I saw a rose...

I saw a rose on a path

A single, pink-red rose
It had escaped from its clan
And to the earth it dove

It found its purpose on the trail

Short-lived as it might be
It said so much while lying there
In beauty and in peace

A note to me from those who've passed

So much to learn from them
It spoke of what will lie ahead
It’s not just a dead end

I know the way I’m heading now

Is the way that I should go
I’m thankful for the pink-red rose
A sign so I would know

8/27/2013

Be

“In Him we live and move and exist.” Acts 17:28 

How many times have we said at the end of the day, “Wow I've gotten so much done today?” And then we go through a mental list of all we've accomplished? Some things we feel good about and others we are just happy to be done with! The next day we work for the same feeling—-the same “high” that our accomplishments give us. But there is a greater joy. There is a joy that comes from just being who we are in Christ. Just being, not doing. Real satisfaction doesn't have anything to do with what we've accomplished, but in resting in what He’s done for us. This is a much greater feeling of peace than we could ever hope to achieve through our own efforts.

Jesus said for all who are weary and heavy –laden to come to Him and find rest for their souls. We cease from our own works, as even God did from His. This doesn't mean we don’t work, but our work is not toil—as it is when we work outside our Garden. The energy from our work comes from an anointing of the Spirit which manifests itself through the gifts He has breathed into us. Ultimately, the greatest joy comes from living, moving and simply existing in Him.—the “I Am.”

Matthew 12:28-30, Genesis 3:17-20, Genesis 3:14, John 8:58

September 21, 2013

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