Our "desires" and God's Will!!

I’m praying for your encouragement today and to turn your mind and hearts to our Father and His incredible plan and purpose that’s on-going around us all the time!

I just received this from Sinikka in Germany...perfectly fits in with the Vine and the Branch #4 that I sent earlier...as Hannah prayed for HER heart’s desire, God had a far different and greater plan...both hers and God’s desire were accomplished simply because the Spirit stirred Her, and as you’ll read, Sinikka’s hearts to pray!! In a first, shallow, unspiritual observation, it may seem that Hannah’s prayer is totally selfish...look again! God moved her heart for a man-child and He had a purpose greater than Hannah’s desire for a baby!! We should always know that God is about His will and His kingdom all the time; once in a while, however, WE get to see it in a personal, remarkable and wonderful way!!

Here’s Sinikka’s story as of Tuesday, 6/30/09:

“OK, i want to tell you guys something creepy and cool at the same time. Now, lets try to stay open minded ok? :-) When the air france plane crashed I had this feeling that God told me to pray for a little child who was in the water all alone. A child who is about 5 years old. So i prayed. it was constantly on my heart. But nothing ever happened. In fact the opposite happened. They found more and more dead bodies. And i thought to myself "well that was a funny thought i had. probably my heart since i love children so much." but God told me to not stop praying. I even woke up a few times in the middle of the night and i felt like the Holy Spirit told me to pray for that child. Now today i read in the newspapers that another airplane crashed. and that a child of the age of five SURVIVED.! Little did i know what i was praying for.“
Sinikka

Jerry
Col 1:18b “...that in all things, Christ might have the supremacy!”

The Vine and the Branch: The state of things and of our hearts!

In the book of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, lead up to and set the stage for the background of 1 & 2nd Samuel. The state of things was pathetic. The High Priest, Eli, was complicit with his apostate sons, Hophni and Phinehas: the Lord said to Samuel through “a man of God”...”You scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor yours sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?

(1 Sam 2: 29/also 2: 12-17)
“The sin of the young men was very great
in the Lord’s sight for they were treating
the Lord’s offering with contempt.” (vs 17)

Not only was the Temple worship and the High Priest and all the Levites in the temple in a mess, the people were as well. Because of what the “leaders” were doing, they were in bondage to the heathen nations surrounding them.

God always has His people in all places. Hannah was childless. He heart was so broken over this and God saw it. God spoke to her and she responded. Give me a man-child and I’ll give him back to you...”...then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (vss 10,11)

One comment on application: All this can never mean to us today what it never meant to them then! We must be very careful in application of all this and remember the players: God, His chosen folks, His covenant keeping promise to bring a Savior to this world through Israel, and what it meant to be the chosen High Priest and in the priesthood representing the people to God in heart and action. These are weighty subjects and many “timeless truths” are just below the surface of this seemingly hopeless situation.

As I reread this and meditated over there plight and ours today, there are so many parallels...sad to say! One thought I had is this: What a heart God gave to Hannah...what a desire He nurtured in HER heart for HER that was clearly in His divine will and intent for all history. Little did she know of the bigger picture! She had no promise of other children! The little boy Samuel was approximately 3 years old when she took him on the journey to Shiloh to never have him live with her again! As a father I cannot imagine that. As a mother...??? Even more astounding.

I have one thought today: Given today’s sad state of things in the “organized church”, regardless of the abomi...whoops, “denomination” who would do such a thing. Who today could be a believer, desperate for a child, and receive a little boy, then having promised such, take him to live “in the house of the Lord” today? The Scripture says that Hophni and Phinenas exploited “all the Israelites” that came to make an offering, so it’s possible, I believe probable, that she knew exactly what was going on “in the ministry!” Perhaps she did in fact know that God would begin to save Israel through this little one. Maybe not?

But we see clearly the mystical union and cooperation between the natural and the supernatural.

One thing for certain, however, to note...God used a man and a woman who loved each other deeply and loved their God with a sincere devotion regardless of the “state of the ministry” they lived in and under. Oh that we might today lift our eyes and hearts up, off, and away to Jesus, the Author and Finisher (THE OBJECT) of our Faith. I want my heart so dominated by HIM that I’ll serve Him without regard to “the state of things today” in the organized church. I have spent far too much valuable time thinking and fussing over the “state of things” than I ever did in quiet communion and fellowship with the Creator!! God shows up where He is “wanted”! Lord Jesus, please give us today hearts that are panting after you and wanting you! Not what you can do for us today, but just You! I pray that these will turn from just words I’ve so often prayed, to a reality! Father, I pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart of understanding today to see YOU!

To balance a broom on your finger, you must look up to establish and maintain the proper “alignment” between what you look at, what you “see”...where you fix your gaze, and how you act, react, behave! Look down, look around, and this “alignment” is lost and the broom falls.

Father, may the “broom” of my Life be kept in “balance” ...so aligned that I move “unconsciously” in alignment & cooperation (Spirit filled, Spirit led) with what the Spirit puts in my sight: You Jesus!! May I today, “...turn my eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and realize that the things of this world will grow strangely and beautifully “dim” in the light of His glory and grace!”

May the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you today, and be gracious unto you,

Jerry
Col 1:18b “...that in all things, Christ might have the supremacy!”

The Vine and the Branch #3

May the Lord bless you today with an awareness of Who He is and what He has done FOR you and AS you that will guard your mind and I pray that you will be dominated by His Love FOR you today and the work of the Holy Spirit IN you will be sure, easy, and as Oswald Chambers says, you will be at peace in the “unconscious holiness” that takes place.

The spiritual discipline so needed today is “time spent” with Christ in quiet, reflective, meditative prayer and peace! That’s the “abiding” He spoke of.

His Life will flow so freely into us in this “unrestricted” atmosphere, and will perfectly position our hearts to enter another day in “a world geared against God!”

I’m so grateful for this opportunity to talk with you folks and your comments, good or not good, Are not only welcome but deeply encouraging to me!

Ike is making a “blog” for me where I’ll post all these things and I pray that God will be honored, Christ will be exalted, and you dear ones will in some way be strengthened in your knowledge of and love for our great Champion Jesus Christ!!

Jerry
Col 1:18b “...that in all things, Christ might have the supremacy!”

The Truth Will Keep You Safe!

Thought you’d enjoy a little lighter “teachable moment”! Preaching the Gospel accurately and consistently and with clarity will give the Holy Spirit a clear and proper pathway into the minds and hearts of those whom He is calling!

Reverend Boudreaux was the part-time pastor of the local Cajun Baptist Church and Pastor Thibodaux was the minister of the Covenant Church across the road.

They were both standing by the road, pounding a sign into the ground, that read:

'Da End is Near
Turn Yo Sef 'Roun Now
Afore It Be Too Late!'

As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled, 'You religious nuts!'

Boudreaux turns to Thibodaux and asks, 'Do ya tink maybe da sign should jussay......'Bridge Out?'

When we hear the Gospel it’s “explicit good news” and “implicit bad news”!! If Christ be our righteousness (to turn ourselves around), then we are unrighteousness! (headed for a disaster where our “Bridge” is out!! To “properly communicate” the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must preach it just as it is; He’s our only hope, and if we reject so great salvation, “da bridge is out!”

Jerry
Col 1:18b “...that in all things, Christ might have the supremacy!”

Remaining & Abiding!

The Creator of the Vine and the Vineyard knew it well. He uses it to teach His disciples about what their life should and would be like once He was gone. For sure, The Disciples had a solid, accurate knowledge of the Vineyard and all that He spoke of as well.

He said that HE was the root of their life. He said for them to first “remain, abide” IN Him. Folks, this is not “works or programs or plans or ideas!” This is “time spent” alone with our Champion and Lord. Of all the regrets I have in my life and my mind today the one big one is that I never did this properly and consistently. The times now that I spend alone and quiet and just allow Him to speak to my heart are so sweet and productive. I’m all about “git ‘er done” dog! Something “new to do” turns my crank! Jesus said that “doing” without “abiding” produces “nothing.” I got a warehouse full of “nothing!”

Jesus has been all about “fruit” in my life. Fruit is “Christ-like Character and Characteristics” being formed in me and THEN, not first, but THEN expressed outwardly. Paul said that he labored hard for his sheep that “...Christ be formed in them.”

When you and I “cooperate” and remain and abide In Him in “fellowship and communion,” not works, but alone with Him, two things take place.

• His life flows Into my “heart”: i.e; my mind, my will, my affections, my understanding, and my reason
• My “Heart” of selfishness is unplugged and set aside

The “Vine-life” of Christ is at war with the “carnal-life” of selfishness that runs in my bones!

When we “cooperate” with the Spirit and remain and abide, the battle is won moment by moment and the very life and Character of Jesus Christ is formed in us and others see it clearly. They also see very clearly my selfishness and manipulation and striving and craving that is not a part of the “new creation” ...the New Self, the New Man, who is the real ME! I’m not my sin! The Vine Life of Christ produces fruit that looks like it came from Him!

John 15:1-8, esp vs 8, Jesus said that when we bear the fruit of Christ-like Character formed within it brings joy and glory to His Father! He also said that when this happens, other see clearly that we are His disciples!!

Remaining In Christ and His Character being formed IN us is as the relation between light and heat! You cannot separate them; neither can you “see” the heat...it’s the natural result of “light”! His Life is the supernatural result of us being His and remaining and abiding IN Him daily! Then, whatever your hands find to do, you will do it heartily and in loving response FOR Him and His great life, death, and resurrection FOR us and AS us!

Be blessed today and remember, you are first to “BE”, then “you will do.” Who you are and whose you are is far more important than what you do!! “The name on the front of the jersey is far more important than the name on the back!”

In His great love and grace,

Jerry
Col 1:18b “...that in all things, Christ might have the supremacy!”