King of Glory

In Psalm 29, we are given that no matter the storm, no matter how weak or frail the church, Jehovah has strength and majesty to prevail.

Psalm 29 Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name, Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 

 

Give, give….give unto the LORD glory and strength, give glory due to His name….worship Him

If you live in the United States, you might have grown up in the south. You might have experienced some electrical storms in the midnight hour. I saw many when growing up in that region of such nation. I saw the magnitude and brilliance of packed power in just one electrical strike and then to have a multitude of them within just seconds, you begin to look at Him who can do such things!

Although storms can come in different forms and manners still we are to be reminded that God knows the inside of us as He knows the outside nature of the world and beyond!

STORMS Happen: like Covid-19………3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon & Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, & strips the forests bare; & in His temple everyone says, “glory!”

THE STORM HAS Ended: THE Lord remains. His throne is not moved by Covid-19 nor that which men devise as evil before Him. He will judge and rise to do what is righteous in His sight! His judgment is fair!

Psalm 29:10 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and the LORD sits as King forever.  

                                                                                       

August 2019 we had studied the ark, God’s calling Noah to build. Gen. 7:1-6 NKJV Then the LORD said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you & all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation ( generation of ruin-they are anti-everything). 2 “You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male & his female, two each of animals that are unclean, a male & his female; 3 also seven each of birds of the air, male & female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days & forty nights, & I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made. 5 And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him.                 

 

1.       God will not ask you to do something unless He is already there ahead of you..Come into the ark…come to safety for the generation is of ruin…..they are anti-everything

2.       And Noah did according to all the LORD commanded him

3.       And God will introduce you to things like rain as He did to Noah!

Psalm 29:11 The LORD will give strength to His  people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Yes, the strength of the Lord to His people is this thing called peace. It is a peace beyond just that ordinary word or meaning. In Luke 12, Jesus told us that He did not come to bring peace but rather division!

 Luke 12:49-56    NKJV…….49  I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided three against two and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter- in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother –in-law. 54 The He also said to the multitude “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west immediately you say; ‘ a shower is coming,’ and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow you say, “there will be hot weather and there is. 56 “Hypocrites!” You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?”

This Holy Spirit fire will bring an authority from heaven to earth. And the Holy Spirit in us, brings His peace of heaven, but will also bring division on earth. We are to live for God and not for the world! Jesus lived for God and they crucified Him!

Voice as a Thunderstorm: From Verse 3-4 His Voice is as a thunderstorm. He is over the tumultuous, God has dominion; His Voice is power, it is full of majesty: Revelation 4:5 And from the throne proceeded, lightnings, thundering, & voices. Seven  lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the 7 Spirits of God.

From Psalm 29 & V. 5 His voice breaks the cedars, Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon: 6 He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon & Sirion like a young wild ox:

1.       He makes them skip like a calf , Lebanon and Sirion: He causes the cedars to move by His majestic power; as the winds move over the trees, they appear to move like animals

2.       Storms brew and God’s voice is to be heard through them

3.       Thunder will reverberate through our being, lightning may dance and strike a tone by a hit on some high rod in the sky, but as Psalm 29: 1 speaks, Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name, Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

4.       Whatever virus man makes to destroy others, God is to be glorified, not for viruses but for WHO God is.

5.       Give unto the Lord that which is ascribed to HIM, for He remains when the wind has passed on by. He remains to see us and see us speak to honor Him, to see His majesty and glory

6.       We are to approach Him in the act of worship: that state of the heart—the "internal" ornament-with which we should approach God—to a holy/ pure state of mind/that beauty or appropriateness of the soul which consists in holiness or purity. For when something strikes loud, and comes to stop you and yours: lift your voice to Him who is to be honored. Lift your voice in praise to His glory and His majesty.

 Whatever the storm, man-made or nature made, when there is sin involved a landslide will occur! Seen any in your area recently? I cannot but help notice where landslides are appearing around the world and specifically in what nations. Yes, sin is prevailing in some regions of the world. It is that "Me" drama:  It is that appearance, that culture which does the opposite God would do! It is one that rewards laziness: so they give them welfare checks! It also appears today as the real time-honored values of fathers are being attacked in commercials!

Another storm is that appearance within society that you get what you want by doing the wrong thing to get it……..and sometimes they are not prosecuted for doing wrong. It is endorsing perversion. It is refusing to discipline children. It appears as a worship of a political system rather than worship of almighty God. Yes, that self-interest causes landslides indeed! We hear of some regularly on the south side of I-84.

But the King of glory prevails. The Light has appeared and it was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. (John 1:9) John 3:17 For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he Who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

Yes, lightning at night can raise many a man, woman or child out of a sleep and that warm bed. That clapping sound of thunder can raise a shaky interior to the man or woman who does not like that kind of thing especially in the midnight hour. But that lighting will light up a dark house. That light of the Lord will also light up that which needs light shined on it. For misdeeds and the such must be dealt with quickly. And the King of glory can do that quickly if you allow Him space and time to do it! Honest hearts will come near to God; they will come to the light for a change to occur.

Jesus is this Warrior— He is the King of glory! And He is the strong Lord, the mighty Lord of battle, Zechariah 14:3 Then the LORD will go forth & fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. 4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley.

The same Jesus in Revelation 1 is going to step foot on earth! Majesty, mighty, courageous heart and enduring strength, yes, His Greatness, authority and honor will be noted. He will be worshiped by everyone…. GLORY!

Light will shine....darkness will try to hide and every knee shall bow before Him: the King of kings and the Lord of lords! Amen.

                                           New teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

No Backsliders

https://youtu.be/-pfBS-Zwpd8

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells

Message of Faith

https://youtu.be/TX8RPd6nI0I

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

ttp://bit.ly/2wgu1kw

What Do You Mean There is No Storm?

What do you mean there is no storm? Hey, just look outside!
Yeah, that weatherperson surely has their work cut out for themselves. Yet, I have been aware their radar for this area is being serviced. So when might we expect the radar to be back on the job I ask you? (Lately I text our daughter to see what her phone shows as to a report)
The FORECAST: cold with sun. Light breezy winds out of the east will blow in the next cold front!
Well, it was anything but sunny on this day. Can you see the picture here? And that light breezy condition amounted to winds of about 70 miles per hour. Oh, and did I mention there was snow?
I was viewing the weather forecast today. I even surfed the Weather Channel. And in every place I thought to search out next week's temps all amounted to the day temp going from 20 degrees, to 17 degrees to 12 degrees. I told my husband I am not looking anymore this week and this is just Thursday. And I will not even mention the nighttime temps!
I admit it is Winter. And with winter comes all the wind, snow, frequent rains that freeze into a skating rink of roadways and pathways. Also, I remember Spring comes after Winter is finished. And yet, we are how many days into the winter season,.....oh yeah 10 days, right?


I remember Jesus being in a storm and demanded it to be still! And peace came in the midst of the chaos. But peace did not mean there was not a storm, and staying in peace during chaotic times does not mean there is no warfare going on.
God is not the author of any confusion. God is merciful with gentleness and much peace.

Let's read a passage here on staying in peace......

Luke 8:22-37  KJV

¶ 22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 
24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
¶ 26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
¶ 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

In verse 23, that jeopardy is DANGER!
Gaining a perspective of sea water plus wind, one finds ultimate peril.
In seeing where this group of men were going and who they were to encounter, brings us to the heart of the matter. The devil certainly did not want Jesus and the team to make it to the other side. Seriously, many a demon had made their home in the man who lived among the tombs. You might remember him as the man of Gadara.
So while the sea tossed a great tempest, Jesus commanded it to be stilled.

Seriously speaking, when a boat is taking on much water, then to me danger is eminent. So Jesus spoke to the storm and to the one who organized the chaos.

Calling on Jesus in the midst of such turmoil meant they needed an answer and where was their faith?

Excuse me for this but in thinking on this today, I am appalled that men believe there was this big bang theory. Yet, when I think of God and He spoke light be, I am thinking there was a sonic boom and in that explosion of light meeting the darkness, peace and organization came into being. The devil came to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus came to give us life abundantly.
There was an explosion at a fireworks factory in Mexico a day or two before Christmas.......and when the explosions began people died. When God creates a "light be" then chaos becomes organized and there is only light.

So Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves of water. And they ceased to be. And what remained was a great calm.  Thus it was Jesus Christ Who showed that, though the devil pretends to be the prince of the power of the air, yet even there he has him in a chain.

On the other side of the storm was a man needing much help of Jesus. The man had many demonic spirits living within him. And when Jesus came to the side of the Gadarenes, he was met by the demoniac of Gadara.

So "legion" was sent out of the man!

And the people who owned the pigs came out to see. And those who lived in that community came out to see and they were all afraid at the demoniac now free, in his right mind, and dressed. And the people were afraid????

It was the same said of those after the election this year of the new president. They said they were afraid. Why would anyone be afraid of what God is doing to and for you?

Well, God is a God of sign and wonders. And He will accomplish His plan in the earth. There was opportunity for others to hear the message of salvation and it was time for that crew of people to be awaken to life of God. Wow, what events that occurred to just get to the other side.

And we complain about going to church in the rain???

WE are not alone! In this total ocean of air, there are spiritual beings who wage a war on humans. We must understand our spiritual well-being is to heed something Paul wrote us about. It is found in the book of Ephesians 6. And within the verses of 10-12, battles are waged by those determined to keep their first-occupancy rights. If you think you have heard about the "haters" you might have missed this one if you have not read Ephesians 6. But there are those who hate to a great degree. And they really hate when we have become sons of God. 

Ephesians 6:10-20     KJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

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, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 

As we continue to grow in bearing His image, their time is short and our inheritance will be returned to us. At this point it is by faith. It is an unseen force, but they exist none the less. And we are to be aware that they communicate with thoughts and attitudes.

We are not to be passive about those demonic spirits. We are to be active in speaking to the storm's, to sickness and even to that bed of affliction and say "you will not rise up a second time."

Today, take an active role in speaking to that which you do have authority over. By remaining in the Father, and keeping Jesus enthroned on our hearts, we will mark a path that is set with the mercy of God in peace and love.

OUR daughter and son-in-law had planned their wedding. Of course this has been awhile ago now. But when they chose the date it was winter time weather. Yes, February 2. And why not have a June wedding or maybe a 4th of July Wedding? No it was the 2nd of February. So some nine months ahead, while getting the gown, the bridesmaid outfits, and yes finding the right place to hose this wonderful even for two wonderful people, we were confessing that the temperatures would be in the sixties, the sun would shine, there would be no wind, and it would be a wonderful day to fly anywhere they would go on their honeymoon. We confessed so many things for that period of time and that all coming would be here for the event. Well it came to pass. It was a beautiful day. It was the mid- sixties and yes the snow from the days before had melted. The day came and it went, but it was marked out in what we believed to be true for our kids on their special day.

Ask yourself, "what is on the other side of this storm?" Ask what you need to know of the Father and to prevail by speaking what Jesus did. Our faith at times really needs some stretching. But we can overcome the world, Jesus did! Receive strength of the Lord. Walk through with your head held high. Speak peace, expect His love and know the best is coming your way. Oh the winds may be 80 miles an hour, the snow is on the level of 36 inches, yet, on the other side, we have a message to get out. We have someone to speak to about Jesus. Someone needs to know your testimony and my testimony.

We have the Holy Spirit and we will not cower in the corner. We will speak to symptoms, and to storms, and strange drivers on I-5 and say that they go in Jesus name. But the Lord is our shelter and we abide in His security and peace. May the Holy Spirit guide you and in the process of time, know His grace is sufficient.

Keep an attitude of a godly life and keep the excitement in your heart. And may you see the benefit of standing against the storms even when someone speaks " there is no storm"!

Notice: 

The Voice of Prayer  has a new teaching published:
The GAURANTEE of the Holy Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfhqpP2MhFc


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

That YOU MIGHT Have PEACE Through THE STORM

Isaiah 53:4-6
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
NKJV

Jesus paid a high price for us having died for our sins (iniquities) and such bruising that brought to us His peace.

The New Living Bible states this:

Isaiah 53:4-6

4 Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! 5 But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed-and we were healed! 6 We-every one of us-have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God's paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! 

TLB

Mark 14:34
34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch."
NKJV

In Jesus' last hours before crucifixion, He intimated with His heart how His soul was exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Thinking on His life, He carried much love, but got hatred, hardness of heart and much unbelief. He had sorrows that brought Him to prayer in those last hours of life. Yes sin brought sorrow to Him. He was impacted to such a degree that He was sweating drops of blood. Seeing those that He came to, reject Him, and experience such pain in knowing, those He came to save would reject Him even to His death.

Sorrows that weighed Him down, yes beaten for our sake's, that we would have peace. It is those who believe, who receive Him as Savior that will have this "kind of peace". "But how, Shelley? How could He have peace?"

John 14:25-31
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
NKJV


Jesus had peace that only the Father could give Him. He speaks of peace that He would leave to us, not as the world gives, for that is chaos, but as the Lord gives us courage in our hearts. Then immediately we go into John 15 and He talks about abiding in the Father and in Him. He talks of the Holy Spirit. See below:

John 15:20-27

 20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'  

26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. 

NKJV

Jesus had the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit for He came upon Him when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. Jesus had experienced the hate of those who were reviling Him because He spoke of their sin. As Jesus is, was and is to come ........He bearing witness of truth from the beginning, we too, must bear truth. We are to abide in Him and the Father and hear the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives when saved.

Isaiah 52:13-14

13 See, my Servant shall prosper; he shall be highly exalted. 14 Yet many shall be amazed when they see him-yes, even far-off foreign nations and their kings; they shall stand dumbfounded, speechless in his presence. For they shall see and understand what they had not been told before. They shall see my Servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know it was a person standing there. So shall he cleanse many nations. 

TLB

In looking back to chapter 52, we find that the Savior, Jesus was beaten and bloodied, and so disfigured one would scarcely know Him as a person. No, you could not hang that picture of the crucified Savior on your dining room wall.

No, man had no peace till Jesus came. Now Israel could have experienced that peace many times, as they either collectively joined together in giving praise and honor to God, and obeying His commands. But on the whole, as for the man who lives on this earth, peace was left in the Garden of Eden. That relationship with the Father and His guidance was changed when Adam followed the LEADING OF HIS WIFE EVE! We must keep to the order God has planned for His children.
Where there is no order, then chaos ensues!

That peace was something that comes from God. And it was sent through His Son Jesus. We the wounded and the polluted by our sinful nature, were made "whole" complete with nothing missing, nothing broken in our lives when confessing Jesus as Lord of our lives!

He was the bruised, the oppressed, the One who was beaten beyond any recognition showed us how corrupt the flesh nature really was according to God and His standards. Every wound of my heart or yours was taken by Jesus. Every hurtful word or hateful abuse was first taken by the Lord. In all that battered, bloodied and disfigured body He carried the hurt that occurred in my heart and yours first.

That peace Jesus obtained was by violence. It was that violence that takes the life. Looking back to Noah and the flood, we see the rain becoming a flood that would take a violent force against any who remained within those flood-driven areas of the land. It was those who were in the Ark who remained dry within that Ark which rode upon the water of the flood, who would ultimately live to start again.

How could He, Jesus remain so faithful to God to do the thing needed for man-kind? He remained in God Himself. "Yeah, Shelley, but Jesus was God. Yes, but Jesus did not call down those legions of angels to assist Him, did He?"
He is the true Christian. And the way we should walk today is in those steps He took while He walked this earth. When we remain, abide in His teachings and His ways, we find that peace, which fights against any chaos in our lives, and keeps us secure in the shadow of the Almighty God!

Psalm 91:1-2

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High 

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust." 

NKJV

Abiding in Jesus, we find the same peace He held. He walked, not cutting Himself off from the synagogue or from those leaders who were there at that time, like the Pharisees and Sadducees. Jesus could face them, and walk away victorious because of His strengthening relationship with His Father God. The more time He spent in prayer and the Word, the more He gained the authority to speak peace into His situation. Jesus remained faithful to God and kept no sin in His heart. He was the ultimate sacrifice!

1 John 3:8

 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

NKJV

The more we learn how Jesus walked each time, the further into more peace and into that strength we move, and that peace can only come from God. It was not by separating Himself from that which He had to do.
Likewise we must not refuse to do that which seems hard, or anything the Lord would speak to us to do!  We must continue to walk with those God has placed around us, and speak to those we must speak to and with, we find, when a "storm" does come, it is one that we call that peace of God, to see the chaos removed. Jesus addressed each question and presented them with questions that ultimately pointed back to God the Father.

What authority do we carry when walking through this journey of life? What amount of authority can be seen when facing an enemy we have never met before? The only authority that counts is that which is from God, and remaining in Him, and staying away from sin will mark the path we walk, abiding in Him, and seeing those waves grow calm. It is staying away from sin, for any that darkens the doorway of our lives must be repented of and move on in God's Word and plan. In reflecting on God's plan, and the Redemption through His Son on the Cross, we each are brought back to this "one thing".  Do we really want more of the Jesus Who was the crucified for us or are we happy with the one who man depicts from the painting of the Cross on our living room wall? For many years, when our daughter was still young, we too, had the picture of the crucified Christ, the one with eyes looking to heaven and with the halo around his head. One could see this man's face, the wound on his side and the nails through hands and feet. But it was not till the 1990's that we actually heard how Jesus was crucified. I learned a lot about the weapons used in that day and yes of the cat o' nine tails. You know those leather strips held broken glass and metal pieces in their length and you had nine of them.  When I understood those passages, that though a man, no one could see His visage. NO one would know what He really looked like because of the massive damage done to His body and face. Yes, what Jesus did that day was to die for us, and in His resurrection from the Dead, we gained full legal rights that were PAID IN FULL! TODAY, we have rights to healing, to being whole in our bodies, to being whole in our minds and our emotions and to live in peace all of our days.

In the light of God's Word, is our decision today going to be one in the tradition of men or is it in an expectation of learning about what was gained for us at the Cross? Will we sincerely go by the Word of God and remind ourselves of the day at the Cross, the day at Calvary when everything became dark at noonday?
Many years ago, I went with my parents to Carlsbad Caverns. It was a length of hours to make this tour deep into those caverns made by all that rivers of water so many years ago. At one point, I believe it was the one cavern room called the Garden of the Gods that we gathered or huddled together, that the guide said the lights would be shut off. Our small group of about 35 people, experienced a depth of blackness that day I have never forgotten. The lights were off for only some twenty seconds, but that blackness certainly felt like it enveloped us all in one instant. No one moved from the place where they stood, and the coolness of that depth, deep in those caverns, certainly made one "feel so small and insignificant". I wondered if those who watched Jesus die on the Cross felt that darkness at midday. (or noonday) I wonder if they were enveloped in such darkness that their emotions took them to depths of such despair that all they had done to Him, all that they spoke to Him, and now standing so close and could not touch or speak a word!

Luke 23:44-46
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' "
NKJV

Will we seek that which brings life or just continue to seek man and his mental knowledge. For the image of the man on the Cross in most cases, is one seen as from man's own mental image. But the image our Father wants us to recall is the one that depicts His Son WHO went to the Cross for a dying world! Our taking up the Cross daily is reminding ourselves that we too, must die to the things of the world and to have a walk that is in the image of Jesus Christ the victorious ONE!

Taking selfishness to the Cross, we are choosing to seek to find our place, and that peace in Him. Those fancy homes and cars and high-paying jobs certainly look good, and sound good but in the long run are like that which is built on the sand. In the end, all was just a fancy castle built out of sand and nothing more.

 Our identity is in Him and in Him alone! For it is truly how we are to live, move and have our being. (Acts 17:28)  Apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) We are not to be those distracted, for surely in this world people will have tribulations and trials, but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For Jesus overcame the world. He deprived it of power to harm us. (John 16:33)

 Luke 1:76-79
76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, 
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people 
By the remission of their sins, 
78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 
79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace."  
NKJV

Father God, we are not of the world according to John 17:11,14............we have come to the Kingdom of God, so we do not operate in this world's system. We neither talk or act like the world.
We know we can have tribulations but Jesus overcame the world. Today, we receive His strength, His peace and that power of the Holy Ghost to walk through with our heads held high. We will not be the cowering and wondering what we will do next, but our choice today is finding our place in YOU.  Today Holy Spirit guide us out of any stress related problems and into Your peace and joy. Help us to see the process and the time it will take us to gain that authority for we know we have it all now, but getting that past from our minds will take some work and much time. Your grace is sufficient.
We understand that an "excellent" life begins with that excellent thought life and attitudes. As all fruit has a root,  the root of our actions is our thoughts, words from thought, our emotions (moods) and those which can take root. Help us to get excited about taking part in dealing with that thought life, and to pay attention to that which comes out of our hearts. You our Father desire truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6). Help us to see that which is of benefit to us in this life walk.
Today, we pray to be those who will pay attention to that thought life, to our words, those moods and attitudes that are rooted in it. Holy Spirit we loose You into this situation of our thought life. Help us to have and keep that purposeful heart that maintains a godly attitude. Help us to speak only those godly words for life. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) Father YOU seek the pure in heart, and YOU are surely the expert in removing the worthless things while making sure the process is retaining the things of value. Our commitment is to face YOUR truth and allow change to come to us in Jesus' name. Amen.


Please join me in part 2: Deserts and Devils



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

A Refreshing: From Rain Swept Storms to Cloudless Days

2 Samuel 23:2-4.............2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
'He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling in the fear of God. 
4 And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,
By clear shining after rain.'   NKJV

Is there nothing else like a refreshing rain on a hot summer day? Is there nothing as beautiful as the scents that fill your nose when walking out of doors after a sudden and wind swept rain that washes the dust away and causes the scents of plants, flowers and trees to take a  new life of green, a new exotic smell to fill the nose with oils of beauty and to leave the place before our eyes looking better than before the torrential rain came to wash away the dust?

Should not we add to others in the same way? Should we not be a "breath of fresh air" and speak life to them? 

In reading scripture this morning, I was taken back to another period in my life when I arose early with the sun. My parents generally were up before the sun rose. I was close behind in that I loved watching the horses in the corral in the early dawn. I watched how they came bringing a zest for their love to not only eat, but to run the sum of ground that kept them within a boundary for safety but still enough room to run and romp as a horse will do! They certainly entertained me as I ate breakfast before school and I looked forward to the afternoon when they would get their alfalfa hay (that is like dark chocolate to you and me). 

The sun would rise with no cloud to hinder it from our sight! The day would bring warm breezes and scents of honeysuckle to the nose, but it was the rain washed air that seem to change the whole scene of life before our eyes. We could certainly think we could hear the grass grow from a wild wind and rain swept afternoon of dark looming clouds, spectacular lightning show and the timely sounds of the booms of thunder as the storm moved overheard to another town, move to another pasture, and to another time.

Our family was out yesterday to eat a meal with us and they were talking of the opportunity to minister to another family not from the area from the night before at church. They were disappointed in that the time needed to minister was not available to do that one thing! And I thought how important sometimes it is to just stop and enjoy. Sometimes it is a great deal better to stop the "just doing stuff" and take account of the cost when we have the opportunity to minister to others especially those "not from our church", " not from our community," and "not the one who speaks good English". Now our son-in-law had some great ideas about being prepared for the next time. But I also was taken to another time at this same church of another family being ministered to a year ago and how history was repeating itself again in another family who is not from this area. When those times come and we see a new face, do we ask how the Lord will WANT US minister to them, and take in account that God is bigger and greater than any agenda to a service going on at the time?

Just a thought! And I think we need to take everything in account and work these out before the "visitor" shows up at the door, right? For it does not matter if you have a title, or is it just you, does not matter if you have a church or just a Bible study, and it does not matter if you are a youth or an elder person, we should consider when a "guest" comes, when the "leper" comes and needs healing and wholeness, right? So my son-in-law gave me some food for thought you might say.

The scripture above in 2 Samuel 23:2-4, was written by David. In truth it was his last words before he passed!

Do we want to keep doing the right thing but out of order? Like I wrote above, I take this to heart not for others but for me. Because we certainly can learn from mistakes made by others. But I truly want to be on the cutting edge, as I am certain you are too, and see the miraculous of God, not only for my life but for others as well.

In effect, ruling our hearts determines what and how we will minister to others. If I keep to my plan (yikes) problems will arise, but if I continue to look into God and His plan, I will not fail. But it has to be true to what God wants and how He wants it done to have that victory!

When we think of what David had on his mind,  in the last hours of his life, was that even though his family was having some big issues, BUT David knew that the Messiah was coming. He was on His Way to bringing a covenant that would stand firm. With a comfort ensured by the COMING ONE, David rested in a hope of knowing the gates of hell shall never prevail against his house.

So when someone comes to "our door" of the church, do we send them off with what they "needed" or what we "think" they needed?

Are we allowing the Holy Spirit the freedom to truly have His way in our lives, in our homes and in services within a church service or even a prayer meeting or Bible study?

Am I ruling as I see "fit" or am I allowing the Holy Spirit with resurrection power loosed in the "place" to see the miraculous done? It is the "light" of His Word that will dispel darkness, but we also must choose to stop "religiosity" and doing what we did a year ago! 

When we take into account when Jesus walked on earth, I never saw anything repeated! I never saw it written that Jesus said, "well we did it this way last year, let's do that again....." "surely it would work again"................NO, He never said or did anything like that at all!
People were healed, the blind could see, and the lame could walk. People were running up to HIM to receive what they asked for and in return they followed and some praised like the leper from the ten who were cleansed. But the one leper walked away whole for he had returned to give praise and thanks for his healing.

When Jesus came, He came to set up His kingdom. In the case of the John the Baptist, John was born of the "old covenant " as was Jesus. But Jesus came to do away with "religiosity" and to set up a kingdom that is born of a love of the Father to the child and the child to the Father.

John the Baptist was the last of the old testament prophets. John certainly had to decrease as Jesus increased because Jesus was showing the "new" which had come. It was time for the new man "birth". Religion was being done away with and it was time for the new thing. RELATIONSHIP!

John was expecting like the "others" a conquering Messiah. But we know Jesus had to suffer at the hands of others, and experience the cross to be the sacrifice the world needed to be "saved". John probably had the thought that the kingdom would take over and he would be free to live as he had before being thrown in prison. But this was no "temporal" Messianic kingdom.

Jesus called John a "shining light"........in John 5:35. He called him "more than a prophet" in Matthew 11:9. He gave John worth that was no doubt under the old covenant. Jesus submitted Himself to receiving the step OF being baptized in water. And we know that submitting to this baptism was the symbol that Christian discipleship would begin. And discipleship is so important to all of us!

Certainly we see John as the forerunner of Jesus in ministry and of the message. But we can in truth of it  see it in John's death as well. Being put in prison can certainly put one in a disillusioned state. And that is what happened to John. Determined to preach righteousness and putting those in high positions on warning that greed was bad, he demonstrated that the people of that day were needing a moral regeneration. His words directed to them to seek their purging and express a voice to repentance of demonstrating nothing less than righteousness.

So why do I write all this.............John was preparing Israel to meet their God! He said, " Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight" (Mark 1:3). John knew who was to come after him who would baptize in fire and Spirit (Mark 1:7-8). John was a forerunner to the Mightier one, and it was dawning in Jesus Christ!

In any "thing' we call church or prayer meeting or Bible study, we should consistently ask the Leading of the HOLY Spirit and know His plan for that day. We know not what people may show up at the door and need a helping hand into the loving arms of a loving God. If we are repeating the same thing from last year, then we must ask what did we miss the first time around and be able to speak life, be a 'light" and send the people off in the glorious refreshing of the Lord.
So what if someone like that "leper" would come to a service, would we have time to see that he is taken care of or what?

The Apostle Paul tells us in his visit to Ephesus about 30 years after John's passing that he had found a group of John disciples.............

Acts 19:1-10......................19:1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all. 8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.   NKJV

John's influence had continued long after his death. But Paul wrote many years later (60 years) and encouraged those still under John's baptism and authority that Jesus' superiority ranked higher and following His Lordship was necessary and vital.

John had to go willing, submitting to all he was to Jesus's authority and rule. For John certainly spoke of Jesus' coming, and when we submit and leave the flesh creature behind, we can see the move of God in many ways we did not expect!  John was silenced and Jesus went to the forefront. 

Will we allow the Holy Spirit the leading in whatever circumstance or situation that arises either in church, Bible studies or prayer meetings? Will we allow freedom to see the "light" of God move in darkness and bring us to the forefront to see people's lives actually changed for good? Should the "leper" come and expect something from God but we give them something else?

Do I know what part I am to participate in for God's glory? If I am scheduled to do something, am I prayed up and ready to do my part or am I running to find another leader and see "if I am scheduled"?
Have I consistently shown up for meetings when I am expected or do I just "blow them off"?
And for those leadership meetings, am I just showing up to show the pastors I am there or am I willing to participate to see things go forward and see change for everyone involved?
What if God is wanting to put out some new "voices" in the arena for "let's say"new converts, but the old voices are still being heard? "Let's do this again, it worked last year!"

The Kingdom of God has certainly come:

Luke 18:16-17............"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."   NKJV

Matthew 21:43-46..........43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. NKJV

1 Corinthians 4:20-21................20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?  NKJV

Romans 14:17-18.................17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.   NIV

Services in church are awesome and serve to bring us closer to God but they must be the part of communion that continues every day and not just on Saturday night or Sunday morning. And then what comes out, is there the chance and good opportunity to serve someone who may be new to area and is just passing through like the "leper"?

Or is it always a hard fast rule, the Easter day thing looks like this......or the Bible study has to look like this or the Prayer Meeting has to look like this .......and THEN fit it into a pattern that is not broken or changed in any way for the last 10 or 20 years? Is it a hard fast rule to do the "same 'ole thing" in light of the Holy Spirit and His presence or slide on through and do "our thing" thinking ................"well, God wants me to do this...........so"........I am doing this....!

Do we then become those who are reformed to the past things, hating instruction and especially "change"? Yikes!
Does the "doing" become more important than ministering to a "someone"..? Is it possible to set some extra time to minister to those who "might drop in" and be expecting them in our daily devotion time with God?
In our believing, are we open to, yes, the preaching of the Gospel, and yes, that others would want to attend, but also see that people coming are receiving as much in less time, being supported quickly and in a timely manner encouraged, spoken to as a real person and important, that produces to a harvest of fruit...........or we running with tongues hanging out and trying to play catch up with another leader because we have forgotten to check a schedule to see if we were scheduled to do our part.....for that specific day and service........?
Again, these are things I ask myself! For I have led Bible studies and Prayer Meetings and surely do not want to be in the Way when the Holy Spirit is wanting the freedom to move in someone's life!
When Paul saw those who continued to rally against the Way and the teaching...........he took those disciples.. who had received their baptism through John,......away to be established in a foundation of hearing the Gospel, and meeting together. Paul taught them of the authority in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Can families say they meet around the Word of God today? My husband and I meet around the Word every day. We talk the Word and finish the day with the Word of God and prayer.

Because like the scriptures above, the kingdom of God is in power, it is of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is coming as a child to receive that which God has freely given through grace to us! And are we seeing a harvest of fruit towards this end?
If not, then change is evident to have His power and joy in righteousness!


2 Corinthians 2:14-17.................14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.   NKJV

If a storm has really come into lives, are we changed to see the fragrance of the new day, with a great light and the beauty that comes when we allow the Lord's way into every situation? Will we experience the beauty of the fragrance of Him in our lives and send it out to those who are perishing, or to those who are to live?

For the storms I have experienced in my life, I desire to stop wasting valuable time and seek to find those who need that encouraging word and be given a life transfused with energy to move in power of the Holy Spirit and see their lives changed in dramatic ways that proves God is on the scene and that we all stop playing religious games!

Father, You cause us to triumph in Christ. We are thankful that as the spring day or summer day brings rain and wind, the day clears to the bright and shining sun. We are thankful that we have the opportunity to be the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. We are thankful that we are the aroma of death leading to death and to still others we are the aroma of life leading to life. Today we are not peddling the word of God, but we speak and write in the sight of God in Christ.
Father, today it is YOU who gives to us understanding in all things. I pray for all who receive this word and pray that we would be those who are ready in season and out of season. I pray that we are watchful for those coming to see us in church, Bible studies and Prayer meetings. We desire to stand with YOU Lord and preach the Word fully and courageously sharing the Gospel message of grace. I pray that we stand therefore girding our waists with the truth having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having our feet shod with the Gospel of peace, and above all that we take the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one and take the helmet of Salvation and Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God praying always with all prayer and supplication for all saints and for us that utterance be given us to open our mouths boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel. May we speak boldly as we ought to speak.

Father we know that discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Father, we thank you for good friends, a great family and good health. We pray for opportunities to pray for those at church and to pray for people here in our home. We look forward to opportunities to minister to the "leper" and those coming for the first "visit" at the Bible studies, Prayer Meetings and church too! We seek to encourage them face to face. You have not given us the spirit of fear, but you have given us power, love and a sound mind. We ask for ample time to minister to the new person coming to these things Lord!

We thank YOU for favor everywhere we go to minister, favor in the workplace and favor on the roadways and parking lots. We thank You Lord, and call upon You now asking that You would deliver us from anything that binds us from reaching and ministering to the "leper" and yes, the first time guest to any Bible study, Prayer Meeting or church service. Deliver us from these things that bind us to past things, and open our eyes to the new things. Help us to get out of religiosity and be confident You are watching over these important areas and that You have begun a good work in us and will complete it. Give us hope this day that change is coming to these areas we need help in and that it is for Your glory. Make us remember to be praising people, for we know that when we worship You, we gain clear understanding and our lives are transformed, and we receive power to live Your way. Help us to hear Your specific instructions concerning ministering to the "leper", the "new guest" or "1st time guest" at any Bible study, Prayer Meetings or church services and help us and enable us to obey those instructions. I pray that YOU continue to give us hearts that long to do Your will and may we enjoy the peace that can only come from living in total obedience to Your commands. Amen


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