You Are Giving Life

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Even the sprrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young-
a place near your altar.
O Lord Almighty, my King and My God.
Blessed are those who dwell in
your house;
they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength
is in you,
who have set their hearts on
pilrimage.
As they pass through the valley of
Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it
with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in
Zion.
Hear my prayer, O Lord God
Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Look upon our shield, O God;
look with favor on your annointed
one.
Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper
in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the
wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun
and a shield;
the Lord bestows favor and
honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is
blameless.
O Lord Almighty,
blessed is the man whose trust is
in you.
Psalm 84

I was just going to have this scripture be my blog today, but I really became aware of the verse that says that that they turn the place of weeping into a place of springs. This happens in the life of the one who loves God. He is also the light of the world. Wherever he goes he is making a difference. His very presence is spreading life and light.

Desert To Dessert

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19

Last night,I was attacked with a huge wave of darkness. I cried out to God, "I am in the desert again. Help me." Immediately, I remembered something that I had seen the day before. At this very moment we are in eastern Oregon, which is desert country. It is dry and barren, yet there are places that have been irrigated, and they are fertile and can grow crops or be green pastureland. God rememded me of one of these pastures that had horses feeding contentedly, right in the middle of the desert.

Then I heard God say, "I will give you streams in the desert."

I have been thanking God ever since for the streams in our desert. The darkness had no more power to intimidate me. God has me pondering deserts from a different angle. He wants us to see that he has great gifts for us right in the middle of the desert. We have seen elk, antelope, and eagles. There are red sumak leaves, sagebrush, gold, and lots of wonderful things to see. There is hiking and so many things to explore. For us the desert is actually a really fun place.

On the news we heard a man talking about having MS. He said that it is the best thing that ever happended to him because of the great good that has come into his life as a result. So God is not asking to just give us tools to cope. He wants to give us gifts that can only be had in a dessert. He wants to show us beautiful things and give us awesome experiences. He is actually really excited about the gifts he has in store for us. Most people avoid the deserts of life. God wants to lead us right into the desert. He is doing a new thing and it is going to be super cool. Drink deep of the stream that God has provided. Eat from the green pastures. Enjoy the beauty and gifts that God has for you. God will turn your desert into dessert.

Persevere

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere, so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Hebrews 10:35-39

God showed me a picture of perseverance. It looks like a fast train that transports you through life. In perseverance, you can get through a fire and not be burned. You can go through water and not drown. It's a place of rest, peace, and hope. I always thought that perseverance was pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps, gritting your teeth, and moving forward no matter how awful it is. I thought it had to do with how strong and capable you are as a person. This has never been my area of expertise. I am weak and sensitive, afraid and ashamed. In the past, I have gone through situations being very much aware that it is awful and grieving at the agony of it all. God has been giving me the vehicle of perseverance these last few days. It's been quite a ride. Fear, shame, and disappointment remain outside. Perseverance is a place of dignity and supernatural protection as you go through difficult situations. It is all God's work. So climb aboard, believe and be saved.

The Goodness Of The Lord

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8

For the past several days, God has been having me continously open to his goodness. It has become a grand adventure. Every time a negative thought or emotion comes, or even a good expectation, I open to God's goodness. In the past I closed up to protect myself. I am choosing to open instead and can almost feel a physical opening. God is showering me with gifts. I think that I must have been oblivious to them before. I would have been afraid or grieving over dissapointments. Instead, I am in awe of all the wonderful things that God is doing for me.

Surrender

Casting all your cares on him for he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

The other night I had a dream that really spoke to me. I had inherited some money and an evil guy wanted to steal it from me and my children. The enemy was so powerful and evil, that there was no way I could avoid him. No matter where I hid the inheritance, there was the fear that he would find it. So I gave it to God for safe keeping. I knew that no enemy could take it away from God.

The next day, I started handing things over to God, like; my health, finances, hopes, children, future, etc. I am depending on God to care for everything important. I am not capable of keeping the enemy away. Besides, it's really tiring to continuously try to take care of these things on my own. There is a great freedom in letting God be the responsible one.He will not only protect our inheritance, but he will restore what has been stolen. If God is for us, who can be against us. Hallelujah!

God's High Five

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

New age says to focus on the one thing that you want and it will happen. Of course, there is truth in this, but it isn't the truth. God wants us to focus on him and ask for everything that we want. Then he wants to do what is best. Instead of grieving over the fact that he is not answering our prayers the way we hoped, he wants us to join in his enthusiasm. He is doing a great work! He rewards those that earnestly seek him. As I write this, I see him wanting to give me a high five. His hand is raised because he wants me to slap it in agreement that we both want what is best. He's so excited about the work that he is accomplishing on our behalf.

Optimism Is Contagious

Listen! My lover! Look! here he comes leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. Song of Songs2:8

Graham Cooke says that God is the happiest person he knows. God's plan is to prosper us and not to harm us. I feel that God is asking us to see him as joyful and fun filled. He is really excited about what is being accomplished in and through us. He wants us to hand this work over to him. He has such great ideas for us and he can hardly wait to do them. He is almost begging us to believe in his optimism. Life will look different and we will have far more joy. I just heard him say, "and besides, optimism is contagious." We will catch it from him and it will spread to others.

Optimism

For he says, "In the time of my favor, I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

This morning, I was declaring who God is. I said "You are the God of..."
I heard a tangible voice say, "optimism." I know that God spoke this, so I looked it up in the dictionary.
(1) The belief that good ultimately prevails over evil.
(2) The tendency to take the most hopeful view of matters.

When I thought of optimism, it made me think of something far more broad than the one little thing that I have been praying for. Since God is optimistic he is answering my prayers in the best way ever. He has bigger and better plans for everyone involved. The word "optimism" is so filled with hope.

We are really getting a bargain. I ask for something puny and God gives something far greater than I can even imagine.

Entrust Yourself To Him Who Judges Justly

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:23

One thing have struggled with is being with people who have given into self righteous condemnation. I find it so oppressive that I want to run the other way. So when I am thrown into a group of people that have decided that how they dress, act and believe is the one true way, I have been doomed. In some gatherings, I found it so oppressive that I could hardly function.

Yesterday, when I came up against this, God gave me the word "justice." He was saying to me that he enjoys who I am. He is pleased with me and that through Jesus I am fully acceptable. This is where God had me dwell. I was to keep my eyes on him and his opinion of me. Anytime that I started to shrink in shame or rejection, God would say to me, "justice." It was such a victorious experience. I was no longer a victim of man's attitude or the lies they believed.

Come, All You Who Are Thirsty

Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
hear me that your soul may live.
Isaiah 55:1-3a

Remember how the prodigal son went out in to the world? He spent all of his inheritance on things that didn't satisfy him. He tried everything until he ran out of money. Remember in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon tried everything under the sun. He said it was all vanity. He and the prodigal came to the same conclusion. Return to the Father. In the Father we are satisfied. In the Father our needs are truly met. He promises that in him we can have complete joy. God is calling us to be truly dependent on him for everything. He will feed us. He will protect us. He will cause our souls to truly live. It is mystical, but true. Seek God. Declare these things to be true. He is what you have been looking for. You are truly complete in him.

God Will Meet Your Needs

Something that I felt that the Lord said to me.

Why do you torture and beat yourself up, claiming you are not good enough? Why do you claim your past as if it were your own and long for your future as if it would meet your needs? Now, now is the time I will satisfy you. I will meet your needs this day. I will satisfy your every desire. I am enough. I am your all. Don't give up hope for dissatisfaction and discontentment. Come follow me and I will give you life, true life. What the world has to offer glitters and looks beautiful. What I have to offer is truly beautiful. I am truth. I will supply all of your needs. You can choose contentment. You can choose joy and hope. I am enough. Lay down your ideas of how you think things should be and come follow me. I will show you the way of life. Come eat of my bread. It is quite tasty. As you submit to my care you will develop a taste for what is good for you. I am your true health food. I am your manna from heaven. I am your all. Come follow me, and I will give you rest, rest from your labors of dissatisfaction and all your hopeless dreams. Come follow me and I will truly give you life. My lamb, my loved one. I am the Good Shepherd. I will care for you. come follow me.

God Will Satisfy You

I got to thinking about how God gave the Israelites manna in the wilderness. It's really quite cool how he gave them this miracle food each morning. He fed them right from his hand. This must have been the true super food. It must have had all the nutrients that they needed, because God promises to supply all of our needs. To the Israelites, it wasn't enough. They griped and complained. They felt nostalgic and longed for the food that they ate when they were in slavery. They wanted something other than manna.

This got me thinking about how Jesus is our Bread of Life. He is our source. He is more than enough. His mercies are new every morning, just like the manna. God is the I Am. He is everything that we need him to be. He is calling us to come and partake. He is begging us to leave behind how things used to be. He wants us to come, receive, and be satisfied.

I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Here is a fun song by Keith Green about this very subject. I love this song and I love this guy that gave his all for God.

Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John4:13

My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Jeremiah 2:13

God's love is unconditional. This is where I need to dwell. I have been dwelling in man's conditional approval. My purpose for existence is to be loved by God. This love just is, without me doing anything. I would drink of the living water that Jesus has for me. I would be rid of the cisterns that I have dug for myself. I would choose God's love. I surrender the lies that tell me I don't measure up.

"Lord, let my belief system line up with yours. If you say I am lovable and approvable, then let me believe it."

God's love is based on who he is, not how I perform, not on others' opinion of me. He is love and he is loving. This is the key.

Guidance

So many options and opportunities pull on us. They entice us and call our name. This can all be very confusing. We want to do great things for God. We want to make a difference in the world and live a productive life.
When God led the Israelites through the wilderness, it was his very presence that guided them. By day, the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:21-22) No matter what opportunities present themselves, even if they look like they would do lots of good, make sure you are not leaving God's presence to do them. Don't run off to do great things for God and leave God waiting on the actual path that you really belong on.
In the midst of this, remember that God loves you more than what you can accomplish for him. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. No matter how amazing the opportunity, God will not call you to something that doesn't have to do with you and your gifting. Paul gave Timothy instructions based on what was prophesied over him. He also wanted Timothy to fan into flames the gifting that was given to him. God had a plan for Timothy's life and he gifted him accordingly. God has a plan for you that fits you perfectly. It will enhance your dignity and bring you great joy. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world , yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36)
Go with God and be who you really are. This is how you will truly make a difference in the world.

Let Him Be Your All

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like the eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

Because the sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, have I set my face like flint, and know I will not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:7

God continues to have me on a theme of exchanging my weakness and inability for his strength and ability. The word "renew", in the above verse, literally means exchange. We exchange our weakness for his strength. This comes about through hoping in God. Isaiah sets his face like flint. He looks to God and hopes in God. All kinds of circumstances, thoughts and emotions want to have the attention instead. We are to set our faces like flint on God. We are to seek first his kingdom. We are to look to Jesus. We are not to look to the waves or listen to the lies of the enemy. Jesus and what he teaches are the truth. He is our true north. Your strength, your ability, and your old belief systems have only brought you pain. Look up and hope in God. Let him be your strength. Let him be your all.

God Is Lonely

As I sit in God's presence, I wonder, how does the world survive without this? Life crushes me from every side, both inside and out.So in this quiet time, I remember who I am and who God is. I am refreshed and ministered to by God. I know that every single Christian needs this, not just a quick time to read the Bible, say a hasty prayer and get on with life. Just as a good multiple vitamin doesn't replace eating nutritiously, a fifteen minute devotional time doesn't replace spending a decent chunk of time in God's presence. We need to be still and know he is God.(Psalm 46:10)

We need to let him minister to us. If you take the time to sit in God's presence, he will take the time to minister to you. "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you" (James 4:8) We are spiritual beings. We are friends of God. We need this to grow and survive spiritually.

One time, I was going to a woman's retreat. I asked God, "Is there anything that you want me to share with the ladies?"

He answered, "Tell them that I am lonely."

He loves it when we hang out with him. He wants our friendship and we need his.

Look At The Capabilities Of God

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Today, I read about this amazing man who overcame obstacles and conquered. I used to be motivated when I read stories like this. I would think, "If he can do it, so can I." Well, guess what? I am not like those people. I am pretty weak emotionally and I hate suffering. When I read the story, I started crying in discouragement. Then God spoke to me. He told me that even if I don't have an iron will and a a strong constitution, he does. I don't have to be personally like one of those people. I am not to look at them and get discouraged. I can even be aware of my weakness, but know that God is strong. I have been looking at my own capabilities and giving up. The key is to look at the capabilities of God. God is powerful. God is love. God is self disciplined. I can conquer because God is at work within me. God will be these things for me.

Obedience Opens Doors To Victory

Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 1 Sam 15.22

Once I heard a talk about obedience to God. The speaker said that when God asks you to do something and you don't do it, it messes everything up. For one thing, it makes it harder to hear from God. The other, is that God might not tell you what he has in store for you next until you obey the first command.

This morning, I was asking God about whether I should fast and do some other spiritual exercises. I am so tired of not seeing victory in my life. I thought maybe this would help. He seemed to be saying to me, "What about the one thing that I asked you to do years ago and you still haven't obeyed? How about we start with that." Well, that one thing seemed too hard and I just kept side stepping it. So this morning, I told God that I would obey him on this thing, even if it seemed impossible. Then he lead me to a chapter in the Bible that he has been referring me to for 15 years. It seemed like he offered it to me as a word of encouragement. I am to meditate on it and believe it and walk in it. He is promising great victory. Wow, it is very obvious that to obey is better than sacrifice!

I encourage you to seek God and see if he has asked something of you that you have been avoiding. It could have been years ago, and you have even forgotten it. Then step out and obey. I promise, God has great things in store for you. Fasten your seat belt. You and God are in for the ride of your life.

Bask In God's Glory

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

I have been having some spiritual experiences that I don't know how to exactly describe or label. This scripture was the best I could come up with today. Here are some of these experiences.

I married an awesome, kind, loving husband that loves me and believes in me no matter what. For years, I have been aware that he is reflecting Jesus. Just by Pete being who he is, I am seeing God and knowing the goodness of God in a way that is life changing.

Recently I was in alone in Bosnia and was really feeling it. One day while I was at a restaurant, the owner came up to me and asked me if I came with my husband this time. I answered, "No, I am alone."
He replied, "You are not alone. You are among friends."
I was so touched. God spoke through him and truly blessed me. We, as Christians are never alone. We have God, angels, the cloud of witnesses, and the body of Christ.

Another day, while there, I was climbing a hill that is meant to be a prayer journey. Again, I felt alone. Then all of a sudden I became aware of an unseen presence. It felt as if a friend of mine that has a very deep faith was walking and praying with me. I still am in awe of how much it felt like she was really there. It turned into such a glorious time of prayer.

Right now, I have tons of work stacked up. Some of it absolutely needs to be accomplished today. I feel like another friend is here. She happens to be gifted at being a boss. She is wise and brings out the best in those that work for her. I know that God is really my boss, but this friend is reflecting what God is like.

I don't totally get this. I just know it as truth. These people are reflecting God's glory to me. It is absolutely beautiful. The scripture doesn't say to be legalistically good so that people can see what legalism done well looks like. It says that we are reflecting God's glory. It is a truth about God's children. As our lives go on, we are getting more and more glorious. I am so happy to have people like you around. You are truly showing me who God is just by being his child. Bask in God's glory, my beautiful friend

Create In Me A Pure Heart

Create in me a pure heart,O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:10-12

This portion of scripture has been going through my mind all morning. It started with a dream where I was sorting through boxes of stuff that had been given to me. In the dream, I was keeping some of it because I thought I should and getting rid of things that other people thought were valuable and should be kept. When I woke up, I realized that none of it had to do with who I am as a person. All of it should go. Our lives are full of what others have given us and value but aren't really us. We get so confused as we try to live someone else's agenda for us that has nothing to do with who we truly are. In many cases, we don't even know who we really are. God wants to be the one in charge of cleaning us up. Then he wants to fill us with a joy that is foundational, based on us being children of God. Surrender to his work, knowing that he truly values you as a person.