Divine Appointment with Grace

Do you know this verse?  “For by Grace, we are saved through faith, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God” -definition of Grace…it’s a gift, we could never pay it, ever! what a wonderful gift!

A few weeks ago, the temps went to 70 degrees, and it was awesome after a very cold winter.  My friend had a tradgey in her family, so my plans were canceled. Deciding quickly to get out in this gorgeous day! Took my son with me (after bribing him with a Slushie). We headed to the river for a quiet and relaxing afternoon. The weather turned very windy, so we decided to go to a location we never go to along the river, that would be out of the wind.

We had the whole place to ourself! Sunshine! Melted river! What a blessing!  Soon after we arrived, an old man riding a bike equally as old, came through…and decided to sit right next to us.  Finding this rather odd…I paid attention.

He started to witness to me. And we talked some deep things that I studied a few years ago, and I was surprised it was still in the memory bank.  Then we got to the Grace factor.  Ahhhh, this gentleman was Jehovah witness.  My grandpa was also a Jehovah witness, so I am familiar.  Our talk changed…He tried very hard to convince me that works are how we get to heaven, and nothing special about it, we will just be glad we made it.  (insert huge eyes here )

No doubt, God orchestrated that afternoon.  We had a divine appointment.  The gentleman left and very sweetly thanked me for the conversation,  asked if I would visit his church sometime. I told him no, I love the church I am at, and maybe he should visit me.  He spent his whole life seeking for truth. And I prayed as he left…”please let him find the Truth”.  Grace, a foreign word to a man who knew his scriptures so well, some what out of context, but knew scripture none the less.  He could not fathom, Grace.

Romans 4:4-8 (NLT)

When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

“oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.”

All of this, and I was still standing at my wall, and this was the beginning of breakthrough, I realized, I do believe, and I still care about a world that is misled. This appointment was not only for him, it was also for me.

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The Journey~to know HIM more

Somehow in this crazy messed up world we live in, its so easy to be consumed by everything and around us.  Then the Ultimate question surfaces “God where are you? you seem far away”.  God does not move, we move. Revisiting the Cross, and the love of God is vital to my journey to know HIM more.  I don’t claim to know all there is to know, but I what i do know is…life doesn’t work for me without a focus on God’s love for me even while i was still his enemy.

So today , while keeping the cross in the front of my mind, looking at scriptures that remind me of my sin, and how much i don’t believe (and i really want to), here is just a few..

Luke 9:25 What gain is it for someone to have won the world, and to have lost or ruined his/her very self. (paraphrased)

Romans 5:6-11  (my thoughts) looking at this with the eyes of how much sin is the refusal of God’s love.

Matthew 9:18-22  (my thoughts)  the woman with a bleeding condition, was healed because she believed…how much of our sin is metaphorically causing us to bleed, and not reach for the healer?

John 4:1-42 the woman at the well-(my thoughts) i don’t know what happened in her life that caused her to spiral from one man to another, but regardless of what someone else may have done to her, i am seeing today that her deception is not knowing who she truly is to her creator, and not know her true identitiy in Christ.  This is my own issue as well somedays, and so many times have teached it, and so many times have fallen here.

Part of this journey is to know with out a doubt , not just words memorized, but rooted in the heart…my true identity in Christ, to know HIS love like never before, and to accept that love, because I am worth it to HIM…so are you…want to join me on this journey?

We Have Been Warned

All verses are taken from the ESV, and all italics are my own thoughts. I realize that the verses from Revelations are to the churches that are named, but it is also to us the “Church”. We really need to apply these warnings to ourself, and also be encouraged that HE has provided a way for us to overcome/conquer.  We live in a world where we compromise on so many things.  God’s word is not up for negotiation, HE said it, I believe HE means it.  Revelations is the only book that comes with a blessing and a curse..read and apply, blessing. Take away or add to it, curse.  Pretty intense huh? yeah it makes me tremble just writing it out here.

Oh Father God, help us to apply, help us to overcome.  So many tell me there are gray areas in your word, I am finding it difficult to imagine YOU a GOD of such great detail, to put gray areas to watch us stumble around to find our own way.  Please purify your bride, get us ready, and remind us to bow to no man in no way.  I know you are a GOD that has a great love for your children, at the same time I know YOU are a KING, Creator, Sustainer, and the writer of this great story and plan that you have orchestrated. Have mercy on us, we seriously are not getting it, or we are blinded and need you to heal our spiritual eyes.  No doubt we need YOU, and we can not do a thing without YOUR hand.  Please help us to be ready.

Ephesians 5:5
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Have you ever seen this verse? Have you ever fallen on your face before the KING of kings, and screamed “please do not let me be one of these, rid me of everything unpleasing to you, don’t stop purging me until it is gone”?  I have come on this verse several times, and each time, it reminds my heart of …

Philippians 2:12
Lights in the World
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Hey I know the verses that say i am sealed with the HS, and my salvation is locked in..but there is a reason that these verses are in the Bible.  I am no theologian, but I believe God has the power to do anything HE chooses, and we are called to obedience.

1 John 5:4
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 2:14
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Revelation 2:5-7, 13-17, 19-29

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do  the works you did at first. If not,  I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of  the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of  the tree of life, which is in  the paradise of God.’

13 “‘I know where you dwell,  where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not  deny my faith even in the days of Antipas  my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of  Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might  eat food sacrificed to idols and  practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of  the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not,  I will come to you soon and  war against them with  the sword of my mouth.17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone  that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

19 s “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and  to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but  she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he  who searches mind and heart, and  I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call  the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I  do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works  until the end,  to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and  he will rule them with a rod of iron,  as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.28 And I will give him  the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Revelation 3:1-6, 8-13, 15-22

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation  of being alive,  but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up,  I will come  like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not  soiled their garments, and they will walk with me  in white, for they are  worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never  blot his name out of  the book of life.  I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you  an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of  the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold,  I will make them come and bow down before your feet and they will learn that  I have loved you.10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try  those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon.  Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize  your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him  a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him  the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem,  which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own  new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor,  blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you  to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and x the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes,  so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.20 Behold, I stand at the door and  knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers,  I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as  I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Wondering what does it mean to lose your lampstand? lots of theologians have different takes on these scriptures, what if…GOD just means exactly what HE said.  Are we working out our salvation with fear and trembling or are we taking HIS love for granted, and pleasing ourselves blowing off obedience, and making a mockery of HIS forgiveness, cheapening HIS grace as if we deserve it, its a gift…HE IS GOD! HE WILL NOT BE MOCKED! scares me to death!

Seeking Understanding

In our modern day technologies, we can seek understanding on most anything. It even seems at times to be an endless supply of knowledge, so we take it in and hope for the mastery that comes from that knowledge/understanding. We want to understand how things work, why things happen, and how we can make a difference or change, but it all falls under our own understanding of whatever we are seeking.

As a whole, none of that is a bad thing, unless we consistently lean on that understanding as truth. None of what we can take in is full understanding, there is always more.  For us to call ourselves “Masters” at anything, is a dangerous place to be, especially as a Christ Follower. God calls us to seek HIM, and for sure sometimes more time is spent seeking the understanding than just HIM.  Wonder what our lives would look like if we truly were seeking HIM as the Master, and not our own understanding. Most often we are seeking a peace of some sort, to fill some kind of emptiness or lack of knowledge, and it can consume the day or days in ones life.

So often we are seeking understanding to become the master of something..instead of seeking the MASTER, and living in HIS peace that only comes from being in HIS presence.

Proverbs 2:1-15 (ESV)

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom;from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart,and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you,understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil,from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

Proverbs 3:5-8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Who is your Master? your own understanding? or the One who knows all things, and the only One who can give you true Peace? Know HIM, Seek HIM.

Are you Broken-hearted?

We all suffer at times. Sometimes our hearts are broke in a million                pieces, and hopelessness sets in.  Wondering…how will we ever put it all back together the way it was? We won’t. But God will put it back together, but not the same as it was, better!

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 147:1
He Heals the Brokenhearted
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Isaiah 61:1
The Year of the Lord‘s Favor
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound

(These verse were taken from the ESV, and the underlined/italicized  words are my emphasis.)

I wish so much I could take your face in my hands and cause you to look up, to dry your tears, and whisper “HE is here, reach for HIM.” Although this is the worst time you can imagine, you are in the perfect place to see HIS Glory, to know HIS touch to your heart, to experience HIS warmth and love wrap around you like a blanket.  I know HE is there with you. I have been where you are, and will be there again no doubt, as we live in this world that is falling apart, and have an enemy that is bent on destroying us, our marriages, our children, and what ever we hold dear.  I believe nothing touches HIS heart as tenderly as HIS child holding out her/his hands with a tear stained face.   Crying out I hurt.

I know as a mother, I would swoop up my kids in my arms, and wipe tears, and speak softly, and do all in my power to comfort them.  How much greater is our GOD to love on HIS children and then go a step beyond,…heal the broken heart, and restore things to a level that is glorifying to HIM.  No one messes with HIS babies…and walks away without knowing that HE is the KING of KINGS, and your Daddy, your heart healer…((HUGS))

Taking Some Ground, In JESUS name!

This morning was like any other Saturday morning, heading out to get food for hungry growing children!  In the car stereo, was Travis Cottrell~Unashamed Love. Of course, it needed to go UP! LOUDER!  in a matter of moments he escorted me right into the throne room, where I needed to be so desperately. More than I knew.  As Worship just filled my Saturn, the presence of the LORD was strong.  Been wondering lately, how does one love so deeply the LORD, and over time it seems to become natural.  HE is so NOT natural, HE is supernatural, there is no way that we should ever just stop jumping up and down over what HE has done and is doing.

The last few years, we have been through some things that only God can save us from. And save us HE did. But the scars have been deep, and on occasion painfully reminding.  We have come through Immorality/pornography, miscarriages, and a broken family to a whole family. God has moved in ways that are incomprehensible, and still knowing that HE has done these things.  I don’t know what you have been through, but I know when God moves HIS hand and saves you…you just can’t shut up about it! This is where the enemy put me in bondage again…

God moved on my heart to teach women, and I did for several years.  I live in a area where religious Bible teaching is prominent. Once they hear my testimony of where I have been and what Jesus has saved me from, the shots begin.  Some how, the enemy used them to sit me down, to lower my hands in praise, and to believe that I should just be happy that God has brought me into HIS family, but there really is no place among them.  How I tried to become part of one family after another, and the same thing happened again..

After months of no worshipping any where, God lead me Lifes Changed by Christ. Amazing.  Still there has been this darkness lurking around me..part of the legalism that bound me raced through my mind..”there is unrepentant sin..this is as good as it gets,..just be glad you have been saved from hell…no one wants to hear you…”  While pondering these things I have decided….

God will speak to my heart about what is wrong, as long as i keep my heart open to HIM! I did need some repentance, seems that I have been angry with GOD for bringing out of all the abuse in my life to abuse me again in Jesus name…

Then it happened! my worship, my freedom from the legalistic bonds that were trying to suffocate me. HE did not save me from the pit to sit me in the back seat or to allow self righteous people to make me hang my head yet again. NO that is not my GOD, and IN JESUS NAME, I am taking back the ground that my DADDY gave to me..Thank you Jesus for breaking through again and again.. Thank you for Beth Moore who taught me your Truth, and how to look into it my self, and thank you for Travis who taught me how to sing your praises from my heart.