Advent Day 3: Come, Follow Me

Advent Day 2 Reading: Matthew 4:18-22

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.  Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

Jesus began His public ministry by personally hand picking 12 disciples.  These men were ordinary men like you and me, just busy at the time about their business.  When they heard His voice call them each by name saying, Come, Follow Me,  at once and immediately they dropped everything, and did not even look back, but responded and followed.

In our lives He does the same thing.  His still, quiet, voice speaks to our spirits throughout the day, calling us by name to follow.  The funny thing is many times it can be when we least expect it, or in strange places; places we might have set out and purposed to go for our own particular reason.  Then, all of a sudden out of the blue, we will hear His voice calling us from our agenda to join Him in His. 

When He does it because He has a specific purpose and intent He wants us to co-partner with Him in to accomplish.  His heart’s desire and mission is to draw all men to Him, like He did us by leaving His fingerprints on their lives. We, His disciples of today, are the ones whom He does that very thing through (if we let Him).  We ARE His fishers of men.

The next time you are in a parking lot, possibly walking towards the store of your choice to make a purchase and you hear His voice calling, Come, follow Me…………I want to make you a fisher of men, I encourage you to stop, listen to His instruction and follow.  Open the eyes of your spirit to hear His voice leading you the way. Make and take the time to minister to that person He has in mind that has crossed your path, even if it’s just by saying a friendly hello.

During this advent season we can make the difference; we can become the incarnation of Christ, by following His lead to minister to those with needs.  Won’t you join me today in this great adventure by drawing all men unto Him?

Not my will but Thy will I pray;

I long to follow, to obey what You say.

My key concern life’s passion, heart’s desire;

whether the outcome brings success, failure or sorrow.

I am compelled and stirred, for that purpose alone;

from this day forward, my will’s not my own.

My face set like flint, towards all You purpose;

You’ve chosen and called, You lead, I follow.

-excerpt from You Lead, I Follow

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

-The Quilted Poetess

Advent Day 2: For Those Who Believe

Advent Day 2 Reading: Matthew 8:5-11  

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, He was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Previously, Jesus’ main priority while talking amongst the crowds was to proclaim His knowledge and wisdom of the actual inner meanings of God’s law, with the hopes of helping His listener’s discern more accurately its interpretation for personal application. Now, He is seen here transitioning to a position of both proving His authority and right as God, to  actually putting it into practice through completing a series of miracles.

In the above passage, when the centurion, otherwise known as a Roman military officer approached Jesus for the healing of his servant, he came believing that Jesus’ had both the authority and power to heal.  Jesus declared of him, I tell you the truth; I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  Jesus was so impressed with this man’s faith to believe; He not only miraculously healed his sick servant who was actually physically many miles away, but also publicly commended him for his faith. 

As we can see, walking by faith and not by sight, through believing our God is able to move mountains is important to God. In Hebrews 11:1-2 it says, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. When we both make the choice to ask, and then believe with hopeful expectation for what we cannot see, we also will be commended.

He is able, and He can and will move mountains.  No problem is too great, or is any amount of distance to far to  limit our Lord’s capacity and power to act on behalf of those who believe.  Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the Heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17

 For Those Who Believe

His Presence, voice, His touch bring a taste,

of compassion, forgiveness, mercy and grace;

Deliverance, healing, comfort and love,

rest, peace and joy, Heaven’s reality above.

A hope that encourages, that does not disappoint,

a faith that perseveres, stands firm and endures;

Can be given, imparted, sought and received,

free for the asking, for those who believe.

What no ear has heard, what no eye has seen,

what no mind’s imagined, envisioned or dreamed;

His wisdom and strength, power and might,

signs, wonders, miracles, brought to life and to sight.

To be revealed, unveiled, echoed, perceived,

for men and for women, for you and for me;

Our sons and our daughters, descendents eternally,

free for the asking, for those who believe. 

Through the eyes of faith, we will see the dawn             –   Grace Wilson

If you find your faith is wavering, just ask Him for more.  Jesus is also the author of our faith that so pleases Him, and loves to bless us with good gifts by increasing our capacity so we CAN believe.  Believe and you shall see the glory of God! 

-The Quilted Poetess

Advent: Day 1 Prepare the Way of the Lord

 Advent Day 1: Prepare the Way of the Lord

This year, Advent season begins today, November 28th, and will continue until Christmas Day.  The word, Advent means, coming or arrival. During the next 30 days, it is a tradition of various churches to focus on both the arrival of the birth of Christ, or First Advent, as well as the anticipation of His return, or Second Advent, through scriptural readings of selected passages taken from the Gospels. This double focus of both Christ’s past and future coming, while acknowledging the importance of active co-partnership in the ministry of reconciliation is emphasized throughout these readings, as well as reflections on our inheritance and the eternal hope that are ours in Christ.  Advent is to be a period marked with an ever-increasing spirit of hope and anticipation, as well as active preparation for both the birth and return of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

In our day and age; with all the glitz and glamour wrapped around the Christmas season, it is easy to become side-tracked. Although we might have good intentions we can easily become preoccupied removing our focus off its true meaning and importance. Setting aside devotional time daily to read and reflect on scripture can help us more wholeheartedly join in the true reason for the season.  

As John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord, won’t you join me this advent season and prepare your heart for the way of the Lord’s return?  I am confident that as you do, the benefits and blessings you receive will be of everlasting value. Oh, Let Us Come and Adore Him together!  

Advent Day 1 Reading: Matthew 24:37-44   Prepare the Way of the Lord

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

According to today’s reading, we are encouraged to spend time preparing and focusing on Christ’s return.  The great news is; He is coming back for us, His Beloved Bride, but the question is, Are we preparing our lives for His return? How do you think that might play out in everyday activity?  Would you do that by spending more time striving to complete this or that; or possibly prioritize more time to be still and at rest With God?  Would you focus your energy on involvement in more Christian activities, or focus your heart With God by just sitting at His feet?

Possibly during time of intimate communion with Him, you could fill your lamp with the oil of His Presence and Spirit to light your path?  Or maybe through taking an inside look at your heart through the lense of His love; ask yourself honestly what is driving your daily decisions.  Are they motivated by your love for Him or you love for yourself? Addressing such things as how you prioritize the use of your time, energy and finances might be important issues to address.  Becoming more available as a living letter to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him, as He avails you divine opportunities might be another.

Although this process will look different for all of us, remembering that preparation is an action word we commit to, and involves both an internal and external response to the anticipation of His return is the key. One thing we do know is that He will return and longs for us to co-partner with Him through joining the procession of heavenly host as they prepare the way for His coming. Won’t you join me today in preparing for the way of the Lord?

-The Quilted Poetess

Living Letters

Living Letter in Jars of Clay

 We are living letters

Written not with ink

But with the Spirit of the Living God

Not on tablets of stone

But on the tablets of human hearts

Being transformed into His likeness

Reflecting with unveiled faces His glory

As He leads us in Christ

Spreading everywhere through us

The fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

We have these treasures in jars of clay

To show that this all surpassing power

Is from God and not from us

We are hard pressed, but not crushed

Perplexed, but not in despair

Persecuted, but not abandoned

Struck down, but not destroyed

We do not lose heart

For our momentary struggles

Are achieving for us

Eternal glory that outweighs them all.

Inwardly we are being renewed

Day by day

And we make it our aim

 To be well pleasing to Him

Living a life of love

Finding everything a loss

 Compared to the surpassing greatness

Of knowing Him.

–Paraphrase of 2 Cor 3 & 4, Philippians 3

 Today, as I wrap up blogging about the Evangelical or Word-Centered tradition, I thought I’d end by sharing one of the first poems I wrote that summarizes my heart’s life message and purpose. After becoming a disciple of Christ, I have always had a burning passion to know Him and His love for me. I have also been consumed with fervor to share that life-giving message with others. This is one of the reasons I so enjoy blogging to you, my readers.

I live and breathe and have my being in Him, the lifeline to my every purpose that holds my attention for any length of time.  He is my everything, and my goal in life as Paul said so well in Philippians is to, count everything a loss compared to the surpassing knowledge of knowing Him; really intimately knowing Him.  Through the Gold Mine of His Word, and my personal love relationship with Him, this has become a reality in my life.  I am so thankful He left us with this treasure of wealth. to teach us and encourage us, as well as with the priceless presence of Holy Spirit living in us; we truly have all we need.

Before ascending, Jesus asked Peter this question in John 21, Peter, do you love Me?  After Peter answered, Yes, 3 times, Jesus followed up by saying, If you do, then feed My sheep. We, are also are called to feed His sheep, by being living letters for the world to read and experience first hand, the love of God. Because He no longer abodes on earth, but now is housed in us, His Glorious Church, we are admonished to nourish, teach, encourage and minister about Him to His people, as well as those He’s  calling and drawing to become His.

Discipleship is a huge part of the Christian walk.  We, have the true answers to life, because He IS the answer.  We are each called by Him to reach out, even in the mist of our human frailties to those that surround us and offer them a taste of true life.  As Robert J. Frances says, We all share in one common destiny and walk one single path together. That path is the path of a disciple who is daily committed to being transformed into His likeness, spreading everywhere the knowledge of the fragrance of Him.

Over the next month of the Christmas season, I will be taking a break from my Christian Tradition series, and blogging daily about the advent; or coming of Christ.  I will be ministering on specific scriptural readings that coincide with the advent calendar.  Meditating on these passages will not only prepare our hearts for the celebration of His birth, as well as for His second coming, but hlep us grow in becoming that living fragrance of Christ. I hope you choose to join me. O’Come Let Us Adore Him!     

 -The Quilted Poetess

Everlasting Love

Yesterday was such a lovely Thanksgiving Day.  Serving my family and friends through both preparing and hostessing a day filled with feasting, fun, and filling up on both fresh memories and of course, that fabulous bird we all cannot wait to get our forks into!………… I can never get enough.

I find in my life I also can never get enough of Jesus.  As I just read a post on Facebook this morning about that very thing; it once more resonated deeply, because although He fills me up, I seem to never be able to get enough. The good news is….. He is the gift that keeps on giving, not to mention, quite a bargain; being free for the asking. He offers more than enough of Himself to go around so everyone can receive, for He’s not only found everywhere, but also available 24/7.  No more waiting in those Black Friday lines for that most special precious on-sale item of our dreams, because now His everlasting gift of love is ours, and never runs out. Its capacity is bottomless!

Previously, I’ve been blogging about the various types of wealth found in the Gold Mine of God’s Word. There’s one last treasure I’d like to share about that happens to be one of my particularly favorite riches found in His chest.

Have any of you ever received a letter or card in the mail from someone you really love; or someone you haven’t heard from in eons of time; or a treasured email or note from someone very special to you, expressing their love and appreciation?  When dating my husband of almost 33 years, there was a time early in our relationship when he wrote me the most beautiful love letter ever. When I received it, I was deeply touched by his sentimental words of tenderness; so deeply, that I’ve kept that letter all these years, and periodically reread it. It’s been a true treasure to me.

The Bible, in its purest form and intent,  I believe is also just that……….a intimately, wild, love letter written passionately from all consumed, pursuing  God who is crazy about us!  Richard J. Foster says so well in this following quote I’ve paraphrased: The Bible is not an owner’s manual to successful living, or even moral living; we shouldn’t read it merely to serve our own needs…but as a love letter. The Lover of our soul breathes through it His divine love for us.  It is not a book to read with the soul purpose of gathering information and knowledge, but reading it instead as a love letter will awaken us to Father’s continual desire to commune with us at our deepest more vulnerable places.

The Bible; a love letter from both our Father and Jesus, the Lover of our soul. When read as such, it is read through the eyes of our heart.  As it says in Psalms 42:7, Deep calls to deep.  If while reading we meditate on what we are reading in quiet reflection, it will cause our minds to relax and our heart’s to take over. We will begin to float if you will, on the still waters of His Spirit into the loving presence of His everlasting arms.

 The Word is actually a hidden reservoir, that is filled with living water that will enliven us to a saturated state of exhilaration if we take the time and allow it to.  Jesus says in John 10:10, I come that they may have life and life abundantly. Experiencing the fullness of His divine presence and everlasting love as you read His love letter to you, will release this abundant Zoë life.

King David writes so eloquently about this throughout the Psalms, but especially targets its importance to him in  Psalm 27:4, where he pens, One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

As we read the Bible with the eyes of our heart, we gaze on the beauty of the Lord, and experience His incredible love for us, His beautiful beloved Bride.  Reading the Song of Songs is a great place to delve into and experience this first hand. One time  while completing a bible study I was so enraptured with my love relationship with Him afresh, that I penned my own love letter to Him, my beloved Bridegroom.

I’d like to end today by sharing it with you, encouraging you to spend some time with the Lover of your soul, bathing in His immeasurable love for you. Help yourself relax by putting on some soaking music ahead of time , and as you read His love letter to you; allow His love to awaken those sleeping areas of vulnerability in your heart.  Take Him in…………all of Him, and bask in His all- encompassing, presence and everlasting love for you.  This, I am most assured will be the best black Friday special available.

 Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth-

for Your love is more delightful than wine.

 Pleasing is the fragrance of Your perfumes;

Your name is like perfume poured out.

 No wonder the maidens love You!

Take me away with You- let us hurry!

Song of Songs 1:2-3

Your Bride With Longing Awaits

Who is like unto Thee my Lord?

who is like unto Thee, my glorious Groom?

my betrothed Husband and Lover,

no one compares to Thee.

Your love for me is better than life,

more than anything

I could ask for or desire;

my lips shall praise Thee,

I adore Thee,

You are truly the Lover of my soul.

Your love is captivating,

completely fulfilling and joyously soaring

me endlessly into the Heavenly realms;

where Your glory dwells.

My heart throbs for Thee,

my glorious Lover, all of Thee,

the Lamb upon the throne

who rules in justice and power;

yet at the same time meets with me so intimately

in our private chamber;

with tenderness and kisses,

with loving embraces and caresses.

As I with Thee,

You are with me

enthralled my Heavenly Groom;

Your beautiful Bride,

without spot or blemish.For You have bathed me,

in the fragrant perfume

of myrrh, aloes and cassia;

my eyes are sparkling,

my lips, rich with color.

You have clothed me,

in fine, white linen

a robe of righteousness;

woven and embroidered with gold.

You have crowned me,

with an ornamental headdress

that gleams and beautifies.

Now, having the youthful look of lasting romance,

I’ve been purposely designed for,

by my Father’s precious heart and hands;

I am truly arrayed in both splendor and glory.

Your Bride with longing awaits for that day,

that glorious day I will be one with Thee

sharing and experiencing the richness of our love;

in oneness, completeness, in total intimacy,

the fullness and satisfaction,

I’ve been divinely created for.

But as for now I await,

in longing anticipation for that day

I will be united eternally

and one with Thee;

my Lover, and soon to become glorious Groom. 

Let the Bridegroom bring YOU into His chambers……..

 -The Quilted Poetess

A Heart Like His

When the prophet Samuel was sent by God to select the new king for Israel from the sons of Jesse, the Lord chose David.  According to birth order and accomplishments, He was the most unlikely candidate, in the eyes of man.  As we read the accounting of this story in 1 Samuel 16,we find that in God’s eyes He was the perfect candidate.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” 1 Samuel 16:7-12

Even in the midst of all King David’s horrendous and tragic mistakes that our all-knowing God knew David would make, this is what the Lord said of Him, He’s a man after My heart. Reading the psalms that Kind David wrote surely gives us all an inside look at his heart, including the good, the bad, and the ugly; but God in His infinite capacity to see beyond David’s blunders, saw in His heart, a man who would follow hard after Him, and this is what mattered. 

As I shared with you yesterday, Yellowstone National Park is a picture of the work God has, and continues to do in my heart.  Since the time I recommitted my life to Him in 1981, I have been madly in love With God.  In the midst of all my blunders, sinfulness and up and downs, God’s loving grace has been more than sufficient.  He has taken my heart of stone and worked both tenderly, and at times fiercely, to conform it into His image.

Through numerous seasons of healing, deliverance and repentance, I have received outpourings of His love and faithfulness, Through the process, I’ve been slowing transformed from that caterpillar I was, to the butterfly I’ve been created to be.  I am not saying I’ve arrived, or am perfect, but I know He who has begun this incredible work in my heart, will be faithful to complete it.

After writing the journal entry about Yellowstone National Park, I wrote one of my first poems, I titled, Living Hallelujahs!  The stanzas in the poem reflect the process of healing and restoration I’d been through, as well a what I truly believe we all go thorough to become those plantings of the Lord, and displays of His Splendor He’s so graciously created us to be.

In closing I’d like to share it with you in honor of Thanksgiving this year.  I can’t even begin to tell you just how thankful I am the Lord’s relentless pursual of me and for the phenomenal work He’s done in my heart.  My hope and dream is, like King David, to be remembered as having, A Heart Like His, that has followed hard after God, no matter what life brings my way.

Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth He has made mention of my name.

He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid me;

He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver. He said to me,

“You are my servant Israel, in whom I will display My splendor.”

Isaiah 49:1b-3

 

Living Hallelujahs!

The hope of glory, Christ in me,

though once was blind, I now can see;

a life so filled with sin and shame,

bent on a path of destruction;

a conscience consumed with guilt and pain,

who lovingly heard Him call my name.

Weaving the threads of His sovereign plan,

through what Satan meant for harm;

returning all the stolen plunder,

giving freely back with His outstretched arm.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord,

for the praise of His glory at last;

resurrected life, teaming with hope,

set free from days of bondages past.

Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard,

nor mind conceived His plan;

the medley of praise and mosaic design,

He’s weaving throughout my life.

Now, a living, worshipping, praising Hallelujah,

displaying His splendor through all I do;

shining with glory, ignited with power,

anointed for ministry through Him and for you. 

 

Instead of their shame My people will receive a double portion, and instead

of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a

double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Isaiah 61:7

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

 -The Thankful Living Hallelujah! Quilted Poetess

He Gives Us Beauty for Ashes

Honest Surrender, Into the Hands of God, is a 7 word action phrase that when regularly practiced can offer us so much freedom. If this is true, then why is it so difficult to do?  It could be because it requires a yielding or our control over what we perceive as our lifeline to satisfaction, success, godliness, reputation, or whatever we personally deem of great value and importance.

Somewhere along the lifeline of our thinking, we have believed the lie that, Without _______, my life would be empty. Making it a conscious decision to surrender _________, we believe would compute to such things as loneliness, personal worthlessness, misery, and ultimately hopelessness.  It would be true that if  we believe we find our ultimate hope in ________________, and we were to surrender it, we would be ________________.  

If our hope and life does not originate from _______________, I would ask just where does it come from? Jesus answers that question well in Matthew 16:25 where He says, For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. Hmmm…………..to save (or have life) we must lose it; and whoever loses his life, FOR ME, (will have life).

Jesus is speaking to us about exactly where true life is found………………..in Him, or in other words in the With God life I’ve been blogging about.  This IS the root system to life. It is not found anywhere else; only in Him. The blessings we experience are actually only its branches.  Without the root system, we, the plantings of the Lord would not thrive. 

The psalmist pens in Psalm 62:5, Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope come from Him, or I could personally rephrase that by saying, Find rest, Joyanne, in God alone, your hope comes from Him.  As I write that, I am filled with a quiet rest; but also with a hope that seems to be bubbling up from within.  Those words have power!  Coupled with the continual action of surrender of _____________, and _________________, and _________________, positions me to experience the abundant With God life.  As I’ve previously mentioned, resisting the devil when he invades our hearts to rob and steal from us our spiritual inheritance is also an important component to this process.  I have found the key to being victorious in our resisting him, can be an ongoing process, and often times, is not a one-time occurrence.  Learning to resist UNTIL he flees is where true victory can and will be found.

In Psalm 1:1-3 King David begins the psalms by writing, Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Surrender; coupled with resistance of darkness and daily nurturing our root system on golden nuggets of truth is the antidote for blessing, well-being and prosperity. 

The Lord personally showed me how implementing this process over a long period of time had ultimately impacted my life, by giving me a word picture while on a trip through Yellowstone National Park.  Below, I’d like to share that entry with you:

 Yellowstone country is such a picture of the process each of our hearts goes through, as they are transformed from stone to flesh. Similar to the trees that have burned in the fires, our lives have been left barren from our fiery trials that have brought destruction. In His mercy, the Lord intervened, giving us beauty for our ashes by bringing good out of those trials. As the faults in the land here are filled with rivers, His Spirit of living water flows through the fault lines in our hearts, giving us the oil of joy to mourn the brokenness we’ve gone through, as well as healing, refreshment and revitalization. The geysers or hot spots seen on the land represent areas of hurts and pain in our lives that intermittently bubble up and explode, through such emotions as bitterness, anger and resentment. His river of life also flows over those areas-soothing, bathing and cooling them down.When we choose to garment ourselves with praise for the heaviness in this process, we become filled and fragrant with beautiful flowers, much like the wild flowers growing here, for all to behold and enjoy. Then through the seed of His love, our hearts become soft and tender and we grow into becoming stately and majestic trees of righteousness, much like those growing on the corridors here.As this process continues unfolding in our lives, we truly develop into a display of His splendor; a Living Hallelujah for the praise of His glory.

He, our Creator God, who lives inside of us, comes alongside to do a work of healing and restoration, that bring us back to the life we were created for, as we, His precious beloved’s, fo our part. I encourage you to continue your journey to wholeness and wellness by choosing the better part, as Mary did, and take time this holiday season to sit at His feet.  Allow the tears to flow; knowing as you pour out your hurts, pains and disappointments, surrendering them to the Lover of your Soul, He will also give you, beauty for your ashes.

He is faithful!

-The Quilted Poetess

Honest Surrender, Into Your Hands

In the New Living Translation, Psalm 51:6 says, But You desire honesty from the heart, so You can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.  As a Christian, just being what I would call, religious, through striving to do all the right things to please God, or by swinging to the other side of the pendulum and practicing, feel-good Christianity, through solely seeking the blessings of His gifts and Presence, in my opinion are not effective means to run the race set before us, as we are admonished to do. 

Although obedience through putting our faith into action is pleasing to God, as well as enjoying the blessings of who He is and what He has given us, are both huge components of the With God life; God also desires honesty in our inward parts.  Openness to take an inside look at what is really going on and driving those decisions is holy habit to practice regularly.

In Psalm 51, King David did just that. He took an honest inside look at his heart, and it wasn’t very pretty. He had committed both adultery and murder, and the Lord sent the prophet Nathan, to open the eyes of David’s heart that had become hardened and blinded, due to the deceitfulness of sin.

As with King David, as long as our spirit’s are housed in these human bodies, we also are capable of having impurities within our hearts. This creates an ongoing need to take an inside look, because sin, or missing the mark, hinders both our fellowship with God and with others, as well as isolates us from experiencing the richness of the freedom that is released as a byproduct through those nuggets of truth in the Gold Mine of Father’s Word.

As I’ve previously mentioned,  The Word of God is resplendent with one golden nugget after another,of shimmering truth strategically placed in the Word of God, not only dazzle us, but to empower us and establish our lives in the heavenly realm.  Each book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is like a passageway to be explored and excavated, for valuable and rare treasures.

For instance, a hardness of heart can come due to the sin of unbelief, which will actually thwart our acquisition of these great and precious treasures; and sometimes, until we take an inside look- we don’t even realize we are struggling with it.  Prevailing unbelief with thwart us from being properly positioned to apprehend God’s promises, because faith is the antidote that activates their release into our lives.

Becoming still, and taking an honest inside look as King David did in Psalm 51, allows Holy Spirit to shine His light on any dark pockets of unbelief that might be hindering us from walking in the fullness of those gold nuggets of truth He has availed for us. It can also reveal other areas or sin or shortcomings that might be hindering your fullness of intimacy with Father. 

Living in this fallen world continually creates the dross of impurity, amidst our hearts,  The fires of honest surrender, into His Hands, can remove it.  As Frances J. Roberts says, Only in solitude can you begin to sift away the chaff and come at last to the golden grains of truth. Willingness to come boldly and honestly to Father’s throne of grace, by making it a priority to regularly STOP all activity and become still in His Presence and open to His scrutiny, is crucial. 

Honest surrender, into His Hands, through repentance and change of direction for life, coupled with confession (of whatever Holy Spirit reveals), and forgiveness (sometimes of ourselves), will create a new heart and steadfast spirit within.  The results can be glorious!  The weight of the dross of our sin is removed, and humility, peace and teachability are restored. Faith rises up once again and dispels darkness, replacing it with new- found hope, joy, and anticipation of receiving the ALL from those golden nuggets of truth, as our portion.

For those of you that have extended time off  work this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend; I would encourage you to carve out some time to be still and wait upon the Lord. You might want to read Psalm 51 ahead of time to  marinate your heart. Remember, He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Won’t you  invite Him in to dine with you?  I know that the feast He’s prepared will be indescribable, and more precious than gold!

Honest surrender, into Your hands,

Those herculean hands of war;

That wrestle, assail; ward-off, dispel,

All fiery darts from hell.

 Honest surrender, into Your hands,

Those feathery hands of rest;

That shelter, protect; shadow, shield,

As wings to protect from distress.

 Honest surrender, into Your hands,

Those plentiful hands that feed;

That provide, furnish; bestow, impart,

And add “all things” unto me.

 Honest surrender, into Your hands,

Those tender hands of love;

That caress, romance; nurture, embrace,

As my Heavenly Bridegroom from above.

 -Honest Surrender, Into Your Hands

 

Won’t you choose today, to honestly surrender, into His Hands?

-The Quilted Poetess

Come Forth as Gold

Jesus says in Revelation 3:18a, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich. The question I might ask is, Just how do we buy this gold from God?  One  possible answer to this question I’ve personally experienced has come through my receiving gold as a byproduct and result of co-partnering with God in the refining fires that have come into my life.  As Job says in Job 23:10, But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. In other words; not only is His Word a Gold Mine for our conquest, but we also are capable of coming forth as pure gold.

As we know, gold has varying amounts of value, which is dependent on its purity. The more pure it is, the more valuable.  Gold and silver are refined in fire for that very purpose; to remove the dross, or impurities; for the purer, the more valuable.  As with gold, we also can be refined in the fire (or tests) of life to become more pure.  God in His love allows those tests, knowing when we come through them, WE will BEcome rich.

In the dictionary, the word test is defined as, A procedure for critical evaluation and means of determining the presence, quality, or truth of something.  In the scientific field of chemistry, a test is administered to detect, measure, examine or produce physical or chemical changes in a substance, often with the goal of promoting a positive change or result. In Romans 12:1-2 the Apostle Paul urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, (willing to be tested), by no longer conforming to the pattern of this world, but instead being refined and transformed by the renewing of our minds. 

One important way we can present ourselves as living sacrifices, is by allowing God unhindered access to those hidden places of our hearts. By an active choice of our free-will, and when vulnerably doing so,  we position ourselves to cooperate with God in the process of removing the dross and barriers in our lives that might be preventing Holy Spirit’s entrance. We thus surrender our shields of self-protection to and allow His entry. As we do so, our hearts open wide to intimacy with Him. Only then can He come in and speak liberally to us, revealing exactly where He sees as the need for change.

His goal and ultimate desire is to make us rich, by using these fires to shape us into the resemblance of His divine nature.  He longs to remove the dross of our human frailties, and transform them into the pure gold of His strength, while also removing such things as our resentments and anger, and replacing them with His supernatural grace and ability to love and forgive.

Our free-will being the most sacred thing He’s given us, means that choice  must be ours.  Only when we choose to become those living sacrifices can He enter and place us on the altar lit with refining fires. As we choose to yield, He will shape and transform our lives from the inside out, to His pattern of beauty and holiness. It can be painful at the time, but in the end, it hurts so good! 

 So today, I encourage you to fix your heart upon Him and allow Him full entry. When you do, be assured that He will transform and mold you through His Presence, and the life-giving power of His Holy Word.  As you behold Him and His glory, you will be changed into His likeness; refined, and come forth as pure gold.

 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed

into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthian 3:18

 -The Quilted Poetess

Sleeping With the Enemy Part 2

 Exactly what do you do, when you find yourself sleeping with the enemy? You RESIST both him and his luring thoughts and lies, by bringing them captive to the obedience of Christ, as we are instructed in James 4:7, Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

We do not focus on him, or ignore him, but RESIST him; by putting on the FULL armor of God found in Ephesians chapter 6:10-11, 13-18, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

When satan’s fiery darts of lying accusations, temptations and foolishness are shot at us, and we resist them by putting on our armor; we overcome satan, By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. Revelation 12:11 In the delivering power of Jesus’ blood (that still speaks), we are covered and protected; and through our testimony, we align with His truth and are delivered.

His Truth is the weapon we are given in our spiritual armor called, the Sword of the Spirit, that when wielded offensively, while holding up the Shield of Faith for protection, brings victory from the spiritual battles fought both without and within.

Because satan doesn’t always surrender easily, continued resistance and perseverance is often necessary. We are at battle, and combating his lies that relentlessly try to persuade us to sleep with him by blanketing themselves around us in such a way that insidiously develops strongholds in our lives is critical. Much like that a python snake, satan will coil his evil presence around us; ultimately strangling the very lifeline with Christ from within, if we allow him to.

BUT……….when we call upon the name of Jesus and declare His Truth in satan’s presence, he must flee. The very power that raised Christ from the dead is released to invade enemy territory, and WILL dispel the darkness. Darkness cannot dwell with the light, and Jesus is light, so darkness must flee. 

The witness of His victory in our lives will be His manifest Presence of PEACE.  As Frances J. Roberts says, Peace as quiet as the morning and as still as dew will invade our hearts. He is the Prince of Peace and when He comes, Shalom Peace becomes our portion, as He promises in James 4:8, Come near to God, and He will draw near to you.

 The battle will come, so preparation for the battle AHEAD of time is always a good idea.  Taking time and making it a priority to read and become familiar with God’s, Golden Nuggets of Truth both educates and equip in the strategies needed for success and victory. This spiritual discipline is a key practice found in the Word-Centered life.

In closing I’d like to share a poem I wrote while completing the Beth Moore Bible Study, Breaking Free, which had everything to do with this very topic. 

Defeat the enemy, who’s your adversary;

who comes to rob, kill, steal, destroy.

As a thief in the night, obscured from the light;

in darkness he hides, from full vision and sight.

Coming hidden and reclusive, masked, shrouded from view;

to scam, bind, deceive you, appearing real, the genuine deal.

Through temptation, with persuasion, he’ll entice and invite;

you igniting desires, to engage and persuade you;

to view lies as truth, believable and true.

Don’t be fooled, duped or hoodwinked, they’re deceiving and misleading;

falsely promising to give life, but delivering injury, hurt, harm.

As he craftily abuses, falsely accuses and confuses;

causing wounds that will damage, that’ll upset you and ravage

Do refute and rebuke, those allegations, his accusations;

make the choice to reject them, to stand against and refuse.

Instead choose, to embrace, His Living Word you’ve heard;

that He’s given so graciously, and spoken so painstakingly;

as divine truth, spiritual reality, valid fact, assured certainty.

Willingly decide to make agreement, believing God’s Truth, not lies;

and the enemy will be defeated, He’ll be crushed and be beaten.

And all oppression will depart, abundant life will be imparted;

birthing freedom and liberty, triumph, success, conquest, victory.

 -Defeat the Enemy

 As you choose to proactively wield the sword of His Word, you WILL defeat the enemy. Turmoil, confusion, and anguish will dissipate, and your heart and mind will once more be consumed with overflowing Shalom; His peace that surpasses understanding.  Sweet Dreams!

 -The Quilted Poetess