WHO ARE WE REFLECTING?
Today is the 12th, a day or order, specifically Godly order. The world appears to be going through a lot of really difficult stuff. BUT, GOD will use the foolish things to confound the wise. So the question on the table is, “Who are WE reflecting?” Because so many look around and see a lot of Christian people stabbing each other in the back. In some cases, even literally. It is not always a brother loving brother or sister loving sister. Yet, the word says, they will know us by our LOVE. We must increasingly let GOD heal us, so HE is reflecting in us.
Therefore, this MUST change. Because, as one person in ministry put it, ALL of us would go to HELL, if it did not. So are we consistently surrendering to and serving God, or the world? I can tell you, that we served God in the world, but often fell into traps of the world. An example is language. God has freed us from condemnation. We speak as He leads. When we speak and He does not, we apologize, repent and ask HIM alone to transform our tongue.
If we do NOT do this, we will likely speak more death than life. GOD is the author and perfector of our faith. He is the one who challenges us. He alone is the one who humbles us. I remember one day my husband David saying something important. He was being used by God to minister to someone, a brother in Christ. The words used were, “YOU must be so hidden in GOD, that she must seek GOD to find you.”
I recall hearing D say this, and thinking something to myself. I thought, “wow, he really has been listening.” It was a very beautiful gift to hear this. Because as many of you know, our marriage, has not always been a bountiful picnic. But GOD. He truly resurrects it daily, and WE are beyond words grateful.
God has taught, and continues to teach us to be REAL, RAW and RELATIONAL. He consistently reminds us that it ALL about HE in us and in others. That we cannot mess it up, as long as we choose HIM, and HIS ways and stay surrendered and submitted to HIS promises, and word.
Isaiah 54:10
Amplified Bible (AMP)
10 For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you.
I had a dear friend ask me, “If I believe in her. I said, “Of course I do.” Most of all, I believe in God within her. Because that is more powerful than any amount of darkness that could come against her, or any of us. Truly, GOD is a GOD of GRACE and MERCY. He simple requires us to receive HIS LOVE and ultimately reflect HIM.
This morning, our family got up, at the crack of dawn. I thank GOD because there were some minor groans and such, but overall, everyone did as they were led. The reason we got up so early, is because our daughter begins school soon. She starts one week from today. If we waited until a week from today and said, “It’s time to get up” she would NOT get up. There are preparations that must be done.
This preparation is actually a reflection of GOD. Christ is coming back for a bride that is without spot, or wrinkle. That is what HIS word says. Today the devotion was on shining in the darkness. Specifically, GOD using us to shine HIS LIGHT to ALL we come in contact with. There are many variations of this. Sometimes, just a smile can go a long way. Let HIM lead.
I can be upfront about this fact. When God officially called the ministry to come to pass, we were anything but ready. WE were so bound by so many things. But, He was patient, and kind, and loving with us. He walked us through then, and now each day. He began to show us that we MUST reject the world’s ways to choose HIS.
There was a time I thought I was dependent on GOD. I would share with my spouse, who did not understand, and at times, it felt like he cared less. But, those sharing times, were seeds of LOVE. This was a place where GOD was preparing and tilling the ground. He was the one, using me to plant the seeds, and our daughter, and others in our lives. Those who were NOT speaking in FAITH, He removed for a season.
Because GOD knew the purpose and importance of REFLECTING HIM and not the enemy of our soul. He desired to hunt us down, lovingly and capture our hearts, minds, souls, spirits, and bodies I am so grateful He did. I do NOT have religion, but am so blessed to have GOD as my best friend. Then, to have my husband second, and he be at peace with that. Beyond words and thought honored, to be used by GOD to reflect only HIM.
Romans 8:26
New International Version (NIV)
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
GOD knows when we speak, and HE also knows when evil speaks through us. It is WE who must learn the difference, because for us, and others that GOD loves, it can be the difference in LIFE and DEATH, in some case quite literally.
It is NEVER about us, thinking that is just pride creeping up. WE must hold every thought captive to Christ. It is always and FOREVER abt GOD. IT may be about GOD in us, but not us. GOD is a loving but jealous GOD. He will remove ALL that is in the way of intimacy with HIM. So, if it is being removed, even if we think we did not put it above HIM, we should repent, because likely we did.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Amplified Bible (AMP)
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.
29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;
31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
1 Corinthians 3
Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 However, brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [[a]unable to talk yet!]
2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it],
3 For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?
4 For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not [proving yourselves] ordinary (unchanged) men?
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Ministering servants [not heads of parties] through whom you believed, even as the Lord appointed to each his task:
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.
7 So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow andbecome greater.
8 He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labor.
9 For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s[b]garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building.
10 According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it,
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
12 But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test andcritically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.
14 If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward.
15 But if any person’s work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire.
16 Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you,[c]collectively as a church and also individually]?
17 If anyone [d]does hurt to God’s temple or corrupts it [[e]with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will[f]do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [[g]the believing church and its individual believers] are.
18 Let no person deceive himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may become [really] wise.
19 For this world’s wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness;
20 And again, The Lord knows the thoughts and reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how futile they are.
21 So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours,
22 Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and[h]threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future—all are yours,
23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
This is our prayer LORD…may we ONLY reflect YOU, and YOUR GLORY SHINE!
Whatever it takes LORD, do it. For you alone are worthy. ~ The pictures HERE are images of reflection. I believe, HIS reflection is present here, this day.
I am inserting a link for the book He led me to write. I was a bit apprehensive about doing so, but I pray GOD uses it still, and increases HIS boldness within me as each step of FAITH is taken. The premise of the book is to choose FAITH above FEAR. It is my testimony up to that point. There is a second in this series which will be available soon. May He bless you ALL with HIS seeds.
http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000249071/Walking-the-Line-Between-God-and-Satan.aspx
This song was put in my spirit this morning. I loved it as a kid. God used it to reach me, when faced with darkness. He brought HIS LIGHT of Glory through this music.
PETRA – “This is my prayer”
Words and music by Bob Hartman and John Elefante
Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, Ephesians 6:18-19, Matthew 6:9-13
First I want to thank You Lord for being who You are
For coming to the rescue of a man who’s drifted far
For calling me to be Your son and calling me to serve
Lord the way You’ve blessed my life is more than I deserve
Keep the ones I love so dearly
Fill their emptiness while I am gone
And fill the loneliness in me
(Chorus)
This is my prayer
Lifted to You
Knowing You care even more than I do
This is my prayer
Lifted in Your name
Your will be done I humbly pray
Let me be the evidence of what Your grace can do
To a generations struggling to find themselves in You
May they come to know the love of God
May their eyes be made to see
Give me the opportunity to share the truth that sets them free
And may unity in all things
Be the banner of Your church
And let revival’s fire begin to burn
As we face the last and final hours
Turn a wayward country back to You
And keep us from the evil that devours
Keep us on the path and lead us through
Keep us in Your light until Your kingdom comes
And our work is done
This is my prayer
Lifted to You
Knowing You care so much more than I do
This is my prayer
In Jesus’ name
Your will be done I humbly pray
This is my prayer
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Prayer-lyrics-Petra/5D480BD32E2C886548256DBA002597C1
In His Grace,
E