"You've just been erased" I love the one liner and the way that Aaarrrnaold Schwarzenegger says it with his deep voice and Australian accent in the movie "Eraser" He depicts a guy who assists people to obtain a new identity in a witness protection program. New name, new home, new identity...the old gets erased. Every time I hear it in my thoughts...I have to smile.
In the early 80s I accepted an invitation from the King to live with Him in His house, eat with Him, hang out in the palace. He said He would give me a new heart..replace my heart of stone for a heart of flesh. He would give me a new purpose. He said I could have a new identity. He said I could be a princess and a lady ...all the way to my core being. He said I would have a new family...a life. He asked me if He could be my king, my love, my husband forever. I said "yes" (duh..what's not to like?). I came to live in the palace and became one of the Kings "peeps"..His church. I ate fine flour and honey and oil and my maker became my husband...my Boaz..Redeemer. I was translated from the Kingdom of hell to the kingdom of Heaven. I became part of a family with plenty of brothers and sisters....and pastors-caregivers. "You've just been erased"..and with it all the pain. Now the old existence is just a boring bad movie..all things have been made new! The Lord said, I will wash the dried blood off of you and you will "LIVE" and I did!! Ezekiel 16:1-13.
Isaiah 54:5
For your Maker is your Husband--the Lord of hosts is His name--and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called.
Isaiah 60
1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!(A)
Isaiah 61:7 (Amplified Bible)
7Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Love God and Be Free
Love God and Live Free
You know the feeling..”I’m failing”…”I’m falling”…”I’m losing the fight”. A huge chunk of the foundation of your life is sliding into the ocean like the State of California (or bigger) separating from the continent. You look and see it sinking …and sliding. . It could be a friendship, a marriage of 15 years, your work…title..function, your youth, your health, a son, a daughter, a wife. Slipping slipping..moving..changing. If the present conditions continue, you know it will eventually sink beneath the water’s surface and disappear forever. And you don’t seem to have what it takes to prevent it. You wonder, Where is this thing going? What will the outcome be? What will it look like when I, or we, get to the end of the road..when there is no more road…just water?
Next comes the stress, the sleepless nights, the off and on low grade pain: headaches, backaches, inflammatory responses throughout your body..first here …then there with no real origin or reason followed by a sinking feeling of sadness, oppression…perhaps depression.
Perhaps you are courageous enough to admit to yourself: I don’t have the faith, the strength, the experience, holiness, selflessness, or the wisdom..whatever… to meet the need and change the course. By default you think, If I were emotionally, spiritually, or temperamentally equipped enough, then, somehow I would be able to stop the sand from slipping through my fist.
He stalks us day and night (1 Peter 5:8). Have you ever felt spiritually stalked? What is it made of?…and what are the “hooks” inside of our hearts that permit this “stalking” to latch on to, and then spew the deadly poison into our spiritual / emotional blood steam and take effect against us? We cannot stop the fact that we are stalked. We must accept that as part of life. We are stalked, and we will be stalked. However, we do have a choice not to buy what the enemy is telling and selling. In order for us not to “buy” we must seek God. He will show us the hook and the poison. We have in our hands and hearts the most powerful thing known to man on earth and in heaven: the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We are able to take action by applying the truth, experience relief from ourselves and be FREE again. We have a choice available for the asking and receiving. “LOVE GOD AND LIVE FREE”
In my own life I have found the “hook” involves pride and the “poison” is legalism, the law, right / wrong, good / bad, judgment….condemnation
1 Corinthians 4
2Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].
3But it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you [on this point], and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself.
4I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord [Himself] Who examines and judges me.
5So do not make any hasty or premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his [due] commendation from God.
6Now I have applied all this [about parties and factions] to myself and Apollos for your sakes, brethren, so that from what I have said of us [as illustrations], you may learn [to think of men in accordance with Scripture and] not to go beyond that which is written, that none of you may be puffed up and inflated with pride and boast in favor of one [minister and teacher] against another.
7For who separates you from the others [as a faction leader]? [Who makes you superior and sets you apart from another, giving you the preeminence?] What have you that was not given to you? If then you received it [from someone], why do you boast as if you had not received [but had gained it by your own efforts]?
You know the feeling..”I’m failing”…”I’m falling”…”I’m losing the fight”. A huge chunk of the foundation of your life is sliding into the ocean like the State of California (or bigger) separating from the continent. You look and see it sinking …and sliding. . It could be a friendship, a marriage of 15 years, your work…title..function, your youth, your health, a son, a daughter, a wife. Slipping slipping..moving..changing. If the present conditions continue, you know it will eventually sink beneath the water’s surface and disappear forever. And you don’t seem to have what it takes to prevent it. You wonder, Where is this thing going? What will the outcome be? What will it look like when I, or we, get to the end of the road..when there is no more road…just water?
Next comes the stress, the sleepless nights, the off and on low grade pain: headaches, backaches, inflammatory responses throughout your body..first here …then there with no real origin or reason followed by a sinking feeling of sadness, oppression…perhaps depression.
Perhaps you are courageous enough to admit to yourself: I don’t have the faith, the strength, the experience, holiness, selflessness, or the wisdom..whatever… to meet the need and change the course. By default you think, If I were emotionally, spiritually, or temperamentally equipped enough, then, somehow I would be able to stop the sand from slipping through my fist.
He stalks us day and night (1 Peter 5:8). Have you ever felt spiritually stalked? What is it made of?…and what are the “hooks” inside of our hearts that permit this “stalking” to latch on to, and then spew the deadly poison into our spiritual / emotional blood steam and take effect against us? We cannot stop the fact that we are stalked. We must accept that as part of life. We are stalked, and we will be stalked. However, we do have a choice not to buy what the enemy is telling and selling. In order for us not to “buy” we must seek God. He will show us the hook and the poison. We have in our hands and hearts the most powerful thing known to man on earth and in heaven: the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We are able to take action by applying the truth, experience relief from ourselves and be FREE again. We have a choice available for the asking and receiving. “LOVE GOD AND LIVE FREE”
In my own life I have found the “hook” involves pride and the “poison” is legalism, the law, right / wrong, good / bad, judgment….condemnation
1 Corinthians 4
2Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].
3But it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you [on this point], and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself.
4I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord [Himself] Who examines and judges me.
5So do not make any hasty or premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his [due] commendation from God.
6Now I have applied all this [about parties and factions] to myself and Apollos for your sakes, brethren, so that from what I have said of us [as illustrations], you may learn [to think of men in accordance with Scripture and] not to go beyond that which is written, that none of you may be puffed up and inflated with pride and boast in favor of one [minister and teacher] against another.
7For who separates you from the others [as a faction leader]? [Who makes you superior and sets you apart from another, giving you the preeminence?] What have you that was not given to you? If then you received it [from someone], why do you boast as if you had not received [but had gained it by your own efforts]?
Thursday, July 29, 2010
I was totally "refreshed" at the get-to-gether last Saturday morning. Perhaps "refreshed" isn't expactly the right word. I think "buzzed" and "energized" are better discriptors. About 15 people were present for the meeting in our colorful and peaceful "H2O" cafe complete with steaming coffee, bagels, fruit etc. Pastor Lisa always does a great job keeping us all on track. The hearts of the people were bright and brilliant..as always. I don't remember all the namesof the people. There were a couple of things shared that warmed my heart so much. There was a woman there who seemed dedicated and passionate bout the Hands of the Lamb ministry..she owed it in her heart..it is a part of her. Then there is Gary who explained that he calls people in his small group every week and prays with them...just another picture of a man with a beautiful heart..one of many in this house. Then there is the woman who cried as she shared about her small group and the impact it has had on her. It is not unusual for at least one person to become publically emotional during a meeting at this church. It is a very deep and powerful experience to have eternal relationships that reach down into the very depth of our soul. We are living in eternity now. Death is only a transition and separation from our flesh. It is comforting to know that our relationships stay in-tact now and after the transition because they are eternal.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Today my husband and I were able to spend the early morning sipping coffee and exploring the word of God and what it is doing in our hearts. We were reading John 15...remain on the vine and bear fruit. I asked Jim what he thought God meant by "fruit". He said "when the heart blossoms like a flower"...and he continued to talk about how pruning is needed to allow for fresh heart growth...and cleansing. From there we talked about the quest for "simplicity" in a very complex world. It's like using 3 gulf clubs and perform better on the golf course then carrying a big fancy cart with 14 clubs. From there we talked about "loosening our grip on life". "Do you know"...my husband continued..."if you loosen the grip on your golf club, you can hit the ball further and more accurate...Life is like that".
