CONSOLATION

                                                             CONSOLATION

The following words are words that I believe I received from the Lord at different times during a season of trials.  They are words of encouragement and words of love that I believe are for others who need these words at this time.

God is so loving and He speaks to us in many ways guiding and giving us strength through difficult seasons.   He gives us encouragement and He is always there to uplift us.  The Holy Spirit is the Comforter Who will always whisper the love of the Father to you and will be your counselor and consoler.  All we need to do is be still and listen.

May 10, 2014  “My child, you are a masterpiece; a work of the Potter’s hand.  For I molded, shaped and formed you in your mother’s womb for a purpose.  Kindled in the fire of adversity and fashioned with the Potter’s hand, you are a masterpiece; My masterpiece.  The fires of adversity, the fires of pain, the fires of rejection are a kindling used for My purpose.  Stretch forth your hand in acceptance of My will.  A pot needs to go into the fire; needs to be fired, before it is ready (to be used).  You are ready.”

March 13, 2016  “Child of mine, tragedy springs forth in beauty, restoration and joy.  There is a new season springing forth.  The cross that I was crucified on was dead but resurrection brings beauty, joy, and restoration.  A seed when it falls to the ground is dead but the rain and the sun spring it forth and it is made new again.  Morning, evening, dusk, dawn.  Life is a cycle and there are seasons for joy and seasons for pain.  Come into the new season of joy ever after and peace ever after.  As the dew lilts on the greenery, so My Spirit lilts on your soul giving it refreshment and peace.”

I hope and pray that the following scriptures will encourage you and give you strength and peace:

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9  (NIV)

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28  (NIV)

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8  (NIV)

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.  Psalm 31:24

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  II Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.  Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

KEEPING GOD IN A BOX

KEEPING GOD IN A BOX

Have you ever heard the expression, “keeping God in a box”?  It is a familiar expression but it is a very disturbing one.  How can anyone contain the God of the universe?  Psalm 139:7-10 says, “Where could I go from Your Spirit?  Or where could I flee from Your presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol (the place of the dead) behold, You are there.  If I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

In Job 38:4-6 says, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Declare to Me, if you have and know understanding.  Who determined the measures of the earth, if you know?  Or who stretched the measuring line upon it?  Upon what were the foundations of it fastened, or who laid its cornerstone.”

It is obvious from these scriptures that God is omnipotent and omnipresent which means that He is powerful and He is in existence everywhere at once.  God also goes where He wants in the person of the Holy Spirit.  John 3:8 says, “The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going.  So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

A box is a container.  It is confined by its dimensions.  Has the Church, the Body of Christ been confined to the four walls of the Church buildings?  I think so.  Christianity is not about religion.  Religion is man’s way of reaching God and Christianity is God reaching out to us through His Son and the Holy Spirit.

The Religious leaders did not recognize that Jesus is the Messiah.  They had their own concept of Who the Messiah would be ignoring the scriptures that pointed to Jesus and Who He is.  They essentially put God in a box.  They thought He would be an earthly King, someone of renown but He came in humility.

Do we put God in a box?  In many ways, unfortunately, we do.  How many churches, denominations allow the manifestation of the Holy Spirit?  Some are afraid that if they do, they will lose some of their congregation.  Why are they afraid to lose people?  I think in many instances it is financial.  The Almighty Dollar becomes their god.

In our own lives, we have witnessed this.  We were the worship leaders in a healing ministry that was supposed to be Charismatic.  The reason I say supposed to be is that the gifts were not really encouraged.  Other things took priority.  Many times before the service we would be getting to high praise and someone would stop the praise and worship and start making announcements.  We left when the priest said to only sing songs that were going to be sung during Mass.

Another example about putting God in a box was when we had to walk away from our Praise and Worship ministry within another ministry because they started controlling what we would sing and not sing.  They would approve the songs.  Their reasoning was that people have to know the songs.  It was very disappointing because at the last gathering we sang songs that God through the Holy Spirit had chosen for us to sing and it was one of the most powerful Praise and Worship that we had ever experienced in our ministry but it was brought to task.  The Holy Spirit told us very definitively to leave because there was a controlling spirit.

When is the Body of Christ going to wake up and let the Holy Spirit do what He wants to do?  He needs to have full reign.  The Holy Spirit will only go where He is welcomed.  We need to welcome Him and let Him have His way.  If we did this I believe you would see the Book of Acts in a mighty way.  We need to move towards this way of thinking.  Someone recently said that the latter reign of the Holy Spirit before Jesus comes back is “the book of Acts on steroids!”

Jesus preached in the synagogue but He was not confined to the four walls of it.  He went out to the people and where they were.  We, as the Church, need to reach out beyond the four walls of the Church.  Yes, there are many churches that do this but I believe there needs to be more.  We need to live our faith in the work place, in the city or area that we live, among our friends and relatives and in our very homes.  Doing this is bringing the love of God to others.  And by the way, it also means to stand for our beliefs even if it means losing friends or even a job.  We need to count the cost.  People are looking for God and we need to be a living Gospel to others.

Let’s not wait for the right time.  The right time is now.  I think so many of us think that we need to wait on God, when God is waiting on us.  After the apostles received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they could have just kept the experience to themselves but they were on fire; an unquenchable fire that could not be contained.  The Holy Spirit is an unquenchable fire that cannot be contained.  Don’t let the world or even the church dictate what you can and cannot do if you are seeking the manifestation of God here on the earth.  Why do you think so many people were drawn to Jesus?  They saw the miracles and signs of God’s love and because of this, many came into the Kingdom of God.   Lord set a fire in our souls that is unquenchable!!

WHAT IS REST?

 

                                                                         WHAT IS REST?

What is rest?  According to the dictionary it means, “The act or state of ceasing from work, activity, or motion; quiet.”  It also means, “peace, ease or refreshment.”

The following are scriptures about rest:

And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation.  Genesis 2:3

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. ~Psalm 62:1-2

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ~Psalm 91:1

Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. ~Psalm 116:7

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil    people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.  Psalm 37:7 (NLT)

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”  Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV)

On August 10, 2016 the Lord gave me the following words:  “Child of mine, rehearsing the future is futile.  Rely and rest and be content in Me moment by moment.  Refresh your spirit in My Word each day.  Rest in Me.  Live in Me.  Be filled with My peace and directions from My Word and My presence will precede you.  Watch, pray, and rest in Me for I am the author and finisher of Your faith. (Hebrews 12:2)  Watch, trust, rest for in so doing My Shekinah Glory will be made manifest in you and through you.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!”

Some have said that when we work, God rests.  When we rest (in God) God works!!  Why did God rest after He had created everything?  I believe because He was finished and He wanted to enjoy His creation.  After a painter paints a masterpiece, would he or she not stop and admire the beautiful painting?

When we completely surrender to God, He will do what only He can do.  Yes, we need to do our part for the most part depending on the need, but when we rest in God, He takes over and does it His way.  I can’t tell you how many times I have prayed to the Lord about something and I have said these words, “Lord, I rest in You,” and the problem many times worked out without any intervention on my part.  Sometimes it was a small problem and sometimes it was a much bigger problem.

 So don’t be restless when you encounter a problem.  If you rest, less, in Him, then you won’t find true rest.  In other words, resting in God means that you trust Him completely and you will find peace and strength to carry any burden that you are carrying.  Remember the scripture,
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11:30 (KJV) 

A Prayer for Rest by Rachel Wojo

Dear Father,

This world seems to move faster and faster
And I’m trying to keep up.
But God, in the whirlwind,
Instead I get caught up.
Like an unbeatable force it pulls me in
But I know eventually I cannot win.
I must learn to rest in your perfect peace
And though good, let all endeavors cease.
Oh that my feet would mimic your pace.
So your joy would be set on my face.
Help me, Jesus, to slow down when you would.
Help me, Lord, to rest as I should.
Thank you for loving me just as I am;
Thank you that rest is part of your plan.
Amen.

Rest From Anxiety by Ashley Nicole

Father, I pray that You fill me with Your presence in this moment as I put aside worries, anxieties, and striving and pick up Your rest. I pray that You would grant me Your peace as I stop wondering about the how’s and why’s of life. Help me to remain focused solely on Your goodness. I seek after You and You alone. I surrender my heart and soul to You. I surrender my plans and my goals and my aspirations and lay them at the altar. I choose to seek those things that You place before me. I choose to seek Your kingdom. I know that You will provide everything I need to do Your will. Amen

 

 

"PLAYING" CHURCH

                                                             “PLAYING” CHURCH

How many of us remember “playing house” when we were growing up?  We pretended that we were the mother or the father or a brother or sister, etc.  It was an imaginary way to reflect the world that we lived in. 

Are we “playing” church today?  At this point in time we are being restricted.  What do I mean by that statement in general?  We are “playing” church in the sense that we are gathering and praising God, which is what we should and must be doing, but the church is supposed to impact the culture and yet is not impacting the culture.  There are church leaders speaking out about the persecution of the Church that is taking place right now from governors who are “outlawing” gathering to a minimum of 10 or less or one particular governor in California who has gone so far as to ban singing in church and meeting in homes for Bible studies!  This is good but it appears it is only a few who are speaking out across the United States.

We need a Moses to get us to the Promised Land.  God chose Moses to lead the people out of bondage.  All Church leaders need to speak out against the assault against the church.  Fortunately, there are some pastors who have been speaking out and refusing to follow the mandates, but not enough.  The Catholic Diocese in my area has shut the churches down until further notice.

The Church is more than a building or even a gathering of people.  It is Christians with one faith who have given their lives to the Lord and who walk in His precepts.  Being a Christian is not just showing up at church but a way of life.  Having said that, it is still important for us to be able to freely gather without the government mandating what we can and cannot do.  We have a right as citizens for assembly and free exercise of our faith. 

The last time in our history in the United States that churches were shut down was in Missouri during the Spanish flu of 1918.  Saloons, of course, were allowed to be open.  In my opinion, this COVID 19 virus is a Trojan horse that is being used to take away our freedoms and our faith.  Yes, the virus is real and unfortunately, many, many people have died and suffered greatly.  It is precisely during these times that people need to find solace with other believers.  It is essential that the churches stay open in whatever form, i.e., outside or maybe less people inside the church.  We need to advocate for this. 

Watching a service on-line is fine but it is not the same.  It is the corporate gatherings that bring the Body of Christ together.   In I Corinthians 12:12 it says, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”  (New American Standard Bible)

 We need to “be the Church.”  We need to be strong.  We need to realize what is going on around us.  It is no longer church as usual.  We need to take back what has been taken from us.  We need to realize that church is not just a “social” gathering but a time to come together to give praise to God and pray but we also must be the mature church, the bride that is getting ready to meet her groom, Jesus Christ.  I believe the Lord is using this time to prepare His Bride for purification.  We forget that the United States is not the only place in the world.  The Body of Christ throughout the world is being persecuted right now with more martyrs now than any time in history.  Are we willing to give the ultimate price for our faith?

“Playing” church is a statement that means that we need to mature as a church.  Where are the strong leaders that will stand up and speak out against this persecution that we are now experiencing?  It’s not just about sermons and filling pews in a church or even, in some cases, entertainment, but commitment.  Do we sit back and let the powers that be dictate what we can and cannot do?  We need to get back to the book of Acts.    “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.”  Acts 2:1-4 (New International Version)

Yes, there was persecution then, but there were also great miracles and signs and the Church continued to grow.  The disciples received power from on high when the Holy Spirit fell on them and 3,000 were brought to the Lord in one day!  Why can’t the Church be like the Book of Acts?  We should not be afraid of the virus.  We should be praying for people to be healed.  God is an awesome powerful God but He chose to use us to manifest His glory on the earth.  The Church should be the strongest force on the earth because the God of the universe lives and abides in us.

The church should not be putting up the CLOSED sign but the OPEN sign that will never be taken down again!