Heart To Heart

Intimacy with God is not found in what we do.

It can only be found in receiving His heart as He freely offers it to you, and you in turn offer your heart to Him. It is then that the "doing" is transformed from a duty to a delight, and you experience the truth of what Love is.

 You will no longer talk about what God is but will share with others who God is, because you now posses His heart. 


copyright 8/22/2014

Good News

  A friend told me a story the other day that went like this; A farmer lost his horse. When his neighbors heard, they were sympathetic and stated, "What bad luck!" The farmer scratched his beard in thought and retorted,

 "Good luck, bad luck; who knows?"

 A couple of days later, his horse returned, but not alone; she brought with her a whole herd of wild horses. His neighbors gathered around in amazement. "Now that's what we call good luck," they said. The farmer replied,

 "good luck, bad luck, who knows?"

Eager to get started breaking in their new found fortune, the farmer's son saddled up bright and early the next morning. The horse chosen proved to be a wily foe, as the son was thrown to the ground, badly breaking his leg. The neighbors shook their heads, "so sorry for your bad luck." The farmer's reply was a soft

 "good luck, bad luck, who knows?"

 Only a couple of weeks went by before war broke out, and every able-bodied man in the region was called into service. However, because of his injured leg, the farmer's son had to remain at home. "What good luck is that?" The neighbors said, but the farmer just smiled and answered,

 "good luck, bad luck, who knows?"

  Joseph was the favored son of a rich man. Oblivious to the fact that his brothers' resentment had turned to hatred, he considered himself a very lucky young man. As opportunity afforded it, Joseph's brothers plotted his death. At the last minute, it was decided to sell him as a slave to an Egyptian caravan passing the desert pit where they were holding him.

 What catastrophic misfortune for Joseph!

Where was God in this?

As the sun set over the fading horizon of what he had always known as home, all hope also faded into dark night.

 On arrival in Egypt,things began to look up.

Potiphar chose him to serve in his house. Quickly, Joseph rose from a lowly servant to the man in charge of Potiphar's entire affairs.

This apparent good fortune turned to disaster.

He was falsely accused of seducing Potiphar's wife and was thrown into prison for several years. Joseph was left to wonder what he had done to deserve this?

Where had he gone wrong?

Of course, the story takes a dramatic turn in the end and places Joseph next to Pharaoh in power and prosperity; saving not only Joseph from starvation, but his entire family.

Good luck? No luck at all. 

It was all in the plan to turn what seemed impossible into God's way to not only rescue Joseph, but his entire family.

Don't fight the process!

God knows what it's going to take to get you from here to a successful conclusion. 

Do you think Joseph was the same person as he was when the process began...or Moses or Gideon or the apostle Peter?

Things are seldom as they seem. What may appear as a roller coaster ride to nowhere really is getting you to where you ultimately want to be.

Trust it, it's not a mirage, and that's

 "good news"


copyright 8/18/2014

It Is God

It is God who joyfully sings with us while on the mountains heights,

and silently carries us through the valley's dark and dreadful nights.


copyright 8/22/2014

Road Ahead

For the one who knows God...

The road ahead of us

is not a problem

for the One who lives within us.



copyright 8/19/2014

"As Long As It Is Day"

And Jesus Said:


  "As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no man can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:4,5

 Jesus says, "as long as it is day," 
which implies at some point the "day" will be over. A period of time will end. While I am still alive today, I must do the work God has given me, for I do not know when the window of opportunity will end. Today or tomorrow the light of my life may go out.

The grave affords no other opportunities.

"we... He has included us along with Himself as well as all who believe.

 must... imperative; showing urgency in this matter.

 do... calling for action; being involved in.

 the... the word "the" is singular; the one purpose for which He was sent.

 work... God's work = giving the invitation to come to Jesus for forgiveness, life, freedom, and peace. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save"...Luke 19:10

 Of Him... His Father

 who sent... commissioned. Jesus said "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." John 4;34

 Me... Jesus

Night... A period of darkness when the light of life has gone out.

is coming... A declaration of inevitability.

When no man can work... As when the door of the ark was closed, and there was no longer Noah's voice of warning, so we are called to join with all of heaven in the work. The work of bringing into the light the beautiful face of Jesus before the door is ultimately closed when there is no more opportunity.

Then Jesus tells His disciples that as long as He is living, which implies there will come a time when He Himself will not be alive; essentially predicting His own death.  He declares Himself the light of the world. But He does not leave it there. He makes arrangements for when He is gone from here in bodily form. 

Speaking to the people In Matthew 5:14 He says "you are the light of the world." Placing upon His children the incredible commission to bring Jesus' light into this world once He has gone back to His Father.

 As the moon is a reflection of the sun to bring light into the darkness of the night, so we are a reflection of the SON  to bring light and life into a spiritually dark world. I see, and hear an urgency in God's voice. I see and hear the pain, sorrow, and the hatred that permeates the nations and it's people. Death and calamity surrounds us, but we who know the voice of the Good Shepard; the One who beckons us to find shelter in Him, will raise us up on Eagle's wings into His pavilion of love and safety. 

How can we not tell of this love? How can we stand by and watch? We cannot!

Let us gather together in prayer. Let us speak His Name with boldness and love. Show others who He is by the abundance of love we freely share. Reach out today; grasp a hand today, and give a hug today. Pray for the sick, and laugh with a child for they are a prince or princess to the God Almighty.   

Wow, who do you suppose Jesus will send you today for a word of encouragement or a touch to mend a wound, or brighten the day?

 They may be closer than we think.


copyright 8/14/2014

Faith

                                 Faith is not a leap in the dark.

                                             Faith is…

                                                       a walk with the Light.

                                             copyright 8/10/2014

                        
                                                

Music To My Ears

Previously I talked about the enemy manipulating our senses in order to get us off track. The flip side is that God uses our senses to keep us close and to minister to our entire being. The mind, body, soul and spirit are intimately connected with what we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. The blog post, titled, "Keeping An Eye Out discussed how the sight is used.

Today I want to discuss how our sense of hearing affects our walk with Him.

There are sounds in music that decidedly generate strong responses in everyone. It is said that music is the universal communicator; something everyone understands regardless of color, language, or heritage. Preferences will vary, but the effect remains.

Most of us listen to, or choose appropriate sounds for the occasion. Since the high-pitched sound of the violin has been proven to sooth, we often hear this instrument (rather than drums or cymbals) playing music in an art museum, or at a funeral. Harps are currently used in hospitals and for hospice patients. A marching band incites pride in country and sport teams, and draws an elevated excitement in parades.

There is a science behind what music is played in grocery stores and clothing stores. That "science" is calculated to draw us in and motivate us to buy. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are continually being influenced by the sounds around us.

Doesn't it stand to reason then, that the devil also uses music to his advantage. There are sounds that agitate; sounds that arouse; sounds that incite rebellion. There are hypnotic sounds, that when repeated louder and louder, are capable of causing riots, violence and raucous behavior.

I find that these kinds of sounds draw us away from a peaceful loving God. The sounds of the city, with traffic and horns blowing, cursing and obscenities, keep us from hearing the music of the wind. They keep us from hearing the orchestra of the birds and waterfall. They keep us from hearing the power of the mighty waves as they crash the rocks and gently caress the shore.

One force of sound is designed to keep us from hearing the voice of God; the other force invites us into His presence.

So come into His presence: turn down the volume in your life and go for a walk. Allow yourself the necessarily privilege to listen to the heart of God speaking to you through the music of nature.

copyright 8/2/2014

Knowing Love

"Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,...
many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away."  Song Of Songs 8:6,7

It was Love that conceived the universe.
Love maintains the universe.

God is love     1 John 4:16

If we know Love,
then Love becomes the beginning of all things,
and never the end of anything.


copyright 8/03/2014

What To Do About Who

A rich young man came to Jesus with a question. Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?

Right away we can relate to this fellow being, because he wants to get right in there and "do" something. He also calculates, if what he does is good enough, it ought to give him the desired results. I have this picture in my mind of Jesus standing there in a moment of awkward silence searching the face of this seeking heart. Jesus breaks the silence by coming right to the point. He addresses the essence of this young man's need.

"Why do you ask Me about what is good?" He replies. "there is only One who is good."

Do you see it? Do you get Jesus' point? If not, don't feel badly, the rich young ruler doesn't either.

Jesus takes him directly from "what" he  does to "who" he knows.

Jesus wants him to see that what he does has nothing to do with gaining eternal life.

Christ wants the heart; the doing is a result of devotion and not of effort. Now read it again: "Why do you ask Me about "what" is good? There is only One "who" is good."

Jesus then illustrates His point: "if you want to enter life, obey the commandments." Ok, now you're talking my language! Which ones" the man inquires. In reply Jesus quotes several of the ten commandments. Frustrated, the young ruler responds,

"all these I have kept. What do I still lack?" Aaaaah!
We have come to the moment of truth.

 This is the question Jesus wants to clarify. It seems obvious that this man is sincere in his desire to be righteous. He also realizes he is missing something; that is why he is working so hard to achieve the illusive assurance he can see others have, and Jesus desperately wants to give it to him. Once again Jesus comes to him in his own way of thinking. 

If you want to be "perfect," go, sell your possessions, then come, follow Me"

Me...not the what, but the Who. Not an effort; not a performance, but a person... the "who" is calling him. Angels standing by are rooting for him. "Come on, accept the invitation, join the army of believers. We are here to help you; we want to be there for you, just say yes."

What stopped him? Is it his money? Jesus says that it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Money holds no evil properties, but the love of having money puts many in the position of feeling no need. It often gives the possessor the mistaken feeling of power and control.

 Giving all that control up would make him dependent on Jesus rather than himself.

 Isn't it strange and extremely sad that the very thing he thought was in his control would be his ultimate loss?

There is an ancient poetic proverb that reinforces this truth:

"There once was a lady from Niger
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger
They came back from the ride
With the lady inside
And the smile on the face of the tiger."


copyright 7/14/2014

Face Keeping

   Walt Whitman wrote,

Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.

May I suggest,

Keep your face always toward the Son and the shadows of darkness will fall behind you.


copyright 8/01/2014