Stay the course

I must remember I am not my own

I have been bought with a Price

I have no say...only to obey

I have been in an interesting spot the past few years.

Ive been given a "post" seemingly just to "hold ground"

So many ideas,

So frustrating at times,

My hands are idle

My mouth is silent

My time is simply spent..

I go before my Commander and chief

He looks up as if to say "why are you here?"

Marnie you know you will hear Me when I call

You will be called when its time

but not before 

I think of it as being sent onto a foreign field

no one has asked me for my opinion

I signed up and

I just follow instruction,

There is a Board of Three that oversees my deployment

They are experts at what They do

They make no mistakes'

They watch intently and They send ground troops to occupy until They say otherwise,

Sometimes I see glimpses of the enemy

but more often than not what I perceive is complacency.

It's scary knowing there is an enemy lurking not far away

Yet again Ive been given no orders to "do" anything..

just occupy

So I grow in submissiveness

in perseverance

in being faithful

I must not become one of the civilians that

I serve

As an ambassador of sorts 

I pray

I encourage

I counsel only when Im asked

So friends

Its not about what WERE DOING

Its about

OBEYING

How you doing?

Holding Hands with the Almighty

Why would I ever want to run ahead?

Why would I ever want to lag behind?

Why would I ever wander?

Why would I ever let go?

Have I learned anything by walking on my own way?

Can I remember the confusion?

Do I recall the unsettled feelings?

Was it worth it? 

Was it a waste of time?   

Did I really go anywhere?

Did it further me on My Journey Home?

I wonder how much of my experienced pain and agony in life 

was simply because I let go of His hand!

https://youtu.be/HCx6MEdeli4

Straining Against the Bit

In the Scriptures today I found a verse that I have not thought of in a while

Psalm 32:9
Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with a bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.

I remember my early years as a Christian, when I first began to hear His voice.  I remember "straining against the bit" wanting my own way over the Lords.

Today it makes me sad that I resisted like that.  Sad because I wasted so much time and energy struggling to have my own way and also sad that I could spurn such a Good Good Father;  God who has been always faithful, a constant companion, a wonderful Husband and Captain of my life.

He and I have talked about this.
He's been able to remove the reigns from my head as I have learned that there is NO BETTER WAY to go!
Where He leads me I will follow

https://youtu.be/LjLCRU3Xkiw

Stop Look and Listen

Today some friends were talking about how to make Godly decisions and how to "hear" the Holy Spirit's voice.

I saw a picture

I was walking with a child and came to a street, it was busy and we needed to cross.  

I got down on eye level with this young one and said; 

"this is important...Look at me.  

We never run into the street, even if it's not busy.  

We must ALWAYS.... 

STOP. LOOK AND LISTEN!"

Friend are you wondering what your next "step' is?

stop look and listen!

He will tell you!

You will hear!

Stop in your tracks.....There is never anything so urgent that we cannot stop!

Pull yourself away and intentionally 

STOP

Spend sometime in the Word.  

LOOK

ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE IN THE BOOK

If you're not sure ask a friend or google a topic!

and then 

LISTEN

Seek counsel.  Proverbs 15:22

Don't be embarrassed or proud.

These are the disciplines and ways of those that walk successfully with God.  

They do what ALL MUST DO!

https://youtu.be/1zo3fJYtS-o

I LOVE YOU!

The Sweet Holy Spirit

While sitting in Bible Study this morning some questions were raised about this Person in the Godhead. 

As I recall the first 10 years of my christian life seemed Holy Spirit void.  

Is that possible? 

Just because I don't bring recognition to Him does that negate His Existence?

In John 14:26 Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit Who would present Himself after Jesus' resurrection, "but the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name"

A picture came to my mind this morning as I sat in study.  

I saw 3 seats.  

God sat in the first, Jesus the second and the Holy Spirit the third.

I pictured myself going before them in prayer. 

I recognized God as my Husband. [Isaiah 54:5]

I brought my request directly to Him.  

Jesus listened intently and, leaning into The Father  began to speak on my behalf as my Advocate and Defender. 

 It was wonderful to feel so taken care of.  

The Holy Spirit sat quietly staring at me, waiting to be recognized.  

I could tell He had something to say to me but He waited and did not interfere.  

His steady gaze followed me with deep compassion written on His face.  

I felt His desire to speak.  

"Holy Spirit"?  I said.  

He stood up and came to me and wrapping His Arms around me in a gentle comforting hug, He began to whisper in my ear.  

He counseled me.

 He comforted me.  

He imparted Wisdom.

He gave me ideas as to where to go, who to see, what to say.

As I listened I knew it was my decision as always.  

I could heed or continue on my way "leaning to my own understanding" Proverbs 3:5

I have to admit though, I felt a supernatural tug to follow HIs Instruction!

I leaned in to His equipping.  

I spent some time in His embrace and did not try to hurry what He was doing and saying.

He promised to walk with me through my troubles and travels.

He said He'd even help my memory recall His words!

I invited Him to be my Constant Companion and asked to be accountable to Him.  

He promised to help me, convict me and guide me if I trusted Him .  

Be assured His ways are always  flavored with the Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23




So my friend,  Look to the Left and Don't leave Him out!  Jesus sent Him INTENTIONALLY for YOU!

John 14: 15-27
John 16: 5-15
Romans 8:1-17
Galatians 5:16-26

To Be or Not To Be...THAT is the Question!

OFFENDED

OFFENSE:  annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles.

"he went out, making it clear he'd taken offense"

synonyms:

annoyance, anger, resentment, indignation, irritation, exasperation, wrath, displeasure, hard/bad/ill feelings, disgruntlement, pique, vexation, animosity, antipathy

Are you easily offended?  Do people walk on eggshells around you?

Do you realize that many are blind to this area of their personality? Some live offended lives and are trapped by this bondage. Others tend to wear their feelings on their sleeve succumbing to every "bump" of life.

I,for one, don't want to be blind.  I want to move forward, go deeper, change.

David said in Psalm 51:10-13

"Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right, perservering, and steadfast spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Your Presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.   THEN WILL I TEACH transgressors Your Ways , and sinners will be converted and return to You."

Friends ~ Do you hear what I hear???

When we submit to the ways of the Lord....MIRACLES HAPPEN!!

I was also thinking  about Stephen today.  The Scriptures say in Acts 7:55 that "Stephen, brimming with the Holy Spirit, ...."

Think about that word....brimming....

You've seen the glass..filled to "almost overflow", where the liquid almost is above the rim?    Whatever or whomever "bumped" into Stephen got a good dose of the Holy Spirit!   

What does someone get covered with when they bump into you?.....

Think about it.

I did and I'm willing cause I want Psalm 51:13!

Blessings!

There are No Secrets

It's true!!

Question....does that bring a feeling of warmth or angst?

Psalm 90:8 "Our iniquities, our secret heart and it's sins (which we would so like to conceal even from ourselves), You have set in the revealing light of Your Countenance"
V 12.  "So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom."
V 16-17. "Let Your work (the Signs of Your Power) be revealed to Your Servants and Your glorious majesty to their children.  And let the beauty, delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands ~ yes the work of our hands, confirm and establish it."

I love this! And I have NO fear of the Lord knowing the "secrets" of my heart.  
WHY

because I've TASTED OF HIS LOVE!   He's a GOOD FATHER!
HE LOVES ME...the good, the bad and the ugly!

We walk a walk of FAITH. 
This means it's not about what I think or how I feel on any given day...it's about the 
TRUTH OF HIS WORD.  
A Word that is unchanging yet active and living.

Today I'm thankful for His love, His Patience, and that He is NOT man that He should sin

It is no secret what God can do...what He's done for others He'll do for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN8w9OZEI1s