Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Keeping sight!

Zechariah 2:8 refers to us lovingly as the apple of God's eyes and is an expression of God's jealousy for us...

"For thus says Yahweh of Armies:' For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye."

You'll find this same reference made in other parts of the word as well. In Psalm 17:8 we find that David even asked to be remembered by the Lord as such...calling upon the protection that it promised by being referred to in that way. "Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings..."

As I was researching this, I found that the apple of the eye is the pupil of the eye. The most important part...the part that sees, that takes in the vision! And just think about it...the eyelid takes careful protection of the pupil by automatically closing when there is the least possibility of danger! Yes, the pupil is most precious and jealously protected and that is what God says we are.

How wonderful to be loved in such a way. To be so cherished and faithfully kept. But what I find more interesting is this...God has asked us to do the same for Him.

Proverbs 7:2 says this, "Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye." God wants us to hold His word in the same way and to constantly maintain the vision for our life, so that we will not perish! And most of all, God wants to see Himself when He looks in our eyes! The pupil is like a mirror. When you look into someones eyes closely, you can see a refection of yourself there. That's what God wants...to see Himself reflected in your vision. To know your eyes are set on Him.

So today...when you read the Bible...let those words be reflected in your eyes and others will read them too!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Sincere Hearts

I was reading from Bob Jones website last night, THE SHEPERDS ROD 2009, a prophetic insight for this year we are about to enter into and one very profound statement that he made was this..."America has lost her innocence testing shall be this year to see who is sincere and who is not. And your faith will fail you this year if it’s not in Jesus Christ."

Daniel 11:34-35 Now when they fall, they shall receive a little help. Many shall join themselves to them with flatteries and hypocrisies. 35 And some of those who are wise, prudent, and understanding shall be weakened and fall, [thus, then, the insincere among the people will lose courage and become deserters. It will be a test] to refine, to purify, and to make those among [God's people] white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for the time [God] appointed.

This year, our hearts are going to be tested. I can say that the testing has already begun. If I could just be transparent for a moment...(it's good practice for eternity)...God has been dealing with me greatly in this area. God wants to know if I am sincere in every area, from being a wife, to a mother...to being a minister of helps and so on... The question God has been asking is who are you doing this for? If I am being a wife only for John...it's for the wrong reason. He's a wonderful husband and he deserves a good wife but utimately...he doesn't belong to me. He's God's, so my actions as a wife should reveal that to him! If I am a trying to be a good parent because I want to be and my kids need one...again, it's only half effective. My parenthood should reveal God as father to them...and His love! If I am helping because I want to...you guessed it...wrong reason! God wants to help and that should always be apparent! In all of these instances and whatever may apply to you, God is always willing and sincere in His motive. And that's what He is looking for in us! That same heart...carried out so beautifully in what He has made each of us to be and called us to do!

Here's the symptom that tells me, by the way, that my sincerity is being tested...it's found right in the word we have just read. It's the urge to desert...jump ship...bail....run...to not have to face it! Any time I recognize that tendency to want to do that...God is asking, "Are you sincere?"

Let me just encourage you...look to the ONE who is sincere in every way...and acknowledge every good and perfect gift that is in you in Christ Jesus. Sincerity will be communicated through your faith in Him!

Friday, December 26, 2008

2009 A Hallelujiah Year!!!

I was doing some reading in the word today and just got supercharged as I read. I came across the name of the Lord, Yahweh found in Exodus 3:14 where God speaks to Moses and says “I am that I am”. And as I looked more closely at it, Yahweh means, “present to act, an immediacy or presence or even simply, to be!” I am that I am….present to act! I am that I am…all that you have need of, present! Every provision that is needed for you life…present,“to be”, to come into immediate existence! Love, salvation, deliverance, healing, prosperity, faith, peace, hope, mercy, compassion, truth, etc. etc. All of the attributes of God’s integrity and character, every resource of God, immediately present, in that NAME!! What
Stacey falls short of, what I myself cannot do...call on the I AM THAT I AM...and the presence of whatever is needed comes!

And something even more interesting is that Yah, a shortened form of Yahweh is directly tied to a word we commonly use in praise! Every time we say HALLELUJIAH, we say, “God is present! He’s immediately here! God is present to act! GOD IS... GOD BE with us!” Whoa! Hallelujiah!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Bell

Someone sent this to me in an email today and I thought it was nice and wanted to share! It's supposed to be a bell and if you copy and paste this (centered), it would make a lovely insert in a Christmas Card or a nice card for place settings at Christmas Dinner. Read and enjoy!

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Romans 8:28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected.(Phil.1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

Friday, December 19, 2008

Together

I was thinking about Christmas and what this week holds for us. Such a wonderful time, when we come together with loved ones and family…and there’s something very powerful about that word…together! Of course, in simplest of terms, broken down, it means two gathered. Two is a very powerful number in the word of God! Any time two were gathered, it was meant to be productive…to multiply and be fruitful! Just look at Genesis, when God created, he made two of every thing…and it was for this purpose. Think of that this week when you come together with your family and your friends. You are coming together with them for more than just a wonderful meal and gift opening! You are coming together so that something greater can be accomplished. God wants to add something to their lives through you!

Just look at Matthew 18:16,19 & 20
…”in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”


Every gathering, whether it’s simply in your living room with your spouse and children, with a friend, at church, or even these Holy day gatherings that we so look forward to, Christmas & Easter…just think of what can be established there! Where we gather, in His name, (….and as a child of God, the good news is, you can’t gather any other way! His name is always present with you. Unbelievers are not an issue here! Acknowledge Holy Spirit’s presence and person. He & I make two! He & you make two!) So why not come up with some questions…some asking…this Christmas. What do you want to see accomplished in your life and the life of others? Heaven becomes present when we are gathered!

I am so looking forward to what Sunday holds, with the Word & fellowship & Candlelight Communion on Tuesday! But I am also looking forward to the party at my sisters house and dinner at my grandparent’s home, and wherever else I may find myself between now and Christmas because every gathering…every coming together means....multiplication…fruitfulness…something produced....another life touched and changed for God’s glory!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

A Christmas Memory

Pastor Sharon asked us the other evening what our favorite Christmas memory was...and truly, it was hard to chose but I think one has just been created! I loved this night with my step daughter. I just had the most wonderful 'mommy' time with her, which is a very rare thing and a very valuable thing. Most of the time, we are all together and we just can't get enough of her!

But tonight, I took her Christmas shopping...and we talked and had a great time and when she got in the car, she said, squeeling with delight, "Thank you!" and it did something to my heart. I knew she meant it. And when she got out of the car, we said our "I love you's" but once again, I got the same "Thank you" out of her and it hadn't lost any meaning since the first time she said it. What a precious thing! So precious!

Then it occurred to me...when was the last time I said thank you that way to anyone, especially my very loving, very giving, very wonderful heavenly Father? I say thank you to Him all the time...but like that? I want to make His heart feel like that. I'm catching up tonight...believe me!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Selfless equality....

Luke 15 speaks of the son who asked his father for his inheritance and the father gave it to him. It says that he packed up his things and went into a far country and wasted his substance with riotous living. That’s when he found himself “wanting”. When he wasted his substance, his “being”...his knowledge, understanding and wisdom on things that were in rebellion to his father's thoughts toward him, contrary to his father's plans for him and outside his father's provision for him. And you know what I find interesting? No where is it stated that the father asked him to leave. The father simply did what was asked of him...no argument was recorded and no questions were asked. Could it be that the father was waiting for his son to ask for what was available to him? The conclusion of the parable would suggest such a thing, when the father stated, "all that I have is thine". This poses the question...Had the son remained there after receiving his inheritance, what could have potentially happened?

I was looking at that word “far” country because that’s where he went to when he began to live wrong and began to want. Far speaks of going beyond God’s preeminent. “Far” oversteps the province of a created being..the boundaries God created for us, that He can work within. “Far” makes reference to proud (presumptuous) things, full of arrogance, derogatory to the majesty of God.

Just look at some words that are synonyms to presumptuousness: self-assertive, self-conceited, self-important, self-satisfied, , self-assured, self-confident, self-centered, selfish. SELF, SELF, SELF!!!!! and what’s worse is the word superior! Thinking we know what’s best for self! That’s when we really come to want. And to want is nothing more than to be without worth. To be useless, to come behind, be late or tardy, failing to reach the goal and falling short of the end.

2 Corinthians 8:9-15 says...
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.


Jesus didn't become poor in the natural...he became poor in his mind. Deducting all "self" from his thinking. That through his self-less thoughts, we might be rich! And then he put it in our hands to do the performing and be demonstration of the same thing. That in our abundance of selflessness, there will be an endless supply...no lack among us! Selfless equality? Selfless = equality.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Job 23:12 &14 says “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. For he performs the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.” The word perform there means to furnish. And as I read this, I think simply put, when I love His word more than any thing I believe to be necessary for me to live, whether it’s food, clothes, money, a car, a house….that’s when He is able to furnish those things that are appointed for my life. And the word says that many such things are with Him. Not that He is with the things! And I think that’s where lack sets in many times! When the things distract us from the true focus! You know, we should be aware of this each and every day but here we are in the Christmas season and there are so many “things” that we need and even want. Things, that if we don’t have them, could leave us in a place of devastation but you know what, as large a deficit as not have those things may leave, without Him, they are simply distractions. What I want for Christmas and for each and every day is first and foremost Him!

With Him...I have it all!

Monday, December 8, 2008

My Cup Runneth Over

Proverbs 8:6 "Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things."

I was meditating on "words" and "things" again. And I found something very interesting. Years ago, I remember studying a passage and looking closely at the word "lips" in it and the meaning was "pouring place". And you know, then that made perfect sense to me because "out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water." I recognized that my lips were literally a pouring place for those rivers to come forth!

Today as I was reading and meditating on Proverbs 8:6...again I felt prompted to reference that word "lips" again and need I say, again, I learned something so profoundly beautiful! Of course, the meaning here is once again, the bank of a river but it also refers to the edge of a cup.

I couldn't help but think of Psalm 23:5....
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

Never thought of my lips as being edge of the cup that God created to run over! Just loving the thought of that and falling in love with God all over again today!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Remember out loud!

Deuteronomy 4:9 says "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;"


I am so thankful for the foundational teaching that I have received for all of my Christian life, which would be about nine years now. I have been taught how to believe and speak the Word of God, which is equivalent to faith. Faith is believing and speaking the Word!

And just this past Tuesday, our bible study was based on this very subject and something that we learned is that in the Hebrew, the word that we use for "thing" in English, is actually "word". And we know that when God created the world, that He spoke in Hebrew because that was the language until the tower of Babel when the languages were confused. So when God spoke, in the beginning, He said "Light, be...." and it was! His "word" created a "thing".

Well, I have just been chewing on this word all week and I am so thankful for it! And it has me on a mission of sorts. It seems now that every time I read the word, and see the word "thing" or "word", they are completely interchangeable to me and it just keeps revelating to me! And this morning, I was reading in Deuteronomy, the passage above and this is how I see it now...

Deuteronomy 4:9 says "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;"

It is so important right now that we keep our soul, guarding our heard and our mind, and tend to the precious Word that God has deposited there. We must set boundaries, forbidding fear, contrary imaginations, and words of doubt and unbelief to come in because what I am reading here is that it will cause us to forget the WORDS of God that we have already seen come to pass!

"Take heed to thyself"...It's written very clearly here that I AM RESPONSIBLE for keeping my self within the bounds of faith, guarding myself from fear, observe myself because why should anyone else have to keep an eye on me?...And then realize that I am the treasurer and the Word should never be wasted! Unprofitably used? And that's what will happen right? "Lest they depart from thy heart all the days of your life." And then my children would never be taught or my children's children.

And that's one last interesting point that I want to make here. I think that I have told at least four other people about the message I heard on "words" being "things" already and I have a feeling that is key! God was telling them...here's how you do it, "teach"! Teach someone...sit down on the couch next to your husband and tell him the exciting news...or at the lunch table with some friends and tell them what's at work changing your life or maybe even fill someone in who didn't make it out to church..."Man, what a great service, you have to hear this!"

Remember out loud!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Today's Bonus

What a wonderful morning in prayer we had together! There are no words to explain what it was like, so I won't try, I'm sorry but God showed me a clear picture. As we were praying for someone, one of the intercessors prayed about not entertaining thoughts and this is what I saw...

There was a huge buffet table laid out...every kind of wonderful food I could imagine, prepared just for entertaining! There must have been a party planned and that's when I saw what I believe was the spirit of poverty. He wasn't the one the layout was intended for but he was the one that was being entertained. And he was FAT! With one thought, he was offered something from the table and as more thoughts came, it wasn't very long and everything was gone....table linens, napkins, china, silverware, wine glasses...it was all gone. He even began to devour the table.

You see, that table is the one God has prepared for me in the presence of my
enemies but my enemy should never be entertained! Psalm 23:1 says "The LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack." and verse 5 continues, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

I intend to eat everything on that table...the enemy is only there to watch!

"Don't hold your breath!"- fat chance

Last night...a long awaited answer to prayer came. It's been a year and a half really and of course, my friend and prayer partner and I have agreed many times concerning this issue...so I called her right away to tell her the good news and when the words came out of my mouth, this huge sigh was released from out of my belly. A few minutes passed and it happened again and again. And then, the Lord said, "You have been holding your breath!"

We all of course have heard the saying, "Don't hold your breath!" It's an idiom of sorts, something that you say in order to tell someone that an event is not likely to happen. Well, you know what I have to say to that...FAT CHANCE!!! With God, it's not likely to happen that it's not likely to happen!

I'm still holding my breath...anticipating, anticipating, anticipating for yesterday's prayers and tomorrow's as well!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Plan B Society?

As I was getting ready to blog yesterday, I was signing in and saw the blog titles flashing up and two of them were, "Hey, you should..." and the other was "alternative ideas" something or other.com and it occurred to me that we live in an "alternative" driven world. In this world full of choices, we are constantly faced with the question of "what are my alternatives?"

Alternative, by definition are an expression of choice, different or functioning outside the cultural, social or economic system and since we are citizens of heaven, this in terms of that would be defined this way:

An alternative is choosing, differing or functioning outside of the Kingdom's system, outside of God's plans and purposes and His unchanging will for each of our lives and the "body of Christ" as a whole.

I find it interesting that God's will never changes but somehow, when presented with alternatives, ours does. Let me say it this way. God's will is something He chose and created it and now, it is established and unmovable. It is what He made it to be! And He has given us the very same ability....to use our will in the very same way. To look at God's word and say, "Yep, that's my will too...finished! Done! It won't change, no matter if someone says, "Hey, you should..." or send you the address to "alternativeideas-something or other.com"

There of course, are alternative lifestyles that define us relationally. A pretty word for what is better known as homosexuality maybe but really...if the truth be said, any relationship that can be determined to be outside God's will, deviating from His original plan for relationship can be defined as alternative.

Also, there are alternative tastes in music...something other than what is conventional or standard. Christian radio is often described as alternative by many by according to the Kingdom of God, it's anything but because in truth, every musical gift was created to give God glory and if it doesn't, clearly it's alternative. In the "rock" world...alternative can be "punk rock" or "hard rock"...anything adding to or taking away from it's original value. So, there's another form of alternative. We can have the will of God in our heart and in our mouth but if we add to it with our opinion or in error or rather take what we want and leave other parts of the word out...it's alternative.

And of course, should I mention that there are alternative medicines? Various systems of healing, which by definition would suggest that "faith" healing is alternative. But in reality, in the Kingdom...whatever method we use to treat a ailment outside of "by His stripes, you were healed"...it's alternative. Now don't hear what I am not saying! Medicine is helpful, effective and necessary but how often does prayer for healing end up being the alternative?

Last but not the least of the alternating alternatives...I'm sure....schooling! This of course refers to elementary or middle schools with a non-traditional curriculum. In most cases, these are homeschooling and Christian based education! Here we go again! These are just the opposite!

But the real point here is that there is too much alternative thinking going on! Searching for plan B. When it really gets down to it, any thing that has influenced our perception of God...an opinion, misfortune, misrepresentation, misinterpretation, malpractice, injustice, false witness, and anything off center...leaning more to self-centered, that would make us think that God is anything but good, right fair, just, healing, prospering, forgiving, faithful, truthful and loving at all times is ALTERNATIVE!

God spoke to my heart, even as I was writing this and said,

"If you fashion Me according to what you think and feel and serve what you have fashioned, you are serving nothing more than an idol. I AM THAT I AM but I'm not what you think. I AM MY WORD! Emotions are never foundational. Word is Spirit and Spirit is foundational. Know Me by My Word."

Bottom line...here's what will result from "alternative"...
Deuteronomy 22:9 "Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled."

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Shielded

Genesis 15:1
"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying , Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."


Jesus Christ is our shield! He has already provided the shield that resists the onslaught of sickness and disease, mental and emotional attacks! He covers every part of our lives…even our finances! He is our shield but we have to understand that the shield is held up over our lives by the hand of faith! Our hand has to hold it! We have to hold it up by agreeing with and believing every thing God has spoken over our lives and by speaking it! It’s not there unless you say it is! So today, if you find that you’ve been under attack….how high are you holding your shield? Have you covered your life with it?

What I love is that the word of the Lord, came to Abram in a vision. He let Abram see Him as his shield! "He said, don't be afraid! Look at me!" I believe He gave him a clear look at what he had been protected from. How often do we say, "We'll just never know what has been prevented today..." (Guilty as charged, by the way.) And maybe that is so but I think we can see and are meant to see what has been averted! He showed Abram exactly His position as Redeemer...who both forgives and then puts himself in a position to take every punishment and weapon that has been formed because of it! And if that wasn't enough, He showed Himself as his exceeding great reward! Not only will He cover us...no matter what we have done or ever will do but He will also recompense us, compensate us for any damage that has been incurred or even compensate us for any service we have done for Him in holding Him up! He will reward us for holding up the shield with our hand of faith...simply believing and speaking of what He has done and what is in already in position in our lives! Glory!

And here's a little bunny trail for ya...


The shield is actually a demonstration of Christ’s activeness on our behalf. As I was meditating on this, God reminded me of when I was a little girl and riding with my grandfather in his pick up truck and the car in front of us slammed on it’s breaks. Instinctively, my Pappy threw his arm across me! God spoke to my heart that it’s like this with He and I. I was in my Pap’s presence, riding in his truck, seatbelt on, heading toward our destination together…not a question in my mind that we wouldn’t make it to where we were going. But at the very possibility of danger, it was his reflex to shield me! And just think about his intentions here. Unconsciously he was most willing to take the impact and also to keep me in place! God’s shield works the same way and all I have to do is just be in His presence…enjoy Him, put on my belt of truth, which is His word and believe it….and then with my words, my vehicle fueled by agreement, I move with God toward His plans and purposes and whatever happens…I find myself shielded and I know I will get there! He took the impact and I am still in place!

You see, the thing is, the reason I remember this day was not really so much about what happened in the truck (even though that is so precious to me)! My Pappy was taking me to Hershey Park! He said he was going to and I believed him, end of story! That shield he threw over me was something that happened on the way. Possible trouble diverted by his ability as driver…child safely in tow and we arrived at Hershey Park and the rest is history! How awesome is that?


And speaking of history...what is HisStory for you? What has God said will be in your life. Buckle yourself in with that!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Imagination

Here is a conversation that took place between a man named Mack and Jesus, as he was preparing to walk on water with Jesus. It it taken from a book that I have just completed reading..."The Shack". The reason I am posting this is because the concept of this has evaded me until now, it has changed my way of thinking and I believe it is worth sharing. Enjoy....

"Will my feet get wet?" queried Mack.

"Of course, water is still wet."

Again Mack looked down at the water and back at Jesus. "Then why is this so hard for me?"

"Tell me what you are afraid of, Mack."

"Well, let me see. What am I afraid of?" began Mack. "Well, I am afraid of looking like an idiot. I am afraid that you are making fun of me and that I will sink like a rock. I imagine that-"

"Exactly," Jesus interrupted. "You imagine. Such a powerful ability, the imagination! That power alone makes you so like us. But without wisdom, imagination is a cruel taskmaster. If I may prove my case, do you think humans were designed to live in the present, the past or the future?"

"Well," said Mack, hesitating, "I think the most obvious answer is that we were designed to live in the present. Is that wrong?"

Jesus chuckled. "Relax, Mack; this is not a test, it's a conversation. You are exactly correct, by the way. But now tell me, where do you spend most of your time in your mind, in your imagination, in the present, the past or in the future?"

Mack thought for a moment before answering. "I suppose I would have to say that I spend very little time in the present. For me, I spend a big piece in the past, but most of the rest of the time, I am trying to figure out the future."

"Not unlike most people. When I dwell with you, I do so in the present-I live in the present. Not the past, although much can be remembered and learned by looking back, but only for a visit, not an extended stay. And for sure, I do not dwell in the future you visualize or imagine. Mack, do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me there with you?"

Again, Mack stopped and though. It was true. He spent alot of time fretting and worrying about the future, and in his imaginations it was usually pretty gloomy and depressing, if not outright horrible. And Jesus was also correct in saying that in Mack's imaginations of the future, God was always absent.

"Why do I do that?" asked Mack.

"It is your desperate attempt to get some control over something you can't. It is impossible for you to take power over the future because it isn't even real, nor will it ever be real. You try and play God, imagining the evil that you fear becoming reality, and then you try and make plans and contingencies to avoid what you fear."


As I read this, I realized that in no time that I have ever "pictured" tomorrow, whether good or bad, have I ever pictured it accurately. And I think the best advice I can take it to always remember when I am imagining...am I doing it together with Holy Spirit and do I see God there with me? Because if He is, regardless of whether what I picture becomes reality or not or even plays out exactly the way I think it should, that is one thing that will never change, His presence, in the present! And if He isn't in my imaginations...they are purely just fiction...fairy tales and horror stories.

If you would like to learn more about the book, "The Shack", go to www.theshackbook.com.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A Larger Place

Psalm 118:5 “I called upon the Lord in distress, the Lord answered me, [and set me] in a large place. ”

I love what I read here! David had called on the Lord when he was distressed, hard pressed, in a place where there was no where else to turn and the Lord answered him and set him in a large place. When I began to look at this “large place” that this passage is speaking off…according to several commentaries, it is the same place that Jesus was received to after he was raised from the dead and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father. Into the heavens! And that is a large place indeed! God actually set his mind, his thinking and his understanding in a realm of all the possibilities of heaven, revealing everything that was available to him, causing those things he was facing to pale in comparrison. And if that was available to David, it is certainly available to us.

A place has been made accessible to us, where we can walk at liberty, where our goings are established. A place where we can get a large view of the love of God. The place where we are answered with more than we have asked for…a sufficiency and an abundance that exceeds what we ourselves could even begin to think of. A place where all the possibilities of heaven are waiting for us and there is no larger place than that.

There's so much...exceedingly...abundantly...to be thankful for!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Taking Joy

Reading from the amplified bible, Psalm 97:11 says. “Light is sown for the uncompromisingly righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart, the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection.” Doesn’t that just bring you encouragement today? God has given us irrepressible joy! No amount of pressure can take it from us! And it comes simply from being aware and mindful of God’s favor over our lives and His protection! So take joy today! Take it by putting your mind on all the graces of God! Know that today, He is guarding you, covering you and defending you. The pressures of life can't even compare!

I am so thankful!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

The Lord, Most Vehement

Psalm 94:12 & 13
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked."
What I love is what the amplified bible actually says-that the Lord gives us the power to keep ourselves calm in the days of adversity. Isn't it good to know that God has actually give us the power we need, a supernatural calm, through His word and His instruction, that will keep us through the hardest, most difficult of times?

As I was reading further in this passage, I was introduced to and spent time with the Lord, in a way I never have before. Verse 17 of Psalm 94 says, "Unless the Lord, had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence." I asked Father, "What part of your personality is this talking about?" and as I began to search it out, I found that "Lord" in this passage is the Lord Most Vehement. I am so thankful to have been in His presence. You see, the Lord Most Vehement, is the characteristic of the Lord that is marked by strong feeling or expression, and this is the part of Him that is passionate, so much so that this name describes the duration of time in which Jesus lived from the last supper to the Cross. This is the part of His character that saw Him through and now determines our outcome! This is the part that can also be translated "soundness of mind".

And when I began to explore this word, I wondered what it meant for my soul, my mind, will and emotions to dwell in silence. To be silent is equal to living in a place of death. When our emotions are shut down,ruling us to the place where we can't seem to even be able to set our minds on God's word, this is where we will find ourselves. But what I love is that regardless of how "vehement" or strong our emotions may seem to be, whether it be sadness, grief, depression, anger, etc., the Lord Himself, is the MOST vehement and is able to help us! His "strong feelings" & passion for us have superceded every influencing emotion and His soundness of mind is available to us! And if Christ is in us, we too have the "Most Vehement" stronger emotion living and working through us...if we will acknowledge Him.

I know how important my words are...that they influence every aspect of my life...EVERYTHING! I can't emphasize that enough and I don't know how many times recently, despite knowing that, that I have caught myself saying, "I just can't do this anymore. I can't continue like this...and woe is me...pity me, it's my party, pity me!" And don't you know, God wouldn't have it any other way than to sit me down in church and make sure I didn't get away with it! Even the guy taking up the offering didn't realize it but all of his meditation and the time he spent studying was so that I would get the picture. But condemnation had found opportunity and I was again thinking I had failed.

But then there was Psalm 94:18, written just for me. "When I said my foot slippeth; thy mercy O Lord, held me up." First, let me point out "when I said", that's important to note here. The foot represents our ability to endure and to slip means to "waver, fluctuate in opinion, allegiance or direction" and to give an "unsteady sound". This passage can be read like this, "When I said, my ability to endure is wavering! My opinion is not steady...where is my allegiance, what is my direction? I have made an unsteady sound and I have betrayed myself but thy mercy O Lord, held me up!" In His mercy, He will even bend down and stoop to me and grant me grace and hold me up! He loves me enough to say, "Oh no...I'm not going to let you slip" and He doesn't mind at all telling me when it's time to take up the offering!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Current Situation vs. Eternal Location

Romans 8:18 says "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

When I read this, I realized that this very passage was meant to help me put my "problems" in perspective because let's face it, we are always going to have problems. When we chose to become a die hard, no matter what, follower of Jesus Christ, (which is the best decision you could ever make, by the way! ) you will find yourself going against the grain...rubbing the cat the wrong way... swimming upstream.

Let me just be plain here. It doesn't matter if I think my problem is the end of the world! It doesn't matter if anyone else agrees that what I am going through is the end of the world! The truth is, if I don't want it to be the end of the "world" for me, that's when I have what should be defined as a real problem! Romans 8:18 says, and I don't believe I am taking this out of context, "the sufferings of this present time ARE NOT WORTHY!" And it's not worthy compared to the glory which shall be revealed in me! And the thing is, the glory isn't about me, it's for...


Read verse 19! It says "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." The world is waiting for me to stop worrying about my problems, talking about my problems, crying about my problems and comparing my current situation with my eternal location! When will the world ever get to see just how big my God is unless I let Him handle it? The question is, where do I really live? That's what the world wants to know!

I love the teachings of Andrew Wommack (www.awmi.net) and here's a few quotes of his, some of which really made me laugh today, after crying long enough that I knew I needed to get some put you in your place (in Christ) & get a hold of yourself (in Christ) Word of God in me!

"Today people think happiness is a result, instead of a choice."

"Happiness is not a state of being, it's a state of mind."

"If you are all wrapped up in yourself, you make a very small package."

"If you never bump into the devil, it's because you are going the same direction!"

Friday, November 21, 2008

God's Channel

3 John 1: 2, a passage many of us know well, says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that you will prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers." And as I was praying the other day, the Lord spoke this word to me and I saw this passage in a whole new way. What is the soul really? I know that it is our mind, will and emotions but as I was referencing it, here’s what I found out. The soul, by the right use of aids offered it by God, can attain it’s highest end. I began to see this passage with the word "as" being like a mirror. The state of my health and prosperity being a reflection of what’s in my soul. If I am looking in the mirror and I am sick in my body or am lacking some way in any area of my life, I have to ask...what does my soul look like? Am I using it the way God intended to attain my highest end...which would be to prosper and be in health? That’s a good question today...worth exploring.

Something interesting I discovered also about this passage was that the word health of course is dealing with our physical well being but it also speaks of Christians whose opinions are free from any mixture of error, of one who has not deviated from truth. And to prosper is to have success based on what we think, feel or decide. So read this passage in light of that, in the Stacey Blubaugh Translation, of course. Beloved, I wish above all things that you will have success and be free from any mixture of error or deviation from the truth, even as your soul finds success in it’s way of thinking, feeling and deciding. You see, when we, with our mind and our will take on God’s way of thinking, feeling or deciding, every part of our life can be free. To be in lack, to be sick, to be depressed, is a mixture of error...a deviation from the truth and God wants us to be free from that! Amen?

Many of us are facing hard times today...walking through something, whether it’s physically, emotionally, relationally or even financially. But God’s word holds the answer, no matter what and God was so gracious to illustrate His word for me and show me why some things look the way they do in my life. You see, if true prosperity, as defined in this passage is a way a thinking, feeling or deciding. It’s a choice and is a direct result of what I chose to think on, how I chose to feel and what I decide to believe. Our soul is intended by God to be a channel for health and prosperity to pass through but every thought contrary to His, every feeling that yields to anything other than His word and any decision we make that would go against what He has decided to be "right" for us, through Jesus Christ, begins to build up in that channel and the flow begins to slow until it is like a clogged pipe. Sure, we may get a drop here and there but until we renew our mind, the flow is stopped up. And in order to do that, we must intentionally direct our thoughts toward God and all of His goodness & renew our mind in His word!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I know the Father of Invention! He's my Daddy!

Proverbs 21:5 says this and I love what it says, by the way, “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone that is hasty, only to want.”

First of all, let me say this! Thoughts are wonderful...the way God intended them because thoughts by definition are “inventions”. And an invention is nothing less than the product of an imagination or thought. Lately I have been warring with thoughts but I am so thankful that I know the "Father of Invention"! He's my Daddy! God is a God of thoughts! Psalm 40:5 says that God’s thoughts toward us are more than can be numbered. Do you know what that means? If He is that way, we are that way, because we have been made in His image! There are just multitudes of inventions, more than can be numbered, just waiting to be produced on the inside of you and on the inside of me! So, rather than think of the things that can’t happen or won’t happen and produce a whole lot of nothing...think about what’s possible for us because we believe and get creating, making, and bringing into being! What haven’t you thought of yet? It’s waiting!

I feel like I could just explode with how awesome God’s word is! As I studied that word "diligent", I learned that to be diligent is to be deliberate or intentional in the way we think! When God created us, He was very deliberate in making us His companion and He never intended for us to ever be apart from Him! And I love how diligent God is! When sin entered in, God deliberately thought... “ I know what they have done but I chose them and I still choose them! They are mine! I love them! I want to save them! I want to heal them! I want to deliver them and give them peace! I want to prosper them and give them an abundant life!” And just look what His thoughts invented! He, through Jesus, produced this beautiful fellowship with the loving Father we have today. How great is our God? Let me count the ways!


And to think that “God’s thoughts toward us are more than can be numbered.” When the gravity of Psalm 40:5 hit me, that God’s thoughts toward me, what just the thought of me causes Him to want to invent or produce and that those thoughts can’t even be numbered! How exciting is that? That God is continually producing His intentions and His purposes for my life! He is constantly inventing good things for me! And you know what’s even more exciting...what can I invent every time of think of Him. What can my meditation on God and His word produce? It’s my privilege and yours...to find out! I encourage you! Open your mind today and just think and allow God to think of you...invention in the making!

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Year of His Preservation

Tonight as I was praying, God reminded me again of something He spoke to me at the beginning of the year. He had told me that this was the year of His preservation. And the scriptures that He had given me were these Psalm 121:8
"The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
coupled with Hosea 2:6
"Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths."

Preservation & thorns....hmmmm. Hardly sounds like they should be used in the same sentence but they are. You know, sometimes true love requires the hedge of thorns. You see, in Hosea, the husband loved his wife, so much so that he was willing to hedge her in, so that she would once again find her first love, the one she had lost sight of.

As I was meditating on preservation tonight, the Lord took me to this passage in Proverbs 2:11."Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:" When I began to study out those words, here is what I found. Discretion is equal to a purpose, plan or plot. And not just any purpose...it's the very purpose God created me for. The plans that He knows for me...that sometimes I miss. That's why this passage says that discretion preserves me. When I stay within the boundaries of His purpose for me, His plans, that's when I am preserved, protected, defended and guarded. But what is it that keeps us within those boundaries? Proverbs 2:11 says that it's understanding that will keep us. We must understand what His purposes are and I think I am beginning to know what that means. In order to understand things...we must feel the hedge...the prick... of anything outside of those carefully laid plans for us.

And I love what Hosea 2:15 says, "And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt."

If your looking at this saying "Uh...OK, Stace...so what about it?" Well, Achor means trouble or disturbance! God said that is our door of hope! These things that are troubling us and disturbing us are none other than an entrance to the things hoped for...the outcome! Glory to God! Thank the Lord for His direction and for making these troubles and disturbances a door! And didn't He say, "I will preserve thee in thy going out and thy coming in"? Isn't a door just the place for that?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Some things just aren't an option!

You know, I have been in the midst of making hard decisions lately. The things I have been dealing with may be seemingly insignificant in comparrison to what others are facing but in my waking up and laying down, getting down to the world I live in, within the parameters of my existence...where no one else can or ever will live, except me and God, I have included too many things. When I say this, I mean the things like "but..what if"...not wanting to give up the things, that though they are no doubt, "God things", aren't God's thing for me.

I heard Charles Stanley say this...
That if we find ourselves "burned out", we are in disobedience because we know what we are and are not capable of. And the sad thing is, I have toyed with disobedience because I have entertained burn out. I'm not yet but believe me, it knows where I live and as far as I'm concerned, it's not a welcome guest. There's only room for me and God!

Psalm 38:10 describes "burn out". "My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me."

But God is faithful and I will address my "soul" accordingly as many times as is necessary. Psalm 43:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

Friday, November 14, 2008

A RECIPE FOR "HAPPY"!

We all want to be “happy” right? Well, if happiness seems to evade you and if you are feeling particularly unhappy and you've bought the lie that Christians can't always be happy and it’s left you craving something more…I have just the recipe for you! Some say that you can have joy without being happy but I say not so. Why settle for that? If we are going to have the full course life that God has prepared for us…we need to have happiness on our plate. Joy without happiness is like mashed potatoes without the gravy or French fries without ketchup!

Our problem is that we've misunderstood what happiness really is! The world and our flesh can give us all sorts of recipes for happiness but here are the ingredients for it according to God’s word. Enjoy!

A RECIPE FOR HAPPY:

Get saved!

Deuteronomy 33:29
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

A generous portion of correction and chastening-

Job 5:17
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

Children-( If you don’t have any, borrow the neighbors or help in the Children’s Church!)-

Psalm 127:4 &5
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them…

A healthy dose of fear…a whole walk…and work, work, work-

Psalm 128:1 &2
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Do some finding & getting...this one's a specialty item!-

Proverbs 3:13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Invest in the tree...it'll keep-


Proverbs 3:18
She (wisdom) is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Enough mercy to go around-

Proverbs 14:21
…he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Tap into your “trust” fund, this one’s on Him!-

Proverbs 16:20
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Do what’s right because it’s right…that’s what my pastor always says & don’t forget to season it well with grace!-

Proverbs 29:18
…he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Be ready to serve…this recipe is for everyone! Jesus even cooked it up at the last supper!

John 13:12-17
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Good meals come to those who wait…or is it endure?-

James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure.

Suffer…suffer…suffer! This thing requires more than an oven mitt and a pat of flower to the cheek…if you know what I mean...-

1 Peter 3:13 & 14
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

Allow it to stand through times of reproach!-

1 Peter 4:14
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Seconds anyone?

It seems as though...what I thought I was ingesting as a good healthy helping of happy...and what I've really been eating are two very different things! Nothing more than a "sugar high" really! I think I'm going to go get some ingredients for a real "happy" meal!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

What's your position?

Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.

What two immutable things can God not lie about? In what do we have a strong consolation? Take a look at Hebrews 16:14...
"Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee."

...and then at the original context in which this was said to Abraham in Genesis 22...

"And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."

I lay in bed early yesterday morning after having a dream and God spoke to my heart that I needed to understand my position and His position. And these words were like a broken record playing in my heart. "Surely, in blessing I will bless thee and in multiplying, I will multiply thy seed!" And literally He was emphasizing the word IN and I realized that there were two elements to this passage. And when I looked at Genesis, I saw that Abraham knew his position. He was standing on that mountain and was "in" position! What position? He was literally "in" blessing! You see, he was ready and willing...he had entered into that place of blessing God and what I have always pictured to be "sacrifice" was really "obedience" and that was what had put him in that location of blessing! You see, we all want the blessing of God but we have to be in the right location. And the thing is, location is in the heart. You see, Abraham's heart was in the mountain, long before he was!

In prayer a couple of weeks ago, when we were praying over the ministry...God gave me what I think is a vision of this. I saw Abraham on the mountain in whole new light. God said to me, "That ram was a seed. I give seed to the sower." Abraham had taken Isaac to the mountain, knowing that that young man was the "vision" God had set before him, following God's instruction. He took him to the mountain, to sow a seed because the vision didn't belong to him anyway and if God wanted him, God would have him. And just when he raised his hand in obedience, the angel of the Lord stayed his hand and spoke the word. Isaac was in a sense a seed but the ram in the thicket wasn't the harvest...it was a far greater seed that God sowed into this earth, to produce the greatest harvest the world has yet to even know. And every time we obey, we are sowing a seed that allows God to issue seed back into our lives, just like that and it will produce far greater than we have yet to know. Just look what was in Isaacs loins! And keep looking...there's still more! Salvation is in the loins of every vision of the God kind!

"In" blessing, I will bless you! "In" multiplying, I will multiply thy seed." There's a ram in the thicket!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Don’t overlook the “AND”!

Last night during the church service, after a particularly wonderful hour of prayer, our teacher began to share that there had been a song in her heart all week, “Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus.”, referring to the gift of prophesy…that God will put a word in our heart to encourage us. Then a few moments later, there was a word of prophesy that came forth and part of that prophecy was “I am God and I sit in the heavens and laugh......there is a time to laugh.” There was much said in between and even afterward but the moment I heard those words, God spoke to my heart, “Don’t overlook the “AND”. Immediately, I was turning the pages of my bible to Ecclesiastes 3 and what I read, took on a whole new meaning.

First let me begin with...
From the beginning of this year, God has been speaking from Isaiah 9:6 & 7. This was the very scripture that came to me when Melissa shared that she had been hearing that song. And God said, “Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus. The government shall be upon His shoulders and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and of this government, there shall be no end. Yes, lean upon the everlasting arms, lean upon His shoulders now. Lean upon this government... it is everlasting.”

And then He spoke to me concerning Ecclesiastes 3. He said, “There shall be simultaneous happenings. There will be occurrences in the world and simultaneously, in My church another occurrence. You see, to everything there is a season and this world has entered into a new season but there are times to every purpose under heaven and My church shall begin to bring those forth. You see, there is a time to be born AND a time to die. A time to plant AND a time to pluck up that which has been planted. A time to kill AND a time to heal. A time to break down AND a time to build up. A time to weep AND a time to laugh. A time to mourn AND a time to dance. A time to cast away stones AND a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace AND a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get AND a time to lose. A time to keep AND a time to cast away. A time to rend AND a time to sew. A time to keep silence AND a time to speak. A time to love AND a time to hate. A time of war AND a time of peace.

I hope that I can convey what this means to me because it has brought an overwhelming comfort to me. We are in this world but not of it and you see, there was a prophesy that Kim Clement brought forth the night before the elections (you can read this if you like...go to http://www.kimclement.com/) and he said that we are to have an "occupational view point." That we should have a vision to occupy this earth from a kingdom standpoint. God's kingdom come & His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. And God spoke to my heart that He is raising up "occupational therapists". Those who will "enable or encourage participation in such (KINGDOM) activities despite impairments or limitations (OF THIS WORLD)"

And this is how I see Ecclesiastes 3....from an occupational standpoint. In the midst of the dying....there will be birthing into the Kingdom! In the midst of the killing....there will be healing! In the midst of the breaking down....there will be building up! In the midst of the weeping...there will be laughter. In the midst of the mourning...there will be dancing! In the midst of the casting away stones....there will be a gathering of stones together! And while the world is embracing who knows what....there will be a refraining from embracing! And while there may be a time to keep silent...according to man's judgement, there will be a people who will speak! In the midst of the hatred....a people who ARE love! In the midst of the war....a people of peace!

I know I missed a few simply because I am seeing only in part...even in what I have just mentioned above, I am certain but HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD? I am thankful for His word!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Net worth....exposed!

In a conversation with a friend recently, the night before the elections, she asked, “Doesn’t the Word say that gross darkness shall cover the earth?” As soon as the words came out of her mouth…I saw a pay check with a gross amount & a net amount. Anyone who gets a paycheck knows that the gross amount is what you receive before any deductions.

Now, I know that the word “gross”, as referred to in Isaiah 60:2 has nothing to do with a paycheck…or does it? Take a look…

Isaiah 60:1 & 21
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

As I was reading here, of course I see that there are two darkness that are spoken of…
a darkness that covers the earth and a gross darkness the people. It disturbs me that the “gross” darkness is upon the people. The full amount…to the greatest extent…upon the people!

The darkness that is first referred to here is what is referred to in Matthew 15:14 "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." It is a blinding, deceiving darkness…a seemingly massive darkness that looms over our government and even covers eyes of the people BUT just as the government taxes us in this world, it’s time for the Kingdom of God to tax the government of darkness! The world needs to see the net worth of the darkness and it ain't worth much, believe me! And it's definitely not going to pay out the way the people expect it to!

Acts 26:18
But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.

It’s time for the church, to get up and stand upon our feet! He has appeared to us and has appointed us to be a minister and a witness of light to the darkness. To make massive deductions from the darkness and to tax it, opening eyes so that they may see and turn from the darkness to the light and from the dominion of Satan to God and into their inheritance…to shine!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

God has issued a statement!

Last night after watching after listening to President Elect, Barrak Hussein Obama address the nation, the words that were ringing in my ears were “Yes we can!”

Joe the plumber may not have been his best friend but Bob the Builder must have done OK.

No, please, I am just kidding! He was speaking with what I presume to be sincerity to the American people.

But as I was driving home, talking with God…both of my children sleeping securely in their seat belts, I couldn't help but ask questions and all of the sudden, it was like God issued a press release statement directly to my heart and He simply said this, “Tonight, you heard the world make a statement, ‘Yes, we can!’ but I have also issued a statement and my church must decree it, ‘Yes, we will!’

You see, saying “Yes, we can!” and “Yes, we will!”, though they sound the same, are very different things! A great door of opportunity has just swung wide open to the church and suddenly now I understand why God has said, Be instant in season & out of season (please look at 10/24/08 blog entry.)

For many, it seems we have now exited the “in” season but not so. It’s open season! Revelation 3:8 “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” You see, the Christian vote, for those of us who voted God’s principles, morality and integrity had little strength at this time but we have kept His word and have not denied His name! Be assured…it is open season! This door God has set before us is open and no man can shut it!

Now, take a look with me for a moment at can vs. will since God so clearly spoke to me concerning this!

Here’s what Merriam Webster has to say about “can”.

Can and may are most frequently interchangeable in senses denoting possibility; because the possibility of one’s doing something may depend on another’s acquiescence (to accept, comply with tacitly or passively), they have also become interchangeable in the sense denoting permission. The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some commentators feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts.

The word tacitly means to be expressed or carried on without words or speech.

And passive means to lack in energy or will. To be inactive or submissive.

It doesn’t matter how many times one issues the statement of “Yes, we can!”, the possibility of one’s doing something depends on another’s acceptance and we still have a choice! Will we comply tacitly…allowing it to be carried out without words or speech? Will we be passive…lacking the energy…the zeal of the Lord of Hosts…that will perform God’s will? Or will God’s people, we the people, stand up and say, “Yes, we will!”or won’t will…it to be granted?

Isaiah 9:7 says,
Of the increase of this government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this!

God is calling now for the change to come by an act of will! God’s will is not a cute little noun! It is a verb! An action word! The term “will” is used to express futurity! It is used to express what is inevitable!

God’s kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! “Yes, we will!”
Where there is God’s will, there is THE WAY! The door is open...walk through it!

Friday, October 31, 2008

Wishing well giver...I think not!

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

I find it interesting that the word waters in the passage refers to something that is moving…not standing still. How many times as a child did you enjoy throwing your coin into the “wishing” well. And look down and be able to see your coin laying there, glistening in the sun and it wasn’t going anywhere…ever! But let someone ask you to throw it into the river…and forget it! You’ll lose sight of it the moment you let go of it and who knows where it will turn up. But that’s exactly what God wants us to do! He wants us to sow into a ministry that’s moving, not to the stagnant safe waters. The sad truth is, if we sow into those still waters…all we will ever do is “wish” for a harvest. But who knows where you’ll be when you have need of that seed you had sown into that river…and find you’re in a place where it had been and look what washed up, just when you needed it most! In fact, one of the translations of the word find is to be secure. So to sow a seed now…even into moving waters…is to be secure later!


He that observeth the wind shall not sow;

One translation of that word “wind” is the seat of emotion and refers to desire, sorrow or trouble. So another words, he that observes his mind, will and emotions shall not sow. It all depends upon the sower’s mood and what the sower thinks and what the sower determines to be safe…right? Well, then, the sower thinks he is the source and not God! We need to be careful of attitudes like, “I’m having a bad day…why bother? God only loves a cheerful giver, right?” or “I’m on cloud nine. Things are real comfy here! Why change anything by giving up money that can cater to me later?” The bible clearly says that God gives seed to the sower. (2 Corinthians 9:10) There is no way the sower can ever produce the seed himself, let alone reap a harvest. The Word also says “So neither is he who plants is anything, nor he who waters but God who gives the increase! (1 Corinthians 3:7) So today, sow with your heart…not your head.

...and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

The word “regard” speaks of vision…to see, look at, inspect, perceive or to consider. And cloud here, actually is “becloud”…a word that refers to anything that will prevent clear perception or realization of something. So, read the latter part of verse 4 like this. He that looks at or allows the cloud of the current circumstance that prevents a clear perception or realization of the true picture God has for his life shall not reap. The truth of it is, a circumstance is nothing more than an incident…an occurrence that lasts only briefly and is of secondary importance. So I guess the real question is, why should we regard the clouds…these things that occur only briefly and can claim no real eternal stake in regard to the vision? Why should we settle for second best…what is secondary in importance compared to what really matters when it comes to God’s plan and desired outcome for us? Good question.

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

There it shall be! What? The tree? No, your seed! In other words, you never know what the circumstance may be but if the clouds cover the earth and pour out the rain…your seed is in the ground to be watered. And if something you have been depending on falls short of what you expected, then thank God, your seed is in the ground…ready to produce yet another tree of provision.

Give! Give smiling! Give frowning! Give when you have much! Give when you nothing! Give because circumstances come and go but the only thing that remains is seed, time and harvest!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

It's Bound to Happen!

I was sitting on my bed, the night before last and said to God, "I need a word from you." Earlier that day, I was sitting at my desk and I heard God say, "In the end it will speak and not lie." but at the time, I was in the midst of working and couldn't take the time to search it out. Thankfully, Father reminded me of those words, so off I went to the book of Habakkuk, chapter 2.

All last year, God spoke to me and prompted me to pray Deuteronomy 15:1-5...that at the end of the seventh year, God would make a release in the land...a debt release. Well, the end of the seventh year came and went and I hadn't seen the evidence of what I had been declaring and I began to ask God questions and began to feel particularly bad because "good Christians don't ask questions" right? Well, not so! God so mercifully took me to Habakkuk...the prophet who declared God's word and yet talked very plainly with God. He said this in verse 1-3...

[OH, I know, I have been rash to talk out plainly this way to God!] I will [in my thinking] stand upon my post of observation and station myself on the tower or fortress, and will watch to see what He will say within me and what answer I will make [as His mouthpiece] to the perplexities of my complaint against Him. (AMPLIFIED) 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (KJV)

I occurred to me when I read this that the words tarry & tarry couldn't possibly mean the same thing because God does not contradict himself. So I began to search them out.

-The first tarry means: 4102 Greek-to question or to interrogate, what?, how?, why?, when?

-The second tarry means: 309 Greek-to procrastinate, to put off doing something that should be done, to be idle.

And the word surely there means- bound to happen. And of course...inquiring minds want to know...what does happen really mean? By chance, opportunity, season!

So here's how Habakkuk 2:3 could read according to, once again, the Stacey Blubaugh translation. The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie: though you interrogate it, and question it with all your how? and why? and when?, wait for it: because it will surely come...it's bound to happen because time and chance happen to all men, it will not procrastinate because I do not put off doing anything that should be done!


Instantly God reminded me of something I had just seen on Study Light, (I think). The headline was "This election marks the end of the seventh year since 9-11." And then after I read what it means for something to happen..."by chance" reminded me of a scripture in Ecclesiastes that speaks of time and chance but I couldn't remember where. So I got my dinosaur of a concordance out and looked it up. Guess where it was found? Ecclesiastes 9:11. O.K! Can you spell REVIVAL? Right there...alone in my bedroom with God...what I had prayed for a year....what He has said would be...REVIVED!

And did I mention...we were just given a puppy...a gift, who was born on 9-11! Coincidence? No, that's the wrong spelling! Spell check won't detect it but I know it's spelled CONFIRMATION!

Oh of course...after SALLY envy and my short lived pity party...now I see it! But oh am I thankful to see it! We are at the end of the seventh year! We've already seen a debt release take place in the world...the big "bail out" but the world ain't got nothing on our God and can't hold a candle to what's about to be released to the church! Church...get ready...thou art loosed!

And here's a bonus for all those who like long winded! It's bound to happen! Matthew 18:18 says that what we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and what we loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. And the amplified says it this way...that we cannot bind anything that hasn't already been bound in heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:15 says "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past." Did you hear that? You have every right to bind your circumstances to God’s provision! You have every right to bind healing, salvation, deliverance & prosperity to “happen” in your life! It has to occur, to take place in your life! So let that be your confession today! It’s bound to happen! Whooohooo!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Results May Vary

Oh! The famous fine print words! I have never taken a weight loss product but have taken note many times the words next to "Sally" in the latest Woman's Day, who successfully lost 120 lbs. and 8 inches and went from a size 22 to a size 4, "Results may vary". I think those words could be translated, "Sally is exceptional and the probability is that this won't work for you and if it does, you won't look like this!"



You may be wondering, why the analogy? Well, to be quite honest, I have felt like the person on the "varied" end more often than not recently. You know the formula...spend time with God, read the Word, pray, speak to the mountain, think on those things that are good, pay your tithe, etc. What happens when you do all those things...take the "pill", do the exercise, keep your diet right and still nothing?



I hate the super-Christian mindset...when we know sister or brother so and so does the formula and they look great. They lost the weight and keep it off (got healed and don't even get a headache, pay their tithe and don't have to struggle financially, etc.) and their life is perfect! But look at me...I'm taking the formula too. Why won't the weight come off? Why do I still get this headache? Why am I struggling when I am doing everything I know to do? Is this thing for real are are there only a select few who can work "the formula"?



Well, it sure seems that way and I have cried so many tears lately because if I have to look at one more picture of "Sally' and hear the devil say to me, "Results may vary"...I may as well give up!



The good news is...I wrote what you have just read yesterday afternoon and didn't post it because it is officially garbage! Not to mention, God sat me down last night and we had a long talk. First, He spelled my name for me and told me the correct pronunciation. To my surprise, my name isn't spelled SALLY. He also put the Word, the mirror, up to my face and reminded me that the RESULTS DO NOT VARY! HE is the God of SALLY as much as He is the God of STACEY! All this and so much more...believe me! I was wrong and He made sure I knew it!

Then He took me on a journey through the promises that He has made to me and I believe Him! You know, we are to be Spirit led but the soul...when I studied it out means "leader" as well. And if we will allow it, our soul...our mind, will and emotions will govern us. I love this passage of scripture. David actually spoke to his soul in Psalm 62:5 "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." In the amplified, it says, silently submit to Him.

So in another words, in the Stacey translation...Soul, shut up already! You are SO on time out! If you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Instant People

A few days ago, when I was getting ready for work, God spoke to me and said “Be instant." Immediately I began referencing that word in my mind and I knew it referred to both prayer and preaching. Take a look at what I found!

If we read Romans 12, it tells us a whole list of things that are our “reasonable service” unto God and continuing “instant in prayer” is one of them. I referenced the Greek translation of the word and here’s what I found!

to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one
to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing
to continue all the time in a place
to persevere and not to faint
to show one's self courageous for
to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly


According to this we must be adhered to or in the Stacey Blubaugh translation, "glued" to prayer, devoted to it. We must give our attention to prayer, ready always to speak God’s will into every situation, a person’s life and the earth. We cannot remit it, delay in it, postpone it…it’s always necessary, all the time, in every place! We must persevere…undertake prayer regardless of counter-influences, opposition, or discouragement. And the one I like best is to be constantly ready…looking for every opportunity to pray…waiting for the next victim of prayer…soon to become victorious over whatever they are facing through Christ Jesus! Amen to that!

And then, 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs this way….Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine.


Now “in season” here doesn’t mean winter, spring, summer, fall…or even season as referring to seed, time and harvest. In the Greek, it means seasonably, opportunely and when the opportunity occurs. And “out of season”, of course would refer to lack of opportunity.

And preaching is simply this, to proclaim, in an authority that must be listened to and obeyed and to proclaim openly something that has been done! To state the truth and matters pertaining to the gospel of Jesus Christ to the public. And the public simply refers to people…so wherever there are people, that’s where you make a statement for Christ. A sermon can consist of only a few words and be just as effective…John 14:5 & 6 says … "how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”



So do it! Be instant…ready, having already spent time with the Lord, in prayer & in the Word, so that if there is opportunity…you know God’s heart and if there is a lack of opportunity, you are still ready!

Here are some quotes for you:
~"Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity." Henry Hartman
~“
Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.Orison Swett Marden quotes
~“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Alva Edison
~“I will prepare and some day my chance will come." Abraham Lincoln
~"
Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.” Alexander Graham Bell
~“
It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.” Whitney M. Young, Jr.


Thursday, October 23, 2008

This is not about the branch!

After having a particularly hard couple of weeks...I have been feeling like I don't have anything to offer and then today in prayer, God asked me a question. He said, "When you eat fruit, are you supposed to eat the branch too?" A particularly strange thought but I knew it was God. I started to look at the fruit of the spirit & Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Did I read that right? Against such, there is no law? If there isn't a law against the fruit of the Spirit, that means it can come only through grace. What rules have I created for myself, thinking that I can only be "fruitful" when perfect circumstances apply. It isn't grace if I ever think I had anything to offer anyone apart from Him. If I ever think the fruit is a direct result of some "good work" I have accomplished or everything being perfect all the time, I am mistaken. Here I've been, separating myself from the vine with thoughts of failure and legalism and not even knowing it. And if I am trying to feed someone my "good works", suffering from the "Look, my life's just fine!" syndrome, then I am just trying to shove the branch down their throat along with the fruit...and who wants that?

But God encouraged me in this because it takes the pressure off me! His word says that if "I abide in Him and He abides in me, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me, you can do nothing." (That's John 15:5) I can just put all my weight on Him, every burden and He'll take care of it and if I cry...a little watering never hurt growing fruit.

Something else...God showed me a picture.

I saw the vine...it was the heavenly realm, the kingdom of God. And then I saw the branches, God's way of reaching into the earth and then I saw the fruit, all of the promises of heaven passing through the yielded branches, being sown into the earth and the vine breaking through the earth and covering it. And just think about what kind of seed is carried in the fruit of the Spirit.

What change can seeds from those fruits bring forth?
*Love sown into someone who thinks they are unlovable by someone who knows Love Himself.
*Long suffering sown into the life of someone who feels like they can't go a step further, through someone who knows the One who took every step to the cross!
*Temperance sown into the life of someone who is so tempted to sin, through someone who knows the One who didn't!

....just to name a few.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Greater vs. minute

Last night in church, part of the sermon included the scripture from 1 John 4:4, which is a familiar verse but I had an epiphany, none the less. "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."

Man, how good is this?

-Greater is Love that's within me than the hate that is in the world!
-Greater is the Unifier in me, than the division that's in the world!
-Greater is the Creator in me, the very God of invention, than the duplicator and meer imitations of the world!
-Greater is the Savior that's in me, than the temptation of sin that's in the world!
-Greater is the Healer that's in me than the spirit of infirmity that's in the world!

I could go on an on like this....you get the jest of it!
Provision & Prosperity vs. poverty
Deliverance vs. addiction of any sort
Peace vs. fear
Soundness of mind vs. imaginations
Judge vs. decisions of others

You name it, Jesus counteracts it in and through our lives! Just begin to think of who is in you and what He represents vs. whatever it is your walking through today! You can't help but overcome it!

Monday, October 20, 2008

God's afraid of me?

Recently I was talking to my little boy and told him that he is fearfully and wonderfully made and he asked what any kid would ask, I think. He said, "God's afraid of me?" I said, "No, God's not afraid of you." So then, I had to explain to the best of my ability what it means to fear the Lord.

And then, I stood in the parking lot of Walmart in amazement...having a heavenly moment on an acre of asphalt. The very way that we are to "fear" God is the same manner in which He created us.

Review with me what it truly means to "fear" God. We know it's not about begin afraid. It's about acknowledging all that He is with the highest attitude of regard, with everything that's in us, blessing His holy name! We honor Him and respect His presence and most of all love Him, knowing with everything that is in us that He "is".

Now, explore with me just for a moment that this is what God was doing when He created each of us. We can read Psalm 139:14 this way. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made. When God created me, He did it with the highest regard, with everything that was in Him, He blessed what He created. He honored me by making me and respects my presence from the very beginning to the very end of every day. And most of all, He loves me and when He looks at me, He knows with everything that's in Him, that I was made for Him."

And He didn't stop there. Don't forget that He made us wonderfully too! The word wonderful means "to be exciting, unusually good or to be of the highest kind or quality". To God, we are exciting and anyone can be good, but God made us to be the kind of good that stands out in a crowd! Cherry on top, cream of the crop goodness! And don't you know we are of the "Highest" kind and quality, created in His image!

It doesn't get any better than this!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

A High Maintenance People

If you have ever wondered if you are too "high maintenance", well, wonder no more! You are and you were created to be! God loves that about you!

I was reading yesterday a very popular verse and God once again overwhelmed me with just how much He loves me! 1 Peter 5:7 instructs us to "Cast all your care upon the Lord, for He cares for you." That word "cast", amongst other things, literally means to discard or throw away. And the word "care" refers to any thing or thought, a mental burden, worry or anxiety that we must continually maintain.

God knew just what he was doing when He made this part of His word, knowing that we are a "thoughtful" creation and that every thought has the potential to become a "high maintenance" thing for us.

In order for us to "maintain" something, we must tend to it, assert it, defend it, vindicate and justify it! So, if there's a thought that we must continually maintain in our minds, a worry that we roll over and over again...each and every time we do that, we are 1. asserting to it, making it our own 2. defending it, as if it needs protection 3.vindicating it, building our faith in that thought or worry & 4. justifying it, showing it to be more true, just or valid than God's very Word!

But God says, "No, you are not the maintainer here! I am! Cast all your cares upon Me, because I care for you!" Isn't it beautiful how much He loves us? He "cares" for us! He continually maintains me (and you) in His thoughts! 1. He tends to us continually! He asserts to us, making us and then proving over and over again we are His own. Psalm 139 says that if we were to try to count His thoughts for us, they would be more in number than the sand! 2. He vindicates us...He puts His faith in us...because we are righteous and holy in Him and He believes we will endure to the end with Him! He has sown the greatest seed into our lives, Jesus! No one invests in something they don't believe in! 4. He justifies us! He shows His word for our lives to be more true, more just, more valid than any other word, if we will uphold it!

So today, if you think you are "too high maintenance"! Think again! We serve the Most High God and you were created to be maintained! So get casting!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Eternities Apart

I’ve been thinking about life in general. How we all get out of bed every morning and follow the same basic routine every day…coming and going to work, to school, so on and so forth and in doing so, we walk or drive by our neighbors homes, with or without seeing them. We go in and out of neighboring businesses and sometimes without even so much as knowing anything about the people who serve us. We go to the market and talk to the guy behind the register, to the bank and talk to the teller or even to the restaurant and interact with the waiter or waitress. Every situation is different but regardless, there is a constant point of contact in one way or another.

But for one moment, God gave me a glimpse of something and I want you to see the same thing. Picture your neighbor working in her garden or on his car, doing whatever it might be that you so often see them doing or that person standing behind the register, at the restaurant taking your order, at the bank cashing your paycheck and then remove all the scenery around that person, so that you don't see them any longer standing in an earthly place but in eternity. Where are they?

What will you do? What does your heart of His, say to do?

Next time you're out, do this excercise. Two people in one place, should never be unaware that they are standing eternities apart! Make heaven known where you are!

Matthew 22:39 says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”