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Tuesday, September 24, 2013
THE PAST IS PASSED
The past is passed and I can only visit it through the Blood of Jesus. ~K. Drury
Think on the freedom of that statement! Yesterday, Papa God showed me a great revelation: Whether I think the world revolves around me and my desires OR judge and lament my many failings with intense scrutiny, the end result is the SAME: self-absorption.
Recently I heard a person, whom I admire greatly, say: "Lay your Bible down for six months and see what happens." WOW! What a concept. Did you grow up as I did, continually warned to "have your quiet time" every morning. Have you struggled to stay awake, rushed through so many chapters of the Bible, read a devotional or two ... and still came away empty? Did that emptiness translate to guilt, "I've failed God ... AGAIN! So, rather than entering into God's rest, we enter into self-condemnation and our focus remains on SELF.
Galatians 3:9 declares Abraham as a man of faith. Yet, Abraham failed again and again. He partially obeyed when God told him to leave his home. Partially obeyed when God told him to leave his family. Gave up his wife TWICE when he was afraid for his life. Stumbled in faith when Sarah gave him Hagar as a wife.
Abraham messed up over and over. Did God EVER pull the plug on him and say, "Sorry, Bud, but you've blown it one to many times. All promises cancelled."
God keeps his promises because HE IS GOD. I may stumble and fall for selfishness, fear, greed, etc. etc. My faults do NOT change God.
Throw away self-analysis and self-condemnation and self, self, self. Go ahead, put your Bible down and then meditate on what is already in your heart. Meditate on the vastness, greatness, beauty, strength, loving-kindness, mercy, grace, peace, glory, love, power, steadfastness of GOD. Let self be swallowed up in HIM. As Jesus said, "I in you and you in me."
Think on the freedom of that statement! Yesterday, Papa God showed me a great revelation: Whether I think the world revolves around me and my desires OR judge and lament my many failings with intense scrutiny, the end result is the SAME: self-absorption.
Recently I heard a person, whom I admire greatly, say: "Lay your Bible down for six months and see what happens." WOW! What a concept. Did you grow up as I did, continually warned to "have your quiet time" every morning. Have you struggled to stay awake, rushed through so many chapters of the Bible, read a devotional or two ... and still came away empty? Did that emptiness translate to guilt, "I've failed God ... AGAIN! So, rather than entering into God's rest, we enter into self-condemnation and our focus remains on SELF.
Galatians 3:9 declares Abraham as a man of faith. Yet, Abraham failed again and again. He partially obeyed when God told him to leave his home. Partially obeyed when God told him to leave his family. Gave up his wife TWICE when he was afraid for his life. Stumbled in faith when Sarah gave him Hagar as a wife.
Abraham messed up over and over. Did God EVER pull the plug on him and say, "Sorry, Bud, but you've blown it one to many times. All promises cancelled."
God keeps his promises because HE IS GOD. I may stumble and fall for selfishness, fear, greed, etc. etc. My faults do NOT change God.
Throw away self-analysis and self-condemnation and self, self, self. Go ahead, put your Bible down and then meditate on what is already in your heart. Meditate on the vastness, greatness, beauty, strength, loving-kindness, mercy, grace, peace, glory, love, power, steadfastness of GOD. Let self be swallowed up in HIM. As Jesus said, "I in you and you in me."
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Blessed is the person you choose and invite to live with you in your courtyards. We will be filled with good food from your house, from your holy temple. Psalm 65:4
Last Sunday I tasted the LORD as I haven't for 8 years. I had to drive 90 miles to find soaking worship.Keep a bride from the groom she yearns after and what will one get? A lovesick, starving bride. Every fiber of my being stretched itself to encompass God's awesome presence! I jumped. I whooped. I sang. I REJOICED.
Next week I'll take my flags and celebrate my love for Jesus and HIS LOVE for me in violent, unstoppable, unhindered worship!
O God, my God, Father, Friend, Lover, Comfort, Rock, Protector, Guide, my ALL. Thank you, thank you for hearing the desire of my heart and answering it. Eight years of longing dissolved like a snowflake in the Sahara in YOUR PRESENCE.
I love you. I love you. I LOVE YOU!!
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