How big is your problem?

I hear the question this morning while I'm reading. "How big is your problem?"  My first thought was, I don't have a big problem, my second thought was I have some little problems. My thought after that was, why are you even asking me that question? I didn't get an answer to that question. So, I just sit still and then the thought trust in the Lord with all your heart came to mind.

Proverbs 3:4-6 trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

Substitute the word heart with the word problems for just a moment. I think a lot of times we tend to trust the Lord with the small problems and not with the big ones. Some of us trust the Lord with the big ones and not with the little ones and some of us think we got this. Which one are you. Or do you trust the Lord with everything?

Go back to yesterday where I wrote what is Jesus doing? If you recognize what he is doing, then are you okay with it? Do you have peace?  Are you sleeping at night or are you waking up in the middle of the night thinking about stuff that you have no control over?

Proverbs 3:7-8. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the lord and turn away from evil it will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

What if you substituted the word evil for pride?

Fear the Lord and you will have healing over your flesh.

Lord, I pray that you shine your light on the areas that need to be exposed. Reveal where I want to have control and not you.  In Jesus name

W.I.J.D.

Yep you read that right WIJD.  It is not a typo you probably thought WWJD which everybody knows is “what would Jesus do?” My devotion this morning was WIJD which means what is Jesus doing.

 It's an interesting perspective when you get yourself into a situation, and you think what would Jesus do? Then you pause for a minute and think what is Jesus doing? It changes everything to a deeper level of understanding. What is the bigger picture? Instead of wondering should I react the way Jesus reacts or looking at the situation and ask Holy Spirit what is Jesus doing here?

Today I will look at situations and ask myself what is Jesus doing?  It is a matter of watching and listening.

Col. 3:1 See yourselves co-raised with Christ! Now ponder with persuasion the consequence of your co-inclusion in him. Relocate yourselves mentally! Engage your thoughts with throne room realities where you are co-seated with Christ in the executive authority of God’s right hand. The Mirror.


This paragraph is from my devotion this morning. Do you see Jesus as your example or as your life? He is both, but asking the question is more than a matter of simple semantics. It will profoundly affect how we approach every day, every decision, every act of character or impulse of the heart. If we see ourselves as imitators of the divine Example, we will find ourselves failing often and growing ever more frustrated with our inability to live as He did. But if we see ourselves as vessels in which the Spirit of the living God dwells, we’re inclined not to try harder but to trust more. So, what would Jesus do? We should ask this; He is the way. What would He think? We should also ask this; He is the truth. And what is He doing? We should especially ask this; He is the life. No one comes to the Father except by Him. Not just by His example, but by His life. He indwells us to take us where we should go and lead us away from where we’ve been. It’s an amazing thought: We live by means of a living Lord.  From Worship the King Devotional

 5:1 Mirror God; you are his offspring. (2 Cor 3:18.) 5:2 This is how: let the love of Christ be your life; remember how he abandoned himself to us. His love is contagious, not reluctant but extravagant. Sacrificial love pleases God like the sweet aroma of worship. (Resembling the holy anointing oil and the pure fragrant incense of spices, the work of a perfumer, to be burnt on the golden altar of incense in the inner court of the tent of meeting. [Ex 37:25-29]) The Mirror

What is Jesus doing?

Godfidence

 From my devotion this morning "there are times in our lives when God's presence is an uncomfortable reality those independent times when we don't necessarily want him to be watching us. But most of the time, we need to know he's there. We struggle with anxiety, fear, and certainty, loneliness, and discouragement. When we do, we don't only want to know that he is observing, we also want to know that he is intensely involved."

I don't want to feel like God is around (omnipresence) because that is what the Bible says. I want to know deep down in my heart that He is there. I believe for myself for the most part that He is, but I would be lying if I said there are times that I don't think he is.  Or better yet there are times that I don't want him around me. Maybe because I got it figured out and I don't need his help. I try to really avoid that last reality of trying to figure it out. It just doesn't work very well for me.

Colossians 3.3 Your Union with his death broke the association with that world; see yourselves located in a fortress where your life is hidden with Christ in God.

I read this scripture it makes me wonder and it makes me think what does it really look like to be located in that Fortress where your life is hidden with Christ? What does that look like? Is that daily renewal of your mind? Daily prayer...... you know........  praying without ceasing.

When I continue reading more Colossians I get to verse 8 and it gives the answers to questions that I just asked.

Col 3.8 but now, because you realize that you co-died and were co-raised together with Christ, you can flush your thoughts with truth! Permanently put these things behind you. Things such as violent Outburst of Rage, depression, all manner of wickedness, slander, and every form of a regular conversation.

So, believe. Believe in Who You Are especially when you look in the mirror. Renew your mind daily

Romans 12:2 Do not allow current religious tradition to mold you into its pattern of reasoning. Like an inspired artist, give attention to the detail of God’s desire to find expression in you. Become acquainted with perfection. To accommodate yourself to the delight and good pleasure of him will transform your thoughts afresh from within.

 Just my thoughts

Have a Godfidence day!  

Be at peace

Over the last probably 3 weeks I have had some stuff stirring in my heart. One of the things that I have come to realize at men's group is as much as I have struggled with lust it pales in comparison to my struggles of walking in judgment. What I mean by that is I will occasionally look at porn.  The question is always why did you do that? What was the trigger? Why did you feel you had to go down that road? Reality is many times I have those answers but sometimes I don't. When it comes to judgement I do that every single day without question. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it until it's too late. But rarely do I get the question what was the trigger? Why did you feel you had to go down that road? Why did you feel you had to judge that person? I don't get those questions

I think judging people, sometimes ……. it's fun to do. Like walking around in Walmart and looking at it every single person and you think that you know their story or why they are dressed the way they are. Jesus said judge not lest ye be judged more harshly. When someone knows they're being judged they will fire back and judge you back most likely and even in a meaner since. And then you become angrier and actually judge yourself for judging that person, so they can judge you back it's like a vicious circle it's like running in that stupid hamster cage.

I have had several instances over the last 3 or 4 weeks where the Judgment had taken root and one morning I felt like I heard Holy Spirit say take the high road.  I had written a 5-star review for a place where my wife and I stayed.  Halfway through the review though I added some critique and suggested a policy change.  I sent it to the owner to let him review it before I posted it online. Basically, asking him for his thoughts. I didn't hear from him for 3 or 4 days. All kinds of thoughts were running through my mind about why they did what they did, and why he hadn't responded.   The truth is the reason he didn't respond is because the day I sent the email he buried his dad.   When he finally got around to responding. He said he was with his mom over the last week who had pneumonia. Who was so sick she couldn't even go to her husband's own funeral. Well let's just say I felt like an ass all because I walked in judgement.

He wrote me a very nice email and was very grateful for what I have written was very grateful for the review that I had posted online about his business – I left off the critique and suggested policy change. And then he credited me back $200. I wasn't asking for any money back but because I took the high road God was smiling. I am so glad that I chose to listen and some of the things that I said to him ministered to him which was important.

Isa 57:14
14 And it shall be said,
“Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people's way.”

In my email responses to him this is what I did. I built him up the Lord prepared his way and the judgment was the obstruction

16 For I will not contend forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
and the breath of life that I made.

When I read this scripture I honestly feel that I'm Not Angry Anymore. Because while I was this is exactly what I felt was going on is that his Spirit was going to faint before me. This anger came from the judgment


18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

When I read this scripture, I feel like I've been healed.

19 creating the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord,
“and I will heal him.

I will walk in peace today. 

Door slammed shut.

A paragraph from Oswald Chambers.

Have I been persecuting Jesus by a zealous determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty and yet have hurt Him in doing it, I may be sure it was not my duty, because it has not fostered the meek and quiet spirit, but the spirit of self-satisfaction. We imagine that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord - "I delight to do Thy will, O My God." Oswald Chambers 1 - 29

This morning I made it a point to not go online and read news, watch some YouTube music,   anything other than sitting praying and then opening up my Bible.   These are items that get in the way it seems like almost every morning. It really makes me tired it is interference. It's like being in a church and having an intimate conversation with someone and then somebody else walks up and blatantly interrupts to say hi to either you or the person you're speaking to. It's obvious you're having a deep conversation, but this person doesn't care. That's what it feels like in the mornings when I want to spend time with the Lord and I let outside circumstances interrupt my time.

Having said all that,  There been several things going on in my heart that had been interfering with my relationship with God. I felt over the last couple of weeks I have been making decisions based on where I want to serve him.  I have known it for a while but these decisions  are based on inner judgments that I have made. And then this morning I decided to read Oswald Chambers. And as usual it really spoke to me.  If I'm serving Jesus where I want to serve him is that really serving him? 

I have been here before.

I went as far as looking at trying to serve in another Ministry thinking I needed a change. I needed different surroundings. I thought I could learn something new somewhere else. (there sure were a lot of "I's " just written here.) The truth is Ministry is Ministry when it comes to the hearts of men and women. I thoroughly believed I tried to open the door to somewhere else and it got slammed shut.   kind of like your trying to open a door and someone on the other side is holding it shut. That's what it felt like.   it took this person almost two weeks to get back to my email I sent him and then he said he would contact me back and never did. So, I took that as a closed-door and I didn't take it personally.

Revelation 3:7
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens

Or my case trying to go through a shut door that I can't open.

There will be a day that I will choose to not let outside circumstances, situations, and most importantly people influence who I am. There is only one person that gets to influence me and that would be the Holy One. 


Who or what is influencing you today?

The Shack

Isaiah 60:2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

This morning before my quiet time I wanted to look up an actress that played Holy Spirit in the movie The Shack.  (We watched it again last night) When I copied and pasted her name in Google search this morning this scripture from Isaiah came up. I guess it was still on the clipboard. Or not :-)   Considering, that part of the movie was about the evil that's in our world I found it interesting that this scripture came up instead. Obviously, I had copied it the other day and it was still on the clipboard (I think). Nevertheless, the timing was impeccable.  Sometimes it's the subtle things that I need to be reminded about.

Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)
24 ‘May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
25 May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
26 May the Lord show you his favor
    and give you his peace.’

That movie was about numbers 6:24 - 26

How many times can you relate to what Mac Phillips was going through in that movie. The Pain, the Heartbreak, the unforgiveness, the hatred and the big ones........... wanting vengeance, blaming God and of course blaming yourself for something that you had no control over.

Things happen. Things are said, and you know it's in His love.  You look up in the night sky. And see the Crescent Moon and you know God is smiling at you.

There is a scene in the movie where Mac is out in the middle of the lake in the boat and it starts to sink. Jesus comes to him walking on the water.  Mac hesitates and then chooses to trust Jesus enough to get out of the boat and walk on the water with him back to shore.  So much joy!

Later in the movie after Mac receives his healing he's walking with Jesus on land towards the lake. He is so excited he decides to run on the water and he leaves Jesus on the shore and of course, Mac is not able to walk on water because he left Jesus behind.   Jesus says we should do things together.

I have to wonder how many times in my own life am I afraid to get out of the boat because I'm going to sink, or I run ahead of Jesus and do it my own way and therefore I sink again.
Jesus tells Mac to look at me. Mac look at me ..... look at me.

https://youtu.be/G1OHyINxuRQ

Metanoia

I was just about to give up this morning when I came to this passage and it just stopped me in my tracks.  I started reading in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 but took all the way to chapter 7 to get Rhema. 

2 Cor. 7:10 To 1anchor one’s thoughts in God’s thoughts when faced with difficult or painful experiences, brings escape from sorrow and leaves one with no 2regrets; but oh, what a dreadful contrast is the world system (of the law of karma and works) which adds 2regret upon sorrow! Whereas the one brings such immediate relief, the other seems to be an inescapable deathtrap! (The word 1metanoia means to gather one’s thoughts; in this context it means to realize God’s thoughts. Sadly the Latin word, penance (repentance) became the popular English translation of metanoia. The word 2metamelētos, means with regret.)

Could this mean that when you are going through a difficult situation.  You know without any doubt that you have turned it completely over to God.   The situation doesn't turn out the way you expected, but still have total complete peace knowing that what happened was God's Will and not your own.

Could it mean when you're going through that difficult situation that you need to take those thoughts captive and push out the negativity whether it has to do with a business deal gone bad,  a death in the family,  a huge fight with your spouse.   You put in your own circumstance here


The word metanoia is a very powerful Greek word.  The mirror Bible expands on this word and its meaning

Consider the word metanoia, consisting of two components, meta, together with, and nous, mind, suggesting a radical mind shift. This word has been translated regularly as “repentance,” which is an old English word borrowed from the Latin, which means penance. Then they added the “re” to get even more mileage out of sin consciousness. Re-penance. This gross deception led to the perverted doctrines of indulgences, where naive, ignorant people were led to believe that they needed to purchase favor from an angry god. Most cathedrals as well as many ministries were funded with this guilt money. English translations do little to help us understand what repentance truly is. Until Jerome’s Latin Vulgate translation, the word metanoia was commonly used. For instance, Tertullian wrote in 198 A.D., “In Greek, metanoia is not a confession of sins but a change of mind.” But despite this the Latin fathers begin to translate the word as “do penance” following the Roman Catholic teaching on doing penance in order to win God’s favor. In 1430, Lorenzo Valla, a Catholic theologian, began a critical study of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate and Valla pointed out many mistakes that Jerome had made. Sadly, the “Vulgate-Only” crowd of Valla’s day forced him to renounce many of the changes that he noted needed changing in the Vulgate including the poor translation of metanoia. The business of religion desperately needs paying and returning customers. Jesus was crucified for this reason; the entire system of keeping people dependent on their hierarchy was challenged and condemned by him. Isaiah 55:8-11 gives meaning to metanoia: “your thoughts were distanced from God’s thoughts as the heavens are higher than the earth, but just like the rain and the snow would cancel that distance and saturate the soil to awaken its seed, so shall my word be that proceeds from my mouth.” The Greek preposition meta, together with, implies another influence. This is where the gospel becomes so powerful since it appeals to our conscience to reason together with our original design ... the authentic thought, the mind of God is realized again. The distance caused by Adam’s fall, compared to the distance between heaven and earth, is cancelled in the incarnation. Metanoia suggests a co-knowing with God! It is an intertwining of thought; it is to agree with God about me. Your belief in God does not define him; his faith in what he knows to be true about you defines you. In Mark 11:22, Jesus says, “Have the faith of God.” Unfortunately, most translations say, “Have faith in God.” There is a massive difference between our beliefs and philosophies about God and God’s persuasion about us! God’s belief in you gives substance to your faith. Jesus is what God believes about you. If our point of departure is not God’s faith in the finished work of Christ we have no valid gospel to preach. If our faith is not sourced and sustained in him as the mirror image of God revealed and redeemed in us we are deceiving ourselves with yet another religious disguise called Christianity.

Eyes on the Prize

Isaiah 60:2 for Behold The Darkness shall cover the Earth, and deep Darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

When I read this scripture this morning it gave me hope. What I mean by that is you look at the world and you see all the crap going on. The fake news, the haters the total disdain for Christians. I need to focus on Rising above all this crap and what I've learned is it I can't do it on my own. In other words I need to set my mind on things from above.  At the same time it is so easy to get caught up in all the stuff that's going on around you

Col. 3:2 Becoming affectionately acquainted with throne room thoughts will keep you from being distracted again by the earthly (soul-ruled) realm. (“Set your minds upon the things that are above and not upon the things below!” RSV. Also note Romans 1:18, where the word katecho is used - to echo downwards is the opposite to anoche, to echo upwards - Romans 2:4 and Romans 3:26. Also 2 Corinthians 4:18 “We are not keeping any score of what seems so obvious to the senses in the natural realm, it is fleeting and irrelevant. It is the unseen, eternal realm within us which has our full attention and captivates our gaze!” A renewed mind conquers the space previously occupied by worthless pursuits and habits.)

 My prayer today is no matter what happens or what I hear that I keep my eyes focused on the prize

 Phi. 3:14 I have the prize of mankind’s redeemed innocence in full view; just like a champion athlete in the public games I refuse to be distracted by anything else. God has 1invited us in Christ, to lift up our eyes and realize our identity in him. 

The dripping well

This morning I am listening short video by Joseph Prince. It is called Breaking Point addiction through Grace it's 12 minutes long. I can say for myself it's good.  He touches on several scriptures and makes some very valid points that I'm going to share.  It is probably not anything that you have already heard, maybe a different twist.   The first one is 

1 Corinthians 6:18 flee sexual immorality.   every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

It has been proven that overtime long term viewing of pornography will actually put a groove in your brain. Picture one of those old hand cranking well heads from the 1800s that constantly drips over and over 50 or 60 years it actually wears a Groove in the concrete something as innocent as water.   

1 Cor 6:17 In our union with him we are one spirit with the Lord. 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sexual sin is a violation of the sacredness of the human body and scars the conscience of the individual like no other sin does. (The best way to escape temptation is to remember who you are.)

THE MIRROR

When I think about the scars........ I still have pornographic images in my mind from the 7th grade they just won't go away.  Certain scenes from pornography I viewed in the 80s that will not go away.  I have scars on my physical body that have gone away but the sexual sin is in your brain.  I have been prayed over and I prayed about this.  One day they won't be there but today they are,  so when they come back I have to take those thoughts captive.

Gen 39:10 — Gen 39:12

And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.

But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

As I look this scripture over she spoke to him every day about him sleeping with her.

He chose to not listen and finally when it got to the point where he could not take it anymore he ran!  He fled! He knew what he needed to do before the Ten Commandments were even written. And in his heart, he knew what was right and what was wrong.

So, I wonder did Joseph put confidence in his flesh? And when the Temptation got so strong he ran?

I believe that he knew the difference between wrong and right so well,  that he knew exactly where he stood.

When you make up your mind your unmade mind will not un-make you

Ice road truckers

So, I've been thinking this morning about the road of depravity. If you think about the road of depravity like the road up in Alaska that the Ice Road Truckers drive on it's a very slippery slope and there is no room for error. On this road you must be very careful. You have to drive down to very center of the road.  For myself if I was driving 80000 pounds down a sheet of ice I would have to totally rely on the Lord and the skills that he has taught me to navigate. There is absolutely no room for error.  the moment I decide to navigate my own way instead of relying on him is when the trouble begins.  When I start to veer off center I have two choices I can rely on Holy Spirit or I can put my confidence in my flesh that I can get back to Center. My Flesh says adjust quickly and jerk your steering wheel back over to Center.  If I do that, I’m probably going to slide off the road.   The other CHOICE is I can rely on Holy Spirit who says don't get in a hurry slow down follow me and get back to Center. I had a friend one time tell me don't get ahead of the one who leads.  For me I think many times I get ahead of the one who leads instead of just resting and listening. Everything today is so fast-paced and the I want it now mentality.

So how is your driving?

Phi. 3:2 Becoming affectionately acquainted with throne room thoughts will keep you from being distracted again by the earthly realm. THE MIRROR

Phi 3.3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh ESV

Phi. 3:5 Consider the members of your body as dead and buried towards everything related to the porn industry, sensual uncleanness, longing for forbidden things, lust and greed, which are just another form of idol worship. (Idol worship is worshipping a distorted image of yourself!) 3:6 These distorted expressions are in total contradiction to God’s design and desire for your life. 

THE MIRROR

I know some of you have the instincts to drive on Ice so it is just an analogy it is just where He took me this morning.

Hebrews 11:8

Part of the devotion this morning says "have you been to asking God what he is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what he is going to do. He reveals to you who he is."

Will you go out and surrender to him until you are not surprised an adom at anything he does? Oswald Chambers

11:8 By faith Abraham acknowledged the 1call of God which gave him his identity and destiny, as evidence of his inheritance as he journeyed into the unknown. (The word, 1kaleo, means to call, to identify by name, to surname.)


So when I'm praying this morning I asked the Lord to give me a word for 2018. My wife and I have been talking about this for several days. So in the middle of my thought process before I can finish the question in my mind I hear the word "commitment"  my first thought is the obvious one ......  my relationship to my wife.

The longer I sit here though,  the more I think the word commitment is about my identity in committing to who I am as a son.

 Thinking about that passage from Hebrews.   How many times do I acknowledge the call on my life that the Lord has put in front of me. Walking as a son seeing myself as he sees me.

Believing who He says I am!

Spiritual Maturity

The year 2018 is coming up.  What are the clues for what we can expect in the new year?

First, the number 20 signifies expectancy or things to look forward to.  Jacob waited 20 years to get possession of his wives and property.  Israel waited 20 years for deliverance through Samson.  Solomon waited 20 years for the completion of two houses.

As for the 18 in 2018--

The  Hebrew word for "life" has a numerical value of 18.

In most countries, it is the "coming of age"--18 is the age of majority and also the voting age.

For me the word that comes to mind is maturity--spiritual maturity.

Bill and I were talking about this not long ago, confirming to each other that those who have been with us are maturing and do not need to be taught basic principles again.

Hebrews 6:1-2  Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

What does coming of age mean to us?  I have to take another look at the visions I've had in the last couple of months to know where we are going.

Greater light-spiritual discernment-elevation

I saw an elevated highway, and heard the words, "high and lifted up."  We need to set ourselves to be elevated in the Spirit by continuing to seek genuine, intimate relationship with God through Christ by the Spirit.

I also saw floodlights, which symbolized more light and greater clarity.

And, a hot-air balloon.  We need to go higher so we can see more clearly.

Hebrews 5:14  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

I saw a man looking through a peephole in a door; then the door opened allowing him to see the entire landscape.

In another vision I was climbing a rock mountain, and near the top was a crack in the rock that allowed me to catch a glimpse of a beautiful valley on the other side of the mountain.

This year will be a time of elevation; of going higher spiritually.  And, the higher we go the greater the light and spiritual clarity.

Small Straws:  I saw earth's atmosphere in layers.  Near the surface of the earth it was very dark, but every layer above the earth was progressively lighter.  And, the Lord said, "The higher up you go, the more light is available so that when you get close to Me it is all light with no darkness at all.  Come up here!"  

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Small Straws:  I saw a very large door beginning to open.  The light coming in started as a small beam at first, but as the door continued to open the light became magnificently bright and even blinding.  And, I heard the Lord say, "I am opening a door for you that will bring increasingly greater light.  It will reveal wisdom and purpose the likes of which you have not seen until now.  Walking in the light will begin with revelation that comes from internal work."  Isaiah 2:5 ... come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Greater discernment will require spiritual purity

Other visions:

 I saw a beautiful little meadow high up on a mountain.  There was a waterfall splashing down into a pool of clear, clean water.

And, someone was bathing in a stream of sparkling clear, pure water.  We are getting cleaned up through internal work.

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Titus 1:15  To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

Destiny fulfilled or fulfilling of destiny in reaching a destination

The idea of destiny fulfilled came in several visions:

First was something like a wheel moving clockwise on the inside of a wheel moving counterclockwise.  There were notches in the wheels that needed to line up.

I also saw a roundabout on a street where you have to drive in a circle to find the proper exit that would make a way to a particular destination.

And, I saw gears that needed to be put in their proper position in order for a machine to function as it should. 

Finally, I saw someone opening a safe using a combination lock-turning to numbers in perfect order before the door would open.

A combination lock is a type of locking device in which a sequence of numbers or symbols is used to open the lock. The sequence may be entered using a single rotating dial, which interacts with several discs or cams, by using a set of several rotating discs with inscribed numerals which directly interact with the locking mechanism, or through an electronic or mechanical keypad.

I thought of two words precision and order in all of these visions.  We must be in our proper position before we can move forward spiritually.

Small Straws:  Your life experience contains many moving parts, and those parts are coming into alignment to allow new possibilities.  The doors will open to present opportunities to accomplish what has been beyond your scope of imagination.  These are things that you cannot foresee or predict, but you can           prepare and position yourself spiritually by faith to progress when the time is right, says the Lord.  Mark 1:3b Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.

Small Straws:  Be on the lookout for various elements of your life to fall into place, and it will be right for you to make the changes that you have considered.  There is a time and a season when everything lines up with My will and purposes for you, says the Lord.  That time is just ahead of you.  Do not lose hope.  Ecclesiastes 3:17b "For there is a time for every purpose and for every work."

Another vision I thought was interesting was one of watching someone working on a stained glass project, probably a window.  There was lots of beautiful glass with various shaped pieces that would be used to make a picture.

Many of us have been fragmented, and we will be working on ourselves internally to put all the pieces together so that we are whole.

Season of Adjustment

Small Straws:  The season of adjustment is upon you, but you will have to mentally and emotionally let go of things that tie you to the past before you can move forward in My purposes.  If you will take this step of faith you will come into a place of liberty and fulfillment that you have not known before.  Trust Me to bring you through this awkward transition with great grace, says the Lord.  All you have to do is be willing and flexible.  

2 Corinthians 12:9a  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Mystery

Small Straws:  As I waited on the Lord, I sensed movement in the spirit realm.  It was very strong and yet mysterious.  And, I heard the Lord say, "I am moving in ways that are beyond anything that you have seen or understood.  This work will affect My people at a core level that is untapped and rarely accessed.  Only those who get quiet and exercise extreme discernment will be aware of what I am now doing."  Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Small Straws:  My work in the lives of My people appear to be mysterious at times.   But, if you ask for wisdom with a genuine desire to know, I will reveal My purposes to you in ways that you can understand.  Keep in mind that I want you to search for           truth as you would search for treasure.  And, to do that you must be willing to dig deep, says the Lord.  Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Recap-these are the headlines for 2018:

Spiritual Maturity-a time to grow up into Him

Greater Light to see what God is doing in our lives       

Elevation and clarity for more precise discernment    

Cleansing and purity of the soul through internal work

Proper positioning in Spirit before we can progress

Personal and spiritual adjustment to bring precision and order

Understanding the mysteries of God

Let there be LIGHT

Cultivate the presence of the Lord

I received a text message this morning from a friend of mine.   One of the statements said, “my control over sin needs more Jesus.”   It made me think of where I have been lately.   I think that is what I have been doing as well.  I have been putting my confidence in the flesh.  You know… I got this. That is usually the first stage of failure for me.     That statement took me back to a quote that was spoken to me on a Quest event back in 2014.

“Stop trying to create the absence of sin and start cultivating the presence of the Lord.”

Below is from a post I wrote back in 2014 partially edited.

God has a habit of chasing after leadership too.  Let Him catch you and see what happens.   Well he caught me.  He spoke to me through a friend of mine with this statement.  “Stop trying to create the absence of sin and start cultivating the presence of the Lord.”   I had to just sit there a minute and actually ask him to repeat it again.  Sometimes I think (me included) that we focus so hard on trying not to sin that we miss it!  We try to prevent sin instead of just focusing on God more.   There are things that need to be done.  Pray, listen to worship music, study the word, and be washed by the word.   If you do all things, then it makes it very hard for sin to creep in because your heart is with Him.  Your heart is filled with Him which leaves no room for anything else.  Be blessed today!

…Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ~ Ephesians 5:25b-27

The Mirror Ephesians 5:25 The husband loving his wife pictures the parallel of Christ loving the church completely, and his unreserved giving of himself to us. (This is what marriage is all about; it celebrates love’s initiative, whether coming from the husband or the wife. This awakens a different level of commitment beyond any sense of duty or guilt.) 5:26 Christ is the voice of God’s language, immersed in this conversation, his love words bathe us and remove from us every stain of sin. 5:27 This intimate language presents the church (his restored image and likeness) to himself, to his delightful approval without any distraction or reminder of a blemished past; no wrinkle or scar of sin’s abuse remains; she stands before him in immaculate innocence.

God tells Moses, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may [a]be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will [b]have success.  Joshua 1:8 (NASB)

Small straws in a soft wind

THE TRUMPET by BILL BURNS:

I would have you to be free of anxiety and worry. Let faith arise so that you will be able to overcome everything that comes against you in this season. I am with you and empowering you.  My Spirit has been sent to you to enable you to respond from a place of faith to receive everything that I have for you in this season and the years beyond.  Come and be one with Me, says the Lord God Almighty.

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS:

Be on the lookout for various elements of your life to fall into place, and it will be right for you to make the changes that you have considered. There is a time and a season when everything lines up with My will and purposes for you, says the Lord.  That time is just ahead of you.  Do not lose hope.  Ecclesiastes 3:17b "For there is a time for every purpose and for every work."

This really spoke to me this morning so I wanted to share it  with you.   I actually woke this morning feeling anxious.   Not sure why.
Not sure why sometimes I actually feel like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.    I remember though ......  thinking to my self.  "today is a good day today and I said  "yes Lord"

Romans 12:2

……………………………………………….To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the growth of our spiritual life. There are areas of self-will in our lives where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, “I won’t submit.” We deify our independence and self-will and call them by the wrong name. What God sees as stubborn weakness, we call strength. There are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into submission, and this can only be done by this continuous conversion. Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God.

  I read this and can’t help but wonder about myself.  How many times I refuse to be converted.  I am a fallen man but at the same time I am a son of the most high God.  Sometimes I get up in the morning and like who I see and sometimes I don’t like who I see.  Yesterday’s devotion from Oswald really nailed me as well.        

 Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.   I should never say, “I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test.” Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.  

So I am really chewing on this one…. What does it look like to get alone with the almighty and fight the battle before Him?   I think I have done this, but am I fooling myself into thinking I have?  What does it look like?  ON my knees in prayer or sitting silent and just listening.  My battles with jealousy, lust and selfishness are always at the forefront.  I am sincerely, passionately trying to not sin, but I keep sinning.  I am at the point where I am fixated on trying not to sin.  It is like a vicious cycle the keeps repeating itself.  It is not working.  I somehow need to get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret place.  It is time for revelation; do I have the patience to wait for the answer?

Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is.  His good, pleasing and perfect will.  

Romans 12:2 ESV

Romans 12:2 Do not allow current religious tradition to mold you into its pattern of reasoning. Like an inspired artist, give attention to the detail of God’s desire to find expression in you. Become acquainted with perfection. To accommodate yourself to the delight and good pleasure of him will transform your thoughts afresh from within.  The Mirror

Philippians 1:21

My Unstoppable Determination for His Holiness. "Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!" (Philippians 1:21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.) Paul was determined that nothing would stop him from doing exactly what God wanted. But before we choose to follow God's will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God's gentler nudges. He brings us to the place where He asks us to be our utmost for Him and we begin to debate. He then providentially produces a crisis where we have to decide— for or against. That moment becomes a great crossroads in our lives. If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably. Oswald C.
Isn't it just like us to have to have a crisis in our life before we have a come to Jesus meeting? I would like to think that I stay close enough to Him that this does not have to happen. I would be fooling myself to think that. Reality is there are times when I think I know better than the Lord on what is happening in my life. I think to myself, that is not an open door and I will shut that door myself. Then the door will open again, because the Lord is gracious and I am stubborn. Below is what I have written before which I think falls under the same lines as what is being talked about above. 
When I choose that path most of the time it is because I think I can handle the situation on my OWN!  Then the question comes up that is always asked of me.  "how is that working for ya?"I hate that question because my answer is always,  "it isn't!"  I say all of that to share with you a little nugget on surrender. Surrender is always a tough one for me as well. What is the worst thing that could happen if you surrender? 
Here is what  François Fenelon the Archbishop of Cambria said in the 17th century.  He was the spiritual advisor to Louie the 14th.  He said this in a letter to the King about surrender.  There is more in the letter but this is the main point.
Let me tell you what real surrender is.  It is simply resting in the love of the Lord, as a little baby rests in his mother arms.  A perfect surrender must even be willing to quit surrendering, if that is what the Lord wants.  We renounce ourselves, and yet, God never lets us know when it is complete.  If we knew, it would no longer BE complete, for there is nothing that bolsters the ego quiet so much as knowing that it is fully surrendered.
Surrender consist, not in doing great, heroic deeds about which self can brag, but simply in accepting whatever God sends, and not seeking to change it.  Surrender is the source of true peace.
I have noticed for myself that when I have completely surrendered.  (at least when I think I have)  I feel at peace.  When I think I have surrendered something but I am restless about it and  I don't have peace,   then I am still holding on to it.  I don't like that.  
The more you look at what you are not;  the less you become who you are!
Kevin Gwyn
Any thoughts??????

Matthew 26:35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

As I am reading this morning,  I came to this scripture.  I just sat there and stared at it.  For the first time in a long time I had to ask myself “How many times do I deny Jesus in one day?” Peter did it three times.  I remember watching the Passion of the Christ and thinking about how Peter denies Jesus in the movie.  I remember thinking “how can he do that to Jesus?” Then I thought “I do it all the time!”  with my tongue,  my eyes, my actions.  It made me very sad when I really thought about it.

Don’t worry, I don’t have a stick in my hand ….. I’m not beating myself up.  It is just an eye opener

Be Blessed today!

From Keith Wheeler

I pray that the busyness of the season isn’t overwhelming you and that your life is overflowing with the joy, innocence, purity and anticipation of a little child as we celebrate the birthday of our wonderful Lord and Saviour, Jesus!

One of the greatest gifts that God has given me as I have walked with the cross around the world has been that of slowing down. The world whizzes by at 65 mph (or more) in their cars! Even the joggers hurry on down the road. But God has allowed me to walk … around 4 miles an hour. I’ve found that when I slow down I’m able to see things that those in their cars, or with their running shoes on will never see. I’m able to hear things that they will never hear.

I think this is what God wants from us. To slow down. To see. And to hear. It’s really easy to get busy, especially this time of year. So many of us have allowed our lives to become overscheduled, overrun and overwhelmed. As a result, we’ve become stressed, rushed and hurried – sometimes, even, out of control.  We miss seeing the beauty that’s all around us – a flower along the roadside, a sunset, or the wonder of our children growing up. Sometimes we move so fast that we miss the sounds – the splashing of a mountain waterfall; wind whispering in the trees, crickets chirping and birds singing, or a heart-to-heart talk with our spouse ... all a symphony of praise drowned out by the buzzing of our engines, the blaring of our stereo systems, or the business inside our lives.

I have found that when I’m rushing I can’t see or hear very well. When I don’t truly see or hear I’m not able to appreciate. When I don’t appreciate, I fail to experience. And when I fail to experience, I cease to truly live; and I merely exist!

Have you ever heard the saying, “pay attention”? Attention costs. That’s why we have to pay. It costs time and energy. But the rewards are invaluable! We begin to see! We begin to hear! Maybe that’s why God announced Jesus’ birth to some stinky shepherds. They had time. They were waiting. And God rewarded them! Not only did they see and hear the angels … they saw Jesus! I think that, this Christmas, God wants to reward us! I think He wants us to slow down.  He wants us, in a fresh new way, to see Jesus – the beauty of Christmas!!

Have you ever thought that, maybe, the skies over Bethlehem and Jerusalem were FULL of angels? Maybe they were there with the wonderful news of our Saviour’s birth for anyone who would just slow down and look up and listen. Maybe He didn’t just want to speak to the shepherds, but He wanted to tell anyone who would listen that His baby boy had been born. Maybe God speaks a whole lot more than we think He does.  Maybe all we need to do is just slow down and look up and listen. I believe that’s the beauty of Christmas! It’s a time of the year where we have the opportunity to pay attention! God wants to give us the gift of remembering that He is Emmanuel – God with us! He wants to speak to our lives and bring hope, peace; joy that’s unspeakable and love that we can’t begin to comprehend!!

This year, let’s remember that this is His birthday! This is what He wants! He said that His eyes search to and fro throughout all the earth seeking someone whose heart is completely His. Jesus said that the Father is looking and seeking for those who will worship Him with everything they’ve got – spirit and truth! Those who slow down and sit at His feet, listen to His voice and look into His eyes. Those who can look at a baby and see a King! Wow! That’s Christmas!!

That’s why we carry the cross! There is a world that is waiting for these glad tidings of good news! There is a world that is waiting for peace! God also wants us to pay attention to these. Jesus said when we pay attention to the least of these we minister to Him. He wants us to see the needs and hear the cry of those around us. The world is not a place that we need to be angry with or fearful of.  Years ago, I saw that the people in the bars, mosques, or war zones of our world are not things to be avoided, but instead, “kidnapped royalty”! Men and women, boys and girls created to be sons and daughters of the King of Kings. May we see their beauty, and value, and that they were created with a purpose.

Read James lately?

James 2.5 May I have your full attention on this issue my dear brothers, faith in who you really are according to 1your original identity is the real measure of your wealth; you might be poor according to the standards of this world but according to God you possess your allotted portion which is the kingdom of his promise to those who love him. (The word, 1eklegomai, comes from ek, a preposition denoting origin, and lego, meaning to speak; thus, the original blueprint-word, logos.)

James 2.5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ESV

Why is this so hard to understand that my wealth comes from my identity.  Even the first part of this passage literally got my full attention because that's what he says "may I have your full attention."

Am I understanding this correctly?   that when he says your original identity is the real measure of your wealth and if your not sure who you are in Christ then it could be a real struggle walking in faith.

I paused and then read on further and then I got to this passage which I think is a great follow-up to what I wrote yesterday.  

James 2:8 Scripture confirms that the law of the kingdom is fulfilled in you realizing the same value in your neighbor as you would see in yourself; this is what doing the word is all about, and it makes beautiful poetry. (Lev 19:18; Lk 10:27, Mt 22:37-40. By not forgetting what manner of person you are, you will not forget what manner of person your neighbor is according to the mirror principle.)

Could this mean that when I forget who I am in Christ.   I start seeing people not the way Christ sees them, but I start seeing them through whatever filter I choose to look at them through.

The new has come

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ESV

5:17 Now, in the light of your co-inclusion  in his death and resurrection, whoever you thought you were before, in Christ you are a brand new person! The old ways of seeing yourself and everyone else are over. Acquaint yourself with the new!  The Mirror

I have been stuck here on this passage for almost a week. But this morning when I was reading it the part that I put in red is what really spoke to me. I can't help but Wonder how many times we see ourselves as New Creations but then we don't look at other people through the same eyes?

That thinking took me to the greatest Commandment that Jesus spoke of.

Mat 22:37.40

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

I can't help but Wonder if I would see people through these two Commandments if everything else would just go away. Being judgmental, walking in rejection, unforgiveness you fill in the blank. 

If I'm being real here I don't always look at people the same way Jesus Does and that makes me sad. I try so hard to look at all people Through the Eyes of Jesus and it's just so freaking hard sometimes. People make it hard.  I have a choice and many times my choice is not the correct one.

Let's go one step further.  when you look in the mirror in the morning do you see yourself the way Jesus does, or do you see yourself in a different way?