wow. sweet sweet night at the daniels. John 11:28-44... Jesus said to her, "Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" There is purpose in the wait! What seems like a 'delay' to me is actually 'purpose' to God for greater glory!
Sweet Miracle Worker,
I will serve You while I'm waiting.
I love You, too!
J
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
His Presence
Good stuff from "Wednesdays With Beth"!!!
Psalm 139:5-18
5 You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.
6 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits,
10 even there Your hand will lead me;
Your right hand will hold on to me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will become night" —
12 even the darkness is not dark to You.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You,
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began.
17 God, how difficult Your thoughts are
for me to comprehend;
how vast their sum is!
18 If I counted them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;
when I wake up, I am still with You.
His Presence is a fact. We can count on the truth of that even when we don't feel it!
Your God is with you 24/7!!
It's the "with-ness" of God! I love that Beth-ism... the "with-ness" of God!
REV 3:20
Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.
In that day and time.... to eat was to tarry at the table... not drive-thru fast food.
It's fellowhip that activates the feeling of divine Presence.
If we keep "driving thru" we are going to miss the "Bread of the Presence".
With a quick "heavenly pop-tart", you can get a word - maybe a very important word that you can take with you and nibble on to help sustain you thru the day... but that's not fellowship.
Sometimes, does He say, "JJ, don't read anything to me, I wish you just wouldn't even talk... just sit on the back porch with me."
I want to FEEL Him sometimes... the "with-ness" of God. I may not be able to "live" here, but I sure want to visit a whole lot!
Oh, Sweet Presence!
How I adore Your "With-ness"!
I love You, too!
JJ
Psalm 139:5-18
5 You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.
6 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits,
10 even there Your hand will lead me;
Your right hand will hold on to me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will become night" —
12 even the darkness is not dark to You.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You,
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began.
17 God, how difficult Your thoughts are
for me to comprehend;
how vast their sum is!
18 If I counted them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;
when I wake up, I am still with You.
His Presence is a fact. We can count on the truth of that even when we don't feel it!
Your God is with you 24/7!!
It's the "with-ness" of God! I love that Beth-ism... the "with-ness" of God!
REV 3:20
Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.
In that day and time.... to eat was to tarry at the table... not drive-thru fast food.
It's fellowhip that activates the feeling of divine Presence.
If we keep "driving thru" we are going to miss the "Bread of the Presence".
With a quick "heavenly pop-tart", you can get a word - maybe a very important word that you can take with you and nibble on to help sustain you thru the day... but that's not fellowship.
Sometimes, does He say, "JJ, don't read anything to me, I wish you just wouldn't even talk... just sit on the back porch with me."
I want to FEEL Him sometimes... the "with-ness" of God. I may not be able to "live" here, but I sure want to visit a whole lot!
Oh, Sweet Presence!
How I adore Your "With-ness"!
I love You, too!
JJ
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Maybe Knocked Down but Not Out Forever!
The title of today's post is part of one of my favorite songs right now. The lyrics say.... "We lose our way, we get back up again. Its never too late to get back up again. Come on! Come on! You're gonna shine again! Maybe knocked down but not out forever! This is Love calling, Love calling out to the broken. This is Love calling!"
Good Good Truth! I am so thankful that my God is the God of Love and the God of Redemption! And that He, in His Faithful Love, calls out to me!
Proverbs 3:11-12
11 Do not despise the LORD's instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;
12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.
The fact is, I made some very poor choices 8 and 9 years ago. I am living out the consequences and the discipline for those choices. Another fact is, this time of deep despair has accomplished at least part of His purpose... to drive me closer and closer to Him. I can say that NOTHING is more important to me than hearing His Voice and knowing His Presence. Up until this transformation in me and the "renewal of mind" (Rom 12:2), human approval fought as a god against this Truth in my life now. And though doubt attempts to creep in, I know that this time will pass and God's mighty right arm of justice will swing and the reversal of destiny will come.
1 Peter 5:6
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time...
I don't have to put myself under the "mighty" hand of ANYONE other than God. In fact, I BETTER not!
Hebrews 12:12-13
12 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead.
I continuously went down the path of co-dependent relationships (what was lame). Something was broken/dislocated in me and needed to be healed. I did not simply need to make some correction there... that had to be healed in me! So, I have done and am doing the hard, hard work of strengthening my tired hands and weakened knees and making straight paths for my feet in order to walk the path of healing!
Hebrews 12:11
11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Galatians 6:7-8
7 Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 4:4
4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
There was no escaping these consequences but because of the discipline of the Lord and my yielding to it, I can live in healed peace with my Prince of Peace! And I can trust HIM, at the proper time, to bring about the justice of those whose goal is to humiliate and annihilate me.
Psalm 5
The Refuge of the Righteous
1 Listen to my words, LORD;
consider my sighing.
2 Pay attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for I pray to You.
3 At daybreak, LORD, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.
4 For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot lodge with You.
5 The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;
You hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who tell lies;
the LORD abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.
7 But I enter Your house
by the abundance of Your faithful love;
I bow down toward Your holy temple
in reverential awe of You.
8 LORD, lead me in Your righteousness,
because of my adversaries;
make Your way straight before me.
9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say;
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.
10 Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them out because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against You.
11 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,
and may those who love Your name boast about You.
12 For You, LORD, bless the righteous one;
You surround him with favor like a shield.
Psalm 6
A Prayer for Mercy
1 LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger;
do not discipline me in Your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am weak;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking;
3 my whole being is shaken with terror.
And You, LORD— how long?
4 Turn, LORD! Rescue me;
save me because of Your faithful love.
5 For there is no remembrance of You in death;
who can thank You in Sheol?
6 I am weary from my groaning;
with my tears I dampen my pillow
and drench my bed every night.
7 My eyes are swollen from grief;
they grow old because of all my enemies.
8 Depart from me, all evildoers,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my plea for help;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror;
they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
Sweet Father,
I trust You and
I love You, too!
J
Good Good Truth! I am so thankful that my God is the God of Love and the God of Redemption! And that He, in His Faithful Love, calls out to me!
Proverbs 3:11-12
11 Do not despise the LORD's instruction, my son,
and do not loathe His discipline;
12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.
The fact is, I made some very poor choices 8 and 9 years ago. I am living out the consequences and the discipline for those choices. Another fact is, this time of deep despair has accomplished at least part of His purpose... to drive me closer and closer to Him. I can say that NOTHING is more important to me than hearing His Voice and knowing His Presence. Up until this transformation in me and the "renewal of mind" (Rom 12:2), human approval fought as a god against this Truth in my life now. And though doubt attempts to creep in, I know that this time will pass and God's mighty right arm of justice will swing and the reversal of destiny will come.
1 Peter 5:6
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time...
I don't have to put myself under the "mighty" hand of ANYONE other than God. In fact, I BETTER not!
Hebrews 12:12-13
12 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead.
I continuously went down the path of co-dependent relationships (what was lame). Something was broken/dislocated in me and needed to be healed. I did not simply need to make some correction there... that had to be healed in me! So, I have done and am doing the hard, hard work of strengthening my tired hands and weakened knees and making straight paths for my feet in order to walk the path of healing!
Hebrews 12:11
11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Galatians 6:7-8
7 Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 4:4
4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
There was no escaping these consequences but because of the discipline of the Lord and my yielding to it, I can live in healed peace with my Prince of Peace! And I can trust HIM, at the proper time, to bring about the justice of those whose goal is to humiliate and annihilate me.
Psalm 5
The Refuge of the Righteous
1 Listen to my words, LORD;
consider my sighing.
2 Pay attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for I pray to You.
3 At daybreak, LORD, You hear my voice;
at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly.
4 For You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil cannot lodge with You.
5 The boastful cannot stand in Your presence;
You hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who tell lies;
the LORD abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery.
7 But I enter Your house
by the abundance of Your faithful love;
I bow down toward Your holy temple
in reverential awe of You.
8 LORD, lead me in Your righteousness,
because of my adversaries;
make Your way straight before me.
9 For there is nothing reliable in what they say;
destruction is within them;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongues.
10 Punish them, God;
let them fall by their own schemes.
Drive them out because of their many crimes,
for they rebel against You.
11 But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them shout for joy forever.
May You shelter them,
and may those who love Your name boast about You.
12 For You, LORD, bless the righteous one;
You surround him with favor like a shield.
Psalm 6
A Prayer for Mercy
1 LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger;
do not discipline me in Your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, LORD, for I am weak;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking;
3 my whole being is shaken with terror.
And You, LORD— how long?
4 Turn, LORD! Rescue me;
save me because of Your faithful love.
5 For there is no remembrance of You in death;
who can thank You in Sheol?
6 I am weary from my groaning;
with my tears I dampen my pillow
and drench my bed every night.
7 My eyes are swollen from grief;
they grow old because of all my enemies.
8 Depart from me, all evildoers,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my plea for help;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror;
they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
Sweet Father,
I trust You and
I love You, too!
J
Saturday, April 17, 2010
My Identity
Psalm 34:4-5
I sought the Lord and He answered my cry and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
Because of Christ's redemption, I am a new creation of infinite worth. I am deeply loved, I am completely forgiven, I am fully pleasing, I am totally accepted by God. I am absolutely complete in Christ. When my performance reflects my new identity in Christ, that reflection is dynamically unique. There has never been another person like me in the history of mankind, nor will there ever be. God has made me an original, one of a kind, really somebody! (from Search for Significance LIFE Support Edition)
It's so hard to really believe this. We can say we believe, but the truth is.... we ACT on what we truly BELIEVE. So, if I don't act like I am of "infinite worth"......... wow.......... "infinite worth"................. wow.......... do I really believe it? If my worth and identity are found in being the "perfect" mom or wife or friend or "whatever" based on the approval of others then I am not truly believing the above affirmation in its entirety. I personally can say that I truly believe that I am accepted by God. I truly believe and "get" that... but fully pleasing? complete? dynamically unique?
Sweet Loving Lord,
I believe. Help my unbelief.
I love You, too!
J
I sought the Lord and He answered my cry and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
Because of Christ's redemption, I am a new creation of infinite worth. I am deeply loved, I am completely forgiven, I am fully pleasing, I am totally accepted by God. I am absolutely complete in Christ. When my performance reflects my new identity in Christ, that reflection is dynamically unique. There has never been another person like me in the history of mankind, nor will there ever be. God has made me an original, one of a kind, really somebody! (from Search for Significance LIFE Support Edition)
It's so hard to really believe this. We can say we believe, but the truth is.... we ACT on what we truly BELIEVE. So, if I don't act like I am of "infinite worth"......... wow.......... "infinite worth"................. wow.......... do I really believe it? If my worth and identity are found in being the "perfect" mom or wife or friend or "whatever" based on the approval of others then I am not truly believing the above affirmation in its entirety. I personally can say that I truly believe that I am accepted by God. I truly believe and "get" that... but fully pleasing? complete? dynamically unique?
Sweet Loving Lord,
I believe. Help my unbelief.
I love You, too!
J
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I Will Trust In You
Exodus 15:22-25
22 Then Moses led Israel on from the Red Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur. They journeyed for three days in the wilderness without finding water. 23 They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter—that is why it was named Marah. 24 The people grumbled to Moses, "What are we going to drink?" 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became drinkable.
Psalm 31:9-14
9 Be gracious to me, LORD,
because I am in distress;
my eyes are worn out from angry sorrow—
my whole being as well.
10 Indeed, my life is consumed with grief,
and my years with groaning;
my strength has failed
because of my sinfulness,
and my bones waste away.
11 I am ridiculed by all my adversaries
and even by my neighbors.
I am an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street run from me.
12 I am forgotten: gone from memory
like a dead person—like broken pottery.
13 I have heard the gossip of many;
terror is on every side.
When they conspired against me,
they plotted to take my life.
14 But I trust in You, LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
My prayer (adapted from an excerpt from Jesus Calling) :
My Sweet Sovereign,
I trust You when things go well, when I see You working on my behalf. This type of trust flows readily within me, requiring no exertion of my will. When things go wrong, my trust-flow sometimes slows down and almost solidifies. I am forced to choose between trusting You intentionally or rebelling: resenting Your ways with me. This choice constitutes a fork in the road. I will stay on the path of Life with You, enjoying Your Presence. I will choose to trust You in all circumstances.
I love You, too!
J
22 Then Moses led Israel on from the Red Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur. They journeyed for three days in the wilderness without finding water. 23 They came to Marah, but they could not drink the water at Marah because it was bitter—that is why it was named Marah. 24 The people grumbled to Moses, "What are we going to drink?" 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became drinkable.
Psalm 31:9-14
9 Be gracious to me, LORD,
because I am in distress;
my eyes are worn out from angry sorrow—
my whole being as well.
10 Indeed, my life is consumed with grief,
and my years with groaning;
my strength has failed
because of my sinfulness,
and my bones waste away.
11 I am ridiculed by all my adversaries
and even by my neighbors.
I am an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street run from me.
12 I am forgotten: gone from memory
like a dead person—like broken pottery.
13 I have heard the gossip of many;
terror is on every side.
When they conspired against me,
they plotted to take my life.
14 But I trust in You, LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
My prayer (adapted from an excerpt from Jesus Calling) :
My Sweet Sovereign,
I trust You when things go well, when I see You working on my behalf. This type of trust flows readily within me, requiring no exertion of my will. When things go wrong, my trust-flow sometimes slows down and almost solidifies. I am forced to choose between trusting You intentionally or rebelling: resenting Your ways with me. This choice constitutes a fork in the road. I will stay on the path of Life with You, enjoying Your Presence. I will choose to trust You in all circumstances.
I love You, too!
J
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
God Began A Work In ME
"I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can't resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need him. Our weakness, in fact, makes room for his Power." Jim Cymbala from Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
"Let's admit our weaknesses, cease our imitations, follow good examples, and position ourselves for miracles." Beth Moore from Believing God
"I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Paul and Timothy from Philippians 1:3-6
God has created me exactly as I am for His purpose! And PRAISE BE TO HIM for this revelation of belief (and not just head knowledge)... HE is my measuring stick! I am not to measure up to what anyone else does or expects me to do. I am to measure up to the good work HE has begun in me! And daily as He is purifying me as gold, He will daily bring about the completion of that work!
Oh, Sweet Love!
I surrender to Your purifying process and Your Potter's Hand!
I love You, too!
J
"Let's admit our weaknesses, cease our imitations, follow good examples, and position ourselves for miracles." Beth Moore from Believing God
"I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Paul and Timothy from Philippians 1:3-6
God has created me exactly as I am for His purpose! And PRAISE BE TO HIM for this revelation of belief (and not just head knowledge)... HE is my measuring stick! I am not to measure up to what anyone else does or expects me to do. I am to measure up to the good work HE has begun in me! And daily as He is purifying me as gold, He will daily bring about the completion of that work!
Oh, Sweet Love!
I surrender to Your purifying process and Your Potter's Hand!
I love You, too!
J
Thursday, April 8, 2010
No Doubt
Genesis 28:15
Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Romans 8:31
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Sweet Sovereign Lord,
Every time I have even the faintest thought that I might doubt Your promise to me, You "scream" to me through a whisper of Your Word like this! Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for being so VERY VERY clear to me that night so many many months ago as I sat in my chair desperately crying out to You for direction. No matter how hopeless my circumstances seem from time to time, You have continuously left no room for doubt that what You have promised to me YOU (no one else) WILL (not maybe) accomplish!
I love You, too!
J
Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Romans 8:31
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Sweet Sovereign Lord,
Every time I have even the faintest thought that I might doubt Your promise to me, You "scream" to me through a whisper of Your Word like this! Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for being so VERY VERY clear to me that night so many many months ago as I sat in my chair desperately crying out to You for direction. No matter how hopeless my circumstances seem from time to time, You have continuously left no room for doubt that what You have promised to me YOU (no one else) WILL (not maybe) accomplish!
I love You, too!
J
Monday, April 5, 2010
Deliverance Is On Its Way
Isaiah 30
Can't seem to leave this. Such a picture of the last 10 years of my life. I can honestly say I wanted to do the right thing. I just too often looked to and leaned on the wrong thing (people). I re-acted to and through my circumstances and people in my life rather than pro-acting based on the advice from My Heavenly Father (Is. 30:2). And OH the consequences that have come from that. Yet He has continually shown me in His Word that my deliverance will come from Him and Him alone! I will not be allowed to trust in "horses". He will NOT share His glory with ANY!!! My strength will lie in quiet confidence." (Is. 30:15b) He "waits to show me mercy" at just the right time and I can be "happy as I wait patiently for Him." (Is. 30:18) I am receiving "meager bread and water during this oppression, but my Teacher will not hide Himself any longer. My eyes will see my Teacher, and whenever I turn to the right or to the left, my ears will hear this command behind me: 'This is the way. Walk in it'.... Then He will send rain for my seed that I have sown in the ground, and the food, the produce of the ground, will be rich and plentiful." (Is. 30:20,21,23) And to those who desire to annihilate me "the Lord will make the splendor of His voice heard and reveal His arm striking in angry wrath and a flame of consung fire, in driving rain, a torrent, and hailstones. Assyria will be shattered by the voice of the Lord." (Is. 30:30,31)
Oh, Sweet Rescue!
I trust! And...
I love you too!
J
Can't seem to leave this. Such a picture of the last 10 years of my life. I can honestly say I wanted to do the right thing. I just too often looked to and leaned on the wrong thing (people). I re-acted to and through my circumstances and people in my life rather than pro-acting based on the advice from My Heavenly Father (Is. 30:2). And OH the consequences that have come from that. Yet He has continually shown me in His Word that my deliverance will come from Him and Him alone! I will not be allowed to trust in "horses". He will NOT share His glory with ANY!!! My strength will lie in quiet confidence." (Is. 30:15b) He "waits to show me mercy" at just the right time and I can be "happy as I wait patiently for Him." (Is. 30:18) I am receiving "meager bread and water during this oppression, but my Teacher will not hide Himself any longer. My eyes will see my Teacher, and whenever I turn to the right or to the left, my ears will hear this command behind me: 'This is the way. Walk in it'.... Then He will send rain for my seed that I have sown in the ground, and the food, the produce of the ground, will be rich and plentiful." (Is. 30:20,21,23) And to those who desire to annihilate me "the Lord will make the splendor of His voice heard and reveal His arm striking in angry wrath and a flame of consung fire, in driving rain, a torrent, and hailstones. Assyria will be shattered by the voice of the Lord." (Is. 30:30,31)
Oh, Sweet Rescue!
I trust! And...
I love you too!
J
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