claims of Christ are true.
Many people think getting saved means saying, "the sinner's prayer"--that is a lie. They believe some mystical thing happens at reciting some words. No! The prayer is a confession of belief on the Lord. Romans 10:9 says,
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, AND shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
If you are a true believer, your life will demonstrate it and the Bible tells us that over and over again. For us Christians, we should not just emphasize faith alone -- but put a proper emphasis on the 'evidences of saving faith' which is a life of holiness.
I can say, "I really want to go to Harvard." But if I skip school, don't do my homework, and go to sleep in class, do I really want to go? NO WAY! Anybody could see that because my actions betray my confession.
It is no different in confessing Jesus. People say, "I believe Jesus is Lord," yet they curse without abandon, don't go to church, love everything this wicked world has to offer, don't feel convicted of sin, and are uninterested in the things of God.
Does this person believe to the saving of the soul? Good chance that the answer is no. Is this a matter of trying to be God and determine who will make it in? No! It is a question of life and death and telling people the truth!
Saving faith will manifest itself in good works. Just read James, Hebrews, I John, Romans--the gospels.
If no change occurs in a person's life, we have plenty of scriptures to let us know that there is a VERY good chance true conversion never took place to begin with.
Works do not save, but a saving faith will cause good works.
Another analogy--apples do not make an apple tree an apple tree. Before any fruit appeared it was an apple tree. With time, sunshine, water and other factors, the precious fruit comes forth.
Same thing with a saved person. They have Jesus Christ within. With the word of God, working of the Holy Spirit, christian friends who are like "iron sharpening iron" and time, good works will come forth like fine treasure hidden from within an earthen vessel.
In this verse, Jesus does not say that a few misguided souls have a false hope of heaven. He says MANY. He is talking to people who think they are Christians. Nowadays there are a lot of people who say that they are Christians who will not enter heaven. These are people who think that they are going to make it in to glory on their lip service. But when they stand before the King and Judge, they will be rejected.
When Jesus says "Depart" you can't appeal and try to get a second chance, you got to go. I KNOW they will be terrified. Included here? All those who choose to "worship" God according to their own beliefs and not God's word.
To be a Christian, you must repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus.
REPENT means saying, "I'm sick of sin and living my own way. I want to live under God's commands!" (not on human reasoning and logic)
BELIEVE means believing that Jesus died for your sins, was buried and rose on the third day and accepting His sacrifice for you. It means saying "Yes Lord! I love you! I want to serve you!" James says the devils believe and tremble--saving belief is more than acknowledging that the claims of Christ are true.
Many people think getting saved means saying, "the sinner's prayer"--that is a lie. They believe some mystical thing happens at reciting some words. No! The prayer is a confession of belief on the Lord. Romans 10:9 says,
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, AND shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
If you are a true believer, your life will demonstrate it and the Bible tells us that over and over again. For us Christians, we should not just emphasize faith alone -- but put a proper emphasis on the 'evidences of saving faith' which is a life of holiness.
I can say, "I really want to go to Harvard." But if I skip school, don't do my homework, and go to sleep in class, do I really want to go? NO WAY! Anybody could see that because my actions betray my confession.
It is no different in confessing Jesus. People say, "I believe Jesus is Lord," yet they curse without abandon, don't go to church, love everything this wicked world has to offer, don't feel convicted of sin, and are uninterested in the things of God.
Does this person believe to the saving of the soul? Good chance that the answer is no. Is this a matter of trying to be God and determine who will make it in? No! It is a question of life and death and telling people the truth!
Saving faith will manifest itself in good works. Just read James, Hebrews, I John, Romans--the gospels.
If no change occurs in a person's life, we have plenty of scriptures to let us know that there is a VERY good chance true conversion never took place to begin with.
Works do not save, but a saving faith will cause good works.
Another analogy--apples do not make an apple tree an apple tree. Before any fruit appeared it was an apple tree. With time, sunshine, water and other factors, the precious fruit comes forth.
Same thing with a saved person. They have Jesus Christ within. With the word of God, working of the Holy Spirit, christian friends who are like "iron sharpening iron" and time, good works will come forth like fine treasure hidden from within an earthen vessel.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
He knows my every thought even before I speak it
My babysitter (and adopted daughter), Emily, got a good glimpse of just how much God cares about her today! It was so very cool!
One of the reasons I love to go camping is that I’m always overwhelmed by the hugeness of what I see when I stargaze, but sometimes I let my thoughts wander even further.
When I do, I realize I am but one of billions of people who populate this planet. I’m just this tiny speck amidst billions of tiny specks on a speck of a planet amidst billions upon billions of other planets and stars.
Yet God cares about me and my life. And he cares about YOU, too.
Psalm 139 says He knows my every thought even before I speak it—that God formed me in my mother’s womb and knows what each of my days hold.
Hard to believe, I know. But it is TRUE! Now on to telling my fun story of the day!!!
Today I had to go into the office in southfield for media and staff meetings. As I was on my way home, a random thought hit me to stop at the party store just a few miles from my house and get something to drink.
Now, normally I wouldn't have stopped especially since I was almost home...not to mention the fact that I had already texted Emily to tell her that I would be home in 15 minutes and knew that she had to go to back the barn where she and her boyfriend, drummer boy Chris, work to finish up the chores that the farm owner had waiting for them to get done.
But, for some reason I really felt like I should stop and grab a drink. Okay, no biggie. A drink. I especially liked their frozen coffee drinks, so perhaps I could get one of those. It had been a while since I had one...but, it sounded good to me. I figured that it only would take a minute right? So I went into the corner store to get my frozen coffee.
However, when I walked in, I quickly recognized that something was missing...yep, you guessed it, there was NO frozen coffee anywhere to be seen. Thinking this was quite weird, I asked the store clerk/owner where the frozen coffee machine went? He said, "We don't have any frozen coffee machine...and haven't had one in several years." Now, I knew it had been awhile since I had gotten coffee there, but several years? That didn't seem right to me. (and I asked Randy about it when I got home and he was as surprised as I was! and said he didn't think it had been years either...so who knows?) Anyhow, what was a gal to do now?
So, looking around I spotted the frozen cherry and coke machine. Hum, well it wasn't quite what I wanted, but since it was a hot day and all - it seemed like a good choice.
As I began to pour my drink the thought suddenly came to me to get one for Emily and Chris, too. I thought to myself... how am I going to seriously balance 4 drinks and get them safely to the car all while walking in heeled sandals that were killing my feet? (Four drinks, as I would have to get one for my 5 year old, little Emily, too -- if everyone else had them right?) But, I thought, okay...it will be a nice treat for them since it is a hot day.
Honestly, I think the crew of painters who had also stopped in to buy drinks got a good laugh at this crazy women, trying to fill 4 drinks (mixing each of them with just the right mixture of frozen coke, then the frozen cherry, and then topping it off with coke.)
Since there wasn't any counter space to actually set these cups on...I had to get intuitive and use the busch 6-pack display to set them on. It was quite funny, now that I think about it!
I paid for the drinks and headed home. As I was walking in garage, the door to our house opened and there stood Babysitter Emily with her purse in hand ready to go to the farm and finish her chores. She looked at me and the drinks in my hand and made a weird face. I thought 'hum, wonder what that was about?" I said, "Hi, these are for you and Chris..." and handed her the drinks.
She said something to this effect, "Wow, that is weird! I seriously was just watching a commercial that had slurpee/slushes on it and thought about how great a slushy drink would be to have. She continued on to say that one of the things she enjoyed about going to the movies was getting a slushy and that she had JUST thought of maybe going to the movies to get one but then decided that might not work out for her after all.
She was bummed, cause she really wanted one. And then -- there I was with the drink in hand. :) Think about it... God gently cued me in to get the drinks for them 15 minutes BEFORE Emily even saw that slurpy commercial or thought how much she would enjoy having it!
Do you remember the scripture I posted above? Psalm 139 says He (God) knows my every thought even before I speak it—
Well, he proved it in a very gentle, wonderful way to a young woman and her sweet boyfriend...as well as to a busy business lady and mom.
Friends, as you go about your day, remember that our Lord knows what it holds. The Bible says He walks with us through everything—that He goes before us, follows us, and places His hand of blessing upon our heads.
Psalm 139:5-6 (NLT) says, "You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!"
I concur...it is too great to understand... but, wonderful to behold and know. Thank you Lord for your many blessings in our lives and that you desire to know each one of us, caring about us as individuals, and walking with us through our daily joys and trials.
It is truly a miracle that the God of the universe surrounds our tiny, little lives with His loving care. Listen for Him as you pray this week. Look for the miracle of answered prayer -- or blessing. It’s not always big and showy, but it is no less a miracle when the God of the universe chooses to commune with us in a very real way.
Ps. I would love to hear your story of answered prayer or unexpecting blessings!
One of the reasons I love to go camping is that I’m always overwhelmed by the hugeness of what I see when I stargaze, but sometimes I let my thoughts wander even further.
When I do, I realize I am but one of billions of people who populate this planet. I’m just this tiny speck amidst billions of tiny specks on a speck of a planet amidst billions upon billions of other planets and stars.
Yet God cares about me and my life. And he cares about YOU, too.
Psalm 139 says He knows my every thought even before I speak it—that God formed me in my mother’s womb and knows what each of my days hold.
Hard to believe, I know. But it is TRUE! Now on to telling my fun story of the day!!!
Today I had to go into the office in southfield for media and staff meetings. As I was on my way home, a random thought hit me to stop at the party store just a few miles from my house and get something to drink.
Now, normally I wouldn't have stopped especially since I was almost home...not to mention the fact that I had already texted Emily to tell her that I would be home in 15 minutes and knew that she had to go to back the barn where she and her boyfriend, drummer boy Chris, work to finish up the chores that the farm owner had waiting for them to get done.
But, for some reason I really felt like I should stop and grab a drink. Okay, no biggie. A drink. I especially liked their frozen coffee drinks, so perhaps I could get one of those. It had been a while since I had one...but, it sounded good to me. I figured that it only would take a minute right? So I went into the corner store to get my frozen coffee.
However, when I walked in, I quickly recognized that something was missing...yep, you guessed it, there was NO frozen coffee anywhere to be seen. Thinking this was quite weird, I asked the store clerk/owner where the frozen coffee machine went? He said, "We don't have any frozen coffee machine...and haven't had one in several years." Now, I knew it had been awhile since I had gotten coffee there, but several years? That didn't seem right to me. (and I asked Randy about it when I got home and he was as surprised as I was! and said he didn't think it had been years either...so who knows?) Anyhow, what was a gal to do now?
So, looking around I spotted the frozen cherry and coke machine. Hum, well it wasn't quite what I wanted, but since it was a hot day and all - it seemed like a good choice.
As I began to pour my drink the thought suddenly came to me to get one for Emily and Chris, too. I thought to myself... how am I going to seriously balance 4 drinks and get them safely to the car all while walking in heeled sandals that were killing my feet? (Four drinks, as I would have to get one for my 5 year old, little Emily, too -- if everyone else had them right?) But, I thought, okay...it will be a nice treat for them since it is a hot day.
Honestly, I think the crew of painters who had also stopped in to buy drinks got a good laugh at this crazy women, trying to fill 4 drinks (mixing each of them with just the right mixture of frozen coke, then the frozen cherry, and then topping it off with coke.)
Since there wasn't any counter space to actually set these cups on...I had to get intuitive and use the busch 6-pack display to set them on. It was quite funny, now that I think about it!
I paid for the drinks and headed home. As I was walking in garage, the door to our house opened and there stood Babysitter Emily with her purse in hand ready to go to the farm and finish her chores. She looked at me and the drinks in my hand and made a weird face. I thought 'hum, wonder what that was about?" I said, "Hi, these are for you and Chris..." and handed her the drinks.
She said something to this effect, "Wow, that is weird! I seriously was just watching a commercial that had slurpee/slushes on it and thought about how great a slushy drink would be to have. She continued on to say that one of the things she enjoyed about going to the movies was getting a slushy and that she had JUST thought of maybe going to the movies to get one but then decided that might not work out for her after all.
She was bummed, cause she really wanted one. And then -- there I was with the drink in hand. :) Think about it... God gently cued me in to get the drinks for them 15 minutes BEFORE Emily even saw that slurpy commercial or thought how much she would enjoy having it!
Do you remember the scripture I posted above? Psalm 139 says He (God) knows my every thought even before I speak it—
Well, he proved it in a very gentle, wonderful way to a young woman and her sweet boyfriend...as well as to a busy business lady and mom.
Friends, as you go about your day, remember that our Lord knows what it holds. The Bible says He walks with us through everything—that He goes before us, follows us, and places His hand of blessing upon our heads.
Psalm 139:5-6 (NLT) says, "You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!"
I concur...it is too great to understand... but, wonderful to behold and know. Thank you Lord for your many blessings in our lives and that you desire to know each one of us, caring about us as individuals, and walking with us through our daily joys and trials.
It is truly a miracle that the God of the universe surrounds our tiny, little lives with His loving care. Listen for Him as you pray this week. Look for the miracle of answered prayer -- or blessing. It’s not always big and showy, but it is no less a miracle when the God of the universe chooses to commune with us in a very real way.
Ps. I would love to hear your story of answered prayer or unexpecting blessings!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Trapped Bee... A crazy little story...
Crazy little story...
Yesterday, I noticed a bee stuck in our bedroom window between the screen and the glass... honestly, I don't care much for bees...(had an 'incident' with a hive when I was little) so I quickly shut the window so that it couldn't fly into the house.
All evening and into the night I thought about that silly little bee. I ... See Morerecalled the stories I have heard about how bees are dissapearing and that this is causing great damage to flowers and crops due to lack of pollenation. I have to admit that I peaked at that bee at various times.
This am I looked again and noticed that this little bee was growing much weaker. It crawled up and down on that screen desparately seeking a way out. I couldn't stand it any longer. (crazy, I know) So I called Randy and asked him to help me get this bee out by lifting up both the window inside and the screen outside. (he expressed his disdane at assisting me for a silly bee - but was good to his crazy wife and helped!) Carefully, Randy and I worked together to get the bee out the screen without hurting it or us getting stung.
The bee being so used to that screen -- began crawling up and down the outside of that screen not recognizing that it was free. It had become to accustomed to its situation that it continued to climb up and down.
Funny, how God can use a situation like this to make one think about things (then again, maybe it is just me, lol). I thought of how many times I became comfortable where I was at (whether in a good place in life or not so great) and soon resolved myself to where I was at.
It is only for the grace of God that that 'screen' is lifted and I am set free by his mercy. Eph 2:3-5 (NIV) ...Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
As that bee finally flew away and recognized its freedom, so shall I bask in the Freedom of the Cross. Bee stuck in window = priceless object lesson.
Thank you, Jesus. :)
Yesterday, I noticed a bee stuck in our bedroom window between the screen and the glass... honestly, I don't care much for bees...(had an 'incident' with a hive when I was little) so I quickly shut the window so that it couldn't fly into the house.
All evening and into the night I thought about that silly little bee. I ... See Morerecalled the stories I have heard about how bees are dissapearing and that this is causing great damage to flowers and crops due to lack of pollenation. I have to admit that I peaked at that bee at various times.
This am I looked again and noticed that this little bee was growing much weaker. It crawled up and down on that screen desparately seeking a way out. I couldn't stand it any longer. (crazy, I know) So I called Randy and asked him to help me get this bee out by lifting up both the window inside and the screen outside. (he expressed his disdane at assisting me for a silly bee - but was good to his crazy wife and helped!) Carefully, Randy and I worked together to get the bee out the screen without hurting it or us getting stung.
The bee being so used to that screen -- began crawling up and down the outside of that screen not recognizing that it was free. It had become to accustomed to its situation that it continued to climb up and down.
Funny, how God can use a situation like this to make one think about things (then again, maybe it is just me, lol). I thought of how many times I became comfortable where I was at (whether in a good place in life or not so great) and soon resolved myself to where I was at.
It is only for the grace of God that that 'screen' is lifted and I am set free by his mercy. Eph 2:3-5 (NIV) ...Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
As that bee finally flew away and recognized its freedom, so shall I bask in the Freedom of the Cross. Bee stuck in window = priceless object lesson.
Thank you, Jesus. :)
Friday, April 23, 2010
Does God know what is in our Heart?
Ah, yes God most certainly does know our hearts. We justify our thinking, our feelings, our motives. We mock God while all the time doing all of this in His name and thinking "it is well with our soul". With faces we 'show' what WE consider to be love -- and then in our hearts have nothing but malice and envy - which goes unrecognized, understated, and unrepented of. We are self-centered, self-focused and self-propriatiating. How can a cup that is empty, pour out? How can a vessel lacking, bring forth life? Quite simply - it can't - and that is the whole point.
Without breath in our spiritual lungs we are nothing but dead men walking. Without a continuous ebb and flow of communion with the Spirit of God - we have nothing but empty, lifeless lips speaking empty words. Without application, supplication and impression, all that can come forth from us is flesh.
Isaiah 65:2-5
I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,
Who walk in a way that is not good,
According to their own thoughts;
A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face;
Who sacrifice in gardens,
And burn incense on altars of brick;
Who sit among the graves,
And spend the night in the tombs;
Who eat swine’s flesh,
And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
Who say, ‘Keep to yourself,
Do not come near me,
For I am holier than you!’
These are smoke in My nostrils,
A fire that burns all the day.
Although, this scripture is referencing Israel... it still applies to the very nature of God and his thinking concerning rebellious flesh nature.
But, OH to walk in his ways! Seek His face!
Seeking God's face is about knowing God, knowing who He is, knowing Him very closely. To walk with Him and to have a relationship with Him. Letting his spirit consume us.
As Christians when we believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and submit our whole self completely, it is then that we have been resurrected to life, as it were, so that there will be a change in the kind of life we live due to God being at work in us. We become santified.
Sanctification is also known as becoming holy and becoming conformed to God's image. (Eph. 1:4 and Romans 8:29). We begin to take on the characteristics of the Family—where we begin to think and act like the current members of the Family of God. The character, the mindset, the attitudes, the perspective, the way we think, the way we look at things begins to become just like the God's.
The sanctification process writes the laws of God in our hearts and minds, making His righteousness real and practical to daily life. During this process, which requires our cooperation with Him in His purpose, we literally become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
We have been summoned to a great cause. The summons is personal and specific. It presents us the challenge of choosing to live a life worthy of the awesome vocation to which God has summoned us. Our calling has become our life's work.
God has summoned us to yield to His creative efforts of reproducing Himself, just as II Corinthians 3:18 instructs us: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Oh, live within me God -- Let me seek your face, be santified, transformed and conformed to your image daily. Let me not trample on your goodness and grace! Let me be a light, a reflection of you. Purge me, cleanse me, help me to submit to you and your Word. Let me be your face to others with a heart that radiates your life...and not mine. In Jesus name. Amen.
- I wrote this as a post on a friend's FB page, while inspired by the HS this am. Awesome!
Without breath in our spiritual lungs we are nothing but dead men walking. Without a continuous ebb and flow of communion with the Spirit of God - we have nothing but empty, lifeless lips speaking empty words. Without application, supplication and impression, all that can come forth from us is flesh.
Isaiah 65:2-5
I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,
Who walk in a way that is not good,
According to their own thoughts;
A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face;
Who sacrifice in gardens,
And burn incense on altars of brick;
Who sit among the graves,
And spend the night in the tombs;
Who eat swine’s flesh,
And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
Who say, ‘Keep to yourself,
Do not come near me,
For I am holier than you!’
These are smoke in My nostrils,
A fire that burns all the day.
Although, this scripture is referencing Israel... it still applies to the very nature of God and his thinking concerning rebellious flesh nature.
But, OH to walk in his ways! Seek His face!
Seeking God's face is about knowing God, knowing who He is, knowing Him very closely. To walk with Him and to have a relationship with Him. Letting his spirit consume us.
As Christians when we believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and submit our whole self completely, it is then that we have been resurrected to life, as it were, so that there will be a change in the kind of life we live due to God being at work in us. We become santified.
Sanctification is also known as becoming holy and becoming conformed to God's image. (Eph. 1:4 and Romans 8:29). We begin to take on the characteristics of the Family—where we begin to think and act like the current members of the Family of God. The character, the mindset, the attitudes, the perspective, the way we think, the way we look at things begins to become just like the God's.
The sanctification process writes the laws of God in our hearts and minds, making His righteousness real and practical to daily life. During this process, which requires our cooperation with Him in His purpose, we literally become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
We have been summoned to a great cause. The summons is personal and specific. It presents us the challenge of choosing to live a life worthy of the awesome vocation to which God has summoned us. Our calling has become our life's work.
God has summoned us to yield to His creative efforts of reproducing Himself, just as II Corinthians 3:18 instructs us: "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Oh, live within me God -- Let me seek your face, be santified, transformed and conformed to your image daily. Let me not trample on your goodness and grace! Let me be a light, a reflection of you. Purge me, cleanse me, help me to submit to you and your Word. Let me be your face to others with a heart that radiates your life...and not mine. In Jesus name. Amen.
- I wrote this as a post on a friend's FB page, while inspired by the HS this am. Awesome!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
My Father's Hands
Friday, December 7th, 2007 - am
I was sleeping with my 2 year old daughter, Emily, in her “big girl bed.” Randy came in at his usual 8:00 am time and woke me up when he was leaving to take the boys to school to say good-bye.
I was laying on my left side with my hands apart placed in front of my body. Emily was across from me, in similar position facing me.
I was thinking of how warm and cozy I felt at that time and how nice it was to have the little one sleeping across from me.
All of a sudden I felt a pair of hands grab mine, both at the same time, gently holding them. I thought, “Aaaawww, how nice! Emily wants to hold my hands.” And I felt all warm and peaceful inside.
Then I thought, wait a minute – “How could Emily possibly be holding my hands like this, since she is across from me?”
These hands were coming UP from bottom of bed, holding my hands that were facing downward toward end of bed! So I quickly opened my eyes and it was then that I saw her little hands by her cheek!
The next thing I thought and realized was the pair of hands holding mine were “perfect for me" in size. They fit just right. Not too big like my husband, Randy’s, and not too small like Emily’s.
The next thought that crossed my mind was, “Well, my oldest son, Christopher, has hands very comparable in size to mine, maybe he is playing a trick on me...or something!” It was then that I remembered that he had already left for school with his Dad.
It was at this point -- that all my logic had come to an end -- and I started to really begin to freak out thinking that someone might actually be under the covers with me! After all, I COULD STILL FEEL THE HANDS HOLDING MINE!
Wondering WHAT IN THE WORLD was going on it was at this moment, all of a sudden, as quickly as the hands had orginally grasped my hands, they let go simultaneously. I had felt a comfort prior to my logical brain kicking in with thoughts of reason.
It was incredible!!! Honestly, I don't know exactly what was holding my hands -- Was it an angel? Perhaps. All I knew in my spirit was that it was a way that the Lord chose to comfort me and reassure me that everything was going to be okay...and not to worry.
Wow.
I was sleeping with my 2 year old daughter, Emily, in her “big girl bed.” Randy came in at his usual 8:00 am time and woke me up when he was leaving to take the boys to school to say good-bye.
I was laying on my left side with my hands apart placed in front of my body. Emily was across from me, in similar position facing me.
I was thinking of how warm and cozy I felt at that time and how nice it was to have the little one sleeping across from me.
All of a sudden I felt a pair of hands grab mine, both at the same time, gently holding them. I thought, “Aaaawww, how nice! Emily wants to hold my hands.” And I felt all warm and peaceful inside.
Then I thought, wait a minute – “How could Emily possibly be holding my hands like this, since she is across from me?”
These hands were coming UP from bottom of bed, holding my hands that were facing downward toward end of bed! So I quickly opened my eyes and it was then that I saw her little hands by her cheek!
The next thing I thought and realized was the pair of hands holding mine were “perfect for me" in size. They fit just right. Not too big like my husband, Randy’s, and not too small like Emily’s.
The next thought that crossed my mind was, “Well, my oldest son, Christopher, has hands very comparable in size to mine, maybe he is playing a trick on me...or something!” It was then that I remembered that he had already left for school with his Dad.
It was at this point -- that all my logic had come to an end -- and I started to really begin to freak out thinking that someone might actually be under the covers with me! After all, I COULD STILL FEEL THE HANDS HOLDING MINE!
Wondering WHAT IN THE WORLD was going on it was at this moment, all of a sudden, as quickly as the hands had orginally grasped my hands, they let go simultaneously. I had felt a comfort prior to my logical brain kicking in with thoughts of reason.
It was incredible!!! Honestly, I don't know exactly what was holding my hands -- Was it an angel? Perhaps. All I knew in my spirit was that it was a way that the Lord chose to comfort me and reassure me that everything was going to be okay...and not to worry.
Wow.
The Splinter
As I was in prayer this morning, God gave me an open vision of 3 different scenarios in the lives of Christians as individuals and also corporately in the church.
God showed me a finger and it had a sliver -- you know, a splinter in it.
Now if you have ever had a splinter in one of your fingers, it can really HURT. Usually, it hurts when it goes in and at first you are like "OUCH"...and it is uncomfortable, but you can get used to it being there once it is in place for a while - especially if it is a small splinter.
Every time you touch it or bump it, sure, it hurts at little bit and you are reminded it is there due to it paining you during activity. God specifically showed me that in all the cases presented below, the sliver represents some kind of SIN or situation of sin in our lives.
Here are the 3 different types of scenarios for types of Christians:
1) The first type is the person who gets the sliver and after they say, "OUCH" -- they then look at the splinter and say to themselves, "Oh, you are NOT staying in my finger, you are a foreign object and don't belong there and will not cause me any further pain!" They immediately go to their bathroom, get out the tweezers, a needle, and a match for lighting the end of the needle to sterilize it. They then sit down and begin to dig it out. In doing so, they may cause some slight surface damage, usually - but not always, to the surrounding skin in order to get the sliver out. They work diligently on the sliver until it comes out of their finger. Normally, there is not much else that happens past this point, they simply pluck the sliver out, look at it and then "flick" it away, sending it flying from their finger into the trash.
2) The second type of person is the one who gets the sliver in their finger and after they say, "OUCH" -- they look at it, study it, and possibly think about or may even actually go and get some tweezers, but quite honestly really don’t want to 'bother' with the original point of entry on their finger because they think they might make the wound worse on the surface. They don’t really take time to consider future consequences. They don't use the tools needed to extract the splinter immediately and instead worrying say, "I think I will leave it alone, because everyone knows that slivers will simply work their own way out - eventually." Which may sometimes be true --slivers can work their way out because the infection secretions that build up around the foreign sliver object within our finger. Eventually, after an unspecified amount of time (could be a few days - or week or more) the sliver will usually work its way out due to the pressure mounting behind it.
Sure, the person may have to help it along here and there once it is in an infected state, but for the most part, the sliver works itself out due to internal infection pressure. They watch it as it festers and grows -- they see the buildup of the liquid around it, almost fascinated, they show their finger to other people (all day long), saying, "Do you SEE this thing? Look at my finger! Wow, check it out!" They wait and watch and say, "Okay God, you can take care of this, I am just going to wait on you completely".
In the meantime, the sliver continues to build up infection and although there is not usually damage to the outside surface of the skin, there is MUCH damage going on underneath. The initial ‘sin splinter’ has not only taken root within the finger causing infection pressure mount, but it soon turns a dark shade of red as tissue swells and poison develops around the foreign object. In some cases, as I have stated above, the sliver will just pop out before any serious complications occur. This person's finger is tender, it is very sore. Every time it is bumped or is used in any way, the nerves shoot pain to that area and it hurts. That finger cannot function correctly, the way it was designed, due to the splinter inside of it.
This 'leaving the splinter in' process requires time to work and the infection will need to run its course in order for the splinter to come out. The person is constantly fretting, worrying, and 'babying' that finger since they are painfully reminded of its existence. It is a foreign object; it is not supposed to be there. However, despite exterior and interior damages, once the splinter finally comes out, there usually is no lasting scarring or damage and it tends to heal over well once the healing process is completed. So much so, the person usually can't tell that there was a problem in the first place.
3) The 3rd scenario, is the person who gets the sliver in their finger and after they say, "OUCH" -- they do very much of the very same things described above that the 2nd person did. They let the splinter remain in the finger, let it sit and fester until the infection builds up, and decide to let it come out on its own. The difference is that in this case is that the splinter goes much deeper into the finger and the result is a much greater consequence, than if it had been originally dealt with in the beginning or if it had come out on its own.
So, the splinter causes greater infection as it continues to build. The infected site gets sore and increases until it is almost an unbearable localized pain. It grows due to the mounting pressure because of the person letting it continue and their personal resistance to simply deal with and treat it properly. The infection goes deeper as it spreads and now begins to cause problems in other areas. Now there is not just one problem -- but many.
Infection will slowly travel from the finger upward and soon a red line will appear. It becomes evident that this is a direct result of the infection site. Slowly, this red line begins to creep up the arm, as though someone is drawing a perfect straight line with marker upward just below the skin's surface. The reason for this is that the infection has now reached the blood stream and it slowly begins to cause blood poisoning. It will continue to grow and if left untreated -- as it becomes a worse and worse condition.
The person says to them self, "This is crazy! It was just a splinter! I can't believe how things have progressed and that all this can be the result of such a small beginning! I am not going to go to the doctor...how embarrassing." However, they do eventually end up in the doctor’s office or even in the hospital as they will require antibiotics and immediate treatment due to the fact that that red line has now moved completely up to their elbow and the poison is spreading throughout their blood stream and headed for their heart. If they choose to not get treatment or help to stop the progression, it will ultimately result in some major consequences… perhaps, their finger may have to be removed, should it develop gang green disease or other serious complications and potentially could even result in death.
God showed me these 3 illustrations which He told me can apply to both individuals or even corporately as a group. He said in my spirit, "Dawn, that is exactly what sin in our life is and how it festers. He reminded me that he doesn't like sin and that neither should his children. Sin makes him angry, He doesn't like sin – and if we are followers of Christ, we shouldn't like sin either nor entertain it.
He then asked me to evaluate which type of Christian am I?
How do I handle the 'sin' sliver?
Do I immediately go and get the needle and tweezers when I see a splinter of sin that has infected me? Do I heat the needle up with the fire necessary to sanitize it? He showed me that the fire was 'His Word (the Bible) and the Holy Spirit working together'.
Sure there may be a little bit of 'surface damage' that happens in the beginning when you dig that sliver out, but you are taking care of it, thus eliminating the problem before it can grow through repentance and change in dealing with sin situations no matter how deep or difficult they may seem to be.
Sometimes sin is painful, sometimes it seems to cause more damage on the surface than you would deem is necessary, and sometimes it even hurts people deeply - yes, situations on the surface, because of their instantaneous nature are invasive.
God went on to challenge me and say, “Or Dawn, are you the type of Christian that let’s that ‘ol sliver fester, do you ignore it despite of the pain it is causing, despite the fact that you know it is spreading, and that the infection is growing due to your sin?" It is not supposed to be there, it is not how God created us. He continued, “Do you allow that to sit and fester and do you say, "Lord, I am just going to let you take care of this and I am praying, Lord, that you work it all out."
When we know that God has given us the tools to use as believers, then if we are like him, we hate sin just as much as He does and are willing at all costs to work it out. Of course, we all will get ‘sin slivers’ from time to time simply because we live in a fallen world, but if we don't exercise the tools given to us to deal with the situation, and nip it in the bud, so to speak, sin will grow and fester sometimes with great consequence.
Gods point was that if sin DID get in, if we did get that splinter, not to let sin stay. Not to let it fester. Not to let it morph into more than the original contact. If we didn’t stop the sin from entering in the first place, God most definitely doesn’t want us to tolerate or allow the infection to have an opportunity to begin or spread in our lives or within his church. When we get so steeped in sin, it has lasting consequences and usually involves or hurts many people.
It affects the BLOOD and the HEART. It causes us to become cut off from the Father and can even result in death... all because of something that began as a simple silver of sin.
Yes, the first scenario was invasive, but private only affecting the individual -- but the 3rd one begins to involve other people. When you have an infection that is spreading into your bloodstream - the blood is being poisoned, and it requires immediate medical assistance. Now the situation has gone from a simple sliver to involving medical staff to assist you with IV antibiotics, surgery, and more. It begins to cost money and the time, knowledge, and investment of others.
In the spiritual realm, sin spreads affecting others in much the same way (ie: a little bit of leaven leavens the whole lump, 1 Cor. 5:6 and Galatians 5:9) -- requiring spiritual intervention, prayer, interceding, confrontation and/or deliverance, and personal investment of others around you.
That is why I believe God used this illustration with me. Just as easy as it is for people to get a splinter (and the fact that everyone surely has had one atleast once in their life), SIN affects everyone.
It requires the troops to be called in on your behalf if not dealt with quickly. You are rushed to the ‘church hospital’ and all those people are immediately required to deal with YOUR ‘sin splinter’, something that could have originally been dealt with semi easily in a very short period of time.
A tweezers situation now grown into a full blown emergency room scenario. It becomes a big production that was unnecessary and there is the lasting damage. Sometimes people lose feeling in their finger.
In the spiritual realm, this is equated to losing the sensitivity to the Holy Spirit or clearly hearing God's voice. In essence, we become numb. Sometimes people lose their thumb. Which in the spiritual, equates to their walk with God. Sometimes, they die from the blood poisoning. Which is the equivalent to a spiritual death and eternal damnation.
One final thought:
You might be saying to yourself, okay, Dawn I have heard the scenarios about the sin splinter and am wondering, just where is God in all this? It sounds like WE are the ones doing all the work - using the tools and such. Well, in many ways we are because ultimately we expose ourselves to the sin and thus we have to work (with God) to get the sin out. We get the splinter out...and then he brings the healing.
What I mean by that is - When you are sinning you are the only one who can stop it. Not only is repentance required in this process, but a specific will to TURN from that sin. It requires an action of our will. God can't do that part for us. It does require free will. It does require something on our behalf. It just does, that is how God made us. God will then bless it and bring the healing needed by his shed blood on the cross. (ie: By His Stripes we are Healed...Isaiah 53:5)
Now, God does set things in place to try to help us to make the right decisions so we don’t sin and directs us by the spirit to make changes. He has given us the "medical field guide" (Bible) to use and follow. Once we pluck that sin splinter out by making a new decision, repenting, thus changing our hearts and lives to line up with the Word, THEN God will come in and He will begin the regeneration and healing process to support us in the proper forward motion.
God's balm or His savve, the Holy Spirit, begins the recovery and healing process. It is through Jesus that our wounds are healed. He paid the price, He bore our iniquities, and yes, because He did those things, Because He died on the cross. Yes, it is by His Grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8), but this grace doesn't mean that sin can be treated lightly. No, not at all, not all all. In the book of Romans (Rom. 1:16), Paul talks explicitly about this very thing. God says, deal with the sin, and then I will bring about the healing.
God challenged me to consider which scenario is best? Just how did He design us to deal with sin? What does His Word say? How does He tell his Children to deal with sin? Which scenario fits?
And so I now ask you the same questions.
Be blessed!
Dawn
God showed me a finger and it had a sliver -- you know, a splinter in it.
Now if you have ever had a splinter in one of your fingers, it can really HURT. Usually, it hurts when it goes in and at first you are like "OUCH"...and it is uncomfortable, but you can get used to it being there once it is in place for a while - especially if it is a small splinter.
Every time you touch it or bump it, sure, it hurts at little bit and you are reminded it is there due to it paining you during activity. God specifically showed me that in all the cases presented below, the sliver represents some kind of SIN or situation of sin in our lives.
Here are the 3 different types of scenarios for types of Christians:
1) The first type is the person who gets the sliver and after they say, "OUCH" -- they then look at the splinter and say to themselves, "Oh, you are NOT staying in my finger, you are a foreign object and don't belong there and will not cause me any further pain!" They immediately go to their bathroom, get out the tweezers, a needle, and a match for lighting the end of the needle to sterilize it. They then sit down and begin to dig it out. In doing so, they may cause some slight surface damage, usually - but not always, to the surrounding skin in order to get the sliver out. They work diligently on the sliver until it comes out of their finger. Normally, there is not much else that happens past this point, they simply pluck the sliver out, look at it and then "flick" it away, sending it flying from their finger into the trash.
2) The second type of person is the one who gets the sliver in their finger and after they say, "OUCH" -- they look at it, study it, and possibly think about or may even actually go and get some tweezers, but quite honestly really don’t want to 'bother' with the original point of entry on their finger because they think they might make the wound worse on the surface. They don’t really take time to consider future consequences. They don't use the tools needed to extract the splinter immediately and instead worrying say, "I think I will leave it alone, because everyone knows that slivers will simply work their own way out - eventually." Which may sometimes be true --slivers can work their way out because the infection secretions that build up around the foreign sliver object within our finger. Eventually, after an unspecified amount of time (could be a few days - or week or more) the sliver will usually work its way out due to the pressure mounting behind it.
Sure, the person may have to help it along here and there once it is in an infected state, but for the most part, the sliver works itself out due to internal infection pressure. They watch it as it festers and grows -- they see the buildup of the liquid around it, almost fascinated, they show their finger to other people (all day long), saying, "Do you SEE this thing? Look at my finger! Wow, check it out!" They wait and watch and say, "Okay God, you can take care of this, I am just going to wait on you completely".
In the meantime, the sliver continues to build up infection and although there is not usually damage to the outside surface of the skin, there is MUCH damage going on underneath. The initial ‘sin splinter’ has not only taken root within the finger causing infection pressure mount, but it soon turns a dark shade of red as tissue swells and poison develops around the foreign object. In some cases, as I have stated above, the sliver will just pop out before any serious complications occur. This person's finger is tender, it is very sore. Every time it is bumped or is used in any way, the nerves shoot pain to that area and it hurts. That finger cannot function correctly, the way it was designed, due to the splinter inside of it.
This 'leaving the splinter in' process requires time to work and the infection will need to run its course in order for the splinter to come out. The person is constantly fretting, worrying, and 'babying' that finger since they are painfully reminded of its existence. It is a foreign object; it is not supposed to be there. However, despite exterior and interior damages, once the splinter finally comes out, there usually is no lasting scarring or damage and it tends to heal over well once the healing process is completed. So much so, the person usually can't tell that there was a problem in the first place.
3) The 3rd scenario, is the person who gets the sliver in their finger and after they say, "OUCH" -- they do very much of the very same things described above that the 2nd person did. They let the splinter remain in the finger, let it sit and fester until the infection builds up, and decide to let it come out on its own. The difference is that in this case is that the splinter goes much deeper into the finger and the result is a much greater consequence, than if it had been originally dealt with in the beginning or if it had come out on its own.
So, the splinter causes greater infection as it continues to build. The infected site gets sore and increases until it is almost an unbearable localized pain. It grows due to the mounting pressure because of the person letting it continue and their personal resistance to simply deal with and treat it properly. The infection goes deeper as it spreads and now begins to cause problems in other areas. Now there is not just one problem -- but many.
Infection will slowly travel from the finger upward and soon a red line will appear. It becomes evident that this is a direct result of the infection site. Slowly, this red line begins to creep up the arm, as though someone is drawing a perfect straight line with marker upward just below the skin's surface. The reason for this is that the infection has now reached the blood stream and it slowly begins to cause blood poisoning. It will continue to grow and if left untreated -- as it becomes a worse and worse condition.
The person says to them self, "This is crazy! It was just a splinter! I can't believe how things have progressed and that all this can be the result of such a small beginning! I am not going to go to the doctor...how embarrassing." However, they do eventually end up in the doctor’s office or even in the hospital as they will require antibiotics and immediate treatment due to the fact that that red line has now moved completely up to their elbow and the poison is spreading throughout their blood stream and headed for their heart. If they choose to not get treatment or help to stop the progression, it will ultimately result in some major consequences… perhaps, their finger may have to be removed, should it develop gang green disease or other serious complications and potentially could even result in death.
God showed me these 3 illustrations which He told me can apply to both individuals or even corporately as a group. He said in my spirit, "Dawn, that is exactly what sin in our life is and how it festers. He reminded me that he doesn't like sin and that neither should his children. Sin makes him angry, He doesn't like sin – and if we are followers of Christ, we shouldn't like sin either nor entertain it.
He then asked me to evaluate which type of Christian am I?
How do I handle the 'sin' sliver?
Do I immediately go and get the needle and tweezers when I see a splinter of sin that has infected me? Do I heat the needle up with the fire necessary to sanitize it? He showed me that the fire was 'His Word (the Bible) and the Holy Spirit working together'.
Sure there may be a little bit of 'surface damage' that happens in the beginning when you dig that sliver out, but you are taking care of it, thus eliminating the problem before it can grow through repentance and change in dealing with sin situations no matter how deep or difficult they may seem to be.
Sometimes sin is painful, sometimes it seems to cause more damage on the surface than you would deem is necessary, and sometimes it even hurts people deeply - yes, situations on the surface, because of their instantaneous nature are invasive.
God went on to challenge me and say, “Or Dawn, are you the type of Christian that let’s that ‘ol sliver fester, do you ignore it despite of the pain it is causing, despite the fact that you know it is spreading, and that the infection is growing due to your sin?" It is not supposed to be there, it is not how God created us. He continued, “Do you allow that to sit and fester and do you say, "Lord, I am just going to let you take care of this and I am praying, Lord, that you work it all out."
When we know that God has given us the tools to use as believers, then if we are like him, we hate sin just as much as He does and are willing at all costs to work it out. Of course, we all will get ‘sin slivers’ from time to time simply because we live in a fallen world, but if we don't exercise the tools given to us to deal with the situation, and nip it in the bud, so to speak, sin will grow and fester sometimes with great consequence.
Gods point was that if sin DID get in, if we did get that splinter, not to let sin stay. Not to let it fester. Not to let it morph into more than the original contact. If we didn’t stop the sin from entering in the first place, God most definitely doesn’t want us to tolerate or allow the infection to have an opportunity to begin or spread in our lives or within his church. When we get so steeped in sin, it has lasting consequences and usually involves or hurts many people.
It affects the BLOOD and the HEART. It causes us to become cut off from the Father and can even result in death... all because of something that began as a simple silver of sin.
Yes, the first scenario was invasive, but private only affecting the individual -- but the 3rd one begins to involve other people. When you have an infection that is spreading into your bloodstream - the blood is being poisoned, and it requires immediate medical assistance. Now the situation has gone from a simple sliver to involving medical staff to assist you with IV antibiotics, surgery, and more. It begins to cost money and the time, knowledge, and investment of others.
In the spiritual realm, sin spreads affecting others in much the same way (ie: a little bit of leaven leavens the whole lump, 1 Cor. 5:6 and Galatians 5:9) -- requiring spiritual intervention, prayer, interceding, confrontation and/or deliverance, and personal investment of others around you.
That is why I believe God used this illustration with me. Just as easy as it is for people to get a splinter (and the fact that everyone surely has had one atleast once in their life), SIN affects everyone.
It requires the troops to be called in on your behalf if not dealt with quickly. You are rushed to the ‘church hospital’ and all those people are immediately required to deal with YOUR ‘sin splinter’, something that could have originally been dealt with semi easily in a very short period of time.
A tweezers situation now grown into a full blown emergency room scenario. It becomes a big production that was unnecessary and there is the lasting damage. Sometimes people lose feeling in their finger.
In the spiritual realm, this is equated to losing the sensitivity to the Holy Spirit or clearly hearing God's voice. In essence, we become numb. Sometimes people lose their thumb. Which in the spiritual, equates to their walk with God. Sometimes, they die from the blood poisoning. Which is the equivalent to a spiritual death and eternal damnation.
One final thought:
You might be saying to yourself, okay, Dawn I have heard the scenarios about the sin splinter and am wondering, just where is God in all this? It sounds like WE are the ones doing all the work - using the tools and such. Well, in many ways we are because ultimately we expose ourselves to the sin and thus we have to work (with God) to get the sin out. We get the splinter out...and then he brings the healing.
What I mean by that is - When you are sinning you are the only one who can stop it. Not only is repentance required in this process, but a specific will to TURN from that sin. It requires an action of our will. God can't do that part for us. It does require free will. It does require something on our behalf. It just does, that is how God made us. God will then bless it and bring the healing needed by his shed blood on the cross. (ie: By His Stripes we are Healed...Isaiah 53:5)
Now, God does set things in place to try to help us to make the right decisions so we don’t sin and directs us by the spirit to make changes. He has given us the "medical field guide" (Bible) to use and follow. Once we pluck that sin splinter out by making a new decision, repenting, thus changing our hearts and lives to line up with the Word, THEN God will come in and He will begin the regeneration and healing process to support us in the proper forward motion.
God's balm or His savve, the Holy Spirit, begins the recovery and healing process. It is through Jesus that our wounds are healed. He paid the price, He bore our iniquities, and yes, because He did those things, Because He died on the cross. Yes, it is by His Grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8), but this grace doesn't mean that sin can be treated lightly. No, not at all, not all all. In the book of Romans (Rom. 1:16), Paul talks explicitly about this very thing. God says, deal with the sin, and then I will bring about the healing.
God challenged me to consider which scenario is best? Just how did He design us to deal with sin? What does His Word say? How does He tell his Children to deal with sin? Which scenario fits?
And so I now ask you the same questions.
Be blessed!
Dawn
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