"VISION" for 2009

A 15 year old boy from Great Britain produced that video. I'm hoping he'll make more. The lyrics are outstanding and had to be included in my entry for the New Year. In Christ alone!

Last night the Lord gave me a vision for the coming year. I saw a picture of a seeing-eye dog. A German Shepherd seeing-eye dog with it's working harness on. And I heard the Lord say, "I can see everything clearly for you."

I saw bumps, or ridges, in the road ahead, but the Lord reassured me that He can see past those bumps in the road and He sees everything clearly. I can only see so far and maybe a little of what's right in front of me. But He sees it all. So He told me to "take hold" of the harness and let Him guide me. "This world can get pretty dark, but I see all things clearly and I will lead you and guide you safely just where I want you to be. Just hang on and rely on to My lead." He will protect, guide and keep me as I trust in Him. That's a good and comforting Word. And He is the Good Shepherd, my Shepherd. :)

This world will be getting darker, but Jesus is the Light of the world. Once, He showed me a picture of a "night light." And He said to me: "When the torrents of ungodliness surround you, look up to Me and I will be your Night Light." Torrents of ungodliness . . . . the definition for torrents is:
A turbulent, swift-flowing stream.
A heavy downpour; a deluge.
A heavy, uncontrolled outpouring: as in, a torrent of insults, etc.

So, my Word from the Lord for 2009 would be to keep my eyes on Him, the Light of the World. To take hold of Him and rely upon Him completely. . . in Christ alone, that Solid Rock.

A friend and sister in the Lord (Kathie Walters http://www.kathiewaltersministry.com/) shared a vision she had had of Christ and I have her permission to reprint it . . . . I want to look at Jesus more in 2009.

"I was thinking this morning about where my real TREASURE IS -
Well here it is to share with you: print it out and take some time to read over it, it's worth it. It's the best message on the internet.

In New England, when I was speaking at a Women's conference - I had a vision of Jesus - He was running toward us with His arms outstretched - then I started to speak and this came tumbling out of my mouth:

'Jesus is altogether lovely. He saves us and keeps us by His power, from sin and death. He has given to us His Robe of Righteousness.

He extends his mercy, longsuffering, loving kindness, tenderness, healing, compassion. He is our Shield, our Defender, our Rock, our Hiding Place. He is our Provider, Counselor, Great Shepherd, our Friend Who is closer than a brother, our Love. He is the Husbandman, the Keeper of the vineyard. He is the Source of all blessing.

He restores, rescues, forgives and redeems. He is our Victor, the Captain of hosts. He is our Banner, and our Standard, mighty in battle, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus is crowned with glory and honor. He is our Savior, Sanctifier, Redeemer, merciful and faithful High Priest.

He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He was dead, but now He is ALIVE forevermore and He is seated at the right Hand of God (seated - it's finished). He destroyed death, and led captivity captive. He is the great Apostle of our faith. He is the Supreme Sacrifice, the spotless and blameless Lamb.

He is our Anchor, our Strong Tower, our Shield, our Defender, and He was the Ancient of Days before the first day began. He is the Forerunner, the Firstborn among many brethren. He is the surety of a better testament and He comes from the unchangeable priesthood.

He is able to save to the uttermost.

His presence doesn't cast any shadow because He is the light that lights the Heavenly City. He is the Light of the world. and the Giver of life. He is the Door, the Way and the Truth. He is the Treasure, the Pearl of great price, more precious than the finest gold.

He was the Rock of Ages before any mountain peaks were formed. He was the Bread of Life before there was any grain. He was the Lily of the Valley before there were any flowers on the earth. He is the Eternal Intercessor and He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, higher than the heavens.

He makes His enemies His footstool and laughs at His adversaries. He came from eternal glory to the depths of humiliation. He abdicated heavens throne for a pile of straw in a manger. He sacrificed infinite riches to embrace poverty. He bade farewell to Heaven's love to receive men's hatred and shame. He surrendered Heaven's adoration to suffer scorn, and He turned from celestial bliss and life with cherubims and seraphim to die between two thieves on a cross.

He is the Tree of life. He is consecrated for ever and makes us sanctified forever by His Precious Blood. He is the Minister of the Sanctuary. He is the Mediator the New covenant. He is the High Priest of GOOD THINGS to come. He's the Lion of Judah, and the Lamb, slain. He is the New and living Way.

He was born contrary to the laws of birth. He lived contrary to the laws of life. He healed, contrary to he laws of medicine. He was tried and condemned contrary to the laws of justice and He arose, contrary to the laws of death and the grave. He ascended, contrary to the laws of gravity and He is coming back again contrary to the expectation of the world.

He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the Great Shepherd of ALL THE SHEEP HE IS THE HOLDER OF THE KEYS. HE IS THE AMEN. HE IS THE FINAL WORD... He is qualified to open the Book.

He is the expression of the heart of the Father. His love has no limits. His grace has no measure. His power has no boundaries known unto men. Out of His infinite riches, He gives and gives and gives again. He is our nearest Kinsman, and is qualified to redeem us. He is THE WORD MADE FLESH, the Honey in the rock. He is high and lifted up. He is the Lily of the valley, the Bright and Morning Star, the Fairest of 10,000. He is more precious than gold. He's the glory and lifter of our heads. He is the Righteous Judge.

He is a Refuge for the oppressed. He doesn't forget the cry of the humble. He bore our sorrows and our griefs. He was despised and rejected of men and now He controls the destiny of the nations-The kingdoms of this world are going to become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and for ever. He is our portion and our Inheritance. His garments smell of sweet myrrh and His breath is as sweet as apples. He is a very present help in trouble. He hides us under the shadow His wings, and keeps us as the apple of His eye. He is our high tower.

He makes the hills shake, the mountains melt, the heavens bow. He pulled back the curtain of eternity and stepped out on the stage of time for one brief moment, and then stepped back again into eternity, but in that one bridge moment of time He sealed the fate of every man and fixed the destiny of every man and woman. He will light my candle because He is the light of life. He is the Branch, and the Root of Jesse. HE IS THE GREAT WAVE-MAKER FROM GALILEE. He makes the crooked paths straight and the rough places plain.

He split history, and divided the ages.

He is the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. He is the Baptizer in the Holy Ghost. He preserves the faithful. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He spoke and framed the world. He makes our way perfect and makes our feet like hinds feet. He causes us to walk in high places.

He is able to comfort, guide and bless. He spoke and the heavens unrolled themselves and the galaxies were born. He spoke and the streams and rivers wound their way across the earth. The rose began to blush, and the violets cast their fragrance, and the birds began to sing. Colors wove themselves into a rainbow. He spoke and a handful of dust became a living soul. He turns our mourning into dancing and, girds us with gladness.

Let me tell you about His Voice. His Voice is powerful upon the waters, full of majesty, like thunder, it breaks the cedars, divides the flames, shakes the wilderness, makes the hinds to calve, discovers the forests, sets the mountains in their place. It stills the seas. His Voice shook the earth and melted the hills. His Voice is as the sound of many waters. He spoke and calmed the storm. He spoke and gave life to the dead, brought healing to the sick, strength to the weak, and forgiveness to the sinner.

Herod could not kill him. The Pharisees could not confound him. Satan could not trick Him. Sickness could not withstand him. Devils could not stay near Him. The waves could not drown Him. The rabble could not disturb Him. Death could not corrupt Him. Hell could not keep Him. The grave could not contain Him. Gravitation could not restrain Him and God has highly exalted Him and given Him a Name above every name and at His Name, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord of all.

He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. He brought a stream out of a rock, and fed the people in the wilderness. He fed 5000 with two loaves and a few fishes. He is Savior to the lost. Healing to the sick. He is hearing to the deaf and sight to the blind. He is cleansing to the leper, and strength to the weak. He is comfort to the oppressed, hope to the hopeless and help to the helpless.

He is a Brother to the friendless and a Friend to the brotherless and He is LIFE to the dead.

He is infinite, eternal, glorious and full of majesty. One day in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. Wouldn't you rather be a doorkeeper in His house than dwell in the tents of the world..? He is the Covenant Keeper keeping- covenant with covenant breakers. He is sweeter than all the flowers. He is the Lover of our soul and the Keeper of our hearts. He is music to the poet, and a song to the worshiper. His Name has been whispered by thousands upon thousands of dying soldiers on the battlefields of the ages. His Name has been the battle cry of those who fought for righteousness and truth. HE IS THE KING OF ALL KINGS AND ALL RULERS AND EVERY NATION WILL BOW TO HIM, HIS NAME IS JESUS....'"

MAY OUR VISION BE JESUS IN 2009 AND FOR ALL ETERNITY! AMEN! He is our "seeing-eye" Good Shepherd and our Bright and Eternal "night Light!"

Christmas Letter -- 2008

Hark the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!"

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs. I never really heard the lyrics before I had faith in

Christ. After October 25th, 1987, Christmas meant more to me than ever. The meaning changed from gifts, family, parties and all the trimmings -- to the awe and wonder of Jesus! I had heard the Nativity story all my life and understood that Jesus was God's Son Who came as a little baby to save the world. It was a fantastic story! However, the reality of this Nativity story became mine that day in October when I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I told Him that I had known about Him, but that now I needed Him to become real in my life. I knew about the Savior, but now I NEEDED a Savior.

Romans 10:11-13, says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." That was one Bible version of that verse. Sometimes when I look up the same verse in different versions, I can better "fit" the meaning to what I want to convey. For instance, in The Message Bible, this verse says simply, "the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help."

"Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help" . . . incredibly simple and incredibly accurate. If we call upon His Name and believe we shall be saved. Simple. I LOVE what Max Lucado, author, calls John 3:16. He says that John 3:16 is the "Hope Diamond" of the Bible. "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." This is Good News and this gives us all great HOPE.

And what is saving faith? What is the difference between just knowing about someone and really BELIEVING IN THEM? This is my best demonstration on what saving faith is: Take a chair. Stand next to that chair. Look at the chair. Do you believe that that chair exists? Most would say, "yes." That is where I was before October 25th, 1987. I knew that Jesus existed. I believed that much. But that wasn't enough faith to be converted, inwardly changed by the Holy Spirit, or born again. Let me go back to the existing chair standing beside you. You believe that the chair is there. You might even believe that that chair can hold you if you chose to sit in it. But true saving faith, real faith, the "believe" that John 3:16 is referring to is this -- sit down in the chair and COMPLETELY RELY UPON IT TO HOLD YOU UP.

When we completely rely upon Jesus as our only way to eternal life. When we rely upon His finished work, His righteousness, knowing that we can never "do good enough" to earn our way to Heaven . . . when we call upon His Name as the answer to our "dilemma," then we receive all that the angels heralded that night . . . reconciliation with God, healing, deliverence, death holding no sting, peace and good will, and . . . a second birth.

"Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"

The Gospel is Good News. It brings relief to our souls. We need help. And God offers it thru His Son, Jesus. He is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life.

Quoting Max Lucado, "YOUR GOODNESS CAN'T WIN GOD'S LOVE. NOR CAN YOUR BADNESS LOSE IT. BUT YOU CAN RESIST IT." Let's not resist so great a Gift and so great a love.

Merry Christmas, from our house to yours. And may we all stay fully convinced of this Good News and believe, relying on Christ alone. Amen.

You Are Special!

I'm grateful that Max Lucado wrote this book. In it, he successfully presents similar experiences we all have. Unfortunately, in this imperfect world, elitism and exclusivity flourishes. You're not "good enough," is the message. You're not "qualified," "desirable," "stable," "a winner like us," or the "cream of the crop."


Even Rudolph the reindeer had to deal with this! :) Because of his shiney nose, he was not allowed to play in any of the "reindeer games." Poor Rudolph! (I always hated that part of the show!)

But who are these elitists who are giving us "dots" and making us feel "sub"-everything and inferior? They are "wemmicks" just like us! Every time they get stars they feel so much better. They even feel better when they give you dots.



But in Max's story, we are lovingly reminded and encouraged that God knows our name! He made us. If you've been given alot of "bad marks", don't worry! God doesn't care what others think about you. And neither should you. Who are they to give you "stars and dots?" WHAT THEY THINK DOESN'T MATTER!. Only what God thinks is important and He thinks you're pretty special . . . because you are His!


Punchinello ran into someone who had neither dots or stars. Her name was Lucia. Stickers wouldn't stick on her . . .dots or stars. This is our example. We shouldn't want anyone's marks! (anyone's approval or disapproval)


So why don't the stickers stay on Lucia? Because she has decided that what God thinks is more important than what they think. THE STICKERS WILL ONLY STICK IF YOU LET THEM! . . . If they matter to you. BUT,the more you trust His love . . . the less you care about their stickers.

Remember, you are Special because God made you and He doesn't make mistakes! And He sent His one and only Son for YOU . . . for our freedom and for our way Home. Many tried to put their "dots" on the Savior while he walked this earth. He was despised by many and counted among the sinners. He ate and drank with sinners. He loves sinners! He is a Friend to the sinner! He didn't care what the elite thought. He didn't seek out the elitists! He exposed them. He drapes his arm with a serving cloth and serves us, washing our feet, to lift us up! He sings over us with songs of deliverance and we are touched by the Master's Hand.

Jesus took the marks on His back for us. And He gives us the "stars" of God's approval. He exchanged our "dots" with His "stars." He laid His life down completely so that we might be Born Again into His Kingdom of Love. Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Father God and thank you, Holy Spirit, that You are not a respecter of people.

In Christ, we are all the same. Galatians 3:26 - 28 says, "26)You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27)for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28)There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."


There is neither Jew nor Greek, etc. In Christ the old, worldly lines of separation are all blotted out.

All are one in Christ Jesus. One person, as it were, one new man of which Christ is the head (Eph 2:15). All, without regard to race, or position, or title, blended into one whole.

Romans 2 describes the Impartiality of God, and in Galatians 2:6, Paul testifies that "(By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.)" So don't believe the lies that you're not important to God, or to the Body of Christ. Each part is important and very essential. And we all play different roles to the edification of one another.

"Here we learn that the gospel is not ours, but God's; and that men are but the keepers of it; for this we are to praise God." (Matthew Henry)

So, let us all sit in the "woodshop with our beloved Eli" every day and believe what He says about us and rest. And let us encourage one another daily that what He thinks matters most. Reminding one another that we are all "wemmicks" and fall short of the Glory of our Maker. But in Christ, we are all one Body and He is our Head and there is no partiality with God. And . . .

WE ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT! :)

In The Name Of Jesus

On October 3, 2007, while resting in Him, I heard Jesus say the following:





MY NAME . . .

MY NAME . . .

MY Name is ALL you need!

You don't need buildings, or programs, or teams, or meetings.

All you need is MY NAME!

My Name will do it ALL!

In My Name, you are free!

In My Name, others will and can be free.

n My Name is SATISFACTION.

And PURPOSE REVEALED.

My Name PROVIDES all your needs!

My Name scatters your enemies.

My Name is your high tower and fortress!

Christian -- Little Christs!

In Christ and thru Christ alone --

In My Name, you are ESTABLISHED as a Heavenly agent --

Sent out in My Name.

My Name is given to you as a Gift.

Wear My Name over your heart

Like a name tag, an identity badge.

Your identity is in My Name alone.

All you need or could ever want or would ever accomplish,

All your glory,

Is in My Name.

Resist all other "attachments.

Man-made attachments and/or ways.

You say a mouthful of love and power

When you say My Name!

My Name is the pathway to God's Heart.

In My Name is healing,

Wholeness,

Redemption,

And complete deliverance!

Fragrant -- Flowing -- Free!

You do not need restraints.

You need release.

Man restrains.

I release.

When you strain gnats,

You swallow camels!

In My Name alone is your Holiness.

In My Name alone is all your sanctification.

In My Name is all your glory, all your purposes, and destinations.

HERE I AM . . . I HAVE COME TO GIVE YOU MY LIFE . . . AND . . .

MY NAME!

It's All A Gift!!

1 Corinthians 14:18 . . . I, too, thank God for the Gift of speaking in Tongues! Because, my prayer language is a continual reminder to me that from beginning to end and all in between this salvation journey is all a gift. It has zero to do with any of my own abilities. Actually, I, like Paul, glory in my weaknesses. Why? Because His Grace and power shows up best in my weakness.



2 Corinthians 12:9 & 10 -- I am glad to boast at how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ's power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities.



It's all a Gift! All of it. 1 Corinthians 1:19 for God says, "I will destroy all human plans of salvation no matter how wise they seem to be, and ignore the best ideas of men, even the most brilliant of them." v24) God has opened the eyes of those called to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, to see that Christ is the mighty power of God to save them; Christ Himself is the center of God's wise plan for their salvation. v)25 This so-called "foolish" plan of God is far wiser than the wisest plan of the wisest man, and God in His weakness -- Christ dying on the cross -- is far stronger than any man. v26) Notice, among yourselves, dear brothers, that few of you who follow Christ have big names or power or wealth. v27) Instead, God has deliberately chosen to use ideas the world considers foolish and of little worth in order to shame those people considered by the world as wise and great. v28) He has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted nothing at all, and used it to bring down to nothing those the world considers great, v29) so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God.



v30) For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God's plan of salvation; He was the One Who made us acceptable to God; He made us pure and holy and gave Himself to purchase our salvation. v31) As it says in the Scriptures, "If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done."



It's all a Gift! Salvation, justification, sanctification, fellowship with the Holy Spirit, the blessed Fruit of the Holy Spirit, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, walking in the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and even the Callings are a Gift. Whatever measure of faith and grace He assigns us, whatever process of growth . . .to be content to just be His and trust His heart for you is a Gift.



1 Corinthians 12:4 -- Now God GIVES us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit Who is the Source of them all. v5) There are different kinds of services to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. v6) There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are His. The Holy Spirit displays God's power through each of us as a means of helping the entire Body.



It's all a Gift! And the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one Body . . . we have all been given the same Spirit. v15) If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body." . . . God has put each part, each one of us, where He wants us. v21) The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." v22) And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. . . .So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important. v25) This makes for happiness among the parts, so that the parts have the same care for each other that they do for themselves.

I'm a big believer in "Body ministry."



It's a Gift! Each one of us is a separate and necessary part! And it's His decision which part we are. Herein lies contentment! This puts the "cabash" on that worldly spirit that promotes hierarchical authority, selfish ambition and the human pride that revels in it.



It's all a Gift! There is no more boasting or confidence in the flesh. We rest, contented to be whatever part He makes us, knowing that His love is unconditional and His Friendship the apex.

We rest in the fact that it's really all about Him, and never can be about us. :)



As Kathryn Kuhlman once said, "It isn't golden vessels He needs. It isn't silver that He's asking for. He just needs yielded vessels." He is not a respecter of persons. He'll use every and any yielded vessel. And in case we think we are "it," let's not forget He ANOINTED a donkey to see a Heavenly angel and to speak! We are but dust . . insignificant dust . . yet, HE HAS CHOSEN US TO SHOW FORTH HIS GLORY AND TO REFLECT HIS IMAGE AND TO BE RECIPIENTS OF HIS GREAT LOVE . . . therein lies our significance.



He wants us to know that we can do nothing, but He also wants us to know that He can do everything.



So . . . back to the "tongues." I didn't read a book,or take a class,earn or do anything to speak in the Heavenly language He chose for me. And that same power that freely gives me the ability to pray in the Spirit, gives me the fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit and the Callings of the Spirit. All because of Jesus, and Jesus alone.

TRUE SHEPHERDS POINT TO THE CHIEF SHEPHERD. Here's a simple rule of thumb I've learned recently for discerning teaching: The actual source of all teaching and doctrine is revealed in whom it glorifies. In other words, teaching that emphasizes success through YOUR great discipline or even success through YOUR great faith also tends to aim the glory at YOU. Thus, it is frequently true that faith in faith glorifies your faith, and faith in self-discipline glorifies your self-discipline. BUT faith in God's grace and in the gift of His righteousness glorifies God, because A GIFT CANNOT BE BOUGHT OR EARNED; it can only be received.

Freely we receive . . . freely we give.

God's Works Are Perfect In Every Stage of Their Growth

Have you ever felt like you were being pressured to grow up in the Lord? That levels of maturity were more righteous than the newborn babe in Christ? I have. As a recovering legalist, I have laid aside other's expectations and assessments and now rest in the truth that I am His workmanship and I am right where He wants me to be and He is happy with me in whatever stage of the process I'm in.

From a parent's viewpoint I consider the difference in ages of all my children . . .23 years down to 5 years. Does my 23 year old bless me more than my 5 year old? NO! Should my 8 year old compare herself with her 21 year old brother? NO! At each stage of their growth, they are right where they should be and are such pleasure to me.

I think of the thief on the cross alot. He had such a short time between saving faith to Paradise with the Savior. Did he have time to mature? NO! He was perfect right then. This should bring us relief and rest from striving to appear mature and realize that it's His work in us as we trust in Him and we are right on schedule and pleasing just where He has us. There is no "place" we need to strive to get to. We are His beloved and we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus.

One of my favorite authors, Hannah Whitall Smith, wrote "THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE." In Chapter 2 (God's Side and Man's Side), she clearly describes accurately what I'm trying to convey above . . .

She defines man's part is to trust, and God's part is to work. "Plainly the believer can do nothing but trust," she writes. "The Lord, in whom he trusts, actually does the work entrusted to Him."

In essence she writes: "The Potter And The Clay --

Sanctification is both a step of faith and a profit in the oven, and finally turns it out of his workshop, a vessel to his honour, and fit for his use."
Before, I was speaking of the clay's part in the matter. I am now speaking of the potter's part. These two are necessarily contrasted, but are not in the least contradictory. The clay is not expected to do the potter's work. It only yields itself to his working. It seems to me that nothing could be clearer than the perfect harmony between these two apparently contradictory sorts of teaching.
What can be said about man's part in this great work is that he must continually surrender himself and continually trust. But when we come to God's side of the question, much can be said about the many wonderful ways in which He accomplishes the work entrusted to Him. It is here that growing is important. The lump of clay could never grow into a beautiful vessel if it stayed in the claypit for thousands of years. But when it is put into the hands of a skilful potter it grows rapidly under his fashioning into the vessel he intends it to be. In the same way the soul, abandoned to the working of the Heavenly Potter, is made into a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use.


The Maturing Process
Having, therefore, taken the step of faith by which you have put yourself completely and absolutely into His hands, you must now expect Him to begin work. His way of accomplishing that which you have entrusted to Him, may be different from your way. But He knows, and you must be satisfied. . . .

It is the result of the work of God's Holy Spirit, who, by His energizing and transforming power, causes us to "grow up into (Christ) in all things" (Ephesians 4:15). We cannot hope to reach this maturity in any other way than by yielding ourselves completely and willingly to His mighty working. However, the sanctification the Scriptures encourage, as a present experience upon all believers, does not consist in maturity of growth, but in purity of heart.


From the moment the lump of clay comes under the transforming hand of the potter, it is, during each day and hour of the process, just what the potter wants it to be at that hour or on that day. Therefore, it pleases him, but it is far from being the vessel he intends it to be in the future.


A little baby may be all that he or she could be or ought to be, and may perfectly please its mother. Yet it is very far from being what that mother would wish it to be when it reaches maturity.

The apple in June is a perfect apple for June. It is the best apple that June can produce. But it is very different from the apple in October, which is a perfected apple.

God's works are perfect in every stage of their growth. Man's works are never perfect until they are in every respect complete. In this life of sanctification, all we can claim is that by an act of faith we put ourselves into the hands of the Lord for Him to work in us all the good pleasure of His will. Then, by a continuous exercise of faith, keep ourselves there. This is our part in the matter. And when we do it we are truly pleasing to God.

It may require years of training and discipline to mature us into a vessel that will be in all respects to His honour and fitted to every good work. Our part is the trusting. His part is to accomplish the results. Trust is the beginning and the continuing foundation. When we trust, the Lord works, and His work is the important part of the whole matter. . . "

Here is the link if you want to read this entire classic . . .for which I highly recommend because it brings such relief and it has Good News!

http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/hwsmith/haplife/content.htm

What is the Good News today? THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION IN IMMATURITY! God is the potter and you are the clay and His work in you is PERFECT in every stage of your growth in maturity. You don't have to fret or worry or strive to get into a "place" or "position" . . . you do not have to qualify. Jesus has qualified you already.

One of my all-time favorite verses is this: HEBREWS 10:14 (LBV) FOR BY THAT ONE OFFERING HE FOREVER MADE PERFECT THOSE WHO ARE BEING MADE HOLY.

Amen! I am always at the perfect stage . . . where He wants me while He sanctifies me and makes me a holy vessel unto His honor and glory.

In John 17:19, Jesus consecrated Himself towards this work . . "on their behalf I consecrate myself, in order that they may become perfectly consecrated in truth." Wow, what a promise!


Matthew Henry's Commentary explains:
Jesus entirely devoted himself to his undertaking, and all the parts of it, especially the offering up himself without spot unto God, by the eternal Spirit. The real holiness of all true Christians is the fruit of Christ's death, by which the gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased . . . .

So let us be relieved, resting and trusting Him. Amen.

God Is Easy To Live With

"Satan's first attack upon the human race was his sly effort to destroy Eve's confidence in the kindness of God. Unfortunately for her and for us he succeeded too well. From that day, men have had a false conception of God," . . . ." A.W. Tozer thus begins his relieving message to all of us who are in Christ.



Jesus said in John 17:3, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." He tells us in Matthew 11:29, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS."



Jesus told us if we've seen Him, we've seen the Father. John 14:8-11 -- 8) Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9) Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10) Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11) Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do."

And Ephesians 1:17 says, "asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.



All He wants is for us to KNOW Him. To become acquainted and know and believe in WHO HE IS. And then rest in that. Take His easy yoke and rest. The Pharisees, and legalists everywhere, want to paint a different picture. They want you to see God in their "light of leaven." They preach forgiveness, yes, but they also preach another gospel . . . the one with a heavy yoke and a heavy burden of "assembling" yourselves for God. (As if this has anything at all to do with us.)



"Nothing twists and deforms the soul more than a low or unworthy conception of God," A. W. Tozer says. The legalists hold that "God is stern and austere, yet they manage to maintain a fairly high level (standard) of external morality; but their righteousness is only outward. Inwardly, Jesus said, they are "whited sepulchres" (tombs). Their wrong conception of God even results in a wrong idea of worship and devotion."



A. W. Tozer states, "To a Pharisee, the service of God was a bondage which he did not love but from which he could not escape without a loss too great to bear." The God of the legalist is not a God easy to live with, so his religion is grim and hard and loveless. "It has to be so, for our notion of God must always determine the quality of our religion." Grim and severe "Christianity" is the effect of an inadequate view of God. Instinctively, we try to be like our God, and if He is conceived to be stern and exacting, so will we ourselves be! From this failure to properly understand God comes a world of unhappiness among good Christians. The Christian life is thought to be glum, UNRELIEVED cross-carrying under the eye of a stern Father who expects much and excuses nothing. He is austere, highly tempermental and extremely hard to please. THE KIND OF LIFE THAT SPRINGS OUT OF SUCH LIBELOUS NOTIONS IS BUT A MOCKERY OF THE TRUE LIFE IN CHRIST."

I agree with Tozer that to paint such a picture of God is libelous, slanderous, even blasphemous. It is exactly what satan did in the garden.

Tozer goes on to say, "It is most important to our spiritual welfare that we hold in our minds always a right conception of God. If we think of Him as COLD and EXACTING, we shall find it impossible to love Him, and our lives will be ridden with SERVILE FEAR. If, again, we hold Him to be KIND and UNDERSTANDING (He knows our frame is but dust.) our whole inner life will mirror that idea."

"The TRUTH is that God is the MOST WINSOME OF ALL BEINGS AND HIS SERVICE ONE OF UNSPEAKABLE PLEASURE. HE IS ALL LOVE, AND THOSE WHO TRUST HIM NEED NEVER KNOW ANYTHING BUT THAT LOVE. HE IS JUST, INDEED, AND HE WILL NOT CONDONE SIN; BUT THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT HE IS ABLE TO ACT TOWARD US EXACTLY AS IF WE HAD NEVER SINNED. TOWARD THE TRUSTING SONS OF MEN HIS MERCY WILL ALWAYS TRIUMPH OVER JUSTICE."

"The fellowship of God is DELIGHTFUL BEYOND ALL TELLING. He communes with His redeemed ones in an easy, uninhibited fellowship that is RESTFUL and healing to the soul. HE IS NOT HARD TO PLEASE . . .HE EXPECTS OF US ONLY WHAT HE HAS HIMSELF FIRST SUPPLIED!!!! HE IS QUICK TO MARK TO OVERLOOK IMPERFECTIONS WHEN HE KNOWS WE MEANT TO DO HIS WILL. HE LOVES US FOR OURSELVES AND VALUES OUR LOVE MORE THAN GALAXIES OF NEW CREATED WORLDS."

"Unfortunately, many Christians cannot get free from their PERVERTED notions of God, and these notions poison their hearts and DESTROY THEIR INWARD FREEDOM. These people serve God grimly, as the elder brother did, doing what is right and without enthusiasm (PERFUNCTORY = this is a key word) and without joy, and seem altogether unable to understand the buoyant, spirited celebration when the prodigal comes home. Their idea of God rules out the possibility of His being happy in His people, and they attribute displays of unbridled love and worship as sheer fanatacism. Unhappy souls, these, doomed to go heavily on their melancholy way, grimly determined to do right if the heavens fall and to be on the winning side in the day of judgment."


Many who do not rest in Christ alone have forgotten Isaiah 53:11! "As a result of the anguish of His (Jesus) soul, He (God the Father) will see it AND BE SATISFIED." (my emphasis) It is finished. Completed. Accomplished. Jesus (God's second Adam and beloved Son) lived the perfect life for us, fulfilled the law, and has thus SATISFIED GOD. Now, those who are in Christ alone, can abide and believe . . .NOT strive and try to satisfy God on their own. If God is satisfied with Jesus, why can't we be satisfied with Jesus alone? Why do we feel the driving force to add to what Jesus did. I believe it appeals to our pride. We want to get our hands in this equation somehow. But, this work of God is just that . . .a work of God, not man.

Tozer says, "How good it would be if we could learn that GOD IS EASY TO LIVE WITH. He remembers our frame and knows that we are dust. He may sometimes chasten us, it is true, but even this he does with a smile, the proud, tender smile of a Father, who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect but promising son who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child he is. Some of us are religiously jumpy and self-conscious because we know that God sees our every thought and is acquainted with all our ways. We need not be!! GOD IS THE SUM OF ALL PATIENCE AND THE ESSENCE OF KINDLY GOOD WILL. WE PLEASE HIM MOST, NOT BY FRANTICALLY TRYING TO MAKE OURSELVES GOOD, BUT BY THROWING OURSELVES INTO HIS ARMS WITH ALL OUR IMPERFECTIONS, AND BELIEVEING THAT HE UNDERSTANDS EVERYTHING AND LOVES US STILL."

Thank you, Jesus, for drinking to the dregs our cup of wrath and exchanging with us your cup of blessing. May we, by faith, drink this cup to it's dregs, glorifying You. May we KNOW YOU, our King eternal and God our Father, more and more with the help of the Helper. Holy precious Spirit, HELP US TO KNOW HIM and BELIEVE. AMEN

Herein is the Good News . . . God is mad about you, not mad at you! :) What a relief.