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!

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!

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!

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?

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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."

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!