Obedience is tied to love

Immanuel, you have made it possible for me to know your incredible love - the same love you have for your Father and he for you. Help me to obey you so that I may experience the depth of your love as I learn to sink my roots in you. John 15:9-12 (Praying the Names of Jesus Journal by Ann Spangler).

Obedience is tied to love. We live in a world of few rules and open disobedience and rebellion. Jesus said that if we love Him we will obey His commands. The more we learn to obey the more we love and trust in Christ. Obedience is always a decision of our will and fortitude. Don't base obedience on a feeling but on the power of the word of God. Learn to obey out of love, not out of religion. Jesus obeyed out of His personal relationship with his Father (God). Jesus had complete trust in what the Father required of Him so obedience was a matter of a heartful trust based on a love and trusting relationship with his father. Our obedience should be based on that same love and trust relationship with our heavenly Father. Learn to develop a trustful relationship with God and allow His commands to be obeyed through you based on your trusting relationship with Him.

Willing conformity to the image of Jesus...

“Yes, man’s life is like a vapor. But watch and see what I can do with a vapor. My servant, John the Baptist’ life was like a vapor. But he paved the way for my Son, Jesus Christ. Allow me to blow you into the darkness allowing my Son’s light to shine through you into the darkness. It’s not quantity, but quality. Allow your life to shine forth in the darkness. The light of my love in you cannot be extinguished."

Psalm 39:4-5 Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

Vapor: The state of a substance that exists below its critical temperature and that may be liquefied by application of sufficient pressure.

Allow God’s pressure to conform you into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. A vapor is a substance that is moldable into the image that exerts the greatest pressure on it. Who is exerting the greatest pressure on your life? Is it the world or God? Whoever you allow to exert the greatest pressure on you, will shape you into that image for their usage. Don’t think that you can allow the world to exert pressure on you and that you will not conform into the world’s image to be used for the world’s purpose. Instead, allow the molding and pressure of God to shape you into that which he has created you and valued you to become; to be used for His glory and purpose on the earth. Only then will you be what you were created and destined to become.

Jeremiah 29:11-12; 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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

We are all innkeepers...

We are all innkeepers…

Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have. "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The innkeeper had his inn on a lonely stretch of road, in a very dangerous place. An innkeeper is responsible for bandaging up, helping out, and listening to those that God brings our way. We pour out our lives, tell our stories, and wait for those we wait on to get better. Sometimes those that we have helped out and poured into leave; that is okay, perhaps they were meant to be in our life for a short time, perhaps, they too, are called to the life of an innkeeper. An innkeeper is a lonely but fulfilling life, We won't get fully paid in this lifetime, but our payment will be enough when we see Jesus, our Innkeeper, who found us on a lonely stretch of road, on the way to nowhere, who took us in, bandaged us up, and committed Himself to us until we were well enough to live again.
Many thanks to Ruth Patterson, from Ireland, who related this passage of scripture to us at Saint Simons, Georgia, April, 2008.
http://www.restorationministries.co.uk/

Speak your words of destiny that God has already declared over your life!

“Before I created creation I fell in love with you. I (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) set all of your days that are before you. We created you, as unique as you are; we set and declared your destiny. Walk in that which has been set before you, declare that which has been declared for you, before you were born. Agree with your Creator. You are unique because you were created in My image, in My glory, for My purpose.”
God has written out your destiny with a purpose. (Psalm 139:16; You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed).However, God declares out loud that which He has planned out for you (Genesis 1:3; Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.) We also need to declare with our heart and with our mouth that which God has already declared over us before we were even born. Speak your destiny that aligns with God’s word. Declare the words that God has already declared over you.
“I thank you God that you have made me with a vision and purpose for my life. Thank you that you have set my feet on a high place above my enemies. I thank you that you love me with an everlasting love that will continue for eternity. I thank you that you and I are one and that you hear me when I make my requests to you.”
Psalm 139: 15-18; You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!

Learning to abide in the continual presence of God

Your name is written on the very palms of my hand. I am in constant awareness and fellowship with you; you must learn to plug into my thoughts and love I have for you. Just as it is impossible for a nursing mother to forget her newborn so it is impossible for me to forget you. Your name is written in an expression of love on my hands, hands that were crucified, nails run through, so we could walk hand in hand in fellowship and love for one another. Come take my hand and heart, it's yours. Your heavenly Father.
Isaiah 49:16; Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me.
Psalm 40:5; Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered
Revelation 2:17; He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Just come to Jesus

No more secrets, no more secrets in your life, I know everything that is in your heart before it bubbles to the surface. Don't be like the Pharisees that tried to hide behind a veil of religion. Instead, come freely to the fountain; be like the woman with the issue of blood that struggled over and over again for years. She finally found release when she came to Jesus, sickness and all, and declared, "If I can just touch Jesus in my pitiful condition, I will, I will be healed." Don't wait to get better, don't try to fix it yourself, but come now to Jesus.
There are times in life when we face issues and circumstances we can't fix ourselves, when all we can do is to come to Jesus; that's fine; just come to Jesus and get "your expected fix" out of your mind and let God determine the fix and outcome.
Matthew 9:20-22: And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well."And instantly the woman was made well.

"Do Not Disturb"

"Come into My dwelling, come into My house. I knock on the door of your heart, desiring to come in that we may fellowship together, break bread together. Don't let the sound and worries of the world drown out my knock. Don't let a line of things gather at your heart's door knocking for your attention. Put a 'Do not disturb' sign on your heart's door and mean it. The longer I stay, the more I can share and impart to you my child."
Revelation 3:20 "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends."
God will not compete for your heart's attention; He is God. I saw a picture of things (worries, things that compete for my heart's attention) standing at the door of my heart in a long line and than I saw Jesus come to the door and after seeing the crowds I saw him walk away. Jesus will not compete for our attention.
Matthew 6:21 "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be."

January 15, 2009...Words....

Today's impressions from God... " I desire to be everything to you. I am God. I desire and expect no less. You are complete in Me. How can two walk unless they are in complete agreement with me? That is why my Son, Jesus, said you could ask and receive because you are not asking on your own behalf but you are asking on my behalf and I can't deny myself, my word, and my Son. Keep asking, keep receiving and keep walking in my love for you.
Your heavenly Father,
Abba"

I think we all struggle at times with the image of God because of our relationships with our natural fathers...
"I am there with every father, walking, nudging, and offering advice. But not everyone listens. Be a listener, be a learner, be a watcher. Look quickly, I am there walking with you, talking with you, being a father to you. Let me be your father.
Abba
I love you"

We are all innkeepers...

We are all innkeepers…

Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have. "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
The innkeeper had his inn on a lonely stretch of road, in a very dangerous place. An innkeeper is responsible for bandaging up, helping out, and listening to those that God brings our way. We pour out our lives, tell our stories, and wait for those we wait on to get better. Sometimes those that we have helped out and poured into leave; that is okay, perhaps they were meant to be in our life for a short time, perhaps, they too, are called to the life of an innkeeper. An innkeeper is a lonely but fulfilling life, We won't get fully paid in this lifetime, but our payment will be enough when we see Jesus, our Innkeeper, who found us on a lonely stretch of road, on the way to nowhere, who took us in, bandaged us up, and committed Himself to us until we were well enough to live again.
Many thanks to Ruth Patterson, from Ireland, who related this passage of scripture to us at Saint Simons, Georgia.

Hi everyone; I would like to share with you some recent words from God that I believe that He has given me. I am not saying "Thus saith the Lord" but merely impressions that I felt God has been sharing with me lately...

I look over the earth looking for a place to dwell that I may place My Spirit there, that prosperity may arise in your land that your land, that your women and men may not be barren, that your land may produce, that your children would rise up and call you blessed, that your dwelling may be secure and upright that My light might shine to you through the nations, that My Son Jesus Christ would be highly, highly exalted in your land.

Dec 7, 2008:
As the mountains flow so I have designed and created your life for a purpose. Get eagle vision. Be able to soar with Me above the clouds to be able to see the direction and magnitude of your life and calling. I don’t want you to be surprised, we’re friends, come with me, higher and higher. As a river flows, your life is designed with a specific course in mind. Come with Me and I will show you your life’s direction, purpose, and flow. For in Me, you will find your life’s direction, flow, and purpose.
(The higher you are, the clearer you can see the direction of the river. Perhaps a river may flow into an ocean, or become a dam eventually. When your flowing in the river, you can’t tell what direction your intimately going or your ultimate direction. The higher you get, the clearer you can see the big picture.)
*Expect the Lord to show you the direction of your life.

Dec 14, 2008:
“You are holy because of what my Son Jesus Christ did for you, the divine exchange, your filthiness for My holiness, come, enter in, you are holy, nothing you have done on your own but the simple exclamation of your faith, “Jesus is Lord.” When I look at you, I look at a pure, spotless, spotless bride, enter into My presence. The exclamation of your voice and belief in your heart makes you worthy, enter in son, enter in daughter, enter into My presence.

Dec 16, 2008:
“I am so much larger than your perspective, I am so much bigger than you could ever see or imagine. But I came down to earth through my Son Jesus Christ so you could experience my richness of love for you, so you could begin to fathom the depth and love and feeling I have for you. For you are mine, fathomed before the foundation of the earth for my glory, to carry my glory. Come up with Me so we can reign, fellowship, experience friendship and be together.”

February 11, 2007 (New Covenant Church: not verbatim)
"I am the designer, I am the master architect. I've laid out pages out of my design; for each of you is called to be part of my design and work. Each of you have tools, hammer, saw, chalk lines, overseers, inspectors, they all fit in my coordinated plan. Dust off your tools to build and not to destroy. My house will be built on a firm foundation. Every one of you are valuable to me, every one of you have a particular job. Be sensitive to my spirit in the job I have for each of you.

It wasn't out of a sense or obligation of duty I fellowship with people but because I desire to be among them. I like people, each person is unique and special, each person has my Father's DNA. My Father is the true Father, the True Creator. You have my spiritual lineage, you are a royal priesthood, part of a royal bloodline, you have the blood of your creator Father.