God demonstrated His approval...

In this week of the Bible study on the building of God's tabernacle, I was stunned at how specific God's instructions were and how interconnected it was to the tabernacle built without human hands, His own home. When Beth followed up on other Scripture that reinforced God's own Word in a different time with different voices, I marvelled at God's consistency. The reason I am stunned has to be that I never gave some of the 'boring' passages for me any real credence as being relevant or divinely inspired. I now realized that every Word that God spoke through His servants is of importance. That Bible that I have is a record of His Word, and I must now with that knowledge, give due diligence to study.

A short while ago, I was praying in my room. Oh, solitude, how precious it is when accompanied by silence! I told God how wonderful it was that He gave Moses specific instructions and they were followed. When God saw that the tabernacle was acceptable and built according to His instructions, He filled the temple with His glory. That moved me as I pictured an obedient heart being filled with His glory. I begged Him to give me clear instructions. He has answered in the previous paragraph. I usually have no clear idea what I am going to write except what He has been teaching me. Well, He has used this to show me.."Study my Word..."

Have you heard about the behaviour modification concept? Well, Beth remarked how we as Christians sometimes use obedience modification where we modify God's Word to us to make it more palatable. Is there something He has spoken to you about? Do you find yourself asking, "How come so-and-so don't have to do all of that to get Your blessing?" Don't look at anyone else, God's plan for you is unique to you, and only exact obedience will result in God's glory.

Father, I worship and adore You. Continue to speak into our hearts Your instructions so that we may obey You exactly. Unclog our minds and emotions to correctly hear You. Fill us with Your glory for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Injections of hope in the storm...

Well, it has been a heavy couple of days with my son recovering slowly from pneumonia, and my parents returning to Trinidad, and getting the cold with little chance to rest, and winter weather has finally arrived..oohhh! It's been a comfort to apply what I have been learning about God; that there is no detail of my life that He is not intimately familiar with. And when it felt too much, guess what? He provided a way of escape, injecting some hope, injecting some grace. He led my friend, Ivel, to call, and she prayed with me. And then today, I saw the Touched by an Angel episode that dealt with an archaeologist looking for the Ark of the Covenant. Oh, wow...what timing..when this is what I have been studying in detail..when they encountered the glory of God before the ark, the angel, Gloria, started to sing,
No Higher Calling,

"Down at Your feet, O Lord, Is the most high place,

In Your presence Lord, I seek Your face, I seek Your face..

There is no higher calling, No greater honour,

Than to bow and kneel before Your throne,

I'm amazed by Your glory, Embraced by Your mercy,

Lord, I live to worship You.

LEBLANC, LENNYCopyright: 1989 DOULOS PUBLISHING Year:

Wow..how cool is that! I raised the volume to the highest and just revelled in those words as I slipped automatically into praise. Knowing the significance of how the ark was made, with what materials, and for what reasons, really deepened my sense of awe. God is indeed good and faithful to His Word.

Father, for those of us who are feeling wasted by life's circumstances, please send a physical manifestation of Your love so that we get the grace You promised to persevere. Thank You. You are worthy. I bow before You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Petitions and praise...

The day of the study that I spoke of in my last post was our first snowstorm of the year. In fact, I was surprised the study was not cancelled. I do NOT like to drive in such conditions. My son was also home sick, with a fever, later diagnosed as pneumonia. My parents also were going for their final medical visit before returning home on Sunday. My system is also battling a cold. People, this woman is WEARY! So, what made me go..or rather..WHO made me go?

Thank You, Lord. I am so hungry to hear how much You love me. I am glad that even though as Beth says, our 'soul' is tossed and tumbled by life's circumstances, it is anchored behind the veil to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 6:13-20) And it is HOPE that anchors our soul, hope in You. Even as I lift my words of praise and gratitude to You, I lift up my petitions for healing for my son and parents. Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. You are mighty to save.
Amen.

The veil is rent...my soul is bent...

In a recent post I spoke about Beth discussing the details of the building of the tabernacle and how I was blown away that each detail bore such significance. I had read these passages many times before, or should I say, skimmed these passages that annoyed me with its detail on measurements and fabric and colour etc. I never knew that He was giving a heavenly pattern of His own dwelling in heaven. That detail escaped me. When Beth switched between Exodus/Leviticus/Numbers and Revelation, I was like.."Oh my goodness...whoa..." Then she went on to show how God is involved with all the details of our lives, in fact, He literally 'thought' it through. When a friend sent me an email detailing her medical condition and treatment and the 'what ifs' involved, it struck me, "Wow, God knows all these details that seem so insurmountable in its layers of complexity...He fashioned it in love for her...and He is able to save my friend absolutely..." In one way, this can be a very bitter cup to take...but I am rejoicing that my friend loves her Father and He loves her....

Well, Beth did it again, or should I say, God did it again through Beth. We were discussing the details He gave regarding the Holy of Holies and who had access beyond the veil. Only the High Priest could lift that veil to sprinkle the blood from the altar of sacrifice and meet with God at the mercy seat placed on the ark of the covenant. What did not strike me as forcefully as it did last Thursday was that the veil for us is/was Jesus Himself. When He was sacrificed on the Cross, that veil was torn from top to bottom, just as His Body was torn from top to bottom. Because of Him, we now have open access to intimacy with the Father, to meet with Him. Jesus' torn body was what gave me access to God. I really cannot explain the image that has been emblazoned in my soul. All I know is, I cannot comprehend as the song goes, "Why should He love me so...[whole song at end]. [For anyone reading this who is wondering what this woman is on about, I would really recommend you either take this study with your church or do it online with Lifeway] I simply cannot give all the gems of truth that has been imparted these past couple of weeks through Scripture that meant nothing to me before, but now evidences God's love for me.

Father, wow...thank You...I don't understand why...to have that privilege reserved for the High Priest..just because I have been sprinkled with the Blood of Your Son...I bow before You...Beth spoke of the progression..Holy...starting in service...Holy, Holy...beholding Your Son as the veil...and then Holy, Holy, Holy..when we shall see You face to face...just as the angels are singing to You right now, Holy, Holy, Holy..wow...Father..there is so much..thank You

Why Should He Love Me So
Robert Harkness
http://www.pwarchive.com/song.aspx?SongID=2310&v=1

Love sent my Saviour to die in my stead
Why should He love me so
Meekly to Calvary's cross He was led
Why should He love me so

Chorus:
Why should He love me so
Why should He love me so
Why should my Saviour to Cal - va - ry go
Why should He love me so

Verse 2:
Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin
Ne suffered sore my salvation to win
Meekly to Calvary's cross He was led
Why should He love me so

Verse 3:
O how He agonised there in my place
Nothing witholding my sin to efface
Meekly to Calvary's cross He was led
Why should He love me so

©1925. Renewed 1952 Broadman Press (Admin. by LifeWay Christian Resources) All rights reserved. International copyright secured.CCLI song #171725

Sidestreets...to Ottawa!?

Another wonderful thing happened at the study this morning. I had a laughing fit, and not by myself! My friend, Ivel, was tickled by the ludicrosity (my word) of using sidestreets to drive to Ottawa from Toronto. Let's just say it was the result of 4 people talking and responding based on parts of the conversation they individually heard. I, of course, heard the whole bit as I was in the middle. Let's just say, I could not stop giggling and apparently Ivel got the same tickle. I loved it. I'd forgotten how I love to laugh! Not superficial, but deep-down belly-felt humour! Thank you, Ivel! Then we just sat and talked for 2 hours after the study totally unaware that there was a power cut in our area. We thought the lights had gone out to give people a hint to leave! How wonderful fellowship is with a sister like Ivel. Thank you, Lord.

Mercy...intercession...purpose

I was so looking forward to today's Beth Moore session. In the past week, I have realized that the 'crisis' that in recent times brought me to my knees and to surrender finally to God, was still there, but amazingly, it has faded in the background and my main concern has become my relationship with my Father. The more Beth opens up His Word for me, the more I fall in 'awe' with God. There were several snippets that ministered to me.

First, she defined mercy as "God's tender regard for the misery of man consequent to sin". I do not know about you, but what a beautiful picture this is for me, because I have felt a lot of misery in my life, and to think that He tenderly regards me, the sinful soul that I am, is totally amazing to me. She went on to quote the King James version of Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Jesus actually lives to intercede for you and me! He thrives, He lives abundantly, to intercede for us.
What do you live to do?
What do you thrive on?
What makes your life abundant living?
Think about it. I am.
Notice also that God is able to save or deliver you utterly, completely, from whatever binds you.

If He doesn't deliver you how you want or when you want, does that mean He has abandoned you?
Have you noticed that Satan will do anything to make us feel abandoned and unloved by God?

Beth looked at the story of the woman who was crippled for 18 years, bent, completely unable to straighten up. She asked us to compare it to our own 'long-term' struggles. Has it become "this is who I am"--bent, a failure, a victim...etc...? She said that our past does not prophesy our future, no matter how unable we are, because GOD IS ABLE TO SAVE COMPLETELY. When Jesus declared the woman healed, she straightened up immediately. Would we? Think about it.

The second part addressed that Jesus intercedes for us according to the will of God. The Greek root boule for will or purpose denotes the result of deliberation and reflection.
Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 139:17-18: 17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Therefore when we are surrendered to Him, nothing we are allowed to face is without 'thought' on His part. If He does not take away your 'cup of suffering', then it is critical to His purpose for you in this generation. It is relevant. God stays consistent with our purpose with all that He allows.
How comforting to think that He actually dwells in careful reflection for me, to intercede for me. There is noone else I would rather do this for me. He who is completely familiar with my ways and knows what will equip me for His purposes can pray what I cannot.

Oh Jesus, please intercede for me this night, for any who will read this prayer. Please pray for what we need at this time to abundantly live for You. Let me know what You have prayed. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Cycle of temptation...

Day 3 of my Beth Moore study has an insightful look at the cycle of temptation we experience daily. You can simply think of any sin you are prone to, e.g. overeating (gluttony), losing your temper etc... Beth took us through David's temptation in 2Samuel 11 to his restoration in 2Samuel 12:20. The cycle includes:
-the temptation.
-the hesitation (should I or shouldn't I-warning bell (the Holy Spirit) that something is wrong).
-the participation (giving in).
-the repentance (genuine regret with the attitude "I will not go there again by the grace of God."
-the restoration (God's Presence and love manifested)
In 1Corinthians 10:13, God promises that He will never give us more than we can bear, but will always provide a way of escape. Beth says, "The cycle..is as old as the Garden of Eden...Two things about a believer's temptation never vary:(1) We always have an open door, a way out. (2) Every door we refuse to walk through makes the next one even harder to enter."

What really hit me was when Beth talked about God not convicting us of our sin to show our utter wretchedness, for He calls us the righteousness of God in Christ." God convicts us through His Holy Spirit because He is grieved when fellowship between us is broken."
He wants a relationship with ME, one unbroken by wilful sin! He wants to commune with lil' ole me! That really wows me.

Father, I pray for a keen conviction of sin in my life and those I love. I know that You require a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. Work that into our lives, Father. Thank You for your grace, Your mercy, Your unconditional love. Thank You for Your discipline when we go astray as it shows we are indeed Your children. Thank You that You love to restore us when we truly repent. Thank You, Lord.

Read Psalm 51 to appreciate why God loved David so much even after he gave into adultery and murder. The NIV version and the modern paraphrase The Message gives 2 slants.
(http://www.bible.com/)
Psalm 51 (NIV Version)
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ; you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Footnotes:
Psalm 51:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
Psalm 51:6 Or you desired?; / you taught
Psalm 51:17 Or My sacrifice, O God, is

(The Message):
Psalm 51
1 -3Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down. 4 -6 You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. 7 -15 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don't look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I'll let loose with your praise. 16 -17 Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice. 18 -19 Make Zion the place you delight in, repair Jerusalem's broken-down walls. Then you'll get real worship from us, acts of worship small and large, Including all the bulls they can heave onto your altar!

Divine reaffirmation...

If you check my last 2 posts on Nov.12, you will see I shared on God watching us and fruitfulness as we abide in Christ. These 2 lessons came from the Beth Moore study. Well, God decided I needed some reaffirmation and along came my Spurgeon devotionals for today, and, well...you read for yourself the excerpts [http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml]...
...Isn't our God just cool and divine?...

The Unfailing Watch
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:4) Jehovah is "the Keeper of Israel."... He never fails to watch the house and the heart of His people. This is a sufficient reason for our resting in perfect peace... When we lie defenseless, Jehovah Himself will cover our head. The Lord keeps His people as a rich man keeps his treasure, as a captain keeps a city with a garrison, as a sentry keeps watch over his sovereign. None can harm those who are in such keeping. Let me put my soul into His dear hands. He never forgets us, never ceases actively to care for us, never finds Himself unable to preserve us. O my Lord, keep me, lest I wander and fall and perish. Keep me, that I may keep Thy commandments. By Thine unslumbering care prevent my sleeping like the sluggard and perishing like those who sleep the sleep of death.

"The branch cannot bear fruit of itself."-John 15:4
When have you been the most fruitless? Has not it been when you have lived farthest from the Lord Jesus Christ, when you have slackened !in prayer, when you have departed from the simplicity of your faith, when your graces have engrossed your attention instead of your Lord, when you have said, "My mountain standeth firm, I shall never be moved"; and have forgotten where your strength dwells-has not it been then that your fruit has ceased? Some of us have been taught that we have nothing out of Christ, by terrible abasements of heart before the Lord; and when we have seen the utter barrenness and death of all creature power, we have cried in anguish, "From Him all my fruit must be found, for no fruit can ever come from me." We are taught, by past experience, that the more simply we depend upon the grace of God in Christ, and wait upon the Holy Spirit, the more we shall bring forth fruit unto God. Oh! to trust Jesus for fruit as well as for life.

Thank You, Father.

I am smitten...

I have to confess that I am totally smitten...with my sons. This weekend, my oldest was in Ottawa for a Bible quizzing competition. Throughout the weekend, I kept getting flashes of his gorgeous face, flashing with energy. I pictured him jumping and answering his questions, giving a funny quip whenever he could. Such a feeling of joy and pride filled my heart whenever I thought of him. Growing in independence and oh-so-handsome! (totally the mother's genes!) And my youngest looking at me in wry amusement as I talked about his brother. Aww, Mom, you sure are missing him, aren't you? He is the one who tells me that if he could, he would surely give me a month or two at a spa, for that is what I deserved for my birthday. Oh man, he just melts my heart. Then he gives me such a beautiful hug. He is such a hugger.

But Lord, what about the many mothers who do not have their sons with them to watch and adore right now...it is Remembrance Day...sons have been killed in Iraq..or Afghanistan recently...many more Canadians gave their lives in previous wars....many died on 9/11...Father, I do not understand all the whys, but I do know that You watched Your own beautiful and perfect Son, on whom You pronounced "I am well pleased," die a slow torturous death...for me. I pray that You send Your Spirit to minister at this time and bring comfort and grace to all who need that touch from You. Thank you for lending me such beautiful creations in my sons for a while. I know that they are Yours and like You, I am pressed to the glass as I watch and pray for them for Your purposes to be fulfilled in them. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A carpet of golden leaves...

November 11th weekend...full...
Remembrance Day...we remember our war veterans and those currently in war zones...
...my son's Bible quizzing competition in Ottawa...
...my birthday...
As I was driving today under grey skies and intermittent rain,wondering how I would tie all my thoughts together from such a mish-mash of happenings, my eyes were drawn to the sea of golden leaves lining the streets. A touch of gold in the grey. How like God! I can't help but reflect that as part of His creation, we humans parallel this process of shedding, death and rebirth in new glory. My birthday is usually a time when I love to reflect. In recent years, it has become a time of grieving, for the loss of dreams that I had hoped to fulfill by a certain time. This year, however, I realize that like the trees, there has been much shedding going on in my life. At times the shedding of leaves were painful and I wanted to hold on. But as Beth said in one session, we can get splinters from holding on to what He wants to prune. He is in the business of cutting out that which has become our 'energy-wasters', another season's fruit. He prunes to allow profound effectiveness. John 15:1-3 (NIV version, The Holy Bible) says:
John 15
The Vine and the Branches
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
(www.bible.com)

Our response is to simply abide in Him and persevere. This is my determination for my next year of life, to continue to abide and seek out what is choking the life of the Vine in me. Beth gave the image of God watching each of His children closely to see His purposes being fulfilled, much like a child with his nose up against the window glass. Jeremiah 1:12 conveys this image: "I am early on the watch to carry out my purpose." (NEB version, The Holy Bible) It is a picture of a Father excited to watch us grow and glow in His glory. How comforting to me.

Father, thank You for Your faithful watch over us. Many times, I forget that as long as I have surrendered my concerns, my ambitions, my dreams, my life to You, You have taken over the controls and I can rest in the fact that You are allowing what I am presently experiencing. May I learn what it means to abide in You, rest in You, submit to Your trimming and pruning, remain in Your love. Here I am. Continue to teach me. How I marvel at Your goodness, Your God-ness. Thank You for carpets of golden leaves. Thank You. I worship and adore You. All my love, dear Lord. I look forward to so much more abiding with You. How sweet it is to be loved by You. Until we meet again, sweet Jesus.
Sita

Prayerlessness...a sin...

Yes, I had to share Beth words to me. My prayerlessness is a big no-no, it is a sin against my Jesus. Read the following Scriptures yourself: Isaiah 50:4-5; Mark 14:38; Philipians 4:6-7; James 4:2. I know how awful I begin to feel when I have not prayed. Beth says, "Prayerlessness is a sin because: (1) it causes us to forfeit some of God's precious gifts to us, (2) it makes us much weaker when tempted, (3) it causes us anxiety, and (4) it closes our ears to God."
Hey, is it any wonder I feel so awful?

What she goes on to share was of great comfort to me. "We cannot out-sin God's ability to forgive...after we have truly repented and reveled in God's sure forgiveness, our worship becomes the fragrance of purest nectar..."
Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father to continually intercede for us. So let us persevere in presenting our prayer and praise offerings to Him to offer to the Father. May I bless you tonight with the prayer that God lavishes His love on you to show your great worth to Him. Be blessed.

God's first recorded words....

A couple of years ago, my friend, Connie Noguchi, wrote a book entitled "Peridot Parables". She spoke of the struggle to create a garden in soil full of rocks. God used this to help her discover the rocks themselves as His lesson or parable to her. She inspired me to look at what God was allowing in my life at that time. Depression. So, like her, I delved into the Scripture to find God's lessons. Starting in Genesis, I was taken aback. Chapter 1:2-3 (NIV version, The Holy Bible) says:
2. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light."
How simple. Depression represents emptiness and darkness to countless people. How comforting it is to see the Spirit hovering over our soul's darkness very much like the pillar of fire over the Israelites at night. God simply spoke His word: "Let there be light!" And there was. My study stopped there. I transformed this into a prayer for myself and friends that I know who struggle with depression and asked God to speak His Word into our darkness.

What I did not do was to persevere in prayer and open my eyes every morning to say"Father, speak Your Word, "Let there be light" in my life today. Consequently I could not hear Him say at night, "There was light" and sense Him tenderly tucking me in. How important that light is to those He allows into our sphere of influence. I confess I feel my 'light' is inconsequential in the face of so much suffering. But Beth reminded us in Matthew 5:14-16 that God told us to place our lamp on a stand so that it gives light to everyone in the house.

Strangely, that is what this blog has become for me, a stand. I have no idea who comes here or why, but I know that He who led me to express my overflowing heart here will lead those who need to drink from Him here. God opened my eyes twice in 2 days to the same Scripture that touched a deep chord within and I realize that it is my heart's desire:
Isaiah 50:4-5 (NIV version, The Holy Bible):
4. The sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. 5. The sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back.
The red highlighted words speak to me of the necessity of daily listening with a submissive and humble heart for His Word, His instruction. This is holy ground for me. The journey continues.

Father, I come to You with awe and reverence. How faithful You are. I thank You for Your mercy. I thank You for Your plan. I ask for Your help, I ask You to speak light into my life and those who are reading who need You. Incite our spirits to eagerly hunger after You daily. Wake us up to meet with You. Fill us with your Spirit. Instruct us in the way we should go. Your Word says,"Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the Name of the Lord and rely on His God." (Isaiah 50:10b) So I declare my trust in Your Name. I declare my reliance on You alone. Now to You, O God, who is able to do so much more than we could ever hope or imagine, to You, O God, be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

Bone weary and dry...

I have had a hiatus...brief family reunion...due to my father's medical condition. It was so wonderful to see my brother from Florida and sister and b.i.l. from England. Yet, this girl forgot to get her daily manna while fulfilling the role of official 'host/driver'. Consequently, I suffered quite a toll physically, emotionally and spiritually. So now, I'm playing 'catch-up'..but sadly, I can never go back and have God empower me for the taxing days in the past where I would have shown His fragrance. And this girl wonders about the hard-headed Israelites?!

Anyway, He did not bash me over the head. He noticed I can do a good enough job there. But I am learning, the 'gaps of neglecting' are getting shorter, so there is progress! I noticed He was reinforcing the lesson He started to teach me when I began this blog. Whose voice is definitive? This was the hardest test, when it involves family members. I confess I did quaver and waver and flounder. But I'm slowly learning to filter any input through what He has been teaching me. Growing in Him is quite a process, isn't it?

I had forgotten to note the principles I learnt in the last Beth Moore video session before my 'leave'. She addressed our hearts when we approached the Altar, which she noted was a place of :
Awe [Isaiah 6:1-8],
Relief [Isaiah 6:7/Psalm32:1-7],
Refuge [1Kings 1:50-53],
Joy [Leviticus 9:22-24/Exodus 29:35-37].
-When we approach Him, we have no need to cover up our sins, for He has already covered it with His blood (comparing it to the blood of animal sacrifices required by the Israelites to atone for their for their sins).
-The more we spend in the light of His Presence, the more He will shine in the details of our lives.
-True intimacy with God always breeds humility: every time He moves you to do something that will affect the lives of others, He first gives you a fresh glimpse of yourself [yikes--it ain't pretty]--so that you will KNOW that it was and is His Work, His glory.
-Psalm 32:1 -"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Bow your knees with me and offer up your 'messes' to become 'holy messes' to be used for His glory.

Read with me Psalm 62:
Psalm 62
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
3 So many enemies against one man—all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence.
4 They plan to topple me from my high position. They delight in telling lies about me. They praise me to my face but curse me in their hearts. [Interlude ]
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.[Interlude]
9 Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air.
10 Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.
11 God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you;
12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.
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New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004

Father, please forgive me for I have sinned. I have been disobedient and not come out to gather the manna that I needed. I have not drunk of Your Presence and I am dry and weary. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning, that your compassion never fails. I offer up my 'mess' to You. Make it holy for Your glory. Father, Bread of heaven, now feed me till I want no more, Fill my cup, Fill it up and make me whole. For anyone reading here who needs to be filled, please let them know their sins are covered, and fill them with You. Thank You, Father. In Jesus' Name, Amen.