Are you a God-seeker?

Do you know that God delights in us seeking Him? The Word says that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6b). As we seek God with our whole heart He will be found of us. (Jer. 29:13) says: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

I loved playing hide and seek as a child. It was especially fun the closer it got to being dark outside. When I was growing up the whole neighborhood was our back yard so there were a lot of hiding places. We would try to make some reasonable boundaries of course for everyone. Those were different days then. The neighbors didn't mind when children would play in their yards, and all of them looked out for every one's children. Wow! I am giving away my age now, it's really sad to see how far we have come. Well that was just a side bar. Now to get back to playing hide and seek. Like I said it would get more fun the closer it got to being dark. Things would get pretty tough then. At this point the seeker would sometimes pull out a flashlight and he/her would begin shining the flashlight at certain objects just be sure there wasn't someone hiding there. Sometimes the seeker would sneak up on the hider and shine the flashlight just in time to tag them and now they were it. But most of the time the one hiding would sneak out of his/her hiding place just in time and make it to the home base before the seeker could catch him. Those were some good memories.

Now that I am an adult I have found it very exciting to seek God. What's so awesome about seeking God is that He gives us a flashlight as well. I like to refer to God's flashlight as the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit "flashlight" will never fail in leading us directly to God. He will never leave us groping in the dark. The Holy Spirit will reveal the truths of God to us. He is always faithful in letting us in on the secrets of God and seeing things that we didn't notice without the flashlight. He brings things to light. Of course this is God's plan and how He prefers things to be. What's so great about seeking God is that when we finally find Him He doesn't run away. He just smiles real big and says, "see, I knew you could find me if you sought me hard enough."

What happens when we seek God with our whole heart and find Him? As the Word says, He will reward us. What is our reward? I believe it is the Holy Spirit who is given to us to teach us the deeper things of God. Of course it all begins with His son Jesus. Rewards of salvation and eternal life is our final destination in and through Christ Jesus. But as we grow in Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit within us we are rewarded with revelation and truths about God that the natural man cannot understand because it is spiritually discerned by the Spirit of God. Therefore we are rewarded with the mind of Christ by and through the power of His Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2: 10-16).

And as we are faithful with the truths of God that have already been given to us, then God will give us more revelational truths. The seeking doesn't end it continues. In the beginning we walk to find the truths, then as we find more truths we break into a run because we are excited to find them and want even more. God just smiles so proud and continues to reward us. For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath (Mt. 25:29). We don't want to find ourselves in the latter part of that verse. If you read prior to verse 29 it is the parable of the talents. Our Father God has given us the gift of His Holy Spirit by and through His Son Jesus because of the finished work of the cross. Which is more precious than any talent. We don't want to make light of this and find ourselves in the same shoes as the unprofitable servant that when the Master returns all we have is some lame excuse for our wickedness and laziness. We won't be able to say: I just chose to ignore/bury my convictions and the things pertaining to God. This is not going to hold water my friend. In that day those who try to give lame excuses will find themselves cast into the outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

If you are a God seeker, then you will be like unto the faithful servants who took their talents and made more for their Master. You will take very seriously the things pertaining to God. You will be one who is hungry for the things of God. You will not make light of the Truths of God. When your spirit man is checked and there is a red flag that pops up and says, STOP! Wait a minute! Don't do that! Don't go there! Will you be as the good servants and listen and be faithful with what God has given you via His Holy Spirit in you, or will you do as the unfaithful servant did? It is your decision.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I , that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (Jn. 16: 13-15).

Have a seat Martha

Have you welcomed Jesus into your house (heart) but have forgotten to set at His feet and learn of Him? Have you found yourself busy about the details of life and all it's worries and forgotten your First Love? Have you placed works and obligations as top priority when it comes to your Christian walk?

I will be honest with you, giving place to the Martha mode is not out of reach in my own life. I can fall into Martha mode very easily if I am not careful. Worries, distractions, busyness, being very disturbed about things, turmoil, they all can come crashing in on me if my priorities get all messed up. During those times I can just hear the Lord saying to me, why are you exerting so much time and energies into things that are only temporal? Why do you trouble yourself the way you do? Come, take a seat and set with me and learn of me. Be still and rest in me for this is what is beneficial and for your advantage. This is what is necessary for the well being of your life (now and for all eternity).
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10: 38-42)

I believe the lesson to be learned here is more than just servants-v-worshippers. Jesus is not saying that Mary's are greater than Martha's because one worships and the other serves. Those who truly love Jesus will delight in worshipping as well as serving. I believe that this is a lesson of the heart. We have to ask ourselves, what is the condition of my heart? Am I distracted and worrying about things or am I at peace and resting in Jesus?
I also believe that this is a lesson that when we find ourselves in the Martha mode to not become bitter toward the Marys but to learn of them and remember that what she is doing is the good part and what is necessary. It is for her good and not her hurt. And we (Martha's) need to do likewise and have a seat and learn of Jesus. May we not forget about the more important things like sitting at the feet of Jesus and making Him our First Love. (Rev. 2:4)

Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7: 8-11 (8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

(9) Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

(10) Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

(11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Our Heavenly Father is faithful in providing for His children. Whether we have a financial need, a spiritual need or a physical need God will always provide.
His Word says: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19).

According to the above scriptures in (Mt. 7:8-11) it seems to me that it is just a matter of asking, seeking and knocking. I like to think of it this way: Believe that when you ask something of your Heavenly Father you will receive, trust that when you seek Him you will find Him, and have faith that when you knock the door shall be opened unto you.

I would like to share with you a testimony of what I would consider a miraculous provision by God in our life. A few years ago we received a shut off notice in the mail from the electric company. All the monies that we had in our account was fifty dollars. Not nearly enough to pay our electric bill. We have made it a habit to daily check our accounts just in case of some mathematical errors by us or even the bank. And with all the fees now-a-days you just never know when they are going to withdraw monies- Ugh! For a week we did this and there was the balance of fifty dollars every time. We had about a week left now before our electric was going to be shut off. I had decided that this time I wasn't going to fret or worry about it. If the electric got shut off then it got shut off because there wasn't a thing we could do about it. God knew and we knew that we hadn't been negligent with our monies. So I continued to believe, trust and have faith that God was in control. After all, He has said that He would take care of our need. So that was final and I stood with my faith in my Heavenly Father!
About five days prior to our electric being shut off we looked at our account once again and would you believe it, our balance said $550. We thought, "Oh my goodness! How in the world did that get in there?" There was no record of a deposit. How can this be? We waited until the day before our electric bill was going to be shut off before we touched the money, because we wanted to make sure that it wasn't a glitch in the system or a bank mistake. Normally if it's a glitch in the system or a mistake by the bank they catch it and get it fixed pretty quick. Four days had gone by now and there set the $550 still in our balance.
What did we do, you may ask? Well, we thanked our Heavenly Father (the Great Mathematician) for His miraculous provision for us and used it to pay our electric bill. And we even had a little extra left over. We were so grateful that we couldn't stop praising God and thanking Him for providing for us. We still praise Him and thank Him even today in believing, trusting and having faith that He will continually provide for us.
I know that there are other miraculous testimonies out there about how Your Heavenly Father has provided for you. I would love to hear them, so please feel free to share them. As God's children share and testify of the blessings of their Heavenly Father in their life it will cause our faith to grow in Him.

The open door of opportunity

Isaiah 55:6-7 (6) Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

(7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

I believe that there is a period of time that the Lord will keep an open door of opportunity before us so we can escape from the dark basement of sin in our lives. Come out of the sinful darkness of sexual immorality, cowardliness, unbelief and faithlessness, murderings, lying, sorcery and idolatry and come into the Light (Rev. 21:8). For there is coming a time when the open door of opportunity will be shut and it will be to late and some will sadly find themselves left in the darkness knocking on the door wanting to be free. But sadly, once the door is shut the opportunity for escape is no longer available.

The Holy Spirit will draw and knock on our heart's door calling for us to come out of the darkness and into the Light. And there is a time frame for each individual to answer His call.

It will be to late for some. The Word of God is full of references in the scriptures concerning this. For example the Foolish Virgins in Mt. 25. In Luke 13:25-27; others came knocking on the door for the Lord to let them in but the Master would not open the door unto them. It was to late for Esau; Heb. 12:7. The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul in 1 Samuel 16:14. In 2 Thess. 2:10-12; this is the great apostasy where men will be deluded and believe a lie and not the Truth. It was to late for all of these people. The open door of opportunity for them had already been shut.

There will come a time when the Holy Spirit will stop drawing and He will shut the door and leave. David would not have prayed such a prayer in Ps. 51:11; Take not your Holy Spirit from me if it wasn't possible for that to happen.

But I have some good news for you my friend! The Word of God says that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). If you have found yourself entangled in sin's darkness and you are being convicted of this then I can assure you that the Holy Spirit is still drawing you, and there is an open door of opportunity in front of you. It is not to late for you to reach out and walk toward the open door and leave the dark basement of sin in your life. So yield to the Holy Spirit's drawing today and move in a new direction and rise up out of that dark cellar of sin and don't look back. He is drawing you today my friend! It might be to late for you tomorrow.

Today is the day of salvation!
Don't miss your open door of opportunity!

Your Refreshing Rains

Are you dry and thirsty my friend? Our Heavenly Father's Refreshing Rain is at hand and it is only a prayer away. May this be our heart's cry to our Father in Heaven:

Let Your Refreshing Rain pour down upon me my Father God! Rain down your glory upon me and may I walk in Your glory and taste Your refreshing rain upon my dry and parched land. Comfort me with your showers and rain down your wisdom upon me and be my guide. Let your rain of Grace wash over me and your rain of mercy saturate me!

You are so highly exalted God, you make the streams to flow in the mountains and the deserts. I have cried unto You and You have heard me from Your throne. You have bent down and You have kissed me with the showers of Your blessings. When I cried unto You, You came running and met me and gave unto me your waters that brought me comfort and quenched my thirsty soul.

O' how I love You and long for You my Lord, my Savior, my precious Jesus!

Your glory covers the earth. Your refreshing rain brings forth New Life. You are a God that restores and beautifies and brings refreshing to your people. May your cleansing waters wash over us continually. May your cool waters of Life soak us and permeate us and bring healing to our souls! From out of our belly will flow your rivers of Life.

Make us brand new by the rains of your Holy Spirit Father God. May your Loving Spirit wash over us. May your peace and your joy rain down upon us and bring new beginnings. Your rain will renew our strength and will make our hearts moist and filled with pools of life.

As I have drank of your refreshing waters I ask for the pools of my heart to always be full so that I may continually draw joy from your wells of salvation. So let your Refreshing Rain pour down upon me my Father God for my soul thirsts for You! All of creation needs your Refreshing Rain so let it rain in Jesus Name Amen!

All Things Are Possible!

Romans 15:2 -Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

Ephesians 4:29 -Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

I want to edify the Body of Christ today. The word edify in the Greek is oikodomeo which means to be a house builder, construct, confirm, build up, embolden. I desire to instill courage in you today by encouraging you. Which by the way the word encourage is another word for edify. I want each of you to know that you are valued and very precious. No matter what you may be facing today, know that you can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you. You are strong in the Lord and you can walk in the power of His might!

If you love God and you have made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life then I can tell you that your destiny is a promising one. You are a vessel of strength and honor and God will use you for His glory. Your foundation is a sure one, because it is founded in Christ Jesus! You can run and not grow weary you can walk and not faint and in due season you will reap if you faint not.

Your dreams, your hopes and aspirations are not out of reach. All things are possible to them who believe God for their life. Nothing is to hard or to great for our God. He is King over all. Believe Him, trust Him and have faith in Him and know that there is nothing that He will not do for you. Jesus said ask so that your joy will be full. You have not because you ask not.

Faith is what pleases God. When He sees your faith it is as good as done! In each one of you lives a champion that is longing to be released. No matter where you have been or what you are going through or where you are going you can be an over comer and more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus! I want to encourage you and say, Jesus is your wings, now FLY!

God is calling for His people to look up and to once again put their faith and hope in Him. Look up! for your help draws near to you. He has created you a person of courage and determination. You are victorious and the enemy is defeated in your life. You must proclaim with boldness and know without doubt that He has created you to be great and steady like a tree planted by the waters whose roots go deep. The storms and the winds of life do not have to affect you in the least bit if you are firmly planted in Christ Jesus. And you will bear good fruit in due season. As He produces the fruit in you, you will bear it for all to see, and it will be nourishing fruit.

If you abide in His Word then you are a person of virtue and great character, and what His Word says that you will do! You will also have a heart after God and His righteousness. And you will love Him and all of His ways. He will be your first Love and nothing will be able to compare to Him. Your passion will be Him and your life will be in Him! You will desire Him like you do your very next breath. For example, It would be as if you are on the verge of drowning but as you reach the surface of the water just in time to take that breath of life you are so grateful. You had to get that breath! You were determined to reach the surface, your lungs were burning and you had to take a breath before you died. It is like that when it comes to God in your life. You realize that you can't take your next breath without Him. Just as you were desperate to get to the surface of the water to take a breath before you drowned, you should be desperate to get to God. He is like taking that breath of fresh air which fills you with life once again!

All things are possible for you today. It takes only having faith in Him for your life! You are a champion because your God (your Creator) is the greatest champion of all and no good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly!

Here is something that I once heard and I think that it is worth remembering:

If you flatter me I may not believe you.

If you criticize me I may not like you.

But if you encourage me I will never forget you.

I Called and Grace Came

I can't seem to get away from His Grace. Maybe it is because God has been so very gracious to me and I am so very thankful to Him for this.

When I should of been dead I Called and Grace Came and I found that He had kept me alive.

When I felt so alone and rejected I Called and Grace Came and I found that He would never leave me nor forsake me.

When I felt so ashamed and full of guilt I Called and Grace Came and I found that He had forgiven me.

When I should have been in prison I Called and Grace Came and I found that He had set me free.

When I didn't know which way to go I Called and Grace Came and I found that He was leading me.

When I was ready to give up I Called and Grace came and I found that He had strengthened me.

When it seemed that all hope was loss I Called and Grace Came and I found that He rescued me.

I am so thankful to God for His Grace. It has caused me to have an intimate relationship of communion with Him which is first and foremost in my life, but it doesn't stop there. God/Jesus has been our example of how we are to treat others. What I have learned is that I can never expect God to expand my territory as to be an honorable vessel for Him and for His Glory if I cannot be faithful in showing His Love, Mercy, Grace and Forgiveness to others. It is all about our relationship with Him as well as our relationships with others! Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart soul mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. On these two laws hangs all the laws. If we can't get these two right than we can't expect God to entrust us with anything. Love, Grace, Mercy and forgiveness are all verbs they come with action. Jesus showed His love, Grace, Mercy and forgiveness by stepping up and taking our place.

Love reaches

Grace gives

Mercy replaces

Forgiveness brings communion

Ask yourself: Am I giving Love, Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness to others as God has given to me?