Hebrews 11:5
By FAITH Enoch was taken from this life, so that he would not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Pleased God...how can I please God? How can you please God?
How close are you to God? Did you know that it is you that determines how intimate you are with God? Not God! You are as close to God as you choose to be. It is us!! Does that shock some of you? It does me! Enoch was not satisfied just settling for acknowledgement of God's existence. He had a personal dynamic relationship with God that transformed his life! He was seeking God and found him. Enoch enjoyed such a close intimate relationship with God that he did not see DEATH! Wow. Basically the Lord said to Enoch that "I can't take you any further in the flesh. To increase my intimacy with you, I have to bring you to my side." So he whisked Enoch away to Glory! This is a true testimony to what it means to truly walk in faith. Intimacy with the Father is our choice. So...how in touch are you with the Father? Remember God delights in your presence! DELIGHTS! Can you image that?
The Lord enjoyed Enoch so much that he brought him home with him so he could be with him all the time. Do not forget that Enoch was completely human, but chose to have the closet possible relationship with God that any human could enjoy! I challenge myself and you this week, let's step it up and increase our intimacy with the Father. He loves you and wants to spend time with you. Intimacy pleases God. Read his word back to him and talk with him. Trust him even if you're being pruned this week. Remember if you are in a hot spot, God has not taken his eyes off of you. Your name is engraved in the palm of his hands.
Enoch's life was a description of a faithful man's life. Enoch walked with God. I want that. I want to walk with God. It is up to us. Let us change our testimony of what it means to truly walk with God in faith. Seek and you shall find. I pray for anyone reading this today ...
Father please show us how to increase our intimacy with you. Help us to step it up and have the closest relationship with you humanly possible. Let us feel your amazing presence as we spend time with you. We love you Lord and praise your precious name. Amen.
Blessings,
Robbie
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
THE PAST....
As many of you know my father has been dealing with the new diagnosis of multiple myeloma. When I first heard the news and came down to help and "assess" the situation I was very overwhelmed with all that I saw and took in those few days that I was here. I really had to learn how to draw my strength from the Lord. It is not easy to walk through something that you have no control over and to sit back and wait (something I am not good at). However, God is the Master of encouraging us to wait...
Isaiah 40:31 says
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."
Well, guess what...I was weak, I couldn't run, I was weary, I wanted to faint....But God taught me to lean on Him, to take His hand, to be renewed and restored, and rejuvinated in Him and through Him. I found strength in the waiting. I found peace in the waiting. I learned how to totally give a situation over to my Father God and let Him handle it and me.
Today (Saturday) I am again at my fathers, and I can see such a difference in his spirit and in his body. This time, I see a change...I see THE change. God's healing hands have again reached down from above and touched someone very dear to me, and I am very thankful and blessed to have been able to witness this.
I know that God holds everything in His hands. I know that God is in control. I know that God's ways and thoughts are not ours. I know these things....but when we are tested, when we are challenged, when we have to walk through situations that none of us really want to walk through...we freeze, we panic, we melt....and that is when God comes in, picks us up, gets control of us first of all, and then teaches us HOW to walk through these times. He teaches us how to be patient and how to wait and how to truly draw strength from Him. What better way to learn than to walk through it and see it unfold in front of your eyes. I am definitely one that learns from seeing, not just telling.
So anyway, this time as my mother and I went to the grocery store in the town that I grew up in and where I went to school, I spent a few minutes driving by my old highschool and football field. Now not everyone knows me, but I have not always been the "good Christian" lady that I try to be now. But today, I got to go back into my past a bit and instead of driving around it trying to avoid it, I was able to look at it, looking back at my past and remembering all of the fun, good times that I did have. For so long I have avoided my past for many different reasons, but today I saw it and enjoyed looking at it. Not everything in our past is always bad, but we let the few things that were make us avoid the whole time all together.
It's funny how as an adult we sometimes feel that we cannot be childlike and that we have to be adult all of the time. God called the little children to Him. Sometimes we need to be childlike again, feel those feelings of fun times with the Lord, be able to sit and listen and wait on God to teach us or speak to us instead of rushing through our day and not looking at the surroundings that God places us in...God may put us in our past, looking at old football fields because He wants to teach us how to run. Who knows what God may want to show us in our everyday walk with Him.
As many of you know my father has been dealing with the new diagnosis of multiple myeloma. When I first heard the news and came down to help and "assess" the situation I was very overwhelmed with all that I saw and took in those few days that I was here. I really had to learn how to draw my strength from the Lord. It is not easy to walk through something that you have no control over and to sit back and wait (something I am not good at). However, God is the Master of encouraging us to wait...
Isaiah 40:31 says
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."
Well, guess what...I was weak, I couldn't run, I was weary, I wanted to faint....But God taught me to lean on Him, to take His hand, to be renewed and restored, and rejuvinated in Him and through Him. I found strength in the waiting. I found peace in the waiting. I learned how to totally give a situation over to my Father God and let Him handle it and me.
Today (Saturday) I am again at my fathers, and I can see such a difference in his spirit and in his body. This time, I see a change...I see THE change. God's healing hands have again reached down from above and touched someone very dear to me, and I am very thankful and blessed to have been able to witness this.
I know that God holds everything in His hands. I know that God is in control. I know that God's ways and thoughts are not ours. I know these things....but when we are tested, when we are challenged, when we have to walk through situations that none of us really want to walk through...we freeze, we panic, we melt....and that is when God comes in, picks us up, gets control of us first of all, and then teaches us HOW to walk through these times. He teaches us how to be patient and how to wait and how to truly draw strength from Him. What better way to learn than to walk through it and see it unfold in front of your eyes. I am definitely one that learns from seeing, not just telling.
So anyway, this time as my mother and I went to the grocery store in the town that I grew up in and where I went to school, I spent a few minutes driving by my old highschool and football field. Now not everyone knows me, but I have not always been the "good Christian" lady that I try to be now. But today, I got to go back into my past a bit and instead of driving around it trying to avoid it, I was able to look at it, looking back at my past and remembering all of the fun, good times that I did have. For so long I have avoided my past for many different reasons, but today I saw it and enjoyed looking at it. Not everything in our past is always bad, but we let the few things that were make us avoid the whole time all together.
It's funny how as an adult we sometimes feel that we cannot be childlike and that we have to be adult all of the time. God called the little children to Him. Sometimes we need to be childlike again, feel those feelings of fun times with the Lord, be able to sit and listen and wait on God to teach us or speak to us instead of rushing through our day and not looking at the surroundings that God places us in...God may put us in our past, looking at old football fields because He wants to teach us how to run. Who knows what God may want to show us in our everyday walk with Him.
I know that many of us may have an "ugly" past...things that we would rather forget about, and sometimes God allows that to happen, but sometimes He leaves the "ugly" past there so that He can use it one day for His glory. Maybe someone needs to look at their past, face it head on, and see what it is God wants to do with it or with you. My past was not as bad as I thought or made it out to be. I had a lot of really good times and I praise God that He has freed me to talk about those times without feeling ashamed or wanting to sweep them under the rug and forget about them. God molded me into the woman of God that I am RIGHT now and without my past I wouldn't be this woman.
Don't get me wrong...I know that our past is forgotten and washed away as far as the east is from the west...I'm not trying to bring things up that will condemn you. The devil is here to condemn us...God is here to convict us. God will bring it up to change us and make us more like Him. The devil's plan is to condemn you of it and make you feel guilty and so far from God that you don't even know who you are in your walk with Christ.
Child of God, Woman and Man of God, you are loved RIGHT now by the Most High King. No matter what you have done in your past, God will love you and does love you.
You cannot change that love. Your past will not change that love. He loved you then, He loved you through it, and He will love you unconditionally forevermore.
So, I have jumped from one thing to another and I am sorry. But I wanted to share this with you. I have seen God's hand and felt His love this weekend as I allowed Him to walk with me. Without Him I am nothing, helpless, and scared. I have to have Him. He IS my strength.
Continue to seek His face and as you seek him you WILL find Him.
Jennifer
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
This scripture was brought to my mind as I talked with my brother tonight. We did not get along growing up and were always fighting. The only thing we were in agreement about was that we dreaded devotions and prayer time. We would roll our eyes at each other and moan in misery. Even though we were not really listening to the scriptures and prayers, a seed was being planted. Our parents lifted us up daily in prayer and gave us over to God. We were not bad kids, but we both had periods of rebellion. My brother was in constant trouble when he was a teenager and when old enough decided to join the Army. This decision probably saved his life. He now lives a Godly life with his beautiful family in Atlanta. I can see God moving in both of our lives. Our parents prayers were answered. They knew that alone they could not save us, but trusting in God and giving us up to him that he would take care of us. We cannot change people no matter how hard we try. All we can do is pray for them and let them see Christ living through us. My parents did that, and we owe them everything. We did not have all the material things growing up, but we did have everything we needed. But what are parents gave us was Jesus. They showed us how to have a personal relationship with him. This was the best gift. An eternal one that our heavenly father gave us.
So no matter what is going on in our lives and with our kids, just know that God is there. He hears our cry. Give them to God. Live a life that our kids will see Jesus and know that no matter what, Jesus is there for us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. God bless you and keep you.
Amy
This scripture was brought to my mind as I talked with my brother tonight. We did not get along growing up and were always fighting. The only thing we were in agreement about was that we dreaded devotions and prayer time. We would roll our eyes at each other and moan in misery. Even though we were not really listening to the scriptures and prayers, a seed was being planted. Our parents lifted us up daily in prayer and gave us over to God. We were not bad kids, but we both had periods of rebellion. My brother was in constant trouble when he was a teenager and when old enough decided to join the Army. This decision probably saved his life. He now lives a Godly life with his beautiful family in Atlanta. I can see God moving in both of our lives. Our parents prayers were answered. They knew that alone they could not save us, but trusting in God and giving us up to him that he would take care of us. We cannot change people no matter how hard we try. All we can do is pray for them and let them see Christ living through us. My parents did that, and we owe them everything. We did not have all the material things growing up, but we did have everything we needed. But what are parents gave us was Jesus. They showed us how to have a personal relationship with him. This was the best gift. An eternal one that our heavenly father gave us.
So no matter what is going on in our lives and with our kids, just know that God is there. He hears our cry. Give them to God. Live a life that our kids will see Jesus and know that no matter what, Jesus is there for us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. God bless you and keep you.
Amy
Friday, January 22, 2010
Reflection......
Wow, life has been a little strange and stressful lately. Two of my girls came home from school with head lice this week . Yes I know that is gross! I have frantically worked to kill lice and remove nits in their heads and in the house. It amazes me that we will apply poison to our children's head to make it all go away. Although it did kill the bugs, it left behind these tiny little eggs throughout their hair called nits. During many hours of taking this tiny comb and combing through my girls' hair I thought about when Jesus washes away our sins...no matter how big or ugly our sin is. What would it be like to be forgiven but to wear the sin on us like nits (lice eggs) all over our entire body so everyone could see? No matter how much you washed or scrubbed, the sins (nits) would not come off.
Through this huge inconvenience in our lives I kept asking God, "What is it that you are trying to teach me through this? Is it patience, or is it to be STILL?"
How precious is YOUR TIME? I know my time is precious to me and there is never enough hours in the day for me to get done all that I need to. God only wants to spend time with us. He enjoys your presence. I have not spent the time with him lately that I needed to. Although my heart longs for him, it is very hard to stop and be still with Him.
As I covered a Costco size jar of Mayo onto my children's scalp (because I was scared to death the poison wouldn't be enough) and made them sleep with it on their heads with a shower cap on, my youngest broke down and cried out "Why do I have to go through this? Why would God allow this to happen to me?" It broke my heart. They know that God is so good and they have been taught how much He loves them. She cried for an hour and kept asking "WHY???"
Isn't that how most of us feel on a regular basis? We know God is good but when things in our life don't seem to be going our way we look up and shake our fist and ask "WHY???" Is that our view of God? We use Him like a shopping mall visiting him when we have a special occasion, something big in our lives? Then we leave and never return to Him until we need another new outfit? So why do we continue to repeat this cycle over and over again in our lives? Why is it that so many will never know Him or have a relationship with Him but freely call themselves Christians? We are a chosen generation (people). God has a plan for our lives and we continue to take our lives into our own powerless little hands and live how we want to live. In a world that teaches even our children to let it be all about them. We are forgiven walking around covered by the blood of Jesus (mayo) but still carry the nits of our past inside of us not believing we are forgiven.
As I comforted her through this trial in her life and held her while she cried, I explained how God does love us and sometimes life is just hard. I explained to her that sometimes things are allowed in our life to build our FAITH. God doesn't cause bad things to happen...BUT sometimes He may allow things to happen because He needs to burn off the impurities. We are made in God's likeness. Here's a great illustration:
Look up the verse today in Malachi chapter 3:
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...."
What does this verse mean? What is Refining Silver?
A silversmith will start out by holding a piece of silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are the hottest so the fire will burn away all the impurities.
God holds us sometimes in a very hot spot. Think about this verse again: "HE SHALL SIT AS A REFINER AND A PURIFIER OF SILVER....." A silversmith HAS to not only sit there and hold the silver, but he can't take his eyes off of the silver. If the silver is left in the flames too long, it would be destroyed. The silversmith knows when the silver is fully refined only when he can see his IMAGE REFLECTED IN IT!!! Wow God is amazing! He has to burn away all the impurities in our lives until He can see His reflection in us; we are made in His image. God never takes His eyes off of us when we are in the middle of the hottest fire. He stands with us, never leaving until His reflection is seen. No matter how bad things can get, no matter how hot that FIRE is , even when you can't see Him, feel Him, or touch Him, remember He has not taken his EYES off of you or you would be destroyed.
I hope this speaks to someone today that when things in our life seem to be out of control , try and look to God to see if it is for your own good. I don't want to walk around anymore caring my nits (sins) on my body. I am the daughter of the Most High King and so are you. Stand bold in our Faith, BELIEVE you are forgiven.
I am convinced today that my father allowed this week to be out of my control, I needed to BE STILL and spend some time in His presence. I praise Him that He loves me enough to slow me down to spend some time with Him.
I want more than anything for God to see His reflection in me. Lets try together this week to say "burn it off Father, until you see your reflection in me."
Praise Him today and even when things are bad, instead of saying "WHY ME?" ask Him
"WHAT'S NEXT?"
Blessings,
Robbie
Through this huge inconvenience in our lives I kept asking God, "What is it that you are trying to teach me through this? Is it patience, or is it to be STILL?"
How precious is YOUR TIME? I know my time is precious to me and there is never enough hours in the day for me to get done all that I need to. God only wants to spend time with us. He enjoys your presence. I have not spent the time with him lately that I needed to. Although my heart longs for him, it is very hard to stop and be still with Him.
As I covered a Costco size jar of Mayo onto my children's scalp (because I was scared to death the poison wouldn't be enough) and made them sleep with it on their heads with a shower cap on, my youngest broke down and cried out "Why do I have to go through this? Why would God allow this to happen to me?" It broke my heart. They know that God is so good and they have been taught how much He loves them. She cried for an hour and kept asking "WHY???"
Isn't that how most of us feel on a regular basis? We know God is good but when things in our life don't seem to be going our way we look up and shake our fist and ask "WHY???" Is that our view of God? We use Him like a shopping mall visiting him when we have a special occasion, something big in our lives? Then we leave and never return to Him until we need another new outfit? So why do we continue to repeat this cycle over and over again in our lives? Why is it that so many will never know Him or have a relationship with Him but freely call themselves Christians? We are a chosen generation (people). God has a plan for our lives and we continue to take our lives into our own powerless little hands and live how we want to live. In a world that teaches even our children to let it be all about them. We are forgiven walking around covered by the blood of Jesus (mayo) but still carry the nits of our past inside of us not believing we are forgiven.
As I comforted her through this trial in her life and held her while she cried, I explained how God does love us and sometimes life is just hard. I explained to her that sometimes things are allowed in our life to build our FAITH. God doesn't cause bad things to happen...BUT sometimes He may allow things to happen because He needs to burn off the impurities. We are made in God's likeness. Here's a great illustration:
Look up the verse today in Malachi chapter 3:
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...."
What does this verse mean? What is Refining Silver?
A silversmith will start out by holding a piece of silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are the hottest so the fire will burn away all the impurities.
God holds us sometimes in a very hot spot. Think about this verse again: "HE SHALL SIT AS A REFINER AND A PURIFIER OF SILVER....." A silversmith HAS to not only sit there and hold the silver, but he can't take his eyes off of the silver. If the silver is left in the flames too long, it would be destroyed. The silversmith knows when the silver is fully refined only when he can see his IMAGE REFLECTED IN IT!!! Wow God is amazing! He has to burn away all the impurities in our lives until He can see His reflection in us; we are made in His image. God never takes His eyes off of us when we are in the middle of the hottest fire. He stands with us, never leaving until His reflection is seen. No matter how bad things can get, no matter how hot that FIRE is , even when you can't see Him, feel Him, or touch Him, remember He has not taken his EYES off of you or you would be destroyed.
I hope this speaks to someone today that when things in our life seem to be out of control , try and look to God to see if it is for your own good. I don't want to walk around anymore caring my nits (sins) on my body. I am the daughter of the Most High King and so are you. Stand bold in our Faith, BELIEVE you are forgiven.
I am convinced today that my father allowed this week to be out of my control, I needed to BE STILL and spend some time in His presence. I praise Him that He loves me enough to slow me down to spend some time with Him.
I want more than anything for God to see His reflection in me. Lets try together this week to say "burn it off Father, until you see your reflection in me."
Praise Him today and even when things are bad, instead of saying "WHY ME?" ask Him
"WHAT'S NEXT?"
Blessings,
Robbie
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Psalms 27:7-14
This psalm is one of my favorite psalms. I often open this page up in my bible and with my face on the ground, I pray this psalm to God. I ask Him to hear my voice. I am confident in the Lord and the knowing that one day I will see the Father face to face and all of the things of this world will be erased...all sickness, all meanness, all hurt, all pain, all filth, all anger, all pride, all disrespect, all division, all things that are not of Him will be gone and we will stand with the Father in all of His glory. The very last verse of this chapter has brought me through some very hard times in my life. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." If it is mentioned twice in 1 verse then it needs attention paid to it. "WAIT FOR THE LORD".
"Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord."
As we steadily seek God's face and not what He can DO for us, we have to be strong and wait for Him to move. Remember....His timing is different from ours...Wait for Him.
Jennifer
This psalm is one of my favorite psalms. I often open this page up in my bible and with my face on the ground, I pray this psalm to God. I ask Him to hear my voice. I am confident in the Lord and the knowing that one day I will see the Father face to face and all of the things of this world will be erased...all sickness, all meanness, all hurt, all pain, all filth, all anger, all pride, all disrespect, all division, all things that are not of Him will be gone and we will stand with the Father in all of His glory. The very last verse of this chapter has brought me through some very hard times in my life. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." If it is mentioned twice in 1 verse then it needs attention paid to it. "WAIT FOR THE LORD".
"Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord."
As we steadily seek God's face and not what He can DO for us, we have to be strong and wait for Him to move. Remember....His timing is different from ours...Wait for Him.
Jennifer
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I'm stealing this story from someone dear to me but it really was a good illustration and wanted to share (hope you don't mind Cheryl).
She told her son (under the age of 2 I think) that they were going to the park. So her son got excited as she gathered up all of the stuff to go. Of course, her son no more knew what the "park" was....he just thought they were going outside to play. So as they walked outside, her son was fine UNTIL she went to put him in the car. He then started pitching a fit. He didn't understand why they were going bye bye instead of playing outside. He didn't know that mommy had something so much more for him than just playing outside.
God showed her that we are like that. He has big plans for our lives and we get ready to go "outside" and play but God wants to take us down the road to this big "park" so we can run and swing and play. When He goes to take us, we squirm a little, arching our backs, getting uncomfortable, asking, "why don't we just stay here and play Lord?". We have no idea what God has planned for us and yet we decide we don't like it before we even get there.
What if God has a huge field up ahead that He wants you to be in where you can play and learn and grow and minister to the hurting? And yet we choose to stay in our own backyard and play in the dirt and ride our bikes in circles. Will we get to experience the true glory of God?
The bible says to "Go into all of the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15).
We have to stop pitching grown up fits when God tells us He has something for us to do today. We have to stop arching our backs when He puts us in our carseats. We have to stop kicking and screaming when He shuts the door and gets in the driver seat to take us where He wants us to go.
God has a plan for your life. God has a destiny for you. God wants to take you somewhere so big with Him. We just have to stop what we are doing, take a deep breathe, admit that it may not look like what we expected or it doesn't look like where He said He was taking us, and just BELIEVE that God will take us somewhere so much better than where we may be at right now.
Submit to the calling. Submit to the voice of God speaking to you even right now.
And open your eyes to see the most beautiful "park" in the world.
God Bless You Today,
Jennifer
She told her son (under the age of 2 I think) that they were going to the park. So her son got excited as she gathered up all of the stuff to go. Of course, her son no more knew what the "park" was....he just thought they were going outside to play. So as they walked outside, her son was fine UNTIL she went to put him in the car. He then started pitching a fit. He didn't understand why they were going bye bye instead of playing outside. He didn't know that mommy had something so much more for him than just playing outside.
God showed her that we are like that. He has big plans for our lives and we get ready to go "outside" and play but God wants to take us down the road to this big "park" so we can run and swing and play. When He goes to take us, we squirm a little, arching our backs, getting uncomfortable, asking, "why don't we just stay here and play Lord?". We have no idea what God has planned for us and yet we decide we don't like it before we even get there.
What if God has a huge field up ahead that He wants you to be in where you can play and learn and grow and minister to the hurting? And yet we choose to stay in our own backyard and play in the dirt and ride our bikes in circles. Will we get to experience the true glory of God?
The bible says to "Go into all of the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15).
We have to stop pitching grown up fits when God tells us He has something for us to do today. We have to stop arching our backs when He puts us in our carseats. We have to stop kicking and screaming when He shuts the door and gets in the driver seat to take us where He wants us to go.
God has a plan for your life. God has a destiny for you. God wants to take you somewhere so big with Him. We just have to stop what we are doing, take a deep breathe, admit that it may not look like what we expected or it doesn't look like where He said He was taking us, and just BELIEVE that God will take us somewhere so much better than where we may be at right now.
Submit to the calling. Submit to the voice of God speaking to you even right now.
And open your eyes to see the most beautiful "park" in the world.
God Bless You Today,
Jennifer
Monday, January 18, 2010
As I study the word tonight God takes me to Philippians. There are so many scriptures in this book that speak to me, but God keeps taking me back to Philippians 1:9-11.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God."
Paul is speaking to the church in Philippi and all the followers of Jesus.
Lord, I pray that our love abounds more and more, that you consume us like a burning fire for you and for that closeness with you. Father, those that have never experienced that closeness with the Father, I pray that you come to them where they are at and visit with them. Hold them, let them feel you, and as they seek you more I pray that they find you there waiting on them.
We ask for the knowledge of the word to come alive to us. Are we studying God's word and asking the Holy Spirit to speak to us through it? It is alive. It is here to minister to us and give us insight on our destiny, our future.
To know Christ is our ultimate goal. To know the Father, to truly KNOW Him, to get so inlove with His word that we study it and actually Know Him. How can we know our friends if we don't spend time with them, if we don't talk to them, read about their life?
We must fall inlove with God and let that love bring us into that closeness with the Father so that the knowledge of Him abounds in us and so that we can in turn "discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ" (1:10).
I desire to know God more than ever before in my walk, and I have been saved for 13 years now. The season that God has me in right now is so different from any other season.
God will bestow more on us as we learn more about Him and as we take what He gives us and cherish it, holding it dear to our heart. As we draw closer to Him, we learn His ways and His actions, we feel with His heart and see with His eyes. Our loving becomes more like His. Am I there yet? No, not in all things, but I desire to be.
Surrender to the Father every ounce of your being. Give yourself wholly to Him and study His word daily. Meditate on it, even when it doesn't make sense. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through it. God's love will abound more and more in knowledge.
You will feel Him in your life, you will see Him in your life, others will start to see Him in your life.
Surrender to the Father.
Jennifer
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God."
Paul is speaking to the church in Philippi and all the followers of Jesus.
Lord, I pray that our love abounds more and more, that you consume us like a burning fire for you and for that closeness with you. Father, those that have never experienced that closeness with the Father, I pray that you come to them where they are at and visit with them. Hold them, let them feel you, and as they seek you more I pray that they find you there waiting on them.
We ask for the knowledge of the word to come alive to us. Are we studying God's word and asking the Holy Spirit to speak to us through it? It is alive. It is here to minister to us and give us insight on our destiny, our future.
To know Christ is our ultimate goal. To know the Father, to truly KNOW Him, to get so inlove with His word that we study it and actually Know Him. How can we know our friends if we don't spend time with them, if we don't talk to them, read about their life?
We must fall inlove with God and let that love bring us into that closeness with the Father so that the knowledge of Him abounds in us and so that we can in turn "discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ" (1:10).
I desire to know God more than ever before in my walk, and I have been saved for 13 years now. The season that God has me in right now is so different from any other season.
God will bestow more on us as we learn more about Him and as we take what He gives us and cherish it, holding it dear to our heart. As we draw closer to Him, we learn His ways and His actions, we feel with His heart and see with His eyes. Our loving becomes more like His. Am I there yet? No, not in all things, but I desire to be.
Surrender to the Father every ounce of your being. Give yourself wholly to Him and study His word daily. Meditate on it, even when it doesn't make sense. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through it. God's love will abound more and more in knowledge.
You will feel Him in your life, you will see Him in your life, others will start to see Him in your life.
Surrender to the Father.
Jennifer
Sunday, January 17, 2010
I sat in church today and as I listened to the message I asked myself, "why is it so hard to trust God?" What is it in our lives that makes us not believe that our God CAN do all things, that He can and will do the impossibilites in our lives? God has or will (at some point in your life) speak to you about something He is calling you to do, and in the fleshly, earthly self it does not seem possible. It makes no sense. Even if you get excited about it and start to plan it out, you come back to reality at some point and dismiss the idea because of the lack of knowledge in that area, fear, lack of financial support, distraction, or many other things that our mind likes to fill us with. But, when you have that burning desire deep down in your gut and you cannot let it go, then you HAVE to believe that even if it sounds crazy to your family, or crazy to your friends, or crazy to you, it still must be done.
As many of my facebook friends know, I will be leaving for Guatemala the end of March. I have been faced with a huge distraction the past few weeks that could, no it does, make me want to turn and walk away from this trip. But, as I sat in church I realized that God planted this in me, He created me to do this, He opened this door for me to walk through, and who am I to say no to the King of Kings and Lord of all Lords? The obstacles that arise with a trip like this are usually to be expected, but when they come it is hard to face. We have to believe and know that God will do the impossibilites in our lives. God is in the business of doing the impossible. He makes a way where there seems to be no way at all. He provides when there seems to be no provision. He heals when there seems to be death all around. Our God, who spoke this trip into my heart, will make a way. I cannot let the things of this earth pull me away from my destiny.
As a Yahweh sister, doing this medical missions trip is part of our ministry. I am called by the Most High God to go and I cannot say no to Him.
Maybe God is speaking to you about something that doesn't seem possible on this earth. It seems absolutely crazy and bizarre to imagine, but God can do this beloved one. He can and He will. Trust Him. Ask Him. Then believe Him for it.
In God's Timing
Jennifer
As many of my facebook friends know, I will be leaving for Guatemala the end of March. I have been faced with a huge distraction the past few weeks that could, no it does, make me want to turn and walk away from this trip. But, as I sat in church I realized that God planted this in me, He created me to do this, He opened this door for me to walk through, and who am I to say no to the King of Kings and Lord of all Lords? The obstacles that arise with a trip like this are usually to be expected, but when they come it is hard to face. We have to believe and know that God will do the impossibilites in our lives. God is in the business of doing the impossible. He makes a way where there seems to be no way at all. He provides when there seems to be no provision. He heals when there seems to be death all around. Our God, who spoke this trip into my heart, will make a way. I cannot let the things of this earth pull me away from my destiny.
As a Yahweh sister, doing this medical missions trip is part of our ministry. I am called by the Most High God to go and I cannot say no to Him.
Maybe God is speaking to you about something that doesn't seem possible on this earth. It seems absolutely crazy and bizarre to imagine, but God can do this beloved one. He can and He will. Trust Him. Ask Him. Then believe Him for it.
In God's Timing
Jennifer
Thursday, January 14, 2010
This is my first entry. I am the third Yahweh sister, one of the cords from a strand that is not easily broken. One of my " New Years resolutions" is to read the bible through. Already behind, I race to get caught up. God gently says to me, "slow down and hear what I have to say". How often do we get on our knees and cry out to God, begging Him to speak to us and to show us the way. Then we wait, going on with our frustrated and busy lives, but still not truly listening. God's answers and all the help we need are in His word. Are we taking the time to spend time with Him in His word? As said in one of my daily bible readings, " It is not life and its difficulties you have to conquer, only the self in you." Wow, how true. Often God has answered our prayers and has forgiven our sins, but it is us, our flesh, that will hold on to something. Today lets move on. Once we pray for forgiveness or lay our burdens at the cross.. Get up and go. Read your bible daily, pray without ceasing, and surround yourself with christian friends and family. Spend time with Him. Have you ever had a problem or something exciting to share? You call everyone you know and the phone is busy or they will not pick up the phone. I know when this happens to me I get mad or pout, "why can't my friends be there for me?". And then my heart softens as I hear God saying to me, "child I'm here. I want to know you and what makes you sad or happy. I am here for you". When you feel all alone, please know that you are not. God is there and believe it or not he wants our companionship. He loves us, unconditionally. Reach out to him today. I am. Right now. Father God, thank you for being there for me and allowing your son to die on the cross for me. I am important to you. I will go now and serve you. Keep me strong and focused on you. Amen.
Amy
Amy
Good morning. As this day begins, I pray for God's abundance of joy to overflow in your heart today. Whatever it is that you face, face it with the understanding that God's grace IS sufficient for what you will face today. It is new every morning. Study God's word today with a fresh eye on what it is He wants to teach you. Learn about God's love and mercy, His strength when you are weak, His call for your life. Ask God today to show you SOMETHING as you earnestly SEEK His face. Do not seek what God can do for you, but what you will do for Him. Seek His face and not His hands. Fasting and prayer time will bring you closer to the heart of God. You will begin to experience things and see things in a new way. Dare yourself to step out into the unknown life that God has for you. You WILL be blessed. God has so much for us to do; yet, we sit in our boxes of "home" and comfort not wanting to venture out into the unknown, the uncomfortable. Beloved one, God may have more joy for you in the uncomfortable places. Step out and see. Seek Him for His guidance today in what it is He has for your life, and be open. Open up your heart to a new season with the Lord. You will begin to hear from God and feel His joy overflowing, and excitement will show on your face, and then you will know that God is moving within your heart.
Wow, I just wanted to write a quick prayer for joy in your life today, but I pray that someone needed this today.
Be open today.
Jennifer
Wow, I just wanted to write a quick prayer for joy in your life today, but I pray that someone needed this today.
Be open today.
Jennifer
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Humble Pie.....
Wow, as I reflect on my life, I truly want it to please God, my Father. I am so unworthy of His presence that He so amazingly gives to me and to you as his children. I am reflecting lately on what it is I have been created for. It is like I want it to be something so big, and my Father is simply saying THIS is big (and I will explain in a minute what THIS is). If you save one child, if you comfort one person-that is so big. Have you ever wondered what is your purpose here on Earth? It is to be a Servant to the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. SERVANT!!!! Why does this one little word create so much controversy? We are here to serve one another. We don't own anything - your money, your home, your job - it is all God's. Why are we so selfish and want to feed the flesh? Our flesh is so strong. The flesh and the spirit cannot co-habitat with one another. One will bow down to the other. When the bible teaches us to die to the flesh daily it is a CHOICE that we have to make.
So, this is the THIS:
For several years now I have had the opportunity through my church to bring a child from Belarus into my home during the summer. I am able to give this child things she never even knew existed (a warm bath, food 3 times a day, dental and medical visits, and so much more). It has become harder on my family because of the age of the child and the age of my children (a house of 4 girls from ages 9-14 last year can be a little crazy). Besides that, the financial demands for bringing her to the states has been a constant stressor in our minds the past few months. One of the ladies that helps head this ministry up just returned from a visit there, and called to inform me of the situation she was faced with while there. What I thought it was like....it wasn't...not even close. My heart broke today as I heard and saw pictures of how this child, MY child now, lives. And, I had the thought of "I'm not sure how I am going to do it this year. I'm not sure if we can do it this year." As I mentioned before, God sometimes shows us the small things that matter more to Him than the big things do at times. God has already placed this ministry in my heart and I cannot let it go to fulfill bigger ones. I have to believe that God will make a way where there seems no way. My God will provide.
Many days I have found myself wanting to know what would it be like to fall hopelessly in love with God. Today I feel I am one step closer to falling in that direction. Help me Jesus. I want to fall ... Lord I am wanting to find you and know you intimately. I want that Lord...I want it even if this Yahweh ministry never grows to anything more than what it is right now. Lord let it be your will. Let me be your hands and your feet on this Earth to work and do as you need me. Use me Father for your Glory and for your Kingdom. Let your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven in my life Lord.
Praise you father...
Thank you Father for humbling me today and making my path clearer and forgiving me.
Blessings,
Robbie
So, this is the THIS:
For several years now I have had the opportunity through my church to bring a child from Belarus into my home during the summer. I am able to give this child things she never even knew existed (a warm bath, food 3 times a day, dental and medical visits, and so much more). It has become harder on my family because of the age of the child and the age of my children (a house of 4 girls from ages 9-14 last year can be a little crazy). Besides that, the financial demands for bringing her to the states has been a constant stressor in our minds the past few months. One of the ladies that helps head this ministry up just returned from a visit there, and called to inform me of the situation she was faced with while there. What I thought it was like....it wasn't...not even close. My heart broke today as I heard and saw pictures of how this child, MY child now, lives. And, I had the thought of "I'm not sure how I am going to do it this year. I'm not sure if we can do it this year." As I mentioned before, God sometimes shows us the small things that matter more to Him than the big things do at times. God has already placed this ministry in my heart and I cannot let it go to fulfill bigger ones. I have to believe that God will make a way where there seems no way. My God will provide.
Many days I have found myself wanting to know what would it be like to fall hopelessly in love with God. Today I feel I am one step closer to falling in that direction. Help me Jesus. I want to fall ... Lord I am wanting to find you and know you intimately. I want that Lord...I want it even if this Yahweh ministry never grows to anything more than what it is right now. Lord let it be your will. Let me be your hands and your feet on this Earth to work and do as you need me. Use me Father for your Glory and for your Kingdom. Let your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven in my life Lord.
Praise you father...
Thank you Father for humbling me today and making my path clearer and forgiving me.
Blessings,
Robbie
As I work so diligently on this site, I reflect back on what all God has worked on in my own life. I go here and there to different websites, other's blog sites, picking backgrounds and extras to adorn our site (with my friend on the phone at the same time). I spend hours on this simple site and for what? Who will see it? Who will read it? Will they even notice the extras or care what the background looks like? God works on us daily. He molds us, teaches us, disciplines us, and picks different backgrounds to place us in the middle of, and how do we look there? What do people say when they read our "words"? Do they even notice the background we are in? Or do they see the very middle where the beauty of the whole page is truly written? Our site doesn't have to be the best; yet, we spend time on it just as God has spent time on us. We've prepared it for others to look at in hopes of someone's life being changed by it, just as God prepares us to go out into the world and preach His word in hopes of changing just one life....if just ONE life can be changed by what we do here. Women, I love the Lord with all of my heart, mind, body, and soul. Could I do more? Absolutely, I'm not perfect. But, I am forgiven and I am continuing to be molded and worked on. God will make you beautiful in HIS eyes to show to the world, even if the background around you doesn't always seem to be the "right" one. Let God change you, mold you, move you from one place to another, and see where you end up and what you end up looking like. You may be suprised. God bless you today.
Jennifer
Jennifer
Monday, January 11, 2010
God has found three women who love him uncondtionally and who have found friendship in one another.
We started out trying to find more of him in any way possible....reading, praise, bible studies,etc. There came a time in our walk with the Father where He turned the pouring into around and began to use us as the vessel to pour out to others. This is how Yahweh Sisters Ministries began.
We are simply three women who have a heart to serve him. After leading a bible study we decided that we needed to do more. We do not have any training from a bible school, we do not claim to know everything, and in fact we do not know half of it. We have our struggles just as many of you do in everyday life. We have children, husbands, jobs, and lifestyles that pull us in all directions just as you may. But the burning desire to reach out and be used by the Father forms us into the Yahweh Sisters.
When we first started talking about what it was we could do, God took us to a scripture..."Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
When a braid of hair is woven together it becomes very strong. When the braid is apart the strands are weak but when you weave them into one braid, it gains strength. The Yahweh Sisters are the same. We are from three different backgrounds, different denominations, and with different callings on our lives, but God has weaved us together to form a braid that is stronger when we are together. We work together, using our gifts to glorify the Father. Each one of us has a different burden, calling, and gift, but the Father has brought us together for a reason, and we pray that the Yahweh Sisters Ministries will come together for that reason. FOR HIM.
We are willing to go wherever the Father takes us. As we continue in the ministry, you will come to know each one of us personally. May God bless you as we go forward with the Father.
We started out trying to find more of him in any way possible....reading, praise, bible studies,etc. There came a time in our walk with the Father where He turned the pouring into around and began to use us as the vessel to pour out to others. This is how Yahweh Sisters Ministries began.
We are simply three women who have a heart to serve him. After leading a bible study we decided that we needed to do more. We do not have any training from a bible school, we do not claim to know everything, and in fact we do not know half of it. We have our struggles just as many of you do in everyday life. We have children, husbands, jobs, and lifestyles that pull us in all directions just as you may. But the burning desire to reach out and be used by the Father forms us into the Yahweh Sisters.
When we first started talking about what it was we could do, God took us to a scripture..."Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
When a braid of hair is woven together it becomes very strong. When the braid is apart the strands are weak but when you weave them into one braid, it gains strength. The Yahweh Sisters are the same. We are from three different backgrounds, different denominations, and with different callings on our lives, but God has weaved us together to form a braid that is stronger when we are together. We work together, using our gifts to glorify the Father. Each one of us has a different burden, calling, and gift, but the Father has brought us together for a reason, and we pray that the Yahweh Sisters Ministries will come together for that reason. FOR HIM.
We are willing to go wherever the Father takes us. As we continue in the ministry, you will come to know each one of us personally. May God bless you as we go forward with the Father.
So, this is our first night on our new blog for the Yahweh Sisters Ministries. WOW. We have a lot of work to do on here and for the Kingdom, but Praise God that we are moving forward. Yahweh Sisters Minstries has been birthed and in the works for about 1 year now. What God will do with our ministry this year is somewhat unknown at this time but we do know that God WILL do something. Tonight, I sit here and look at the work my sister in Christ has done to this blog and other stuff in our ministry birthing and I am in awe of how God brings things together in His timing. The beauty of it all makes sense in those moments and sometimes those moments only last for a second, but that beauty at that moment is breathtaking and precious. There are three of us in this ministry (as you will read about under ABOUT ME) and we will all periodically add things God has layed on our hearts at different times. Our purpose through this ministry is to Glorify God and to Serve God by and through Serving Women here on earth. That serving may come through prayer, words of encouragement, bible studies, and other ways, but however God wants to use us for that purpose we are open and willing to do for Him. We have a lot of work to do and I pray that you find encouragement through this blog. Let God move this coming year.
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