The end of 2011

I sit here before the computer with nothing to write.  I think my brain has gone into overload as i go over the events of 2011. Nationally, globally, personally, it has been quite a year! Then I peer into the year 2012 and it is an empty page holding the promise of more challenges but also the sweet experiences that brighten our days. Fortunately we live out all our days one moment at a time; that is all we have. We cannot go back and re-write the past; the future is yet to come.  

Papa, I thank you for this past year with all of its joys, sorrows, victories, and yes, failures. All has been an invitation to trust You and to find You faithful. One of the small things I have especially appreciated is how You have helped me find things that I have misplaced. How is it that the God who takes care of the Universe and everything in it, cares enough about me to show me where I have put something? I love it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Walking in the flesh

I have a perfect example of what happens to me when I try to do it right in my own strength. Today Glen and I were out shopping and he was doing something differently from the way I would have handled it.  While I am waiting for him I am saying to myself:
 "I will not mention this."
"I don't need to say anything."
"It is so silly. I won't say anything."
Well, he did something else that was not to my liking and I protested.  Everything I had decided not to say came out. It was at this point that I realized how the whole situation was out of my control. Not once did I turn to Papa and say that I was over my head and would He help me. It was such a little thing.

I think that God orchestrated the whole drama to let me see myself and just how silly I can be.  I love it!  He is so down to earth with us.  We take ourselves far too seriously.  And, it makes a good story for my blog!

Receive: Peace WITH Others

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  Matt. 5:9

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 

II Cor. 5:17-19

This extension of peace horizontally is not passive.  Oh no! God is for peace. Relational peace. He is the first peacemaker. I think about where it is hard to extend peace, reconciliation:  To neighbors, family members, enemies, co-workers, between races, between generations, toward the unjust.  But the Christ within me says to me, “i AM your peace.”  So, we are back to the beginning.  We receive in order to give!

Papa, I am a new creation and have been given the ministry of reconciliation. I receive peace and so am given the tools to pass it on. The whole thing is much deeper than just getting along with others. I make a choice to let God’s resurrected Life flow out of me to others; to share the message of reconciliation.

Receive--the peace OF God

This is what Jesus said to His disciples the night before He died:  

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." Jn 14:27

Peace--freedom from agitation, anxiety, fear.  

But it is more than freedom from; peace brings quietness and rest of heart.

The world does not have access to true peace. 

True peace for those who are Believers is the serenity that is untroubled when the oceans roar as financial systems collapse, when nations prepare for war; when our personal worlds fly apart. 

Peace is a choice.  

Papa, In this Christmas Season, I am so grateful that Jesus came to us as the Prince of Peace. He indwells me as peace. In times of great stress--even the stress that comes to me during THIS season--I can turn to You and receive peace by faith. You say, “let NOT your heart be troubled. Let NOT your heart dwell in fear." I always have a choice. I give You my fear and anxiety today in exchange for Your peace.

Receive-- Peace WITH God

As I move from 2011 to 2012, I find the world in turmoil yet God has much to say about peace.

God makes peace with me in that He moves toward ME and does not require any activity on my part.  Two scriptures put this into perspective for me:

In Col 1:21,22 Paul says, “And you, who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.”  

I was completely hostile to anything pertaining to God.  DIdn’t want Him; didn’t need Him.  But, He moved toward me!  Jesus brought me into reconciliation with the Father through His physical death on the cross.  He now presents me as holy, blameless, above reproach before Him.  Nothing in this verse says anything about going to church, baptism, prayer, or living right--not that there is anything wrong with these things, but nothing I DO will ever make me right with God. God did it all! 

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

Rom. 5:1

Papa--I receive today the peace that comes from being reconciled to You through your precious Son. I receive it by faith. You are so extravagant!  I give you my nothing for your everything.  Loving You today.

JESUS

Swaddled at birth

Swaddled in death

This is our Lord!

God Wrapped in a Blanket

Jesus,

Loves pure light

Shines from the heart of God

Into this Holy dark Night

Swaddled in cloth

Placed in a cradle of wood.

Jesus,

God with us

    Blood,

      Tears,

          Rending of flesh

Sorrow poured out on a wood tree.

The light of the world,

Swaddled in darkness

For me; for me.

Jane Reeves

Receive--A Hiding Place

David says in Ps 18, “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

He is my I AM--my present shelter, my true hiding place.  He says to me:

"Jane, I AM your strength

I AM your rock

I AM your fortress

I AM your deliverer

I AM your God

My Rock in whom I take refuge

I AM your refuge

I am your shield; the horn of your salvation

I am your stronghold.”

“Papa, today, right now I receive You as my I AM, a very present help in trouble. I exchange my weakness, my vulnerability, the sense of homelessness, for Your complete sufficiency. When I got Jesus, I got everything! You ARE my hiding place. I don’t need to wait until Christmas Day to unwrap a place of safety. ‘I love you, O Lord, my strength.’”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goxRioEGrH4  My Hiding Place

Receive--The Father’s Heart

My earthly father did not choose me, but my heavenly Father did!

Ponder the following scripture:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father! So, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.  Gal. 4:4-7

Nothing in this verse implies distance--an old man with a long beard who sits in heaven uninvolved, uninterested in his creatures on earth. Oh no, this verse implies intimacy, sonship to the living God. He is now Daddy, Papa.  He chose me!  He loves me!  We talk together; He shares His heart with me and I share mine with Him. He who is God, is in fellowship with me through his Son, Jesus.  Truly, it blows my mind.

Papa, I love you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7IjQYza7jk  A Child of God

Receive--Joy!

That Holy night, shepherds are out in the field watching over their sheep. I can picture it:  A fire, above which hangs the coffee pot; stars twinkling against a velvet dark sky; shepherds lying around the fire on the hard ground thinking about so many little things such as the sheep that keep wandering, the mortgage and their lack of money, the sick child at home, fractured relationships, the tax that hasn’t been paid. Suddenly the darkness is made incredibly bright by an angel saying to them the most outlandish things! I sit here and imagine their thoughts: 

A baby has just been born?  

He is lying in a manger wrapped in rags?  

This baby is a Savior, Christ the Lord? 

It is a cause for joy, for rejoicing all over the world?  

And if that is not enough suddenly the sky is filed with thousands of angels all singing about the baby. Wow! Just when you least expect it, all heaven comes down.

Father, Jesus is my joy NOW. No matter what the season, He is joy! Joy dwells in me. May this joy bubble up and out to others who dwell on this planet at this time, those whose hearts are failing them with fear about so many things. 

Yes, “Joy to the world the Lord has come!”

Two Choices of a great carol!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68j6Ceof8QQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5hj518Iugk

Receive--Light

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined.  Is. 9:1

Little lights shine from our Christmas tree; candles flicker on the mantle of the fireplace. These are but a poor reflection of the One whose birth shattered the darkness. The babe who came 2,000 years ago and who declared Himself to be “The Light”, has brought light into my darkness. I received Him as a gift from my Heavenly Father many years ago.

Papa, How grateful I am to You that You sent us your only Son as a mere babe to overcome the darkness engulfing our world. I am pierced anew by your lavish gift to me in the person of your Son. I receive Him in a fresh way this Christmas season. Enlighten the eyes of my heart to clearly see the hope to which I have been called. Jesus is the light of the world; He is my light and my salvation.  

Light of the World You stepped down into darkness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nLyfzBfKw  

Christmas is about Receiving

What an odd statement. I thought that Christmas was all about giving.
I think about this and as I do, up comes a verse! 

For unto us a child is born,

Unto a son is given.  Isaiah 9:6

Why do we need this child?

Why was a Son given? 

Who is this child? 

Verse one of Isaiah 9 gives a hint on why THIS child is needed:  

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; 
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 

The darkness is great and something is needed and so God gives a Child who becomes light to those who live in darkness. The trouble with walking in darkness is that it becomes familiar.  Those who walk in darkness don’t even notice this darkness without light.  God gives the gift of light but a gift that is is given must be received; welcomed. Presents do us no good if they remain wrapped. I have experienced going from darkness into light. God desires all to understand that they do walk in darkness if they have not received God's gift which is Jesus, the light of the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN5BaOGTmGs  For unto us a Child is born.

All Things

For of Him and through Him and To Him are all things, to whom be glory forever and forever.  Amen.  Rom 11:36

For by Him all things were created...all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.  Col 1:16,17

In Him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.  Col 1:19,20

Of Him--All things

Through Him--All things

To Him--All things

By Him--All things

For Him--All things

Before--All things (before creation)

In Him All things hold together

In Him is all the fulness of God

Through Him comes reconciliation to Himself

All things whether on earth or in heaven

Making peace by the blood of the cross

Papa God, your Son is pretty awesome.  NOTHING is left out of “all things.”  I can understand how Paul worshiped by saying, “In Him I live and move and have my being.” (Acts 17:28) I bow before You with the same words. “I live in You, and in You have my being.”  Thank you that Jesus your Son makes peace by the blood of the cross. Through that cross I am fully reconciled to You. You are before me, in me; You work ALL THINGS for me in accordance with your will. You bend toward me in loving embrace and I can rest; truly rest.

Incomprehensible

God dwells outside of time. He is at the beginning of time and at the end of time--at the same time.  He has no mass.  He is neither big nor tiny.  He has no dimension.  He is not long, or short, fat or tall.  He is Spirit who has neither beginning nor end; eternal. He is incomprehensible and yet it is His desire that we know Him!  The One who dwells in the Father; the One who created heaven and earth; the One who is The Word--Jesus--became flesh and dwelt among us. He has made the Father known to us. 

“If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Jn 14:9

Papa, words simply do not describe your greatness, your majesty, your eternalness. So much about You that I cannot get my head around, but my heart sings when the storm comes and the wind blows; when I walk in the meadow in the spring; when I see the birds in flight over the water; when I wake up to a golden moon slipping toward the horizon. All of creation shouts of a loving creator. Then I meet You in the pages of a Book as I encounter Jesus in every line. He is “the exact image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”  And YOU LIVE IN ME!

Cookies and Conversation

We gather together; our words easily flows to the “business of life”…jobs, kids, schedules, gift buying, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, parties and programs. And then we realize… the Advent season is upon us! And so the conversation takes a turn and we redirect our talk to what PEACE ON EARTH actually means to us. What a good question! We can’t buy it or gift it! Will there ever be a time without war, famine, pain and sickness? That is easily answered due to the life experience we all have had both within ourselves and in those around us.  

Does this take the rosy blush off the season? As we converse we all agree that it doesn’t. Rather it puts the joy of the Redeemer back into it! The babe in the manger came to bring new life, new beginnings, reconnections and, yes, PEACE in the midst of “the business of life”, as well as eternal peace. Though born a baby he grew, taught, was crucified yet rose again on the 3^rd day. That is what we lean our faith on! That which we celebrate now - the Christmas story - was only the beginning.  

We are satisfied with cookies and challenging conversation. And so we leave and go our separate ways. We ponder…Peace on Earth. Then one gets stuck in the snow; has a deadline! Another goes home to a child with a fever of 103. And yet another gets a “pink slip”. PEACE?  But we are leaning on Jesus’ words: 

        “My peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give it as the world gives.”

A priceless gift… 

                                                                                                                                             By Naomi Plate

I Must Have Love

I MUST HAVE LOVE

Love of my heart, my stream runs dry

O Fountain of the heavenly hills

Love, blessed love, to Thee I cry.

Fill all my secret hidden rills.

Waters of love, O pour through me;

I must have love; I must have Thee.

Amy Carmichael

The Missing Son

Today I was thinking about the Prodigal son.  As I was pondering the story (Luke 15:11), it dawned on me that the Prodigal never ceased being a son.  The “extravagant” one was asking his dad to disown him when he asked for his inheritance early, before death. The Father gave his son the inheritance but he did not disown his son. Instead, he continued to love him--passionately. The Father watched for him daily. When he saw the son coming, the Father ran to his son, threw his arms around him and said, “welcome home, my son.  It is time to party!”

Papa, I have missed this all my life.  The PRODIGAL never ceased being the son of his Father.  Neither do the prodigals of this generation cease to be your sons and daughters.  Not one is lost.  This story is a picture of your heart:  The waiting yearning heart of a Dad.

Tucked into the Vine

Jesus said in John 15:5:  I am the Vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing.

As I sit here pondering this I see the vine as the Tree of Life.  This Tree/Vine has branches in all of the redeemed--fruit bearing branches.  Each of us is a walking cluster of grapes giving forth life to an empty, desolate planet as we go about living each day.  But, am I responsible for producing the fruit. NO! The fruit is formed out of abiding not working. In fact it is only by staying in the Tree/Vine that we can do anything.

Papa, what you are asking of me is impossible. I want to go forth and slay dragons; satisfy the needs of my brothers and sisters.  I want to look good in the eyes of others.  I want to be noticed and affirmed. I,I, I. Yuk! It seems to me that abiding in the vine is pretty passive and lazy in its appearance. I am asking you today to teach me all it means to abide--it is against my human nature. But I believe that what you are saying in this verse is truth and that abiding is activated through faith.  I give you my nothing today--in exchange for your everything!

Two Kingdoms

...giving thanks to the Father who has made us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love:  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins...           Col 1:12,13 Darby

The first thing I notice is that the verses are in the past tense:  has made, has delivered and has translated us into another kingdom--in whom we now have redemption.  It is the Father who has made us fit through the redeeming work of his Son.  The scripture shows two groups of people.  No other groups are mentioned.  Just two.  The first group is living under the authority of darkness, and the second group is living in a kingdom of light and love.  Both groups get dressed in the morning, eat breakfast and go about their daily routine.  Both groups are made up of singles, of marrieds; the healthy and the sick; the rich and the poor.  Not only that but neither group may be aware of which kingdom they reside in.  It is not obvious to them, necessarily, nor to others.  Both kingdoms are part of another dimension and are invisible to the human eye.  The point for me as I read these verses is that once I was part of the kingdom of darkness, but then at a specific time I was transferred into the Kingdom of light.  But do I believe this deep down, really believe it?

My dear Papa,    These two verses are only part of one sentence...  I think I could spend days on it.  The past tense brings me back to what your Son did 2,000 years ago, and how I received the truth of His sacrifice for me; at which time I was transferred from darkness into light. As usual, I cannot get my mind around it. My senses are so aware of what is happening in my physical world and it is hard to change gears and contemplate a dimension that feels out of reach.  Paul grasped it so it must be possible for me also to perceive it and live in it now.  Yes, to live in it right now.  

My Weakness for His Strength

The latest, and the last book that Michael Wells will ever write, came to me in the mail yesterday.  The cover said:  My Weakness for His Strength--Volume one.  It startled me to realize that he had planned several books in this series.  Mike went to bed and to sleep one night about eight weeks ago--and woke up in heaven--his time on earth was finished.

He dedicated the book in this way:

To God who does much with little

more with less

and everything with nothing.

Galatians 2:20--Again!

I am crucified with Christ and no longer live, I, but Christ lives in me.

These words, “Christ lives in me” have been rolling around in my head for the past day or so. By whose life do I live when I get up in the morning? According to this scripture I live by the Life of the One who dwells in another realm.  So, while I walk around in my earth suit in the physical realm, my true life comes from another dimension. I live in two dimensions at once, just as Jesus did when He walked this earth. Jesus said that He could do nothing apart from His Father. While He lived “here,” He was connected to “there.” When I get up in the morning I can choose to live out of the natural based on what I see and understand to be real, or I can choose to live from the Life that is in me, the Life that comes from another realm.  

Ah, Papa, this is a great adventure we are on. I cannot make this stuff up. You are tying together something I read here with something I have read there. This verse that has been somewhat confusing to me is beginning to make some sense.  I still do not know how to live out of your life but I have a feeling it is something that happens moment by moment. But first, I have to believe that You have come to live in me which connects me continually to that source of Life that is You. Thank you for this incredible relationship!  I love you so much.

Crucified with Christ

I want to revisit this verse for it is the theme of my website.

Darby wrote in 1890, "For I through the law, have died to the law, that I might live to God." (not FOR Him.)  He goes on to say:

"I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, I, but Christ lives in me; but in that I live in the flesh, I live by faith, the faith OF the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me."  Gal 2:19,20

How do I unpack this verse?  In very small bites!  The word for Crucified in the greek is "stauroo" It means to "be crucified WITH."  It denotes union, companionship.

Romans 6:6 says, "knowing this, that our old man has been crucified WITH Him, that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin."  (Darby)

Eph 1:4 says, "According as He has chosen us IN HIM before the world's foundation, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love; having marked us out beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself."  Darby

Eph 1:11 again uses the words "being marked out beforehand"

The thing that pierces me to the core is that, I was chosen in Him, marked out beforehand.  Before what? The foundation of the world.  So, I was in Him before creation.  I was in Christ when He died on the cross and so perished with Him.  I live but not as before. Christ lives in me and it is out of His life that I live my life. I live by faith, the faith of the Son of God.  It is not out of my faith.

I am complete in Him.  Complete!  It leaves me breathless, undone before Him.

Dearest Papa, you marked me out beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ.  You marked me out unto Yourself.  You chose me before creation to be holy and blameless; then you provided the means for that by the crucifixion of your Son.  I am even now, a new creation. What can I possibly add to that? Out of death has come LIFE!  I am fully alive, complete.  I ask you to give me more revelation of this truth, empower me to walk out of who I am:
"CHRIST IN ME, THE HOPE OF GLORY!"

Co-laborers

Today I had a distinct sense that God has pleasure in me and what I am doing on this website. Not only that but He has been excited about revealing His plan to me, a gift; that we are co-laborers in this thing.  He in me and I in Him, together, creating 

something new, something lovely, something meaningful.  

oops

I blew it!  I made a mistake; a technological mistake and it might have caused serious repercussions.  Immediately I wanted to bag my responsibility; drop out; give it to another with greater computer savvy.  Then, "its not my fault." But it was.  True I had not understood how the address book in the Mac worked, but the computer did what it was told.

Then I came into the presence of the Lord:  He loves that I am human. The problem arises when I expect to do it right, be right--all the time. He takes great delight in my humanness; in this being that is finite, weak, prone to failure. He is God; He sees the big picture--all the time. I have such a narrow view; the information I have can be inadequate.  I am not God.  What a relief!  My spirit soars. Joy returns.

David Wilkerson

David Wilkerson who established the first Teen Challenge in NYC died on April 27th in a car accident.  His book THE CROSS AND THE SWITCHBLADE is a worthwhile read today.  This is what he wrote on his blog the morning of his departure from earth:

"To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable.  Jesus said to them Thomas, 'You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen.' (John 20:29)....Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer--who trust beyond hope WHEN ALL MEANS HAVE FAILED (caps mine).  To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word:

'Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights--and in the darkness you will hear the Father whisper, I am with you, I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense.  You will see it was all part of my plan.  It was no accident.  It was no failure on your part.'

Hold fast to your faith, stand fast in His Word.  There is no other hope in this world."

Thanksgiving

It is almost Thanksgiving and I am sitting here pondering what I am thankful for:  The silence with only the sound of the fountain in the lake falling on my ear; the marvels of technology--which I absolutely cannot stand some of the time; the beautiful autumn days with flaming colors this year.  I can see, hear, talk, walk; I can line dance--well, sort of.  I may not have family nearby but we have been invited to join some old friends for Thanksgiving dinner.  Thank you, Papa. 

I sit here and think of all of you who have made this blog possible.  My husband for gladly footing the cost. Thanks, honey! My son-in-law who has thrown himself into putting it together and will also manage it. Thank you so much, David.  I love you.   Corene, you kept listening to what I wanted for the main pictures; you bought new roses three times; you kept at it until both of us said, “aha.”  Thank you, dear friend.  I think of those who are even now working on stories of their personal struggles, sorrows, and triumphs.  Then I think of what God has poured into me all these years through many of you; how He has used scripture; authors of books...  I am part of a world-wide community of Believers not only in this age but past ages.  Believers who each display a different aspect of our wonderful God.  I love to watch the reflection of God’s character in His people.

Papa, I just want to thank you today for the richness of community as your Life is expressed in us who dwell in a world which is not only created by You but for You. 
“The heavens do indeed declare your glory and the earth shows forth Your handiwork!”

His Glorious Indwelling

Today I read in Isaiah 66: 1,2:  Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is my footstool.  Where is the house you could build for me?  Where is a place that I might rest.”

So many thoughts go through my mind and I can’t go any further.   I ponder the size of God; SO BIG.  How could a mere temple contain Him? But then He speaks of a place where He can rest. Who would have thought that God would want a place, a place of rest?  I am undone.   God is so huge that all of heaven is His throne and all of earth is a footstool?  BUT, scripture says that He dwells IN ME:

• “Christ in you the hope of glory.”  Col. 1:27
• “In Him all the fulness of the Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete.”  Col. 2:9,10
• “I in them and You in Me...”John 17:23
• “....Body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.”  ICor. 7:19

This does not compute.  Heaven is His throne and yet scripture plainly reveals that God dwells in me.  

I sit with Him in silence and then,

“Dearest Papa,   I am in spiritual shock.  Enlighten the eyes of my heart.  I want to know the One whose throne is in heaven, whose footstool is earth; who has found a dwelling place, a place of rest, in me.  My mind cannot comprehend this, but my spirit leaps for joy!”

Day Thirteen

Today I am in chapter 61 and another confirmation for this web site leaps out at me--don’t you love how gracious the Lord is? It is a scripture found in the Old Testament and quoted by Jesus in the New Testament.  Jesus IS the Word and so Old or New, it is all Jesus!   I find that He confirms His will to me when He calls me to do something new, especially when it is beyond my ability. He usually speaks first of all through His Word, and then in other ways which gives me confidence that He will be glorified.  This morning I am in Isaiah 61:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

Because the Lord has anointed me,

To bring good news to the afflicted,

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

and freedom to prisoners;

To proclaim the favorable day of the Lord

And the day of vengeance of our God; 

To comfort all who mourn,

To grant those who mourn in Zion,

Giving them a garland instead of ashes

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

So they will be called Oaks of Righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, THAT HE MAY
BE GLORIFIED.

Today the thing is settled.  He has so filled me in the last few years, but He has shut every door to sharing this fulness except for a few precious women.  As I entered into my 70th year this past summer, I could not imagine that God had anything more for me. I even wondered if He would not let me go to heaven which is a place that is very real to me.  But no, He had a huge surprise waiting for me; a surprise that will spill over to encourage and change many. How neat is that????

Day Twelve

The following week:  Last night I talked with the Web Master about what I wanted and what it would cost. Peace comes. Today I continue with my reading through the book of Isaiah. The morning chapter begins with the first verse of Is. 60:

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,

For behold, darkness will cover the earth,

But the Lord will rise on you,

And, His glory will appear upon you.

The first time I remember reading the chapter was many years ago. It was during a time that I was going into our church at 6AM to pray.  One morning as I sat in the back of the church in the pre-dawn dusk, the sun rose above the horizon and flooded the back of the church where I was sitting.  His glory was all I could think about and I left that place full rather than empty.  It was dark when I entered; I walked out into the light. There is nothing that the closeness of God will not heal.

Day Eleven

Setting up this website and blog IS part of my story and so I have included the steps and what has been going on inside of me. The NOW.  That is where God is.  I can’t change the past--though I can share it; the future is yet to come.  All I have is the moment I am now in.  I choose in that moment.  If I choose this, I necessarily do not choose that.  The choices that I make will form something in me and reveals what is important to me, what is resonating in my heart today. God is in the process.  In fact, I believe that He is more interested in process than outcome. As I ponder this the anxiety dissipates and is replaced by awe and wonder.  This thing He has called me to do is changing me; causing me to focus on what I believe and allows me to see the disconnects in how I behave. 

“I am thrown back on You, Oh precious One.  I give you my nothing today in exchange for your everything.  It is Christ in me, the hope of glory.”

Day Ten

I ponder the words: “I have been crucified with Christ.” The cross suddenly becomes central. The cross. Jesus died 2,000 years ago and when He died I died; when He was buried I was buried; when He was raised up to new life, I was raised up to new life. (Rom. 6: 1-11) Something real happened that awful day that Jesus bled and died with my sins upon Him. The day I recognized this and the day I owned it as true--that I am a sinner, lost and desperately in need of a way of escape, I became a new creation. 

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies, we

were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”   Romans 5:6-10 (NAS)

We are born again as we acknowledge our need for a Savior and receive Him.

We are saved by His Life as we walk moment by moment leaning on Him. 

“Today, Lord, I affirm your great and awesome salvation for my soul and give you my nothing for your everything. Christ in me, the hope of glory!”

Day Nine

Tonight I realize anew that I cannot do this website alone. He doesn’t want me to do it alone. Jesus is my source of Life. He loves it when I say, “I can’t do this thing.”  or, “It’s impossible!”  I fall before Him and cry, “help!”

Day Eight

The eighth day! Yesterday I worked very hard on getting the web site together. Got a story written and typed it--yes, I still work with pen and paper first. As I worked on the story I pick up Dan Allender’s book, To Be Told. He introduced me to story telling a few years ago. I want stories to be the main part of this site because they play such a part in our lives. We are a STORY; we are HIS story--history.  Allender says in To Be Told, “a good but unexamined life will be high on duty and not likely to celebrate the odd paradoxes, the ironic coincidences, and the humor of being dirt.  Remember we are only clay. Adam wasn’t named “Red” by accident.  Our biggest question:  

“Does my life really have meaning?”

Day Seven

Today I talked to Corene, a dear friend and a photographer. I asked her about doing a picture and described what I wanted to do with a red rose. She gasped. On Saturday she had given a wedding in her back yard for a friend and today her house was filled with red roses. How like God to have the resource all ready in place!

Day Six

This morning I woke up with a dream. In the dream I was on a roof with many other people and the thought came, “everyone can see what is going on up here.  It is so public!” I woke up knowing exactly what was going on in me in regard to this web site.  As I pondered all the work involved I started to think of the story angle again.  Everybody has a story and people want to share them. Not spiritual heavy weights but people like you, dear reader! God working in ordinary people. I could feature a story each month or each week.  An ongoing blog of how this ordinary person encounters God. I will have a resource page of books with a short introduction to each. And that is where I am at the beginning of Saturday, just four days after saying to God, "I want something fun and meaningful!"  And so it has begun.  (You don't have to be afraid to come home at night, my dear husband.  Your wife has been given something to do!)

Day Five

Well, most of yesterday I felt broken. A blog. Suppose no one wants to read it?  What if someone gets angry with me? What if I come across as a stupid or fake Christian? The negatives start rolling in. In the late afternoon I sat down at the computer to write down what I wanted on this web site.  I fiddled with the name for quite some time and then it came and it has not been used:  HIS VICTORIOUS INDWELLING!   Something settled. It changed my perspective. It met the core reason for doing this. It is not about me; it is all about HIM.  What do I want on this site?  Stories of real life!  I have lots of those but the pressure begins to mount.  So much to write.  I have a picture in my mind of what is to be the center piece of the Home page, the scripture, a song.

Day Four

YES! I want to share the Life that is bubbling up in me! This is my scripture reading today and an affirmation from my Dad that I am hearing HIM and not just my own thoughts: 

 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, 

and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, 

and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

so shall my word be which goes forth from my mouth. 

It shall not return unto me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 

For you will go out with joy and be led forth in peace; 

the mountains and hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, 

and the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up;

And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up;

And it will be a memorial to the Lord,

An everlasting sign which will  not be cut off.      

Is 55:10-13. (NAS)

Day Three

I wake up with a light heart. Why? Don't know. I certainly did not DO anything to change the color of my mood. Later that day I went to a web site and read a blog and it ministered to me. (while I was reading it the thought came to me that I could do that, have a website.) I have never met Clint but his words and his faith touch my heart. Clint lost his wife in September after a long battle with cancer leaving five beautiful little girls for him to raise. God is working in Clint's life and he is not afraid to share it, to be vulnerable on a web site, a public place.  

So there it is, Father, "You love like a hurricane, I am a tree, bending beneath the winds of your mercy!"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vu9l-CXZEU

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning:  great is your faithfulness.  Lam 3:22,23

Day Two

I am like a petulant child. Nothing on my calendar for this month except a coffee on Thursday that I coordinate and all the women have said, "I cannot come."  (Reminds me of the song:  I can't come to the banquet, don't bother me now, I have married a wife, I have bought me a cow, I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum, please hold me excused I cannot come!) It is a beautiful fall day so Jake, my mini Aussie, and I take a walk in the Meadow. I pray with a long face--yes, I can even feel my face falling. My feelings toward God are a 0, or perhaps lower. I sing some songs.  PUNY--and then comes the whine:  I am 69, what DO I DO with the life I have left?  What is my purpose? And, I go mentally through all the things others DO.  But I know that God has not called me to DO any of these things. He has me on a different path.  I really am tired of this waiting stuff.  It has been nine years since life began to take a nose dive.  At some point in the day I ask Him for something that would minister to others that would be fun for me. I ask but the asking is all the faith I have. My emotions are definitely below zero by this time.

Day One

It has been a rough week of feeling isolated and useless. I have been complaining about God not doing anything. The Lord gave me the phrase “Waiting on God” just over the last couple of days. I know His voice. It is soft and almost sounds like my own thinking except these things seem to come out of nowhere.  The second day of this I was paging through my 1996 diary and went back to the first page:  “A year of loss”  Below this was a meditation I did as that year of loss began:

My soul, wait thou only upon God; 

for my expectation is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation

He is my defense; I shall not be moved.

Ps 62:5,6 KJV

For God ONLY, WAIT.  My EXPECTATION is from Him.  

To Wait.  Strongs #1826 (This particular word is only found in Ps 62) Means to:  be astonished, to stop, to perish, to be cut down, forbear, hold peace, quiet self, rest, be silent, stand still, tarry, wait. 

The dictionary adds a few more pieces:  To stay or rest in expectation or patience. (It is the opposite of expecting something evil which is sometimes called, “a bitter root expectation.”)

Only:  Strongs 389 surely; hence (by limitation) only.   

Dictionary:  Single, solitary, without the presence of another.   

Also solitary, without another, is Jehovah.

Expectation:  Strongs 8615  lit. a cord, attachment. Hope, that which I long for. From 6960 To bind together (by twisting) such as a three fold cord. Tarry, wait upon.

When I finish pondering these words I start to write:  “Soul, wait only upon your God.  Stop, hold your peace, be silent, tarry, stand still.  Wait in silence upon your God. Your expectation must be Him, from Him.That which you long for deep inside. You are bound together with Him like a three fold cord that is braided.  Wait on Him with the expectation that He is your rock, your salvation and you shall not be moved.    

For the next few days I will be sharing how He led me into doing the web site. It was 

two weeks ago that I looked at my 1996 diary on Ps 62---the wait, tarry, be intertwined with Him ALONE thing. Today I exchange my nothing--for HIS EVERYTHING.