Marriage...Two becoming One

I have made a (married) couple one one in each other and one in Me (God). When one falls, the other person can pick the one who has fallen up again. Allow yourself to be picked up, allow yourself to be helped, wow to the person who has no one to help him when he or she falls.
Genesis 2:24, This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

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.

"My willingness to give of myself"

"What you are willing to give your life for says who you are."
Who will you rescue, love, and encourage today?

Who have I laid my life down for this week?

1 John 3:11, 16 - 18 & 4:7 - 8, For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. By this we know love, that he (Jesus) laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

4:7-8, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

God's passionate pursuit for us!

So often I think that when we picture God we picture God on a throne in Heaven, at least I do, or did. But what I've been sensing lately is that God is in this mad, passionate pursuit for us. That He loves us so much that He is willing to into circumstance that He needs to in order to rescue us from anything that we may have gotten into. God is willing to offer any sacrifice, the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ, on a cross, for our sins, so that we could have unbridled fellowship and relationship with Him. Yes, God never violates our free will but He is always there, looking for us to accept Him, if we will just open our eyes and our hearts to see Him and accept Him into our hearts and lives.

Luke 15:3-7; So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Luke 15:17-24; When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

Step 1: God's Purpose: Peace and LifeGod loves you and wants you to experience peace and life—abundant and eternal.The Bible says ..."We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." —Romans 5:1 (NIV)"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." —John 3:16 (NIV)"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." —John 10:10 (NIV)

Step 2: The Problem: Our Separation
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and a freedom of choice.We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from GodThe Bible says ..."For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." —Romans 3:23 (NIV)"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." —Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Step 3: God's Bridge: The CrossJesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.The Bible says ..."For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." —1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." —1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." —Romans 5:8 (NIV)God has provided the only way. Each person must make a choice.

Step 4: Our Response: Receive ChristWe must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him by personal invitation.The Bible says ..."Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." —Revelation 3:20 (NIV)"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." —John 1:12 (NIV)"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." —Romans 10:9 (NIV)
Where are you?Will you receive Jesus Christ right now?Here is how you can receive Christ:1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit.

(Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)

Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

*Steps 1-4 taken from http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp

Am I running away from God?

“Over and over, like the Israelites, who went round and round and round in circles trying to find satisfaction in everything but me (God). Occasionally, there have been people who have forsaken everything to follow and obey me. What I am looking for are an entire people who will forsake all of the world’s trappings and entanglements to follow me. I am looking for a Bride complete in Me (God).
Why do we believe the lie of “Worldly Satisfaction” apart from God?
We think what we cling to of the world is gold, but it is actually rubbish; fool’s gold. Don’t spend your life collecting fool’s gold and miss the real splendor, majesty, and holiness of God’s presence.
We may not physically leave our Father’s side, but sometimes we have left His side, in a spiritual sense, to chase other passions and pursuits away and apart from God.
Is there anything in my life that causes me to leave God’s side or causes us to run away from His presence in disobedience to any of God’s commands?

THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON:

Luke 15:11-32: And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' 20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
25"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' 28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' 31And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

We may not physically leave our Father’s side, but sometimes we have left His side, in a spiritual sense, to chase other passions and pursuits away and apart from God.

Is there anything in my life that causes me to leave God’s side or causes us to run away from His presence in disobedience to any of God’s commands?

In the hand of the Potter

Oh, how I have longed to mold you and shape you into the image of my son, Jesus Christ. But, before I can place you upon the potter’s wheel, I must pick up the broken shards of your life that are lying on the ground. Allow me to gently pick you up, gather you unto myself and mold you together. Then I can place you on the potter’s wheel and gently mold you into the image you were meant to be. Allow my Holy Spirit to place you onto the potter’s wheel. You were designed for a purpose and a destiny in me. Allow yourself to be willingly placed on my potter’s wheel.

Isaiah 64:8; And yet, Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.
Jeremiah 18:1-6; The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, "Go down to the shop where clay pots and jars are made. I will speak to you while you are there." So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so the potter squashed the jar into a lump of clay and started again. Then the LORD gave me this message: "O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand."

Marriage, the sacredness of becoming one

Yes, I have called you one, one in spirit, one in truth, one in my son Jesus Christ. How can two walk together unless they are in agreement; they can’t, or they will stumble. You have been called one before the foundation of the world, it’s planned out for you to walk in total agreement and purpose with one another, don’t forsake that which I have called you into, a sacred, loving trust of two people coming together as one, a mystery that represents my relationship with my Son Jesus Christ and the precious Holy Spirit. You represent me, I represent you; walk as one.

Ephesians 5:31-32;
"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Run to God

"Run, run to me My child, run to your Father, my heart is always ready to receive you, bursting for your fellowship, for your presence. Waiting for your shadow to enter the doorway of My throne room. Run to me with your praise, with your petitions, with your requests. Oh that you would spend time in My presence, the more time you spend, the closer you get, the more of My heart you are able to receive. Receive My presence, receive My joy, receive the promises I have for you. Be like a child that longs and takes joy in sitting in the lap of their father. My joy cannot be contained for the joy and love and excitement I have for you. " META CONTENT="Top10" NAME="Ranking"/>

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.

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"