The Softening Rain

You soften the earth with showers
Psalm 65:10 NLT

This summer in Michigan has been quite rainy. The spring rains carried farther into summer than normal. As a result, the soil is softer than usual. One thing I've found while gardening is that the softer the soil, the easier it is to pull out the smaller weed roots—those roots that are so fine that you don’t notice them easily and may not even realize they can still grow.

This is how it is with spiritual weed roots as well.  Roots of bitterness, sarcasm, criticism and selfishness can spring back up even after we think we've chopped those weeds down. We've got to get the roots—all of them—and the softer the soil of our heart is, the more of the root we’ll be able to remove.

When the rains of the Spirit come—the rain that seems to be too much at times—let it soften your heart even beyond what you think is “normal” so every trace of every selfish root may be removed. Take advantage of whatever tough times come your way, and the softened heart that comes of them, and take out every last trace of every evil root.

August 11, 2013

A Place Like This

"For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." Luke 17:21 NASB

I'm writing this in Michigan's upper peninsula where the scenery is beautiful and life is quite simple and pleasant. I'm thinking that everyone needs a place like this to come to and be refreshed. How I wish I could look at these views, hear the sound of the birds and waterfalls, and breathe the fresh, clean air every day. Although I can take pictures and record sounds, it's not quite the same as being here. When I leave this place the air leaves my lungs and what I now see and hear becomes a memory.

I decide to take this place with me. Yes, I believe I can capture this place and bring it home by carrying it in my heart. This place can come home with me to "my place" as long as I hold it in my heart. So it is with all of God's creation and with His Kingdom as well. We never need to leave the goodness and beauty of God, it remains within us as we remain in Him.

July 6, 2013

Signs on the Path

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see;..." Matthew 13:16 NASB

God sometimes speaks by dropping a piece of driftwood onto a beach. Unless you know the beach and know that it's not usually there, then you won't know that something unusual has happened.

When you rush through life without paying much attention, you might miss God's doings. But when you're observant, alert and paying attention, you will notice the little love notes He drops into your life--the unexpected surprises. Others might not understand what those things mean, but you know.

I think God prefers it that way--A secret between He and you. He smiles, you smile and no one else gets it like you both do. Of course He has secrets with others too and that's o.k. But the ones He has with you are tailor made for you and make them extra special.

So when walking on the familiar path of your daily life, look for the driftwood--the unexpected surprise from God that only you recognize as being special--and remember that He is right there waiting to talk with you as you walk together.

Hebrews 13:5, Revelation 2:17

Nothing but the Truth

"...how many times must I charge you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord." 1 Kings 22:16 The Amplified Bible

Ahab, king of Israel, wanted to go fight Syria at Ramoth-gileod. 400 prophets told him that he would win if he went. At King Jehoshaphat's request, he asked the prophet Micaiah what he thought. At first Micaiah gave him a sarcastic answer because he knew Ahab really didn't want to hear from the Lord, he just wanted the prophets to tell him that what he wanted to do was right. After Ahab said to tell him, "nothing but the truth" then Micaiah told him he would die if he went to battle. Ahab's response was to put Micaiah in prison and he went and fought in the battle anyway. He died In the battle.

The truth isn't what the majority believes. The truth is what God says. Micaiah told one of the other prophets how to find what the Spirit of God is saying--by hiding himself in an inner chamber. When we go into our prayer closet and seek the Lord--shutting out the thoughts of the crowd, public and popular opinions--then we will find the truth. Once we find it then we need to live by it.  We need to take heed to it and not just do what we were going to do anyway. The price of rejecting the truth is much greater than whatever it costs us to accept it. And like Jesus said, when we know the truth it will make us free!

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Proverbs 23:23, John 8:32

Strings Attached

 "I am the vine, you are the branches..."  Jesus-John 15:5

God is not looking for you to grow spiritually to a point where you become independent from Him.  Spiritual growth and maturity does not mean you become self-sufficient.  He wants you to become and remain close to Him--closer and closer every day, not more independent and distant.  He wants to have a very close relationship with you.  He loves you!

Oh how it must hurt Him when we only go to Him for stuff--even good stuff like healing anointings or inspiring sermons.  It seems we try to untangle ourselves from the strings of dependency on Him so we can preach and pray without having had to spend time with Him.  We mistakenly think that is maturity.  We want to figure it all out so we can say, "O.K. God, I got it now, I know how to pray, to preach, to worship, to live my life, I'll take it from here."  

We try and cut the strings, but the strings are the vines connecting us to our life source.  He is the vine, we are the branches.  We need to stay tangled up in Him.  We need to stay attached, dependent and in love with Him!  Fall in love with Jesus all over again.  Get tangled up in Him so much so that you can never get free, nor would ever want to!

June 3, 2013

A Return to the Land

God "determined their allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation...so that they should seek God in the hope that they might...find Him" Acts 17:26-27 Amplified Bible

Throughout the Bible we see God positioning people in various lands at various times--Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Joseph and Moses to name a few.

Adam and Eve were driven from their land, the Garden, where they had been able to find God and ever since then God has been calling people to return to a land where He can be found.  A land where He will visit with the people and walk among them.  A land where we will freely worship Him, enjoy His presence, His ways and each other.  A land where people will make a place for Him-giving Him room--by setting aside that which is holy to the Lord.

When we remain in, or return to, the land of our calling we will find it to be a place where we seek and find God.  It's a place where we have opportunity to do what Adam and Eve didn't do--leave the tree alone-- setting it aside as an offering to Him.  When we do, we are giving Him place in our land and He will visit with us!  When we set aside a portion of our labor, (tithe), our time, (Sabbath) and our food/appetites, (fasting) then we are offering these things to Him, showing Him that we are seeking Him, in hopes of finding Him.  It shows we honor Him, worship Him and enjoy His presence.  It shows we are giving Him space in our life.

When people return to the land of their calling then the purposes of the cities and nations will also be restored.  The ancient ruins, which are the original purposes that were neglected or abandoned, will be rebuilt!  The original purpose has always been for a people to rise up who will worship God and enjoy communion and fellowship with Him and each other.

Just as Mary and Joseph returned to their home land prior to Jesus being born into the earth, when we yield to God's positioning us in the land of our calling and fulfill our purpose there, then we are giving Him room among us and the way is prepared for Jesus to come again to the earth as was promised!

Isaiah 61:4; Proverbs 22:28, Luke 2:3, Acts 17:26-27

Listen for the Whisper

 And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, Isaiah 30:21 NKJ


Some decisions in life seem so clear.  You go forward, knowing exactly what to do, often not even giving thought about what you’re doing, but just staying on the path, sticking with the plan.  And then there is an intersection.  What if you veered off the path?  What if you went another way?   You pause and look down that path.

Sometimes you need to get off the familiar, safe path and go on an adventure.  And sometimes you need to stay on your current path, stay focused on the goal and turn away from the rabbit trails and distractions.  How do you know which way is right?  These are times when knowing how to hear from the One who knows the future pays off.  Knowing the One who knows exactly the way your life needs to go is vital. 

  

As it says in this Scripture in Isaiah, often there is a whisper in your ear, Someone looking over your shoulder who knows the right way.  Someone who cares for you and your future, and who will never steer you wrong.  But in order to have the courage to listen to that Voice, you need to know that you can trust it—trust Him.  God in Heaven has proven that He is Someone you can trust your life with.  He loves you.  In fact He is love itself. 

  

So the next time you are at one of life’s intersections before you go barreling through without question, pause and listen for the Voice, just a whisper in your ear that you need to slow down for and be quiet in order to hear.  You can trust Him.  He won’t fail you and He won’t leave you.  It may not be the easiest path, but it will be the right one.

1 John 4:8; Jeremiah 29:11; Hebrews 13:5