It's a Virtue

It's a Virtue

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls. 
Dwell in those chosen words for a moment.


Those seven words are not spoken in this context, they are not put together, they don't exist together anywhere else but in this scripture. And they are powerful. The message is clear but alas I shall expand…

This comes directly from the LORD warning us of the end times. He is telling us of all the many tribulations and persecutions of those that follow Him and of the fear that will desire to trouble our flesh but His promise is good.

Luke 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls. 
The fear yes, but the PROMISE...

Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 

The LORD does share that because we have chosen sin, this place shall perish and only those that know Him and are known by Him shall be saved...
And our daily lives are often filled with varying levels of tribulations, fears and things that make our hearts fail…

We come back to those seven words: 
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls. 

We must develop patience. Oh what an obstacle we face there! We know though that from our daily ups and downs to the tribulation filled end of our days on this planet, there is nowhere to turn without patience.
God chose that attribute, that testament of faith to be the very thing that possesses our souls because without that patience, that faithful waiting on the Lord, we are dead, we are fruitless and we perish.

Nothing grows without time. We must be faithful and learn to grow patient with all things, big and small...The fate of our souls depend on it.  Xoxo

Flesh or Spirit?

Flesh or Spirit?

We are alive in the flesh, we are here. We speak with mouths and touch with hands and walk on the earth with feet, BUT… when we choose our words, feel a hand in our hands or the dirt between our toes, we take these things in, understand them and react to them with our spirit. These things exist at a level much deeper than our flesh. They are the very core of who we believe we are.

Romans chapter eight speaks fully of the LORD'S promise given to those that overcome the flesh and walk with a spiritual mind, body and soul. This is not to say the flesh on its own is negative, in fact God created it to exist perfectly. It must be said though, we chose sin on this wayward planet and if we choose to use our flesh to attain anything ungodly, it does become dead, physically AND spiritually.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 

God simply states, as He does many times throughout His word, we cannot be both. We cannot live after the flesh as well as the spirit, we cannot serve the will of man AND the will of the Father. He will not have it, He cannot. Nothing but goodness can enter His kingdom and trust me, He knows we can be good and wants that for us.

So what does it mean to be “living” in physical flesh but to be ALIVE in the Spirit?

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 

When we desire with our flesh to selfishly attain power, vanity, glory or any material thing (things of the flesh, temporary fulfillment) to lead us then our spirits suffer, our connection with our Father suffers. We simply cannot dwell in selfish “here and now” desires and be spiritually inclined...at least not in any way the LORD will accept. 

Lastly, God wants us to enjoy this life, amen. If we had not fallen short by giving in to temptation, we would only desire goodness with our flesh to begin with. Since we have fallen short, He has mercifully given us grace through Jesus, to fall down and to get back up! We can certainly do much good with our flesh, our thoughts, words and actions CAN create a positive outcome, IF we are alive in Spirit. 

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

Amen, amen, amen. 
Let His Spirit lead. Let His will become our will. Let our sin filled flesh lay down before the King and our spirits rise to the One who made us!

Hillsong United say it best, Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever YOU would call me.

Read His word and let His Spirit lead you :)

Being Quiet

Being Quiet

Just be quiet. One of the easiest things to say and one of the hardest things to do.
Even more than closing your mouth, biting that tongue or stifling down those words we so desperately need to say, there is spiritual quietness and that is whole other level my friends. 
Spiritual quietness in this context, is meant as turning from man's desires of the flesh and allowing for spiritual peace. 

1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

There comes a point, many in fact, where our spiritual growth and desires supersede the desires of our flesh. We change from our hearts and without effort, our thoughts, words and actions are transformed. We start thinking differently, feeling deeper than ever before and we are so focused on the Lord's will we start to shed those layers of yuck we have built upon ourselves.

This is a transformation. A spiritual awakening and where this spiritual quietness starts! 

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 

Yes, oh yes, there will be suffering. But oh the beauty in letting go of these things that bind us and finding freedom in His plan, His strength and His desires for us is immeasurable happiness. Learning to replace your fears, worries and doubts with His goodness and faithfulness is everything! The more we read His promises from His word, the more we dwell on being His and faithfully commit each day to growing in Him, the more our spirits speak instead of the flesh and the peace of our Father takes over. 

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 

I faithfully believe and can attest to this spiritual peace I'm speaking of. There are always moments of weakness, always moments for growth, for we are but children in this life, but there are moments when the wars become battles and battles become squabbles and then that day comes where it's all in His hands fully. We have let go and gained His peace in that we are learning, ever so slowly at times, to trust Him.
Give Him your time, give him your heart and trust Him. HE alone does give us that spiritual quietness and stillness so that we may know, it is well to be joyous and calm in the storm and to quietly understand His plan is at work in us. 

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.


I wish you all the desire to be quiet and to hear our Father within you xoxo

Waiting on the LORD

Waiting on the Lord...

 

 

Those four words hold all the meaning in the world of you believe them, if you live them and if you trust them.
What does it truly mean to wait on the Lord and why is that simple statement so verily important? It could be interpreted in many ways I suppose; literal span of time waiting for the Lord's return, maybe applying it to our daily life obstacles eg fulfilling our desires, hopes and dreams or even overcoming illness. How about the spiritual facet, having a patience and trust in the Lord and His will.

Psalms 27:14 - Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalms 37:34 - Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].

Psalms 40:1 - (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Those four words are placed so perfectly in His word to tend to all of the matters listed above. My personal belief is that waiting on the Lord truly breaks down to having faith in the Lord, His will and His word. It is literal time. It is hearing His call and plans for our lives daily. His desire to take care of us as well as building patience, trust, and a desire for His will to be fulfilled not our own.
Waiting on the Lord= Faith on/in the Lord.

One of my favorite verses that tends to waiting on the Lord through faith is that spoken by Paul in Galatians 2:20.

Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Wow....  What a powerful declaration of faith. What a profound realization of the Lord's living AND dying through Jesus Christ for our souls. What a joy in knowing that by the gift of Jesus and by His blood alone we are one with Him. He lives daily in us and we exist only through Him!

 That to me is waiting on the Lord. That to me is faith. To walk daily as Christ is in me. His will be done. His plans at work, not my own. It is all He wants for us, to believe. To trust Him in all ways and to have faith in His plan for us.

 

God bless

The Simple Things

The Simple Things

 

 

Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Oh how those words are all we need to hear and follow. The Lord gives us all we need in this one scripture but what does it mean to hear the word of God? Is it hearing the words of the bible, is it hearing the Lord speaking to you spiritually? And how do you hear the word of God, how do YOU hear the Lord in your life? I believe the answer to these questions lay in two simple, but all encompassing things, wisdom and understanding…

 

Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
Wow...what a powerful, powerful beginning this wisdom and understanding has, that the Lord founded this very earth in wisdom and He established the heavens in understanding! If these two attributes could be this important to our Father, what place should they have in our lives?
When trying to hear God's word in any capacity, we must start from the beginning as the Lord did, in wisdom and understanding. But what does that mean?? What is wisdom from God's perspective and how does that translate to understanding, especially within our little abilities?

 

Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Proverbs 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
Righteousness. Oh to follow the Lord with all you are and stay in His ways! Yes! This is to be wise according to our Father. To lay down your own will for His that is greater.
The Lord created us, in His perfect ways, to give us a life everlasting. We must trust and be wise to HIS infinite wisdom. We attain this wisdom through reading of His Holy word. And by having faith…

 

Psalm 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
Exodus 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.
Faith brings understanding of and in the Lord. To be faithful to His will, to depend on His desires for us alone and to put into action the spirit of the Lord given to us in His word, the bible.

So if we read His word and keep it, follow it and let it be our guide, the Lord bestows His wisdom upon us, through us. And if we truly believe, through faith, in His plan, we receive His understanding!
Hearing the word of God, keeping it, honoring it is not only receiving our Lord through reading His word but by truly applying it in our lives as our number one. Through reading and sharing in His plan we grow spiritually, becoming one with Him. Through walking in that growth, with faith and hope in Him as our light, we gain understanding and a thankful heart for His amazing, amazing plan!

So, be righteous in the Lord, may your wisdom and understanding in Him never cease to grow and listen to His word and keep it always!

 Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Our Father's Garden

Our Father's Garden

 

 

Genesis 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The Lord's most prized possession...being formed by His power and given everything he would need to live eternally in this special place, this place called a garden. One has to believe that this “garden” is much deeper in meaning than soil. Oh yes, it is the soil from which the Lord brought us upon this earth, taught us to follow His will and the very place He was laid in body after His crucifixion. The garden is very important indeed, to our Father of course and in turn important for us to treasure and understand.

 

Jeremiah 29:5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
The Lord instructs us many times through out His word to plant gardens, to be fruitful and to enjoy the goodness He alone made from this earth. He also asks us to be like the garden by doing right by Him and His will which will bring forth good fruits and will bring us closer to Him and each other.

 

Isaiah 1:28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
1:29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
The Lord also warns against choosing any I garden that is not of Him, any wayward walk is where we lay forever without Him.

 

Luke 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Wow, just wow… first, to dwell in the Lord describing the breadth of His kingdom and the ways in which He made it, and that He shared that with us...thank you Father. Secondly, again He tells us how important this garden is to Him in that He uses it to describe HIS kingdom?! We are so truly blessed to be His and to be grown from this special place.

 

John 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
Our Lord's very body was slain and laid to rest in a garden, HIS garden I say, because it is all His. All the earth, all the heavens and all of existence belongs to Him alone, it IS Him, amen!

Clearly our Father holds dear this very sacred place, this “garden” of His. The earth is His garden, the heavens are His garden, we are His garden! He has built this garden from beginning to end and will continue to nurture and tend to all that grow in Him.

How blessed are those that grow from the hand of the Almighty, receive His pruning and who flourish eternally in His everlasting glory.

 

           Grow your gardens well! Xoxo