Sunday, February 21, 2016

Whole Heart

I was a little late for the corporate prayer meeting at church, and a young man was already singing Hillsong’s “I Surrender” as I walked in and took my seat.  Several things said and prayed made me think of renewed consecration, rededication and recommitment (as well as surrender) to the Lord. At church service later that same day, a young lady shared that  the Lord had asked for her whole heart, and as a result, at the Lord’s direction and in His timing, she was being ”re-baptized” as a sign of her surrendering to Him anew - rededicating and recommitting her life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Whole heart” … today’s Bible verse on my phone – Psalm 119:2 - happened to display in a translation (ASV) that used this same phrase:

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart.

 
This made me think of the song “Heart and Soul” (Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Mass Choir, featuring BeBe Winans): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA_fma5MhEo

… and God’s promises in Jeremiah 29:13 …
 
CJB      When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly;

NET     When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul,

Looking at other “whole heart” Scriptures, I see Jeremiah 24:7 (AMP) …

I will give them a heart to know Me, [understanding fully] that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

… and Jeremiah 32:27, 36-41 (NKJV) …

27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

36 “Now therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, ‘It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence’: 37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. 38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’

As I seek the LORD to know Him, and deep calls unto deep, think I’ll look up other Scriptures about all of one’s heart, or an undivided, perfect, and/or whole heart and see what (else) the Lord will speak …
 

… and my journey with my Lord continues …

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Changed by Love

Found myself agonizing over a situation – battling negative “coulda, shoulda, woulda” thoughts with words of faith most of the night.  Finally, “How Awesome is Our God” (by Israel Houghton & New Breed, featuring Yolanda Adams) started playing in my mind’s playlist, and I was able to find peace enough to drift off to sleep.  The next day brought comfort as well as a rebuke for my doubt, fear and unbelief, leading to repentance and renewed praise to God for His tender grace shown in and through the strong correction. Soon afterwards, news came that the situation I feared had not materialized.  In His goodness, God had been merciful once again.

Lamentations 3:22 (AMPC)
It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.

After running around with and for family most of the day, I was just getting ready to rest a bit (finally!) when I received a text asking for help – again.  I must confess that at that point I was not really in the mood (even as the thought came that "God loves a cheerful giver” [2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV]), but I nevertheless sought the Lord as to what He would have me to do.  Sensing that I was to allow the Lord to provide the requested assistance through me, I asked the Lord for His strength to do so.  My attitude changed as I remembered my gratitude for God’s gracious blessings in my life – specifically with regard to the aforementioned situation.  I thought of the verse, that to give to the poor [needy] is to lend to the Lord (Proverbs 19:17) as I went on my way (and now, even thinking of David’s statement in 2 Samuel 24:24 that he would not give to the Lord that which cost him nothing).
Colossians 2:6-7 (AMP, NIV, AMPC, VOICE)
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established and strengthened in your faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with gratitude and thanksgiving.

Once the task was accomplished, I was almost back home when “How He Loves” (by David Crowder Band) began playing on the radio.  I received the song as a gift, signaling God’s approval and acceptance of my actions.  I just smiled and thanked God again for the magnificent, penetrating brilliance and pervasive nature of His love to change a heart – even my heart.

… and my journey with my Lord continues …

Monday, February 1, 2016

Rescued!

"You came to my rescue, You came to my rescue ..."

Awakened today, hearing these lyrics (of the song as sung by Christy Nockels) ... and thought of Scripture I read the other day in a YouVersion Bible reading plan ...

Ephesians 1:3-14 VOICE

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One, who grants us every spiritual blessing in these heavenly realms where we live in the Anointed—not because of anything we have done, but because of what He has done for us. God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him. He destined us to be adopted as His children through the covenant Jesus the Anointed inaugurated in His sacrificial life. This was His pleasure and His will for us. Ultimately God is the one worthy of praise for showing us His grace; He is merciful and marvelous, freely giving us these gifts in His Beloved. Visualize this: His blood freely flowing down the cross, setting us free! We are forgiven for our sinful ways by the richness of His grace, which He has poured all over us. With all wisdom and insight, He has enlightened us to the great mystery at the center of His will. With immense pleasure, He laid out His intentions through Jesus, 10 a plan that will climax when the time is right as He returns to create order and unity—both in heaven and on earth—when all things are brought together under the Anointed’s royal rule. In Him 11 we stand to inherit even more. As His heirs, we are predestined to play a key role in His unfolding purpose that is energizing everything to conform to His will. 12 As a result, we—the first to place our hope in the Anointed One—will live in a way to bring Him glory and praise. 13 Because you, too, have heard the word of truth—the good news of your salvation—and because you believed in the One who is truth, your lives are marked with His seal. This is none other than the Holy Spirit who was promised 14 as the guarantee toward the inheritance we are to receive when He frees and rescues all who belong to Him. To God be all praise and glory!
Selah.
... and my journey with my Lord continues ...

Monday, August 31, 2015

In Awe ...

So, I'm reading Psalm 119, and get to verse 120 (in the Amplified Bible):

120 My flesh trembles and shudders for fear and reverential, worshipful awe of You, and I am afraid and in dread of Your judgments.

In my head, I hear, "I'm in awe of You, I'm in awe of You" - and recognize that what I'm hearing is from Chris Tomlin's song, At The Cross (Love Ran Red).  [Just occurred to me that the reason I was reading Psalm 119 was because of Passion City Church, where Chris Tomlin is a worship leader ... love God's sense of humor, the Way He brings all things together, working them for our good, for His glory ...]

... and my journey with Him continues ...

Friday, July 24, 2015

Playlist reminder: God Is Here


Isaiah 41:10 (AMP)
10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

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All week, The Lord reminded me through these songs, that He, The Eternal, Almighty, Omnipresent One, was with me:

  • Here Now (Madness) – Hillsong United
  • You Are Here – The Outsiders
  • He is Here – Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Mass Choir
  • Already Here – Brian Courtney Wilson
  • God is Here – Martha Munizzi
  • Tu Estas Aqui – Jesus Adrian Romero featuring Marcela Gandara

Then my heart rejoiced and was encouraged as I read Scriptures regarding His Presence:
 

And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.


Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary.


Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually!


You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.


For You make him to be blessed and a blessing forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the joy of Your presence.


Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.


One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.


You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].


In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots of men; You keep them secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues.


Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.


Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!


Surely His salvation is near to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that [the manifest presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land.


Surely the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face).


In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.


You have made known to me the ways of life; You will enrapture me [diffusing my soul with joy] with and in Your presence.


So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;


And the presence of the Lord was with them with power, so that a great number [learned] to believe (to adhere to and trust in and rely on the Lord) and turned and surrendered themselves to Him.


But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God—[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence].


For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God’s Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God.


We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man’s conscience.


Assured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us [along] with you into His presence.


Have you been supposing [all this time] that we have been defending ourselves and apologizing to you? [It is] in the sight and the [very] presence of God [and as one] in Christ (the Messiah) that we have been speaking, dearly beloved, and all in order to build you up [spiritually].


The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it).


But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,


In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].


[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!


Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence.


Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].


By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,


We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].


Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]—


For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence.

Thank You, Lord, for Your love, and for Your faithfulness to Your Word to never leave me nor forsake me!

 
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

... and my journey with Him continues ...

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

God as Father

Luke 11:9-13   (NKJV)
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
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I found a bookmark from Derek Prince Ministries (www.derekprince.org), "God is my Father" - which had the following thoughts and Scripture:

 
John 1:12   (NKJV)
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

I am a child of God.

1 Corinthians 12:27   (NKJV)

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

I am a member of the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 1:5   (NKJV)

[God] predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

I have been adopted as a child of God.

Deuteronomy 32:6   (NKJV)

Do you thus deal with the Lord, O foolish and unwise people?  Is He not your Father, who bought you?  Has He not made you and established you?

My Father has made me.

Ephesians 1:4-5   (NKJV)

… He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

In love, He has predestined me to be adopted as His child.

Matthew 6:8   (NKJV)

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

My Father knows what I need, even before I ask Him.

Psalm 103:13   (NKJV)

13 As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

As a father has compassion on his children, so You, Lord, have compassion on me.

Romans 8:15   (NKJV)

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

I did not receive a spirit that makes me a slave again to fear, but I have received the Spirit of sonship.  And by Him I cry, “Abba, Father.”

2 Corinthians 6:18   (NKJV)

18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

The Lord Almighty says to me, "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My child."

*********************************************************  
 Thank You, Lord, for being such a "Good, Good Father"! I love You - Happy Father's Day!

Songs: Good Good Father, by Housefires II
            No longer slaves, by Jonathan and Melissa Helser

                                           ... and my journey with Him continues ...

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Please, come to Jesus NOW!!!


One Saturday morning at church, after corporate prayer had ended (with “corporate” pertaining to a united group of people), I just kept sitting in the room as music played.  I began praying in the Spirit and crying.  I wasn’t sad, and couldn’t think of why I was crying so much, so I asked the Lord what was going on. In my spirit, it was as if I heard, “I will do a thing you wouldn’t believe if I told you.”

Immediately I thought of Habakkuk and looked up the reference.  Verse 1:5 in the NASB version of the Bible says:
“Look among the nations! Observe!  Be astonished! Wonder!  Because I am doing something in your days—You would not believe if you were told.
As I read more of what God says to the prophet Habakkuk about the Chaldeans (in verses 1-11), I thought of the things that had been in the news lately concerning ISIS and Boko Haram:
1 The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
How long, O Lord, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, “Violence!”
Yet You do not save.
Why do You make me see iniquity,
And cause me to look on wickedness?
Yes, destruction and violence are before me;
Strife exists and contention arises.
Therefore the law is ignored
And justice is never upheld.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out perverted.
“Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days—
You would not believe if you were told.
“For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
That fierce and impetuous people
Who march throughout the earth
To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.
“They are dreaded and feared;
Their justice and authority originate with themselves.
“Their horses are swifter than leopards
And keener than wolves in the evening.
Their horsemen come galloping,
Their horsemen come from afar;
They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.
“All of them come for violence.
Their horde of faces moves forward.
They collect captives like sand.
10 “They mock at kings
And rulers are a laughing matter to them.
They laugh at every fortress
And heap up rubble to capture it.
11 “Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on.
But they will be held guilty,
They whose strength is their god.”
I wasn’t sure what to do with this, so again I asked the Lord because I sorely need His wisdom.  (James 1:5 NLT 1996 says, “If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask Him, and He will gladly tell you.  He will not resent your asking.” [pronoun capitalization mine])  The answer seemed to be in Acts 13:38-41-
38 So let it be clearly known and understood by you, brethren, that through this Man forgiveness and removal of sins is now proclaimed to you;
39 And that through Him everyone who believes [who acknowledges Jesus as his Savior and devotes himself to Him] is absolved (cleared and freed) from every charge from which he could not be justified and freed by the Law of Moses and given right standing with God.
40 Take care, therefore, lest there come upon you what is spoken in the prophets:
41 Look, you scoffers and scorners, and marvel and perish and vanish away; for I am doing a deed in your days, a deed which you will never have confidence in or believe, [even] if someone [clearly describing it in detail] declares it to you.
It was as if I was to urge people to “come to Jesus NOW!” beginning with this blog entry.  As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB), I now say:

Therefore, as an ambassador for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through me; I beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

… and my journey with Him continues …