Changing Seasons: Embrace the Transition

Don't you love the changing seasons? My favorite is Fall. I am always delighted with the leaves of color falling to the ground as they leave the season of warmth in glorious color and display marking the time for mankind to make time for rest during the cold, wet season that follows so briskly behind.
Those leaves of color surely are majestic on the mountainside or along a roadway that leads out of town and into the country where there is an explosion of color on both sides of the road, in every driveway marking a pathway to someone's home and even around those lakes and along the depths of ditches. I can look out my backdoor and see the golds, yellows, cranberry reds and blazing orange that adds color on a golf course of velvet green. Yes, those leaves are falling and man attempts to clean them up, sweep them away from that velvet green, but I like the gentle fall of those leaves and how they cover the ground so quickly when the wind announces it is in town to stay!
As those men try to sweep away the past, do we reflect on that which God brought us through, what God did when we needed Him the most, and if we touched lives in His name?
Our yard has been decorated with some unwanted broken limbs from the swaying of the willow trees. Yes that wind has announced loudly that winter will be here much too soon.  But seriously, Fall is the best time of year to me.
Fall is transition time!

Fall is the time to reflect on the months gone by for 2015. It is the time to settle once and for all that God is with us. We are to know that without doubt He is our safety and security. But we must also take account of what lies before, in the cold of winter, the wind of change in the air, and time to either relax or remain in what we have seen year after year or acclaim loudly, that we are the awakened and ready to be partnered with God for the end time harvest.

When we look for that "change" to appear on the horizon, we either embrace it or run from it. We will find those who choose to stay behind while the few, those chosen will move even in the cold of winter to find God's plan for them. They will look to make plans and see about outreaches to their community. They look for any doors that will be opened to them. They look for any class time, Bible study time, and lots of prayer time with those who will assist them in moving forward for AND WITH God and in those valued things God has prepared for those who love Him and are the called.

I think of Moses, and how he must have wrestled with God through those lies that came to taunt Moses at every turn as the time grew closer for God's people to be led out of captivity.
In Hosea 2:14-15 we find about some "trouble" that becomes a door of hope!
Hosea 2:14-15
14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
Will bring her into the wilderness,
And speak comfort to her.
15 I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope;
She shall sing there,
As in the days of her youth,
As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.   NKJV

If you have come through "trouble" understand you are not alone in this. Others have come the same way and probably in a different manner. As God comforts His family, they find a place to sing and rejoice in what He is doing. I have seen it this year, have you?


Isaiah 65:8-10
"As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes
and men say, 'Don't destroy it,
there is yet some good in it,'
so will I do in behalf of my servants;
I will not destroy them all.
9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah those who will possess my mountains;
my chosen people will inherit them,
and there will my servants live.
10 Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,
and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds,
for my people who seek me.              NIV

Yes, for God's people who really seek Him will find that resting place. Even when the cold winds blow reminding us that winter is not too far off, yet, we keep our eyes on the horizon and our future which God knows so well.

Now in the case of this "trouble" Achan was a son of Carmi of the tribe of Judah. His sin was that in his covetousness, he took a chance  of taking a mantle from Shinar which is Babylon and he also took for himself two hundred shekels of silver and a gold bar about fifty shekels' in weight. (all the metals were to be given in consecration to God)

They were told "NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING" FROM the fallen city of Jericho. A ban was in effect to not remove anything from the city but that all that could be burned would be burned. As of the metals, they were to be consecrated to God. Read in Joshua 6:15-21.....

Joshua 6:15-21

15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD." 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.    NKJV

Really strong punishment for not obeying God. Achan and his crew of family, and all property was brought to the area to be stoned and then burned with fire. See Joshua 7:25. High price to pay for not being loyal to God!

Our lives are certainly touched by many other lives. But we choose whom we will serve. Do we want to serve ourselves, and get our way all the time OR will we serve God faithfully and expect His good for us? ARE WE COVETOUS ABOUT SOMETHING WE SHOULD LEAVE BEHIND?

In agreeing with someone, is it right in the eyes of God? Like Achan, his sons and daughters were at some degree responsible as he was. As their leader of the household, he should have been bent toward following the instructions given to all by God. And as that leader, leading his family to do the same. But alas, it was not to be for Achan and his own!
It is to our advantage to be disciplined in the Word of God and in His wisdom.  Achan certainly chose his covetousness above God. He had to be stopped because any further venture in that direction by any others as Achan, would change the end of what Canaan was representing to Israel. And what was promised was this land of 'promise'. It was to be inhabited by the Jewish people and to be divided among the 12 tribes of Israel. It was a future and a hope that God desired for His people!

Jeremiah 42:5-6

 5 So they said to Jeremiah, "Let the LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not do according to everything which the LORD your God sends us by you. 6 Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."   NKJV

Whatever "trouble" we may have passed through in 2015, let it be known this day that "what the Lord speaks, pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God.

"Church" as we know it as been done in most cases as a religious thing. Of course we know "church " to be the body of Christ. It is to have no walls around it. What is on the horizon, is that which is ministry to those outside the walls of a building. Ministry will be done in new ways, new plans, and through much prayer time with God. What is on the horizon looks like dramatic change. Those who have spent time with God know this is happening. They are the excited, they have "boots on the ground" ready for action.  This transition is happening. We move into our future today. We use those cold, wet days to pray, seek God in ways we never have before and lean not to our own understanding but in all our ways trust Him and know His way is the "right way" and we will move into Spring with victory for those who are faithful to the call!

That which is God belongs to God and that which is of the world should be left behind. You choose!

Let's make a faithful commitment to serve God with all our hearts, move out of the building with walls and touch people's hearts with the love of God!

An except from my blog: A Zealous Warrior at Dawn or In the Dark of Night:
It takes more than the prowess of a strengthened body and muscles twice the size of a weight lifter to prove the worth in battle. But ultimately, we face an enemy who works in the spirit world. We have to be trained in the Word that is "spirit and truth". David said, "I caught it by its beard and struck and killed it." NOW THAT IS A WARRIOR IN ACTION THAT IS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!

Ephesians 6:12-19......12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints------19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Our strength to walk everyday is in knowing God and His ways and thoughts. We are to be clothed with that which looks like "the Christian soldier". We are to contend with faith that our trust is in God and His plan. We look expectantly to victory for He is our courage, and all the promises He has for us, are in Him and Him alone! As we know, the devil does not show up in a red suit and tail to dance around us, but he certainly works in darkness and to practice the ambush he wants to set to destroy man. He came to Jesus in the "wilderness" after the water baptism, and he too, can come and tempt with the eye gate and ear gate. He always comes to people, not in a repulsive form but with some enticing temptation to allure to his way of sin and deceit. He comes with an invitation to entice one to the pleasures of the world. Any darkness can represent sin and ignorance. We are to be those Christian solderers, who as warriors, wage the war on the enemy. We are to light the way with God's Word and declare what he has done through His Son Jesus. We are those to stand against pride, ambition and of course, against any revenge against another person. Jesus taught what His Kingdom was and we are to operate within that kingdom. We are to stand against anything that speaks crosswise to the Word of God.

Reading the Word of God is paramount and when we put on our righteousness, we are standing ready with the Word for battle. We are the warriors, who have put on truth in our hearts, and being sincere to speak knowing it is what our Father God speaks as well.

Change is here, like it or not! Being ready is important..........to move when God says "MOVE"...........not out of town, or hide in a cave, but be ready to move to the frontline to face and speak to the enemy with truth. Surely we need to rest, but it is in His peace we are to reside. And if you do not know that peace or are far from it...........then find out why you are not at peace! God has the answer.  Truly God is for us..........AND HE IS IN US! Rise and take your place. Find that door........God is our hope for all our tomorrow's............It is not over yet!  Embrace the transition and be loyal to God! Amen!

You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

High Risk!

It is late afternoon, and a white-tailed deer moves from the wooded area into the thicket. It is overflowing with high green grass and foliage to feast on. Yet, the deer peers around the surrounding open field, and steadily makes one step forward at a time into the inviting environment of beauty and food. As the deer raises it's head again to look around all the while sniffing for danger as he goes, he finds it safe to make another step into the center of the overgrown field to find his meal waiting. High risk!

A mother duck moves her young little ducklings in behind her and she walks to shore line of the river, but stopping abruptly, she raises her head and does a 180 degree check of the water and shoreline. Sensing danger, she quickly backs up her ducklings and heads them across the dry land as quickly as she can. High risk!

In another region of the world, a husky white polar bear comes over the dry land to look for fresh eggs and hatched young birds to feast on. He is very hungry and has not eaten in some time. The little birds, and owls are so small, so vulnerable,  and are in plain sight for the bear to see. The bear moves closer and closer to the round mounds of medium sized rocks that hold the nests for the little bird's babies, all the while the mama birds fly above and make a dive at the polar bear's nose to bring blood. After a two minute warning, and the bear's nose bleeding, he moves from the area filled with baby birds and fledglings. Yes, the babies are safe for now. High risk!

What in our lives do we consider high risk? Is there in any part of day of our lives that we would see as "high risk" and have a desire to try to avoid?
Of recent, I had to have blood drawn and I knew there was a possibility of some things going on with my blood. The blood I had, was known as having warm antibodies. But getting to the answer for the problem seemed clear. Blood is drawn, and the diagnosis is made clear. It was a diagnosis of severe anemia and no matching blood anywhere. High risk!
High risk became apparent because of the warm antibodies my blood carried!

But living in the kingdom of God is one that causes us to live by faith and not on the world's standards. My faith is in a God who is Alive and is for me!
With some tests out of the way, the one admitting Dr. comes into the hospital room at 3 a. m. to tell me the dangerous high risk of submitting to a blood transfusion. "There is no match" , he said. He used words like dangerous, detrimental, and HIGH RISK!

 I told him that he offered no other solutions and I needed the blood and I replied, " the paper was signed hours ago." He left the room and I praised God for His goodness to me in the darkness of the night, and I knew the sun was going to shine and bring a miracle to me!
Overnight and as hours and hours went by while men at the blood bank worked on building a blood from two different donors to get a blood to work for me, a nurse came in to say they were ready with a slow transfusion about 9 a.m.  Yes, it was truly a slow transfusion, as they had to run it for about 30 minutes at first, then take another blood draw to make sure I could take the new blood. They then started the transfusion again. And later that day I had been given both sets of blood without any side affects and problems to my body or my life!

Just one week ago, I experienced a miracle and continue to give God glory for His goodness to me in the land of the living. People would keep coming in to check on me and "see how I was doing'! They asked if I had any pain or side affects. I would respond "NO", "I feel wonderful" and "refreshed". I got up and walked and walked. I praised God everywhere I went and ministered to those in the hospital. The nurses, the blood technicians and even the CNA'S would come in and just watch me. It was an exciting time to show God in all His glory!
Just two days later and all tests out of the way, I am a healthy woman and looking forward to a long life. Just a walk through now with some meds, but it will end shortly and I know I will just become stronger and healthier each day because of God's guidance in His Word and His love for me!


Acts 4:7-12...................7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'  12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." NKJV

When Jesus saved us, He saved our bodies............He sent His healing to us!
The Cross is the power of God for those who are being saved......1 Corinthians 1:18.

In receiving Jesus, we are regenerated into life and out of death. As we put on the "New Man" and being renewed in our minds to God's Word and His ways and thoughts, we come out of the grave of death, and defeat and move into the realm of Victory and are people who live by faith with trust in our God!
It is taking God's Word on healing, and raise the standard of our health. When we have sought out His word on healing as for salvation, our condition changes. WE reach forward by faith to receive what we are expecting!
It is a daily walk and receiving that Word that will build us up to receive that which we are expecting.

David said of the Lord; “My times are in Your hand;” (Psalm 31: 15). “Times” here means in the Hebrew; event, experiences, fortunes, occurrences, occasions, permanency, continuing future, ancient (used of past time), forever (used of future time; used of continuous existence)..forever (used of God's existence)

We are a mist, a moment in time, and all of our times are in His hand. All of my future and all of your future conditions, any occurrences are known to Him. It is so vital to stay close to the Creator, the one true God!

Psalm 62:5 ............    Find rest, O my soul, in God alone ;

my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. 

Psalms 66........................Shout with joy to God, all the earth!

2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!

3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power

that your enemies cringe before you.

4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you,

they sing praise to your name." Selah 

5 Come and see what God has done

how awesome his works in man's behalf!

6 He turned the sea into dry land,

they passed through the waters on foot--

come, let us rejoice in him.

Whatever the situation, the circumstance is under our feet! We can cross on dry land and continue to rejoice in Him!

Nothing escapes His watchful eye. (Hebrews 4:13) God is familiar with all of our ways. Before a word is on our tongue He knows it. (Psalm 139:4) Our past, our current and our future, God holds it all in His capable, eternal  hands. He holds it all in His healing capable hands. 

Being reminded of the coming time of Passover and Good Friday, I think on His nail scared hands, and body shredded by blows to wound and to kill, that clearly displayed to us His inexpressible love, grace and forgiveness when we have gone our own way!  Truly our times are in His hand.
We cannot glorify God in a sick body, but we certainly can glorify Him walking through to victory and keep an expectant heart for "THE MIRACLE". 

I am thankful and give Him my praise for truly He has saved me, delivered me and healed my body!

Be encouraged today and know God is on your side. Just stay close and He will show you the way in which you are to walk! "A MIRACLE IS ON ITS WAY TO YOU TODAY!" I BELIEVE THAT HONESTLY AND TRULY.

Father, I love You and thank You that You are my Father God. It is Your Word that gives me life! It gives me strength, and builds me up to guide me every day of my life! Your Word is settled in heaven forever. YOUR Word is lamp unto me feet and a light unto my path. It is in Jesus' name that I pray for all who read this and may need a helping hand into victory today. Lead all into Your perfect love and peace as You are our shield and glory, the Lifter of our heads. It is You Who sustains us and Your blessing is upon us. Father, to me the higher risk is not following YOU!

 So right now, we praise with joyful lips and rejoice in YOU! Today in prayer we magnify You with thanksgiving and rejoice at the healing Word of God. For we have truly found a great treasure in Your Word. Thank You for Your unfailing love. A love that is unconditional. Thank You that we might know how vast Your love truly is to us. We are thankful for the shed Blood of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ! We are thankful for the Son You sent to us so we could be a part of Your family. For whatever sins we hold, we repent right now and ask Your forgiveness. We come to give You glory and give thanks for all that You are doing in our lives. We pray that we would be men and women who would hold onto You and by faith receive the promise we are believing for right now!

Father, You deserve our praise, and we say Amen to HIM who has given us life in abundance. We say Amen to HIM who created us with a plan and purpose for life and not for death and sickness. Amen to Jehovah Adonai, Who is same yesterday, today and forever. Amen.



You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV