Isaiah 35-36: Do Not Answer Him

Rabshakeh, a military officer delivered a message on behalf of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, to King Hezekiah's representatives.  The message used intimidation tactics and attempted to undermine the people's faith in God.  Just about the whole chapter of Isaiah 36 describes the taunting of the enemy of God's people.  I like the end of the chapter.

Isaiah 36:20-21

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁰ Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land out of my hand, that [you should think that] the Lord can deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

²¹ But they kept still and answered him not a word, for the king’s [Hezekiah’s] command was, Do not answer him.

(emphasis mine)

The Bible is all of its historical glory reveals the way we need to respond in the present.  When the enemy of God (satan) attempts to discourage us with his taunting lies, when he does his best to squash our faith in God, how should we respond?

Could it be that God (our King) is counselling us to be still and keep our mouths closed?

I know my mouth has gotten me into hot water even though my motives were pure.  If I would have "kept still" and not answered the evil one then I could have heard God's directions for my next action and words.

Having a tendency for impulsive behavior makes being still and closing my mouth difficult depending on the circumstance.  I do believe with all of my heart that God does command us to respond to the evil one, but that response MUST be borne out of His edict, not my own thoughts of what to do or say. 

The next time the evil one attempts to manipulate your emotions by taunts and lies, keep still in body and in soul and keep your mouth closed.  In this way, you will be able to hear Abba's direction through the still small voice of His Spirit.

Holy Spirit, please empower us to remain still and keep our mouths closed.  We wait for Your directions on what to do and say.  When to do and say.  You are Wisdom.  Pour out Wisdom through us.  All for the glory of the One called Jesus and always in His name alone...AMEN!!!

Isaiah 31-34: The Effect and Result of Righteousness

Isaiah 32:17

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁷ And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.

Effect and Result.

Effect- the power to bring about a result

Result- the conclusion brought about the effect of something

Righteousness works both effect and result upon our souls.  

Righteousness' effect yields both internal and external peace.  When peace reigns within our souls, external circumstances don't weld the full impact of negatively.  The external circumstance may remain labeled as "difficult," but viewing those difficulties through eyes of peace sees them as small compared to the bigness of Abba.  

Because internal peace stays the soul, external circumstances are not worsened by frantic attempts to gain resolution by human strength or wisdom.  Internal peace actually influences external tumult.  Peace is a powerful tool, which may itself resolve difficult external circumstances.  Internal peace flows from our souls into external atmospheres of distress providing relief to the situation and those involved.

Righteousness' result "will be quietness and confident trust forever."  The conclusion of the effect of righteousness is a quiet faith, which endures throughout our life on this earth and into eternity!  WOW!

Where can we obtain this awesome gift of righteousness?

Romans 3:22-25

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²² Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction,

²³ Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory ^[a]which God bestows and receives.

²⁴ [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

²⁵ Whom God put forward [^[b]before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

All we need to do is have a personal trust in Jesus.  It is Jesus' righteousness that poured out providing us with right standing with God.  This righteousness is a gift...we don't earn it by our "good" deeds and we certainly can't purchase it.  

Jesus purchased righteousness for us when He died on the cross for our sins for ALL have sinned and are falling short of His honor and glory.  


ALL of us!!!

Nice people are falling short. 

Nasty people are falling short.

Rich people are falling short.

Poor people are falling short.

All of us, fall short!!!

Jesus, we receive Your gift of righteousness, which effects both internal soul peace and external circumstantial peace.  Jesus we receive Your gift of righteousness, which results quietness and confident trust forever.  We do not judge circumstances based on internal emotions or external circumstances, but apply Your promise to our lives.  In the great and awesome Name of Jesus!  AMEN!!!

Isaiah 28-30: The Lord Waits for Us to Wait on Him

Isaiah 30:18 (Amplified)

"And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on your and show loving-kindness to you.  For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!"

Oftentimes, it may seem we are waiting for the Lord to intervene in our situation.  We wait and wait, yet that longstanding prayer seems to go unanswered, that ongoing heartache never seems to be soothed, and that persistent attack of body and mind continues on until the next day and the next.  In our eyes, this waiting can become discouraging, yet God commands us to wait on Him...expect Him to intervene, long for Him and the blessings that are manifested by a personal and unique relationship with Him. 

It is through Him that victory is attained! 

It is by contact with God that favor is poured out into whatever situation we find ourselves! 

When we draw near to Him, the eyes of our heart are opened to His Presence and His great unfailing love towards us! 

In Him is peace, because He is the Prince of Peace!

Joy bubbles out of our innermost being, because He stirs our souls with gladness!

We have the choice to have companionship with the Maker of heaven and earth!

Waiting is so much more than getting the desired resolution to a difficult situation.  Waiting is more than physical or psychological healing.  Waiting itself births the universal longing of each human being...to be part of something bigger than us.

The Lord waits for us to wait on Him.  He asks nothing more of us than He Himself already does.  He knows that as we wait on Him, we are transformed into the people He dreamed we would be.  He desires to be gracious to us.  He longs to show us mercy.  He looks for opportunities to show us His great love and kindness.  An even more precious gift is oneness with Abba Father.

Jesus provided the gift of oneness with Abba Father by lifting Himself up (dying on the cross), and by waiting on Him, we become one with Him in practice.  We "walk out" the gift of oneness with the God of the Universe.  What is already a reality in our spirit, now becomes reality to our souls.

Holy Spirit, pour yourself out to us!  Draw us with cords that cannot be broken by the distractions of this world whether be a difficult situation or sickness or unfulfilled desire.  Let us feel You waiting for us, feel Your desire to pour out goodness upon our lives.  Let us know the benefits of waiting on You, here and now in the earthly realm in the great and awesome name of Jesus, the Lover of our souls.  AMEN!!!

Hosea 8-10: Sow For Yourselves Righteousness

Hosea 10:12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹² Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.

I have this verse highlighted and underlined in my Bible.  While reading today, I remember how this particular verse spoke to me many years ago when I had been caught in a scheme of the evil one.  

Looking at my life today, I recognize that still the evil one attempts to bind me with his lies and schemes.  I recognize that I still fall for his twisted whispers believing that somehow I need to protect myself, I need to secure justice for myself and others, I need to tell my side of the story, I need to accepted by men.  

It is starkly apparent that uncultivated (fallow) ground remains in my soul.

The clods of dirt are manifested differently today than clods from ten years ago, but a clod is still a clod and the uncultivated ground of my heart must be prepared for the way of the Lord.  The highway of holiness must run directly through my innermost being!  

What is the remedy, Lord?  How do I "sow according to righteousness" and "reap according to mercy and loving-kindness"?

"Seek Me," says the Lord.  "Only I can bestow righteousness.  It is only by Me that the harvest is reaped with mercy.  Loving-kindness is placed in your heart as a gift from Me.  I break up the hard ground of your heart and prepare it for the planting of My seeds.  I uproot the tares within you that choke the life of your spirit.  I Am your Protector.  I Am the Just Judge.  I will reveal the truth in My time.  I know the hearts of all men.  I know their triumphs and failures.  I love the hearts of men and will do what I will do to restore and deliver and save.  Resist the temptation to take matters into your own hands because your chariot will not save or deliver you.  Only My strength saves and delivers.  I pour my favor upon you, because you require it.  I will continue to teach you righteousness as I rain the gift of salvation upon your life."

Lord, let it be unto me as You have said.  I will be all that You dreamed!  In the great and awesome name of Jesus!  AMEN!!!

Hosea 1-7: Personal Experience

Hosea 4:1

Amplified Bible (AMP)

4 Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy (a pleading contention) with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, love, pity and mercy, or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land.

Hosea 4:6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

WOW!!!  These are some serious and sobering verses!!!

Most think about knowledge as gaining information, using facts and developing contexts.  But the knowledge referenced has little to due with using our cognitive processes and a whole lot to do with engaging our hearts in a personal and dynamic relationship with the One, True God!

Engaging my heart...which includes my emotions, my thoughts and my will to seek after a personal experience with God will keep me from destruction.  

It's personal experience with God that guides our path through this world, not the religious exercises of tradition.  Religious tradition seeks to bind our hearts to it, giving the illusion that if we attend a service or perform righteously or lead within the church structure, that we are safe from destruction.  

Although these things are good things, these things do not have the power to save!  

Jesus is the only One with the power to save us from eternal destruction!  By cultivating personal experiences with Him, our soul is taught to walk in His righteous ways, our spirit is bolstered with His Holy Spirit and our physical body is strengthened.

Holy Spirit, continue to reveal Jesus to us.  We require more personal experiences with the God of the Universe.  In the great and awesome name of Jesus!  AMEN!!!

2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chronicles 29-31; Psalm 48: One Heart

King Hezekiah and his princes wanted to celebrate Passover.  They weren't able to celebrate it at the set time because not enough priests had sanctified themselves and the people hadn't gathered in Jerusalem.  So the word went out throughout Israel to come to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, the feast praising God for His deliverance from slavery.

The people's response...mocking, scorn and laughter.

Could it be possible that they were so hard-hearted ("stiff-necked") that the reality of God's grace had become a distant memory, a historical story told from generation to generation?

It takes humility to remember the times we've messed up.  It takes humility to realize that only God could have broken the chains that bound us.  We can do nothing, absolutely nothing, to break ourselves free from bondage. Yet, how often do we praise God with a thankful heart for all the times He has intervened in our lives?  Have we become "stiff-necked" like the Israelites?

Yet, there were a few remaining who humbled themselves.  They came to Jerusalem to join the great assembly.  The part I love is 2 Chronicles 30:12.

Also the hand of God came upon Judah to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the Lord.

One heart!!!

Unity to perform the word of the Lord as commanded by the king and his princes was supernaturally imparted.

God, place Your hand upon us giving us one heart to do all that is on Your heart.  Whether, it is keeping an attitude of praise and thankfulness for Your deliverance or speaking a word to the weary or ministering to the sick or loving the unlovely, give us one heart, a heart unified by Your Spirit!  In the great and awesome name of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus!  AMEN!!!

Isaiah 23-27: Powerless Ghosts

Isaiah 26:13-14  Amplified Bible 
13 O Lord, our God, other masters besides You have ruled over us, but we will acknowledge and mention Your name only.

14 They [the former tyrant masters] are dead, they shall not live and reappear; they are powerless ghosts, they shall not rise and come back. Therefore You have visited and made an end of them and caused every memory of them [every trace of their supremacy] to perish.

When we receive Jesus as our Savior, the power of the past tyrant masters of sin is broken.  They are "powerless ghosts" and "shall not rise up again!"

The evil one uses our past against us in order to deceive us into thinking we need to work our way to righteousness or walk around covered in shame by engaging in a sort of mournful penance.  He attempts to trick us into believing that these "powerless ghosts" continue to reign supreme over our body, soul and spirit, BUT that is not Truth, friends!

God says, "The former masters are dead.  They hold no power in your life.  They will not rise up again.  I wipe out every trace of their supremacy and the memory of them has perished.  Do not look back and acknowledge that which is already dead, but acknowledge and mention My Name alone!  For I Am your Master, and I Am your King.  I alone hold your heart in My hand.  Your body is covered by the blood of My Beloved Son, Jesus!  Your spirit is already joined in covenant to the Lamb that has already provided salvation, the full measure of salvation, at Calvary's cross!"  

Revelation 21:3-5  Amplified Bible 
3 Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.

4 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.

5 And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine).

These promises are not reserved for Heaven, but they are for right now, here on this earth!  God is personally with men!  It is why Jesus returned to the Father that He might send us the Helper, which is His Spirit.  Holy Spirit comforts us in anguish.  He personally wipes the tears from our eyes!  Now, here on earth, right now!!!  My physical body may one day pass away, but my essence, which is my spirit man will live on throughout eternity!  

John 16:7 Amplified Bible 

7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

We will speak only of You, Abba.  You are the One Who has provided us with the freedom to serve and love.  You empower us with Your heart to touch others!  When this life pushes and pulls our soul, You are personally with us Holy Spirit.  You wipe away our tears and draw us to fix our heart on Jesus!  All praise and honor and glory be to the One God Who is our King!  AMEN!!!

Isaiah 18-22: The Weight of What is Seen

Isaiah 21:6-8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶ For thus has the Lord said to me: Go, set [yourself as] a watchman, let him declare what he sees.

⁷ And when he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, and a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently, very diligently.

⁸ And [the watchman] cried like a lion, O Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my station every night.

⁹ And see! Here comes a troop of men and chariots, horsemen in pairs! And he [the watchman] tells [what it foretells]: Babylon has fallen, has fallen! And all the graven images of her gods lie shattered on the ground [in my vision]!

Have any of you "seen" something in the spirit that was frightening?  I have.  

What have you done with the holy information?

How did you handle knowing something difficult was going to befall people you care about?

What if the weight of knowledge "seemed" more than what a human could bear?

There was a time in my life that I asked the Lord to stop giving me dreams of things to come.  It felt as though I couldn't bear the responsibility of that knowledge.

God, in His mercy, immediately stopped the dreams.  I then realized that my personal source of encouragement also ceased through God's nighttime communications, and I desperately needed His direction and encouragement.

So I prayed, "God, please give me only the dreams that I am mature enough to handle."

For those called to be a "Watchman," I ask for Holy Spirit's guidance and empowerment.  I ask that you would be mature enough to handle the holy secrets God shares with you.  In Jesus' name, AMEN!!!

It Shall Be Cut Off

"...and they who vex and harass Judah from outside or inside shall be cut off;" Isaiah 11:12 b


Judah means praise...


Have you ever felt an assault upon your heart of praise? I have.


Whether caused by external circumstances or by an attack within us upon our soul, what is God's promise?


It "shall be cut off."


Holy Spirit, quicken this reality with us.

Thank You for once again proving Yourself to me, Lord! I cry out to You in the midst of battle and You empower me to praise You with my life! You are so good to me!!!

All honor and glory be to the One, True God, who sits on the throne of heaven, inviting us to sit beside Him!!!

Blessings overflow, Friends!

Beautiful Grace

Isaiah 13-17: Is This the Man?

Isaiah 14:11-16
11 Your pomp and magnificence are brought down to Sheol (the underworld), along with the sound of your harps; the maggots [which prey upon dead bodies] are spread out under you and worms cover you [O Babylonian rulers].

12 How have you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer and daystar, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who weakened and laid low the nations [O blasphemous, satanic king of Babylon!]

13 And you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost north.

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.

15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (Hades), to the innermost recesses of the pit (the region of the dead).

16 Those who see you will gaze at you and consider you, saying, Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms?—

Reading these verses literally depict Isaiah's parable against the king of Babylon, but symbolically these verses can be thought to represent Lucifer, the fallen "light-bringer."

I am currently re-reading a fictional novel by Wendy Alec, "The Fall of Lucifer" from The Chronicles of Brothers series. Alec's fantastical account of Lucifer's fall traces how jealousy gives birth to a wounded heart, which then becomes malignant with a lust for power fueled by pride.

Lucifer, the light-bearer and worship leader of heaven, Michael, the holy chief of Yehovah's angelic armies, and Gabriel, the prophetic revelator filled with wisdom and justice were brothers-each serving their beloved Father by utilizing their unique giftings...then God created man in His own image.  

Lucifer couldn't swallow the truth that his Father had created an inferior race with His own DNA.  Lucifer, a powerful angelic prince, felt abandoned by his beloved God.

"'The race of men are truly beloved of our Father.'"  Michael stared ahead in wonder.  "'He has replicated Eden for them.'" 

"Slowly Lucifer pushed the gate open.  It was almost twelve feet high and two feet in breadth, carved of solid gold and embedded with rubies and diamonds set in a vast jacinth wall that surrounded the entrance to the inner sanctum of Eden."  

"'He would walk with them...,' Lucifer murmured." 

"Very slowly, Michael lifted his gaze to Lucifer's face as he stared ahead at the grotto at the very edge of the cliffs of Eden  surrounded by eight ancient olive trees.  A harrowing look of intense suffering clouded Lucifer's features   A solitary tear fell down his cheek.  His whisper was barely audible." 

"'He had abandoned us.'"

 I actually felt sorry for Lucifer as he struggled to comprehend God's great love for man, while trusting that God still loved him.  

This book is a sobering reminder to "guard our hearts."


Proverbs 4:23
Amplified Bible (AMP)Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.

Genesis 4:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.

Beloved Father, show us any areas within our hearts that separate us from You.  Help us to hear Your voice alone, not the condemning voice of the one who choose against You.  In Jesus' holy name, AMEN!!!

2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16-17: Unfaithfulness in Distress

2 Chronicles 28:22

Amplified Bible (AMP)

22 In the time of his distress he became still more unfaithful to the Lord—this same King Ahaz.

We live in a world full of stressors. Sometimes circumstance-inducing stressors escalate into "mental or physical suffering or anguish" more commonly referred to as distress (thefreedictionary).

King Ahaz was distressed.  

Ahaz became king of Judah at age twenty.  I can't imagine the stress of leading a nation heaped upon one so young.  But, I don't believe this stress needed to escalate into distress.  

From the beginning of his reign, Ahaz "did not do right in the sight of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 28:1)  He was an idolator (v. 2) and went so far as to burn his sons as an offering to these demon gods. (v. 3)

Because Ahaz turned away from God, the Lord sent the kings of Syria and Israel to defeat Judah.  

Ahaz sent a distress call to the king of Assyria (v. 16), but Tilgath-pilneser distressed him without strengthening him (v. 20).

God will discipline those He loves when they do wrong!

Without Holy Spirit's constant refill of spirit, we can become distressed.

Distress can induce us to be unfaithful to the Lord.


Did you ever hear of the saying,  


"What comes out of you when you are squeezed is what is inside of you."   Wayne Dyer

When faced with life's stressors.  When I am squeezed beyond my ability to endure, I want to exude Holy Spirit's fruit...Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-control.

The only way to manifest these fruit is by consistent interaction with His Spirit.  I would love to report that in every instance of squeezing, these characteristics flowed from me, but that has not always been the case.

What to do?  

Repent, and ask Holy Spirit to fill me again and again.  Grow me, mature me, to the point that each stressor causes Jesus to shine, that each stressor would point the way to The Way. 

Micah: What Does the Lord Require?

Micah 6:8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?

Walking through this life in a pleasing manner to God is outlined in the above verse.  The Lord requires several characteristics of personality that are not always apparent in His Bride.  

But as His fire burns away our impurities, what remains is pure, pure gold.

Tests and trials may be designed by the evil one for our destruction, BUT God is Sovereign and allows us to endure them for our own good.  

Could is be that that difficult season we are walking through teaches us humility by cultivating our trust in God alone?  

Or when faced with someone who we think is "in sin," what is our response?

Do we offer kindness and mercy?  

Are we honorable and fair in our dealings with others or do we demonstrate partiality with those we call friends?

Father, empower us by Your Spirit to fulfill Your directive.  We are acutely aware that we need Your grace to walk through this life, pleasing You.  We ask for Your help, not because we think we can earn our way to You, but because we love You and desire to be good children.  All for the glory of Jesus, AMEN!

2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12: A Branch Shall Grow and Bear Fruit

Isaiah 11:1-2
Amplified Bible (AMP)


"11 And there shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David’s father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit.

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord—..."


Approximately ten years ago, I had a spiritual experience. I saw a branch with six buds on it. As I gazed at the branch, a white dove flew down and alighted on it. Suddenly, the buds blossomed into beautiful, white flowers. I had had what is referred to as a vision. Not understanding what I had just seen, I sought the Lord for understanding of the imagery. God answered me through the above verse.

Later, I read Numbers 17, which increased my insight into the visual message the Lord had given. In brief, the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron accusing them of initiating a plague that had killed 14,700 people. However, This was not the case as Numbers 16:36-38 states,


36 And the Lord said to Moses,

37 Speak to Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning and scatter the fire at a distance. For the censers are hallowed—

38 The censers of these men who have sinned against themselves and at the cost of their own lives. Let the censers be made into hammered plates for a covering of the altar [of burnt offering], for they were used in offering before the Lord and therefore they are sacred. They shall be a sign [of warning] to the Israelites.

emphasis mine

Numbers 17 goes on to say that one rod for the head of each father's house should be presented before the Lord. The rod that buds and produces blossoms and yields ripe almonds is the man/house that God chose, and it was Aaron from the house of Levi.

I felt the Lord was telling me that I was called to be a Levite, the priestly tribe that ministered before the Lord. In addition, as the Holy Spirit influenced my life, I would bloom with the Spiritual fruit as listed above...wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord.

Writing this post today, I ask Holy Spirit,

Have I allowed You to grow these spiritual characteristics in me?

Lord, my life cannot bear blossoms and eventually fruit without Your influence. Come upon me this day, Spirit. Fill my vessel, cause me to lay down my life once again in obedience to You. Live through me, Jesus. Empower me, Lord, to walk through this life with the tools needed to be effective in my personal life, as well as, influencing others' lives. All for Jesus, AMEN!

http://www.ehow.com/about_6632257_symbolism-almond-trees.html

http://www.learnthebible.org/sunday-school-outlines/aarons-rod-that-budded.html

Spiritual Self-evaluation

Reprint from my Facebook status from November 7th.


Spiritual self-evaluation is a periodic necessity.

Holy Spirit, examine my heart-it's motives, thoughts and attitudes. My desire is that no earthly thing would influence my soul in a way that is displeasing to You.

Give me the grace to forgive continued and longstanding offenses. You forgave me, Lord! Touch those who have no comprehension of how their actions, words and attitudes have hurt me and others.

Holy Spirit sensitize us to You...Your ways, Your attitudes, Your Holiness!!! Break down our self-erected walls of which the evil one has had little influence, except an occasional whispering lie.

You are my Defense! You are my Desire! You give joy that cannot be snuffed out by circumstances. Your fruit draws others to You when that fruit is truly grown by the Spirit's influence.

It's not about a human personality, whether charismatic or sweet. It's all about representing Your character through the uniqueness You have woven into each of us.

I come to You again this day of November 7th, 2012 at 10:57 am, asking for grace, requiring Your power to flow through me.

My life will make a difference for You, Lord. I will touch others for You, stirring life and hope. Prince of Peace, be my Guide. No thing can be accomplished through striving, but only through submitting to You.

I am Yours...FOREVER!

Your own,
Beautiful Grace

Amos 6-9: The Tabernacle of David Restored

Amos 9:11-12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹¹ In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David, the fallen hut or booth, and close up its breaches; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old,

¹² That they may possess the remnant of Edom and of all the nations that are called by My name, says the Lord Who does this.

Tabernacle of David...

A tabernacle is a tent or house of worship.  The tabernacle of David refers to the type of worship that King David demonstrated.  His worship was not defined by tradition or the current societal norm, but was an expression of whole-being devotion to his God.

What is meant by Davidic Worship?

"The phrase 'Davidic worship' simply means worship in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David, that is, worship that is an act of the whole person, not just the intellect. The worship of David's Tabernacle included singing, instrumental music, standing, kneeling, bowing, upraised hands, clapping and dancing. Davidic worship fulfills the command of Jesus to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength'" (Mark 12:30). from the tabernacle of David website


In other words, a person's lifestyle worships God.  

• How a person speaks reveals the content of their heart.  

• A person who mistreats others is not living a lifestyle of worship. 

• It doesn't matter how a person expresses worship in a church service, if his heart doesn't continue to be submitted in worship outside of church.

The evil one stands against this whole-being, lifestyle worship.  he would rather seduce us into believing that the mere acts of dancing or singing a song or attending a service exempts us from submitting our hearts to God 24/7.

The evil one also stands against passionate, whole-being expressive worship saying, "You're overly emotional"  or  "You're attempting to draw attention to yourself" or "You're taking this Jesus thing a little too far."

The pharisees of Jesus day stood against the whole-hearted worship of the woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears.  (Luke 7:37-50)

"How could Jesus allow a sinner woman to touch Him?"

Jesus came to set the captives free, those in captivity to sin. The woman sinned, Jesus set her free and her undignified worship followed.  She symbolizes the transformation that Jesus desires all of us to undergo.

Realizing our great need to be set free from sin, crying out to Jesus to save us and responding by dedicating our whole self to Him, summarizes God's intent.  Whole-being worship follows this powerful encounter.

Holy Spirit, please don't allow any person or thing subdue our worship of You inside or outside of a church service.  Empower us to submit ourselves to You every moment of every day through our lifestyle.  In the great and awesome name of Jesus!  AMEN!!! 

Amos 1-5: Seeking to Know Abba

Amos 3:6-7
Amplified Bible (AMP)

6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city and the people not be alarmed and afraid? Shall misfortune or evil occur [as punishment] and the Lord has not caused it?

7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.


I am not a Bible scholar, but I do seek to know God, every aspect of God. Reading chapters like those in Amos remind me that God is not One Who tolerates idolatry, any form of idolatry.

There are consequences.

God speaks to His prophets giving them messages to warn. God doesn't desire to punish, but He will if it means our souls are saved for eternity.


I also know that His prophets mishear at times. God is portrayed as either a mean and nasty bully or a pushover parent who fails to set limits.



My Abba is neither of these!





God is merciful, but God is also just.

Jonah 4:2
Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, I pray You, O Lord, is not this just what I said when I was still in my country? That is why I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and [when sinners turn to You and meet Your conditions] You revoke the [sentence of] evil against them.


God is love, therefore He disciplines His kids.

Hebrews 12:6
Amplified Bible (AMP)

6 For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.


God is holy; He doesn't tolerate darkness.

1 John 1:5
Amplified Bible (AMP)

5 And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way].



I will spend my whole life and throughout eternity seeking to know Him. He amazes me with mercy and shocks me with reproof. His love swells my heart and repairs its breeches. He reveals Himself through circumstances in life.  He gives me the courage to walk the path set before me; I never walk alone!  

Isaiah 5-8: Hear and Don't Understand, See and Don't Apprehend

Isaiah 6:9

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ And He said, Go and tell this people, Hear and hear continually, but understand not; and see and see continually, but do not apprehend with your mind.

This verse jumped out out me while reading because I was already meditating on how God's perfect spiritual gifts can become imperfect when used by men/women. 

Thinking about the times when the Lord whispers a word to my heart, understanding it and following through with it, convinces me that God does bestow revelatory gifts for ministry.  BUT I also think about the times when I heard and did not understand.

The longer I hang out with spirit-filled Christians, the more I realize that this is true with all people no matter how powerful and accurate the gift, it still flows through men and women who are inevitably influenced by the earthly realm.

I also think about the damage that can be done when mere man is placed on a pedestal for the gifts that God has given.  Honor, yes, absolutely.  Worship, no way!  

We are on a level playing field with each other, and the One we worship is God and God alone!

Acts 10:34-35

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³⁴ And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons,

³⁵ But in every nation he who venerates and has a reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful obedience and living uprightly, is acceptable to Him and sure of being received and welcomed [by Him].

My heart is realizing more and more how important it is to build our spiritual gifts on love's foundation.  We need to remember that our goal is to encourage each other using our gifts to assist others in their walk with the Lord.  

Yet, even with the root of love guiding us, there will still be misunderstandings. 

1 Corinthians 13:12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹² For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. 

Holy Spirit, I am so thankful for the ability to hear and see spiritually, but also am acutely aware that I am not perfect, neither is any other man perfect in hearing and seeing You!  Pour out Your fierce love on us.  As we use Your gifts in service of others let us all draw on this love as we interact with each other.  In Jesus' name, AMEN!