IMAGINE THAT

Imagine what life would be like if we grabbed our Bible as frequently as we grabbed a snack. I find myself snackin alot, I'll admit it if you cannot. In fact, I am eating some pumpkin spice cake my sister made earlier today, and I am accompanying the slightly sweet snack with a hot cup of boiling water with a little bit of milk mixed in to help with digestion and warming the body and making one sleepier than they already are.

Another friend brought it to my attention the constant use or knowing where our cell phones are at all times. What if we treated The Word of God as valuable and as necessary as a cell phone or computer for that matter?! We would be labeled a bunch of freaks. Hmm just something to think about.

And if practice makes perfect...hadn't we better start practicing what it is that we say we believe?! Praying for intance or Jesus being the reason why we live.

KNEE DEEP

Life is not a can of roses. Have had a few friends call me lately and tell me just how deep it's getting. If they are not telling me of their own situations and hardships, they are telling me about friends that can hardly stand it anymore they are severly struggling. This just confirms the absolute necessity that we stay constant in prayer. How much more do we have to hear and see before we believe the need is great? Great enough to take some action and pray?

Let's not make the same mistake over and over again. Instead of consulting anyone else, depending on future plans, relying on a government, or trusting in ourself... let's inquire of the Lord and seek Him who knows all things. Let's do more listening than we do talking.

Want to keep from falling? Pray. Want to see change? Pray. Need help? Pray. Want to keep others from falling? Pray.

RESTING ON THE ROCK

"REST IS THE CLIMATE THAT FAITH GROWS IN." It is incredible how much clarity comes when I decide to rest in the Lord. Trust is the rest I am speaking of. Learning to inquire of the Lord. To be still and listen for what He will say. Commanding every other whisper to be silent in Jesus name, as there are many other voices in the world. Discerning with understanding the Word of God, the will of God, His ways that are so much higher.

I took a few minutes the other day in between running errands to sit on a sidewalk, and listen for the voice and counsel of my Father. I heard a few words and wrote them down. Couldn't help but think: what if I listened longer? Wonder how much more I would hear? I notice that many of us frequently have one-way conversation with one another, and I can imagine it is not much different when we pray. Much talking, hardly any true listening. We miss out on alot. Rest on THE ROCK, He is solid. He cannot be moved, and neither should we by anything other than His voice alone.

THE TRUTH IS

The choices we make today effect not just our own lives, but the lives of those we know and do not know. Our daily decisions are not just between us and God, our lives effect the rest of the Body of Christ as well.

The law of gravity is in effect whether we believe it is or not. Sowing and reaping and the changing of season will be, whether we think so or not.

FIRST WORKS

Remember when we first confessed Jesus as Lord? Self was the last thing on our minds. So much joy, earnestly seeking Him, great expectation losing self, huge hopes, lifesize faith. We would go about doing good every where we could. Seeing all of life through Heaven's eyes. Forgiving, forgetting, and loving at last. Living the life that was truly life, living love.

The other day driving down the road I called a friend and she encouraged me to remember to focus my attentions on what I cannot see. Wrong will be made right. Holdfast. There has been some difficult situations and strains going on in my family and between family members. It is very uncomfortable and disheartening to witness and go on each day feeling the yuck of what is lingering in the air. It literally feels like it is sucking the life right out of me and those I love.

Worries and cares choke out the Word of God --- is this happening to you?

I was almost home, still driving, and this came to my mind. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM. IT IS YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM. GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU. FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS. HOW MANY TIMES SHALL WE FORGIVE? SEVENTY times SEVEN. LOVE KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS. Right then, I confessed out of my mouth and decided in my heart to examine who I had not forgiven and why. I FORGAVE in JESUS NAME. I WANT TO BE FORGIVEN. Suddenly words came and prayers for individuals that I had not had a heart to pray for up until that point. I was released from a burden I had picked up by not laying my understanding down. I was compelled to love by speaking the Word of God over all involved and thanked God for their freedom and mine, that they would be released from their debts and be helped and healed at once.

It is time for God's people to REPENT and return to the first works. Loving God like they loved Him first, with a childlike abandon and determination.

SPIRIT vs FLESH

Alarms going off. Waters boiling over. Toast is burning. Things we hear, feel, and see. Little indicators and possible reflections of something deeper than the surface. Attitude check normally does not happen until it's too late. Seems if I put off what is necessary until later, later becomes something I regret or I would have done differently had I been living according to the spirit instead of the flesh. Interesting how EVER WORD OF GOD PROVES TRUE. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. (Proverbs 30:5)

If only I would come to HIM more than I do. Taking His word to heart and mind and obeying the truth...laying my thinking down and taking no thought for my life and realizing it is my Father's good pleasure to give me the Kingdom, so fret not. Life is a constant state of spirit vs flesh, but I rejoice in knowing that HE WHO HAS OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE lives to make intercession for me and HE IS DOING THE WORK and FINISHING what HE has begun in me.

HAZY DAYS

Stepped outside about 4pm to hear the birds chirping and singing their songs. Looked out across the water and saw a bit of haziness that is overshadowing the water even though the sun is shining strong. Interesting how going outside can really help get some perspective on life and the day. I know Jesus you are shining strong in me even though I feel like I am moving in slow-mo sometimes and barely making any progress. I am thankful for Your Word, "Let the weak say I AM STRONG..."

And that's what I am going to think about on hazy days like today. GREATER IS HE WITHIN ME THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD. You are so much greater Lord.