2014 Blog.. gonna give Word Press a try..
FOURTH IN THE FIRE
Here's the link if ur interested..
I usually move my fb posts to my blog, so if something is missing that you wanted to go back and review.. I have prolly moved it here..
It's a public blog so feel free to share it, especially the PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS posts..
http://fourthinthefire.wordpress.com/
Monday, January 6, 2014
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Tripping
It's pretty incredible how that Pharisee thing still thrives
in the lives of Christians.. more times than not when ppl can't deal with the
truth, they resort to discrediting those who speak it. It's kinda human nature
to do it, we have all been guilty of it to some degree whether we realize it or
not, whether we admit it or not..
The key to correct/prevent such error and sin is to guard
yourself by measuring your motives to the Word of God and in prayer as you
invite the Holy Spirit to keep you from lying to yourself about it.
The hard part is standing your ground in matters of Truth,
when someone else is tripping over that stumbling block of arrogance or selfish
ambition.. Either way, can be a challenge, whether seeing the arrogance and
failure within ourselves or being attacked by others in our life who can't deal with Truth.. In both cases.. love must be our
guide.. whether in times of peace or in times of war.. the focus is getting
everyone involved to that place of peace with God and Man.
Sadly, not everyone wants to go there.. or is ready to go
there.. and great patience is required.. sometimes discipline.. and sometimes
shaking the dust off your shoes of peace.. and letting them go with God to work
out their own salvation. There is a savior and we're not him..
But if God, in his great mercy and wisdom, chooses to reach
thru us to manifest himself in the lives of others.. we better be ready to
humble ourselves and set aside any plans (or understanding or assumptions) we may have had in the matter.. The plan of
God in every life is first and foremost.. and the only way to walk that out is
to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit every moment and in every breath we
take. Because he doesn’t use a cookie cutter in our lives.. people are
different from one another in many ways.. and we can’t judge the path others
are to walk because we do not have the mind of God.
We are sheep and can only follow his leading,
We are children and can only look to the Father to teach us,
We are the Bride, the weaker vessel, and must submit
ourselves to the Bridegroom
trusting his great love for us and that he works all not
just for our good..
but for the good of all who call upon his name <3
Monday, November 18, 2013
One Heart, One Mind, One Spirit
~ I minored in Religious Studies at a secular university... I remember the prof describing how Muslims mock Christians for so many denoms and their inability to unite in their faith... was absolute truth back in the day...
But as the issue of denoms has decreased that division still remains because sin and arrogance remain... selfish ambition and false humility prevent us as the Church from a spirit of unity as one body of believers..
A charter school is in the news for closing their Christmas Shoebox outreach after threats of a lawsuit... I wondered how the public could stand by and say how sad it was as they do nothing... then I wondered how to implement an alternative thru the church to protect the childrens right to participate in such acts of compassion and community this Christmas...
But the truth of the matter is that the many churches of our faith are too divided... its too big an issue as to who gets credit for what or who gets to call the shots or whatever... and we fail to be a Light... our inability to come together and to yeild authority and credit to one another is one of our biggest failures as the church in America. We are eat up with false humility and selfish ambition, and we remain divided and limited and failing.
I pray a group of believers would rise up whose heart would be unity among the many denoms and churches of our faith. Announcing projects and outreach at each one, contacts and coordinators representing specific churches inviting fellow believers to promote and participate as one. Touting such a group as THE LOVE OF CHRIST effort or something like that... linked to a list and info on all churches in our community.
Its not really govts job to be the love of Christ... its ours as the church.. it is govts job to protect our right to set a standard in our community and nation. Every church has its area of strength... and each has its weaknesses... if we could become passionate and diligent in operating as one with Christ at the helm of it all... what great things we could accomplish in the name of love and as a model of true humility ruled by a bond of peace and unity for the glory of God.
Somethings gotta change if we are to fulfill the call he has placed upon us as his church.. as ONE. An entire mindset of who our loyalties lie with and our priorities in living out those loyalties.
The scattering of so many youth groups/ministries starting about ten years ago was a blatant attack of hell against a generation.. but as those teens are young adults now and entering positions of authority as believers as parents and active members of community and church leaders.. they know and love one another across denom lines... even tho their fellowship was shattered beyond their control... they have the greatest spirits of unity and love as one in Christ than has been seen since the days of the disciples... they know each other and maintain relationship tho scattered among so many different churches now.. their hearts are to reach out to all in need or who are hurting.. to share the Good News and Love of Christ with others.
I believe God will use them to bring good from the shattering and attack of the past ten years. The enemy thought he blasted them with a deathblow... but I believe God is about to multiply them like starfish on the beach and the stars in the heavens... not in one church... but many churches as parts of ONE body of believers. If you are among that group of believers, of twenty somethings, be listening for God to speak about joining hearts and hands with outreach among several churches, bearing with one anothers differences, challenging one another in the foundations of our faith in love, and letting each work out their own salvation, what their peronal walk will look like... judging the truth of the Gospel they share but not how God leads them to walk it out...
I am excited... God has fought in the spiritual during these storms as hell challenged the right to bring us harm... something has been established... God has declared a great outpouring in the heavens... and he is looking for those in his church who will declare it in the earth. A great victory.. equipping.. its already done.. he has already made you able and prepared all this night... you just need to open ur right hand and receive it.
Its like there is a line in the sand... and God is just daring the enemy to even think about messing with what he is about to pour out upon this fresh and purpose filled group of leaders. The picture I am seeing is like huge buff angels, as big as mountains, standing on this side of the line but peering over it with cold yet fiery stares at the enemy.. snorting almost like bulls... God is making a generation ready to war in the heavenlies like none other... a revival that will accelerate exponentially.. if you commit to his word.. he will guard you... if you love like he loves.. he will use you. Its time for you to lead, and that begins by serving.
Consider what God has been turning over in your heart lately... then ask him what he wants you to do. And do it... no matter how huge or how small.. he will be with you and will guide you. Such a call is much... it will require things of you... SURRENDER ALL... and then you will witness the salvation of our God
But as the issue of denoms has decreased that division still remains because sin and arrogance remain... selfish ambition and false humility prevent us as the Church from a spirit of unity as one body of believers..
A charter school is in the news for closing their Christmas Shoebox outreach after threats of a lawsuit... I wondered how the public could stand by and say how sad it was as they do nothing... then I wondered how to implement an alternative thru the church to protect the childrens right to participate in such acts of compassion and community this Christmas...
But the truth of the matter is that the many churches of our faith are too divided... its too big an issue as to who gets credit for what or who gets to call the shots or whatever... and we fail to be a Light... our inability to come together and to yeild authority and credit to one another is one of our biggest failures as the church in America. We are eat up with false humility and selfish ambition, and we remain divided and limited and failing.
I pray a group of believers would rise up whose heart would be unity among the many denoms and churches of our faith. Announcing projects and outreach at each one, contacts and coordinators representing specific churches inviting fellow believers to promote and participate as one. Touting such a group as THE LOVE OF CHRIST effort or something like that... linked to a list and info on all churches in our community.
Its not really govts job to be the love of Christ... its ours as the church.. it is govts job to protect our right to set a standard in our community and nation. Every church has its area of strength... and each has its weaknesses... if we could become passionate and diligent in operating as one with Christ at the helm of it all... what great things we could accomplish in the name of love and as a model of true humility ruled by a bond of peace and unity for the glory of God.
Somethings gotta change if we are to fulfill the call he has placed upon us as his church.. as ONE. An entire mindset of who our loyalties lie with and our priorities in living out those loyalties.
The scattering of so many youth groups/ministries starting about ten years ago was a blatant attack of hell against a generation.. but as those teens are young adults now and entering positions of authority as believers as parents and active members of community and church leaders.. they know and love one another across denom lines... even tho their fellowship was shattered beyond their control... they have the greatest spirits of unity and love as one in Christ than has been seen since the days of the disciples... they know each other and maintain relationship tho scattered among so many different churches now.. their hearts are to reach out to all in need or who are hurting.. to share the Good News and Love of Christ with others.
I believe God will use them to bring good from the shattering and attack of the past ten years. The enemy thought he blasted them with a deathblow... but I believe God is about to multiply them like starfish on the beach and the stars in the heavens... not in one church... but many churches as parts of ONE body of believers. If you are among that group of believers, of twenty somethings, be listening for God to speak about joining hearts and hands with outreach among several churches, bearing with one anothers differences, challenging one another in the foundations of our faith in love, and letting each work out their own salvation, what their peronal walk will look like... judging the truth of the Gospel they share but not how God leads them to walk it out...
I am excited... God has fought in the spiritual during these storms as hell challenged the right to bring us harm... something has been established... God has declared a great outpouring in the heavens... and he is looking for those in his church who will declare it in the earth. A great victory.. equipping.. its already done.. he has already made you able and prepared all this night... you just need to open ur right hand and receive it.
Its like there is a line in the sand... and God is just daring the enemy to even think about messing with what he is about to pour out upon this fresh and purpose filled group of leaders. The picture I am seeing is like huge buff angels, as big as mountains, standing on this side of the line but peering over it with cold yet fiery stares at the enemy.. snorting almost like bulls... God is making a generation ready to war in the heavenlies like none other... a revival that will accelerate exponentially.. if you commit to his word.. he will guard you... if you love like he loves.. he will use you. Its time for you to lead, and that begins by serving.
Consider what God has been turning over in your heart lately... then ask him what he wants you to do. And do it... no matter how huge or how small.. he will be with you and will guide you. Such a call is much... it will require things of you... SURRENDER ALL... and then you will witness the salvation of our God
~ Not just salvation in our own lives... but in the lives of others, of whole families, of whole communities, of whole nations, of the world... that is the power of the salvation of our God
~ "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Where is the King?
~ Take me to the King
I don't have much to bring
My heart is torn in pieces
It's my offering
Truth is I'm tired
Options are few
I'm trying to pray
But where are you?
I'm all churched out...
Hurt and abused
I can't fake
What's left to do?
Truth is I'm weak
No strength to fight
No tears to cry
Even if I tried
But still my soul
Refuses to die
One touch will change my life
Take me to the King
I don't have much to bring
My heart's torn in pieces
It's my offering
Lay me at the throne
Leave me there alone
To gaze upon Your glory
And sing to You this song
Please take me to the King
Truth is it's time
To stop playing these games
We need a word
For the people's pain
So Lord speak right now
Let it fall like rain
oh, yeah, We're desperate
We're chasing after you
No rules, no religion
I've made my decision
To run to You –
The healer that I need
Take me to the King
I don't have much to bring
My heart's torn to pieces
It's my offering
Lay me at the throne
Leave me there alone
To gaze upon Your glory
And to sing to You this song
Take me to the...
Lord we're in the way
We keep making mistakes
Glory is not for us
It's all for You
Take me to the King
I don't have much to bring
My heart's torn to pieces
It's my offering
Lay me at the throne
Leave me there alone
To gaze upon Your glory
And sing to You this song
(songwriter: Kirk Franklin)
~ So much that the Lord has been speaking about the Cross.. leading us to petition him to draw us nearer to his precious bleeding side..
Take me to the King..
We cannot fathom the power of our King upon his throne,
until we understand and fully gaze upon our King upon the cross.
Do you get it?
All that he has been speaking about the cross?
The power of our King....
The power of the cross.
The authority of his throne...
It's just such a beautiful thing...
Get ready cuz as the church glimpses what the Spirit is speaking in this, healing is going to come in like a flood.
I love love love how present and active the Lord is right now,
No wonder there are storms swirling in the heavens,
There is warring in spiritual places,
As God hears your cry and is fighting for you.
He has not forgotten you.
Be strong.
Press into his presence
in whatever way his Spirit is drawing you <3
~ a note I sent to a friend after our conversation this morning in the cafe after church...
"Michelle, remember the part I asked you to repeat this morning as you were sharing some things with me.. it was a key peice to understanding what God has been speaking on so many levels lately about the cross.. on the way home from church I was listening to this song, and a light went on.. and everything swirling around in my spirit fell into place as I remembered what you said.. about having to see one thing to fully understand the power of another.. God is so incredible how he speaks to several and brings it together to form a whole.. to make us whole.. as individuals.. and as the church.. good good stuff."
~ The word to the broken..
"See the King upon the Cross.
See the King upon his Throne.
Know the Power of our God.
Surrender all.
Rise and be healed."
~ Logic would say that you must first be healed before you can stand up..
but not so with God.. not so with faith.. not so with miracles..
In every case in Scripture.. the command was RISE.. and then WALK.
You must stand in the strength and faith that God imparts to you,
in your brokenness... and then..
you will WALK in the fullness of your healing.
Whether physical healing, emotional, or whatever..
That standing, that rising up.. in your brokenness, despite the fear, despite the pain or difficulty, despite anything and everything that tries to discourage you or that tells you you can't..
RISE, in your brokenness.. and as you WALK it out, you will know the fullness of being made whole
Luke 5:23
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, RISE UP AND WALK?
John 5:8
Jesus saith unto him, RISE, TAKE UP THY BED, AND WALK.
Acts 3:6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth RISE UP AND WALK.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Say it...
Have we failed in many ways?...
What is it that we deserve...
How can we repay what is beyond our poverty..
Who would want us now..
What worth is there in a fallen creation..
What beauty in the ugliness of our sin..
the arrogance of our rebellion..
the bad choices we made in our selfishness..
And yet.. God has not given up on us..
He has not abandoned us..
He refuses to walk away..
He reaches out with miracles in mind..
with love and tender mercies..
with plans of healing and undeserved grace
to restore our joy..
Listen.
He is calling in the darkness..
Above the roar of the storm..
Despite our weakness and inability to hold on..
He is saying your name..
Speaking the truth..
Imparting hope and encouragement and strength..
Look.
The Wings of the morning are on the horizon..
The Light is dissipating the clouds..
Calming the winds..
Stilling the deep water..
And his hand is reaching out..
to you.
He will not relent.
He will not give up on you.
Speak his name.
Say it..
"I am here Lord...
And there is nothing I want more than you."
What is it that we deserve...
How can we repay what is beyond our poverty..
Who would want us now..
What worth is there in a fallen creation..
What beauty in the ugliness of our sin..
the arrogance of our rebellion..
the bad choices we made in our selfishness..
And yet.. God has not given up on us..
He has not abandoned us..
He refuses to walk away..
He reaches out with miracles in mind..
with love and tender mercies..
with plans of healing and undeserved grace
to restore our joy..
Listen.
He is calling in the darkness..
Above the roar of the storm..
Despite our weakness and inability to hold on..
He is saying your name..
Speaking the truth..
Imparting hope and encouragement and strength..
Look.
The Wings of the morning are on the horizon..
The Light is dissipating the clouds..
Calming the winds..
Stilling the deep water..
And his hand is reaching out..
to you.
He will not relent.
He will not give up on you.
Speak his name.
Say it..
"I am here Lord...
And there is nothing I want more than you."
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