Gifts, and More Gifts...

Todayis October 2nd, 2011...God is calling to you!

Recently I began to take a look at Zechariah.

Zechariah means Jehovah remembers. He is a prophet of Judah. (Judah and Benjamin make up the Southern Kingdom). He is from the line of the Priest. He was a contemporary of Haggai. He started as a prophet about 16 years after the first group of exiles returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, so maybe around 520 BCE. (Maybe)
In the eighth month of the second year of Darius (which means Lord or Holding Firm the Good). The Word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:

The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. (Many of the exiles have been allowed to return home)
 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me, declares the LORD Almighty, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty,
 
This reminds me of Isaiah 55: 7 “ Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Do you hear it? God is speaking of the wicked forsaking his way and the unrighteous his thoughts and God will have mercy and abundantly pardon!

It is in our minds that this (re)turning must take place.
II Corinthians 10:3-5 Though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary they have divine power to demolish strong hold. We demolish arguments and every pretense that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
That worldly battle takes place first in our minds, our own minds and bodies. Which is why we are told to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
It is our thought life that can and will defeat us, if left unchecked.
I think of the verse in Hebrews that says “Though He were a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Heb 5:8
The verse before says “..in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death and was heard in that he feared: though He were a Son he learned obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;”
Of Course Jesus did not have to turn and repent of anything. He is sinless. However the example of obedience He has given us, is also a direct example of taking our thoughts captive.
In the garden that night Jesus spoke truthfully to the Father, as Paul said, he wept great tears.
But with each tear shed (so to speak) he returned to “nevertheless, not My will but Thine be done.”
It was not His emotions that drove Him to speak those Words. It was the truth in His inward parts. Ps. 51:6.
John 5:30 “…I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which sent me.” and in John 6:38 “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.”
The battle in Jesus’ mind was the truth of who He is and why He came verses the very real and present calling of the flesh to say, “It doesn’t have to be this way. I Am the Son! Satan was right when He said the angels will not let me dash my foot against the rock. There has to be another way!”
Is the battle any different for us?
But Jesus chose not to entertain those thoughts, when three years earlier the Holy Spirit drove Him to the wilderness.
In Matthew 4 we observe as Jesus drove it home, nailed it down that He was here to submit to the will of the Father and to live by truth whatever the personal cost seemed to be.
If we do not prepare our minds and our hearts for the battle, our hearts will win out and we will follow our emotions, our feelings.
Our own pleasure will become paramount and we will seek after our own will, despising God’s will and making excuses.
Satan then has victory in the battle of our lives.
It doesn‘t have to be that way, God has made provision.
Zechariah goes on to say “Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed ; This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me declares the LORD.”Ezekiel 33: 11 Reminds us that God has not pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. He has made a way and He asked “Why would you die?
Proverbs 16:25 says; “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
That is why. Because our ways seem right to us. We refuse God because we have elevated our own selves our own thoughts, our own reasoning.
I am reminded of Judas and of Peter. Judas who betrayed Christ and hanged himself, and Peter who denied Christ (Which is betrayal).
Judas dying in his sin.
Peter redeemed of his.
Why did Judas chose to die?
Was it pride? Was it hopelessness? Was it deception, which is disbelief?
What was it that caused him to continue to say Christ is not enough and to continue in his own way? Which leads to death.
Yet Peter, who was devastated by his actions did not give up? He believed God! Perhaps like Abraham on the walk toward sacrificing his only son. Unsure of what or why he hung on to this God who seemed to be making a serious mistake. But knowing of a truth God doesn’t make mistakes, therefore hanging on just the same. Trusting that there was nothing that was impossible for God, regardless of whether or not he understood.
 
II Chronicle 7:14
If my people which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
What was it that Peter did? John 21:7 “…Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him for he was naked, and did cast himself into the sea…Simon…went up and drew the net to land full of great fish…So when they dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, ‘Simon don of Jonas, lovest Me more than these…”
Peter naked in his sin before the Lord, responded eagerly, casting himself into the sea toward Jesus!
An action he had done once before, taking his eyes off of Him only to sink.
This time trusting that love would lift him above the waves of defeat and despair. Grabbing hold of the work that lay ahead of him, laboring in Christ to fulfill his destiny.
Where are you today sweet sister?
Is this message in Zechariah for you? Therefore tell _____________________: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me, declares the LORD Almighty, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty…
 
 
 


Today is September 18, 2011...God is so good!
                                                                        Romans 12: 1-2 says:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Ooh Ladies, do you hear that? Can you hear the concern in Paul's voice as he says,

“I beseech you…”?
I plead
 
Christ presented Himself, His living body in our place on the cross. How can we then not, present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him to His glory.

It is such a wonderful thing, this love that Christ has for us. Please don't miss it!

You have been chosen as His bride. How utterly wonderful and Divine.

So are you, chosen lady, A living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, proving what is the good and perfect will of God?

Will Christ recognize you as His spotless Bride?

Or will he see a bride whose gown, even her face is smudged with the filth of this world. A filth He gave His life to cover!

He’s not asked us to do anything we can’t do in Him.
 
I am reminded of Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.“
 
We are empowered to be that beautiful bride.

be strenghtened, be empowered by this glorious gift of love, and present yourself as a living sacrifice.

Oh yeah!
with you, by the mercies of God.
           

Today is September 1, 2011....It is a new day!

           About twenty days ago God began to speak to my heart. As I studied His Word each day, He kept bringing me back to this place where I just knew He wanted some real alone time with me. So twelve days ago I committed to a journey, just Him and me.

           Before I began, I had to make some arrangements. Most of You know my good friends Nelia Taraski and Minga Valadez. First priority was to let them know that I would not be spending time on the phone / texting, or visiting at their homes. Let me qualify this by saying that I stay at the Taraski's on the weekend. So they were gracious enough to let me come in late and sleep in their home and then leave early the following morning. I live with my sister during the week and so after work I spent most of that time in my room.

          I already spend a lot of time with the Lord. Rising early ("Now in the morning having risen along while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place and there He prayed." Mark 1:35...miracle of miracles, I did that from memory. Anyone who knows me knows, only God could have accomplish such a thing in my life.) for bible study before work, studying at lunch and before bed in the evening. But the Lord impressed upon me that this was different. At the end He promised a new day. So without any pre-planning, September 1st became that new day.

I would like to share this journey with you, a little at a time.

So come back and join me when you can, to hear about this journey.  To hear about how good and loving our God is. Ladies He truly is amazing. See ya.

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God has been speaking to my heart these days about my tithe. You will not be surprised to learn He has taken me to the book of Malachi. What I think may surprise some of you is that the road has actually led me to not what I should be giving Him but what He has given and is giving me.

In Malachi 3 God says that in my heart I have said "It is futile to serve God."  At first I was slightly offended. I responded "God, I have not said it is futile to serve You. You are God and I love You."

But no sooner than these words had formed in my mind, did He remind me that I have wondered if only fleetingly at times, how someone who is not living for God may be reaping a blessing of a this or that, and I am left wanting...Then, I ask "How is it that the evil doers, those who create havoc in this world, those who challenge You, escape Your wrath."

                           Am I alone in this confession.

Am I the only one out there that has wondered why?

"Why didn't I get the raise? She doesn't even go to church let alone tithe!!!"

"Why is her kid the straight A, honor role student? She let's him get away with murder and isn't even a believer."

"And what of the guy who is so arrogant, he even mocks You. Yet he drives a jaguar."

Basically, when I think these thoughts I am saying it is futile to serve God.

But that is not what I believe, is it?

The truth is I do understand that unless they repent theirs is a future not to be envied. But that doesn't ease the pain for me right now. I mean they may get saved, and in the meantime they are getting all of the goodies.


Then as I read I cried out to Heaven.  Then I realized that as I had been reading I had passed up a question that had been asked of God. It says they asked, "How are we to return?"

As God spoke of the thoughts of our hearts, and the harsh things we have said against Him, it says that those who feared the Lord talked with each other. They then wrote a scroll of remembrance. They did this in the presence of the Lord.

A scroll of remembrance!  How often do we sit down and really count our blessings? And Ladies we are blessed. The groom is continually bestowing gifts upon His bride. Do not take them lightly. Do not despise your birthright.

Take a look with me at Genesis 25: 27-34

"The boys grew up and Esau became a skillful hunter...while Jacob was a quiet man. Isaac...loved Esau, but Rebekkah loved Jacob...Jacob cooked some stew...Esau came in from the open country, famished. ...Esau demanded some stew...Jacob replied ...Sell me your birthright...swear to me...so he swore...selling his birthright to Jacob. ...So Esau despised his birthright."

Do you see it. God had blessed Esau with being the firstborn. His birthright was a double portion of all his father owned. His was the land God had given Abraham's seed. His was the blessing to be called God's people. But Esau could not see the value of the gift God had given to him. His flesh cried out for satisfaction, for relief. He wanted the flesh satisfied, though it was only for a moment.

As the Lord convicted me, I had to ask myself what gifts was I overlooking.

And so I began to make a list. I am amazed for their is no end. Join me as I sing His praises.

1. God has brought me home, brought me back to my mom. I can look into her eyes and see them sparkle, hear her laugh. I smell the pleasures of her kitchen and the joy of her little porch. How wonderful O God are Your gifts.

2. God woke me up this morning, I breathed a breath and did not want to get up. I wanted to stay in my bed. Oh that I have a bed. Not one lump to be found. Like Goldilocks, it is just right. Oh God Your Son had no place to lay His head. Yet You have provided for me this delightful chamber in which to rest. How wonderful to be Your child.

3. I had to go to work this morning, I have bills to pay. A job? Yes a job, I have a job. What a glorious blessing, I have a job. Some people where my sister works were laid off today. They too have bills to pay.
Oh how glorious my God, You have given me this job.

4. I have a son, a beautiful son. A son whom I love more than "All the leaves on all the trees in all of the world." My son. A God given gift. Such blue eyes he has. So strong and determined in all he does. Only one child I have...And what a Child he is. We have had our difficult times. But, my God had given this joy, to hold my very own little boy, to watch him grow, to hold him tight, to let him go.... Oh yes to watch him become a man. How wonderful my God that You have blessed me with this son.

5. I have sisters.
6. I have brothers.
7. I have Aunts and Uncles
8. I have a truck
9. I have friends.
10. I have friends that are like family.
11. I have friends that are family.
12. I have air to breathe.
13. I have food to eat.
14. I have insurance with my job.
15. I have....

Let me suggest you start your own list. As You write maybe you too will begin to see that God has taken great pains to provide for you and me..

As I make my list, I long to give to back to my Groom from my heart..