Disagreement

I was part of an interesting conversation today.


I listened to a dialog between two women who questioned as to whether the Holy Spirit had been working thru each other in a specific meeting.  They both held their stance.  It got a tad tense.   


I watched as one left the room and then came back.   


I waited and saw the Holy Spirit  move with His great grace and mercy and bring the whole situation around to forgiveness and sisterly love.  Both laid down their positions and submitted to one another.  


Beautiful.


Later as we went to our cars one said to me that when she was in the ladies room she had decided she was just gong to leave  and not come back to the table.  
The Lord spoke to her and said "No you are not that kind of person anymore, I have changed you"   
She "came around" and came back.   
This is VICTORY.   
She got rid of the "worm"** and followed thru as the Lord gave her strength.


Today I believe with ALL MY HEART that ground was taken back from the enemy.  I believe that this was bigger than it seemed.  The enemy hates defeat and he was defeated today.  


YOU GO GIRLS!


There is great delight in the Lord's heart today as His daughters chose the right path.   God is good and the Holy Spirit is alive and well among His people!


1Corinthians 13:

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Blessings!





**  see yesterday's muse   "the little maggot"

Filled to the Measure with the Fullness of Christ!

Today I was reminded of one of my favorite Beth Moore stories.  The first time I heard it I remember my heart racing as I put myself into her shoes.  Could I follow through with what the Lord was asking of her?   Yet when she yielded HE TOOK OVER!  Listen and pray


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtk5WgzZcYA




Lord, we give You permission to propel us to do Your will, to be Your hands and feet.  We know that this is a BIG TASK Lord for we speak easy but move very hesitantly.  Help us Lord, Grace us Father.  Move in us and through us that the world may know......That You are God !


Blessings

Women on a Journey

Many of you may have seen my post or received an email from me concerning this event.


It has been on my heart for a few months and I finally just bit the bullet and made a date.

‎"Women on a Journey" 

Does that describe you? 

Some of us know that we are on a pilgrimage and we want to travel light and well. 

If you need 

encouragement, prayer, fellowship and a good Word 

come ~ 

meet at Gilead's Balm on Thursday evening the 19th of January from 7-9pm.

Tea will be hot and it will be cozy.* 

Just come~ the door will be open.

Feel free to invite any other journey(ers) as well 

Blessings!

*a donation basket will be available on the table

So what do I envision this evening to look like?

Women from different towns and churches coming, meeting new friends, praying

 and receiving prayer.

The world is a hard place to live these days.  The darkness just keeps pressing

 in.  I have asked a few women (young and old) to speak for 5 minutes as to what the

 Lord is putting on their heart concerning women.    These "words" will be

 interspersed  thruout the night.

We will be praying over one another, listening to the Spirit and will be open to Words of 

Knowledge, Scripture and Exhortation.

Come prayed up and ready to receive.   

I think it is going to be wonderful!

I don't know how many will come as I did not ask for a RSVP ~ Park on the street or in the

 field next door and invite a friend if you wish.

I look forward to seeing you here    Thursday!

Any Old Bush Will Do

I heard a quote on radio this morning.  It was, "Any old bush will do"
Like Moses, if we came across a burning bush that was not being consumed, we would stand amazed.  How is this possible? 


But as the quote this morning said,  "any old bush will do" 
God is looking for vessels HE can use.  He will use whatever HE can get HIS hands on.  He is looking for broken, submitted, humble  servants to pour Himself thru.     
He is constantly calling, searching, looking for people who will give up their rights to follow HIM.  Then HE moves in, takes over and brings glory to HIS Name. 


Will you be a bush for God...an inanimate object, that outside of the Lord, has no real worth and is easily overlooked.  

BUT GOD

Oh yes  ~ BUT GOD ~ HE makes all the difference.  Will you surrender in making HIM Lord of your life?  
Burn Baby Burn!


Blessings!

I'm SORRY!

Remember dealing with your child when they needed to say that they were sorry?  They have pinched someone, taken a toy, tattled etc and you have stepped in and said "Now say you're sorry to your brother"

It's amazing how hard that word is to say.  Many a child has had to be punished simply because they would not follow through with this word, the gaze goes down, the feet shuffle and stubbornness comes to the surface.

So interesting.   

And then after threat upon threat they FINALLY say "I'm SORRY"  You can hear it can't you? A two word sentence filled with rebellion.    It's that "I may be sitting down but I'm standing up on the inside~ type thing."

Sooooo  how you doing with this word in your life now?  Now that you are grown are you able to say it easier?  Have you ever  actually let yourself feel sorry?  Has your heart ever hurt because you have caused someone pain or discomfort?   Are you able to own it?     

Get in front of a mirror and say it....."I'm sorry"   Practice it until it flows easier.  Perhaps you need to actually say you're sorry to yourself for things that you have allowed into your life and choices that have landed you where you are.   Start there first....Forgive yourself don't be caught off guard if you cry, its totally alright.

When dealing with children I have tried to teach that there are three other words that are of equal importance as well and that is "I forgive you"   I feel these words need to be said to "tie up the deal"   If the other person does not say anything you might prompt them by saying "Can you forgive me?"  Be prepared...if they hesitate or say no perhaps the wound is deeper than you realized.  DON'T become irritated and or frustrated .  You have taken time to get to the place to say it , let them have some time as well.   God will give you the grace to be gracious.  Simply say it again and tell them you will be praying that they can find it in their heart to forgive you.

Friends there is SUCH HEALING in these words.  Healing if the words are said with feeling and remorse and salt if they are not.   

 I think that we should look for places and situations where we can say we are sorry.  I think that it makes the ground fertile between two people.  Loosen up, if this blog has riled you dare look at the reason why.  

Beloved you have been forgiven much, allow the Lord to work this into you. It has the power to open closed doors and build bridges where there are done.

Well done good and faithful servant!

Blessings!

Taking Direction

I'm working at a LARGE party.  Jesus is the host.  Thousands of people mill around fellowshipping and having a good time. I stand with a large group of servants against the back wall...watching.... JESUS.  Oh yes, it would surely be tempting to join in on the fun but it is not what I'm there for.  I am there to serve....Jesus. 


I stand ready, alert watching for His eyes to join mine and then it happens.  He makes eye-contact and then nods over to the left.  I know His signals as I have been "working" for Him for some time.  I look in the direction and see a table that needs to be cleared.  I quickly and efficiently go about my job.  In short time my task in done.
BUT there is a problem. as I was clearing I notice that there is  food that has fallen around and under the table..THIS IS NOT GOOD!  This is the Master's party!!   
My brain races overtime....I know exactly what needs to be done.  I quickly deposit the items in my hands to the kitchen and then go quickly to the closet to grab the vacuum.  This will be cleaned up in no time.  


As I drag the vacuum through the crowd, excusing myself along the way,  I then turn on the motor to make short work of the mess.  The room begins to silence and I realize I am being watched.  Jesus has my eye once more and makes it known to me that "this is not the time"


A little frazzled and embarrassed I quickly retrace my steps and soon am standing back in my place against the wall,  where I continue to wait.


"I was only trying to help"  "I know exactly what needs to be done"  "A mess like that is an eyesore and should not be left"  These thoughts race through my mind.
BUT 
I was wrong.  I had gone ahead of my Lord.  I had taken action that He had not directed.  I had assumed that if a little was good then more would be even better.


Nope ~  it's not the way it works.  Listen He will guide you, show you His ways.  But, please learn from me, only do what you have been directed to do.  No more and no less.  It is the way of a servant.


Blessings!

Salt

I saw a boat on the ocean called the "Salt Shaker"   I like that.
  
The Scripture says:  
Matthew 5:13-16:

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? ...You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Are you salty?

Salt produces thirst..  One writer says,"Salt makes the bland flavorful. Salt makes the insipid tasty. Salt makes the dull interesting" 

It should be used sparingly..to heighten the taste.  It just takes a sprinkle to take something from inedible to wanting more!    

Have you lost your saltiness?  

Get back into the Word. Quiet yourself before the Lord and be refreshed.  

The stresses of this world can totally dilute us so that we are "tasteless".  Don't let this happen ~ and it can happen quickly, when you least expect it!

Pass the SALT please!

Blessings

Are you growing up?

When you accept Christ as Savior, sometimes it's called a New Birth.  As with a baby, growth is watched for and expected almost immediately, a steady ongoing process,  one hurdle on to another.  It is a good thing and there is automatic concern if a child does not reach his/her milestone somewhere near the typical age.  


Unfortunately we do not seem as diligent in the watch and care of the new Christian.  All of a sudden it becomes "none of our business", a private matter.  
Many "babies" are lost for lack of care. 
Come along side that "new one". Encourage, teach and love them to health and strength in the Lord.   We, the body, need to be connected and invested in the on-going work of Christ in each other.   We need each other....the deposit of Christ must be watered and tended to so that the new convert can grow to the potential that the Lord has for them.  Whether you are the tender or the tended to..... Please do your part..It is vitally important!


"We are His hands, We are His feet, We are His people, Children of the Lord.
We share the hopes, we share the dreams, believers in Jesus, Children of the King.
Some of us build and some are teachers, some can sing like angels,
But all of us can love as He loved pure and simple LOVE ONE ANOTHER."