Many if not all of us are familiar with Jer 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Plans to prosper, plans to give us hope and a future.
We always seem to stop there at verse 11. But it doesn't stop there it goes on to another promise...
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Calling upon Him and praying to Him and knowing right here in His word HE, himself is saying, I WILL LISTEN TO YOU! Then reading on....
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. WE WILL FIND HIM ~ WE WILL FIND HIM ~ WHEN WE SEEK HIM WITH ALL OF OUR HEART ~
Are seeking him, with all of your heart or just a portion of it. Are you crying out in your searching and seeking for Him, is your cry tugging on him to make him stand still?
Are you willing to make the sacrifice that involves ALL of your heart? The scribe here struggles with the all part, as much as I would like to think not! What is holding me back? Fear? Failure? Hurt?
Or is it the joy? The success of living a life totally committed to God?
I have often written in my private journals, no matter what the cost, no matter what the cost! I am sincere in writing that as it is in my heart, but to step in to it I hold back...why?
14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.
What holds us captive? Do you want freedom from that?
Blessings ~
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Have Thine own way, Lord
Adelaide A. Pollard, 1862-1934 wrote the hymn ~
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.
2. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Search me and try me, Savior today! Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now, as in thy presence humbly I bow.
3. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me I pray! Power, all power, surely is thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!
4. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Hold o'er my being absolute sway. Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!
Growing up and even in to my adult life, this was one of the favorite hymns to be played during the "Altar Calls". I, myself have followed that long walk down the isle to the altar to bare my heart to Jesus, many times. Crying out to him, Lord, have your way, Lord, have your way.
It is a fact that many of us have been there with the same crying out to him. And it too is a fact, that as many of us have walked away from the altar, we have also walked away from the crying out to him. The further we are from the altar, the less likely we are to let Him have His way! This would be one of those OUCH moments for none other than yours truly! Like I have said many times before, this always hits me first. Not that it is necessarily the case at this moment in my life, but it has been true all too often, therefore definitely making this an ouch.
We must simply remember this, Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Remembering also~ John 15:9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Oh and always, always remember your armor! Remembering these, you can walk in His way with ease. Never having to wonder where that "altar presence feeling" went, for you will be walking in it. Walking always in HIS PRESENCE!
Blessings~
Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.
2. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Search me and try me, Savior today! Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now, as in thy presence humbly I bow.
3. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me I pray! Power, all power, surely is thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!
4. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! Hold o'er my being absolute sway. Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!
Growing up and even in to my adult life, this was one of the favorite hymns to be played during the "Altar Calls". I, myself have followed that long walk down the isle to the altar to bare my heart to Jesus, many times. Crying out to him, Lord, have your way, Lord, have your way.
It is a fact that many of us have been there with the same crying out to him. And it too is a fact, that as many of us have walked away from the altar, we have also walked away from the crying out to him. The further we are from the altar, the less likely we are to let Him have His way! This would be one of those OUCH moments for none other than yours truly! Like I have said many times before, this always hits me first. Not that it is necessarily the case at this moment in my life, but it has been true all too often, therefore definitely making this an ouch.
We must simply remember this, Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Remembering also~ John 15:9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Oh and always, always remember your armor! Remembering these, you can walk in His way with ease. Never having to wonder where that "altar presence feeling" went, for you will be walking in it. Walking always in HIS PRESENCE!
Blessings~
Thursday, April 24, 2008
IS Jesus Standing Still?
Has your cry captured the heart of Jesus to bring him to a halt?
Many places in the Bible tell of those that reached out, cried out, ran out, stepped out to capture Jesus, even just the hem of HIS garment, which in turn, stopped Him where He was to seek out the one seeking HIM.
So, again I ask~ Is Jesus standing still? Or is He walking right past?
In Mat 9 we read about the woman with the issue of bleeding who, in her desperation stepped out of her home and reached out ~20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
Here, Jesus was on his way to the Rulers house where his daughter had died and he had petitioned for Jesus to "come and lay your hand upon her and she will live".
Again Jesus is on his way to another destination and two blind men followed and CRIED OUT to him, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" This too, is in Chapter 9 of Matt.
What about Blind Bartimaeus? Mark chap 10 ~ he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.
So again, I ask, Is Jesus standing still?
Has your cry captured him? Has your reaching out caught him?
I think if we really get this revelation it will change our lives forever, we must reignite our passion for our Savior. After all HE IS our Savior!
Blessings~
Many places in the Bible tell of those that reached out, cried out, ran out, stepped out to capture Jesus, even just the hem of HIS garment, which in turn, stopped Him where He was to seek out the one seeking HIM.
So, again I ask~ Is Jesus standing still? Or is He walking right past?
In Mat 9 we read about the woman with the issue of bleeding who, in her desperation stepped out of her home and reached out ~20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
Here, Jesus was on his way to the Rulers house where his daughter had died and he had petitioned for Jesus to "come and lay your hand upon her and she will live".
Again Jesus is on his way to another destination and two blind men followed and CRIED OUT to him, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" This too, is in Chapter 9 of Matt.
What about Blind Bartimaeus? Mark chap 10 ~ he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.
So again, I ask, Is Jesus standing still?
Has your cry captured him? Has your reaching out caught him?
I think if we really get this revelation it will change our lives forever, we must reignite our passion for our Savior. After all HE IS our Savior!
Blessings~
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Calling Out
I ask you this~
What is calling out to you?
It is the thing that makes our heart smile and be filled with joy. That thing, is what God created in you to do. He molded and created it, just for you. For each of us it is different. It is the thing that stirs your emotions, ok "guys", you know it is true. You do have emotions and they do get stirred.
Much of the time, we are confused by it thinking that it is some desire we have put inside and then we think we have no time for it so mostly it is placed on a dusty shelf and forgotten about. This is a great tragedy.
For us and for God. For God, because he created you with this in mind for you. For us, because we never trusted God enough to step out in to what He purposed for us, and by not doing so, we never have the total happiness He desires for us. In other words, we have never reached our full potential in life.
It is never to late in life to reach for what is calling out to you. Never! Well, I guess if you are 90 years old and want to climb Mt Everest and have never trained for it ;-)!! But pretty much anything else is possible!
Phil 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Psl 139:13 says For you formed my inward parts: you covered me in my mothers womb.
You formed my INWARD parts ~ Inward, inside of me. My mind, my soul, my emotions, my desires. He formed them all for each of us.
What IS calling out to you? Have you answered? What is it that you do or have done that just seems to fall in to place? I am telling you, reach out, step out and I know you will be in awe of all the God has for you. To see it fall in to place. I will be anxious to see any comments on this in the form of testimonies!
I have a few myself from 2007, my year of stepping out in faith. 2008 will be no different.
Blessings~
What is calling out to you?
It is the thing that makes our heart smile and be filled with joy. That thing, is what God created in you to do. He molded and created it, just for you. For each of us it is different. It is the thing that stirs your emotions, ok "guys", you know it is true. You do have emotions and they do get stirred.
Much of the time, we are confused by it thinking that it is some desire we have put inside and then we think we have no time for it so mostly it is placed on a dusty shelf and forgotten about. This is a great tragedy.
For us and for God. For God, because he created you with this in mind for you. For us, because we never trusted God enough to step out in to what He purposed for us, and by not doing so, we never have the total happiness He desires for us. In other words, we have never reached our full potential in life.
It is never to late in life to reach for what is calling out to you. Never! Well, I guess if you are 90 years old and want to climb Mt Everest and have never trained for it ;-)!! But pretty much anything else is possible!
Phil 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Psl 139:13 says For you formed my inward parts: you covered me in my mothers womb.
You formed my INWARD parts ~ Inward, inside of me. My mind, my soul, my emotions, my desires. He formed them all for each of us.
What IS calling out to you? Have you answered? What is it that you do or have done that just seems to fall in to place? I am telling you, reach out, step out and I know you will be in awe of all the God has for you. To see it fall in to place. I will be anxious to see any comments on this in the form of testimonies!
I have a few myself from 2007, my year of stepping out in faith. 2008 will be no different.
Blessings~
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Complete Joy ~ Spring is in the air, finally
It is time for all you gardeners to get that seed or seedling in the ground so we will have something to gather come harvest time.
Several years ago I wrote something on Joy and Gardening and would like to share it with you today if I may;
In the Gospel of John chapter 15, verse 11, the word of the Lord says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made complete.” Complete Joy.
What is it that he told us so that we can have this? We must go back a bit in the Gospel of John to find this out. John Chapter 15 explains how Jesus taught about the Vine and the Branches, it is an excellent illustration for us today;
Jesus said that He was the Vine and that His Father is the Gardner, who would not want God as
their Gardner?
With the Father being the Gardner imagine all the care we would get. I know how
I take care of my little garden, In our garden we have many different herbs growing and we
have 3 different types of tomatoes growing, of course there is one of them that my daughter has
laid claim to and rightfully so. Well anyone who has ever tended to a garden before knows about
sucker branches. Sucker branches appear and you think ahhhhhhhhh green growth,
I’m a Gardner.
Then they really take off, growing like crazy, before you know it they are like a foot long and you think WOW I am really good at this. They look good on the outside and you have a tendency to overlook them sometime and before you know it those sucker branches have really sucked the life out of the rest of the plant which is actually the best part of the plant; the part that will produce the “fruit”. So then you realize opps all that looks good and pretty isn’t always good. You have to go get the shears or as in my case the big ol knife and whack that sucker branch right off, it will improve the plant and the plant will produce good fruit. So our job as earthly little gardeners are a little like what our Father God the big Gardner does. He looks at the vine (Jesus) and those that live through him, the little branches and when ever a sucker branch comes along to destroy the other branches He has to cut it off. Sometimes those that are good even need a little pruning back to get it better grounded on the vine.
You know though when he does that to us, most of the time it is because we are trying to suck the life right out of our own selves. We forget where we get our life from and try to set out on our own or in a different direction, one that is not good for us. So sometimes we have to be reshaped so we can become well nourished. Our Father knows what is ahead for us and knows which direction we should be growing. He is so loving to us to guide us in that direction. He sent his son to show us the way. He sent the Holy Spirit to give us counsel and comfort along the way.
He has done every thing to give us every opportunity to live the best life we could have.
Jesus tells us I am the Vine and you are the Branches. If any man remains in me and I in him, he will produce much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing, if you do not remain in me, then you become like the branch that is cut off and thrown away. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. THIS is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to my disciples. As my Father loves me, I love you, now remain in my love. If you obey my commands you will remain in my love as I have obeyed my Fathers command I remain in his love. I HAVE TOLD YOU THIS THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU AND THAT YOUR JOY BE MADE COMPLETE.
Now, look to your left, look to your right, look to the front again. Now, close your eyes for just a moment and while you have them closed listen to this, remember keep your eyes closed.
Chapter 15 verse 12, My command is this; love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his own life for his friends. With your eyes still closed…ask yourself this, would I lay my life down for the person next to me? Do not say anything; just think about it, would you? You can open your eyes now.
My command is this; Love each other as I love you, greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends.
YOU are my friends if you do as I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the business of the Master. Instead, I have called you friends, for EVERYTHING that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you. WOW!
Everything that Jesus has learned he has made known to us.
So, what is that complete joy?
Remaining in his love, loving one another, bearing lasting fruit
What is it to you?
You know we can walk in this all the time, if we only will! That is our decision.
Where are you?
Are you a branch that is flourishing?
Are you a branch that is doing ok but needs some pruning?
Are you a sucker branch?
Please take this time just a moment now to think about that, I invite you to come to His altar for some nourishment that only the Father Gardner can provide. Just you and Him …
If you have never made a decision to give your life to Christ and would like to do that right now. He is waiting for you!
Received ~ Summer 2006
Blessings~ Hope you are full of Complete Joy and have a great garden this year!
Several years ago I wrote something on Joy and Gardening and would like to share it with you today if I may;
In the Gospel of John chapter 15, verse 11, the word of the Lord says, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be made complete.” Complete Joy.
What is it that he told us so that we can have this? We must go back a bit in the Gospel of John to find this out. John Chapter 15 explains how Jesus taught about the Vine and the Branches, it is an excellent illustration for us today;
Jesus said that He was the Vine and that His Father is the Gardner, who would not want God as
their Gardner?
With the Father being the Gardner imagine all the care we would get. I know how
I take care of my little garden, In our garden we have many different herbs growing and we
have 3 different types of tomatoes growing, of course there is one of them that my daughter has
laid claim to and rightfully so. Well anyone who has ever tended to a garden before knows about
sucker branches. Sucker branches appear and you think ahhhhhhhhh green growth,
I’m a Gardner.
Then they really take off, growing like crazy, before you know it they are like a foot long and you think WOW I am really good at this. They look good on the outside and you have a tendency to overlook them sometime and before you know it those sucker branches have really sucked the life out of the rest of the plant which is actually the best part of the plant; the part that will produce the “fruit”. So then you realize opps all that looks good and pretty isn’t always good. You have to go get the shears or as in my case the big ol knife and whack that sucker branch right off, it will improve the plant and the plant will produce good fruit. So our job as earthly little gardeners are a little like what our Father God the big Gardner does. He looks at the vine (Jesus) and those that live through him, the little branches and when ever a sucker branch comes along to destroy the other branches He has to cut it off. Sometimes those that are good even need a little pruning back to get it better grounded on the vine.
You know though when he does that to us, most of the time it is because we are trying to suck the life right out of our own selves. We forget where we get our life from and try to set out on our own or in a different direction, one that is not good for us. So sometimes we have to be reshaped so we can become well nourished. Our Father knows what is ahead for us and knows which direction we should be growing. He is so loving to us to guide us in that direction. He sent his son to show us the way. He sent the Holy Spirit to give us counsel and comfort along the way.
He has done every thing to give us every opportunity to live the best life we could have.
Jesus tells us I am the Vine and you are the Branches. If any man remains in me and I in him, he will produce much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing, if you do not remain in me, then you become like the branch that is cut off and thrown away. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. THIS is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to my disciples. As my Father loves me, I love you, now remain in my love. If you obey my commands you will remain in my love as I have obeyed my Fathers command I remain in his love. I HAVE TOLD YOU THIS THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU AND THAT YOUR JOY BE MADE COMPLETE.
Now, look to your left, look to your right, look to the front again. Now, close your eyes for just a moment and while you have them closed listen to this, remember keep your eyes closed.
Chapter 15 verse 12, My command is this; love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his own life for his friends. With your eyes still closed…ask yourself this, would I lay my life down for the person next to me? Do not say anything; just think about it, would you? You can open your eyes now.
My command is this; Love each other as I love you, greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends.
YOU are my friends if you do as I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the business of the Master. Instead, I have called you friends, for EVERYTHING that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you. WOW!
Everything that Jesus has learned he has made known to us.
So, what is that complete joy?
Remaining in his love, loving one another, bearing lasting fruit
What is it to you?
You know we can walk in this all the time, if we only will! That is our decision.
Where are you?
Are you a branch that is flourishing?
Are you a branch that is doing ok but needs some pruning?
Are you a sucker branch?
Please take this time just a moment now to think about that, I invite you to come to His altar for some nourishment that only the Father Gardner can provide. Just you and Him …
If you have never made a decision to give your life to Christ and would like to do that right now. He is waiting for you!
Received ~ Summer 2006
Blessings~ Hope you are full of Complete Joy and have a great garden this year!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Have you found your Sycamore Tree?
Review your life and answer this question: What seed did God plant in the earth in anticipation of your birth—and the day you would pass His tree of destiny with a strangely compelling urge to climb it? Did you climb or decline? (You may be standing in the shade of yet another tree this very moment…) (taken from devotional by Tommy Tenny)
I poise this question to you again, Did you climb the tree or see it as an obstacle?
What are you taking shade from that perhaps was something planted before your time for a time such as this?
Read about Zacchaeus in Luke 19. Then ask yourself, would I climb the tree?
Blessings~
I poise this question to you again, Did you climb the tree or see it as an obstacle?
What are you taking shade from that perhaps was something planted before your time for a time such as this?
Read about Zacchaeus in Luke 19. Then ask yourself, would I climb the tree?
Blessings~
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