He is Near

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the midst of difficulties, loneliness and pain He is my support.  He is the light in my darkness. His beauty and radiance is all the lovelier in that darkness ....yes it's true.  

In my grief, in my dispair and in my failure - His touch is more tender , more real and more kind to me.  It is most welcome. 

Rejoice oh my soul.....for He is Near. 

He holds my hand. 

 

Vision = Provision

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37:4‬ ‭NIV‬

In our journey this past year we've learned in real life what it means to wait on God and to understand His promise that He will be with us, as we step into the great unknown.  

Praying ferociously not for answers but to know Him and to trust Him.  Working hard at whatever work is out in front of us like it depends on us, knowing ultimately that we rest and rely only on His final work to bring about the good in all we do. 

Oswald Chambers said "Let God be as original with other people as He is with you."  Sometimes people can't see His hand moving in your life like you can, and that's ok because our faith doesn't ride on if others "can see it or feel it" , our faith rides on who God is and when God gives a vision he always makes provision.   Too many voices and opinions weighing in to your call can cause confusion and distraction. Seek the face of one, your God. 

Delight yourself in the Lord .... in all you do .... He sees you, He knows you and He will give you the desires of your heart.  

 

Start fighting back!!!

"Say to this mountain,  move from here to there and it will move."  Matthew 17:20

There comes a time when you must quit talking to God about the mountain in your life and start talking to the mountain about your God!! - Mark Batterson 

Goliath held an entire army captive through intimidation. Can you relate to that kind of fear about your "Goliath" today?  What if? How will? Why? 

Jesus kicked the enemy back in the wilderness with the Word of God. He faught back.  He did not cower in a corner and beg God to do something!  He slung His sword (the word of God) and took the victory!!!

If God is for us, who can be against us!

Greater is the one living inside of me. 

I can do all things through Christ!

In all things God works for good ..

Let's get into an offensive game here and stop talking about our problem and start talking to it!!

 

Self Hatred to Self Acceptance

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭NIV‬

We made a commitment to each other around Christmas time to let every prayer we pray be drenched with radical honesty.  We've recognized that it's easy to go day to day in the same vein and prayer without much thought to "the more" God could be , probably is calling us to. 

We must crucify our self indulgent ways and surrender all to Jesus if we are to live in peace with Him.

 Obedience = Peace 

It's easy to hate on ourselves in the midst of this troubled world, but there is no growth without pain and no integrity without self denial and honest neither one  is attractive without the personal love of a Jesus !!

So, be radically honest with where you are right now, stop hating on yourself and be loved. In that love find a place to be free and at peace by obeying God and accepting who you are in Him.  He's in love with you, you can trust Him. 

 

His Praise will Ever be on my Lips!! - Gina 🎶

Psalm 89 " I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth will I make known your faithfulness to all generations."

We talked about His faithfulness in our lives this morning and how we can look back and see how he protected us, provided for us , healed us and delivered us.  Sometimes though when you are IN it , it is hard to see the light.  Right? 

It's then that we HAVE to recall His promises that He will never leave us , that He goes before us, that He doesn't stop loving us when we fail!  Instead He renews us and works in us to shine a light in the darkness.   He turns our faith into sight and allows us to rejoice in our heart for what WILL come to pass. 

Cast your heavy burdens on Him today and recall who provides your strength and that in Him there is NO weariness!!!

That's why we sing ... "His praise will Ever be on my lips..." 🎶

 

 

It was Ugly, but it was Beautiful...

“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭NIV‬

Liv read to us some insight from Brennan Manning about the suffering of Jesus on the cross.  The agony no man has ever dreamed, bloodied, despised, disfigured....could it be that the  crucifixion was beautiful?

Externally - He was naked and nailed, blood streaming everywhere - it had to be a horrible sight.  Brutal and inhuman.  

But there is more to His death on the cross. There is the interior beauty of His soul infused with obedience to God the Father.  His soul was so full of love for you and for me that it was the most beautiful act of love from a human soul. Ever. 

Consider that thing you thought would destroy you, but it didn't. Therefore as ugly as it was, it's beautiful because you have been stretched and transformed and you are stronger for it. Yes, maybe you have a limp or a scar, but it is there to remind you that His grace is enough  and that He works all things for your good. Consider the beauty on the cross. PAUSE.  

So, don't lose heart .... stand tall and brave!  Move on and embrace the beauty in the ugly.  

 

 

We have it all!!!!

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Devin decided to read a little from Tozer this morning:

The message was simple but soooo good!  When we have Him - we have everything.  It is much better to have God first and have God Himself even if we have no money than to have all the riches and all the influence in this world and not have God with it. 

This scripture is our scripture for the year 2017!!!   Love how He keeps reminding us to seek Him FIRST. It sort of resounds with our message from yesterday that the self sufficient man can be in worse  danger and more use to the enemy than a prostitite or a drug dealer in jail because the "need" is not present for a savior or help.   Scary.  Let us see the light today Lord and seek you first.   

May we go on today and know Him and love Him more dearly not for His gifts and benefits, but for the pure joy of being aware of His presence.