MARCH 28

I read Isaiah 12. Several verses became my often repeated thoughts for the day. I hope you find them comforting, as well.

"Great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."

I thank You, Adonai, because although You have good reason to be angry at me, Your anger is now turned away through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

See! You are my salvation because I desire You. You are comforting me as You presently surround me with Your love.

I am confident and not afraid, beause You are my strength and my song, I will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation. I call on Your name and look to You for all I need for life and godliness.

You are with me in Your greatness. In all my darkness, You are my light.

What an awesome thought: YOU ARE WITH ME IN YOUR GREATNESS. YOU ARE IN ME BEING GREAT.

MARCH 25

BEHOLD YOUR GOD! HE IS SOVEREIGN. TRUST HIM.

Here is your God. See, He comes with strength, with power to establish His rule. His reward is with Him. His gifts accompany Him.

Sovereign God protects His flock, for He is their Shepherd. He gathers lambs in His arms and carries them in the fold of His garments.

Who has directed the Spirit of God and who gave the Lord the councel He uses to guide me like a shepherd? Who will you compare Him with? What likenes will you compare Him to? . .an idol? . .a human? . .another so called god? Have you considered the foundations of the earth? God is enthroned above the circle of the earth. The Sovereign Lord says, "Who will you compare Me to or who is my equal? Why do you say, "My way is hidden from the Lord. My claim is ignored by my God?"

(God is talking to the nation of Israel, but how many times have I felt the same? If you identify, allow the Holy Spirit to ask you this question and answer you.)

Remember, Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary. There is no limit to His understanding or His awareness. He gives strength to the weary and powerless.

"Those who trust in Me will find renewal and strength and soar on winds of Spirit energy, as eagles do the wind currents. Relax. I am present with you."

"I the Lord, am first and with the last. I am He. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not fear, I have chosen you and not rejected you, just like I did Abraham."

"I have chosen you Elizabeth, (insert your own name) knowing your beginning and your end. I have chosen you not for your greatness or your potential, but for love's sake. You are My servant, my friend, my bride, my child. I will never leave you alone nor abandon My work of full salvation. I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand. Your Redeemer is your shepherd and the lover of your soul."

MARCH 24

Father, where does this death to self take place or what is it that must die as we follow Jesus? Is it in the mind as theological platitudes? I think too often the evangelical church has settled around theological truth on the mind level, and this does not feel secure to me. One can believe in the mind the right things, but You want truth to be written on the heart level where it displays itself in life situations and as we relate to others.

My Jesus, I love You! I know You are mine. For You all the follies of Self I resign.

Increase all my borders in You.
Increase intimacy with You to enjoy You more.
Increase clarity of hearing and seeing You.
Increase love and faithfulness from my heart.
Increase humility and weaken every trace of false pride.

Release from me self-consciousness
self-protection
self-serving

Lord Jesus, I realize I am actually requesting that You also increae my suffering. In union with You, I deny myself, take up my personal killing cross and cling to You.

IF YOU DID IT, THINKING OF ME, YOU WILL ENABLE ME TO DO IT, THINKING OF YOU.

MARCH 23

You are my Life Source, Almighty God. You are not just an impersonal energy vibration of love. You are the most exciting personality beyond all imagination. You show me just enough of Yourself to keep me longing for more.

United with Christ in God these things are true of me.
1.There is no longer any condemnation waiting me. The finished work of Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death.

2.Christ's presence in me provides the power to fulfill the commands Christ speaks to me.

3.The Spirit keeps drawing me to find my identity in Christ. What He has done for me inspires me to love and trust Him completely.

4.The Spirit calls me to turn my attention from daily concerns to Him loving me and Him receiving my affection. Sitting with Hin in the secret place of silence removes my stress and dis-ease.

5.This dialogue of friendship enables me to understand His heart and ways. The more I know Him and experience Him, the more I want to be consummed by Him.

GATES OF HELL, YOU WILL NOT PREVEAIL AGAINST THE LIFE OF CHRIST IN ME.

When I turn to You, Lord, and see You with open arms, then my anger, jealousy, fear, lust, self pity, hurt, bitterness, resentment and pride all loose their power, their sting, their control and torment.

When I turn to You Jesus, Your peace takes over, Your life flows to wash away the painful, negative thoughts and emotions. I am empowered to let them go and REST in You.

Stand between me and those hellish gates. Release the fragrance of Jesus to me, so that the reality of His presence will be available to all who touch my life.

MARCH 22

Because of the completed work of Christ in my behalf, I am holy, set apart for God. God chose to make me holy - not common or unclean. How grateful I feel.

Holiness is a position and a destiny before it is a behavior. "You are a chosen people, holy priesthood, a people for God to possess!" Why? "In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." I Peter 2:9

"Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents not to give in to the desires of your old nature, which keeps warring against you; but to live such good lives among the careless that even though they now speak against you as radical, they will see your peace and joyful lives and give glory to God on the day of His coming." I Peter 2:11 (Liz's paraphrase)

Since we are holy, we must "put on holiness", or behave in a way that reflects our calling, our position of holiness. Dress to fit who we are in Christ. Wear holiness, because we are holy - set apart unto God.

I choose to wear the clothes Jesus laid out for me:

SHOES OF PEACE - that gives me steady footing.

GARMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - a sense of identity, for my heart is His throne.

BELT OF TRUTH - holding all I am together (body, soul, spirit) in the enabling power of agreement with who He is in me.

HEAD COVERING - redemption was instant but salvation is an on going process of renewing mind and emotions, motives and responses. Salvation is my crown of glory.

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - His words spoken as I need to hear His mind on a matter.

Lord, Your kingdom has come in me. Let Your will be done on earth where I am, just as it is being done in Heaven. I live to reveal Your Kingdom.

March 21

Holy Spirit, what a wonderful teacher, counselor, guide You are! You are to be worshipped and valued above all. Your glories are beyond description and You reign in victory over all who would rise up against the knowledge of You.

You are. . .oil of anointing, fragrance of divine presence, wind under my wings, fire to purify and water to refresh me. Bring me closer still.

What a wonderful Lord. . .and I am privileged to know You and serve Your purposes in the earth. Have Your way.


We are saints in God's eyes and we must spend more time agreeing with the Divine Resident within us Who makes us holy and declares who we are in Christ. Look within for a few minutes. . .into the bonfire of His presence in you. The gates of hell can not prevail against you and Divine Resident.


Change my heart O God, make me ever true.
Change me to be like You.
You are the Potter, I am clay
Mold me and make me useful according to Your design.
Love through me and make me a delight to You.

March 20

OH LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME!
How excellent, hallowed
Full of wonder, authority, awe inspiring

God requires two things for relationship with His human creation:
heart affection and agreement
punishment for rebellion to His sovereignty - independence from Him
God has provided both for me in Christ Jesus.

OH HOW I NEED YOU, LORD. . .MERCY.
Think about it: I am helpless, hopeless and desperate to meet Your requirements for relationship. Think about my lostness and my separation from this holy, majestic God. I have lost my way from the design and all You intented for mamkind. Without you I am empty, self destructive, wierd; but Your emprint is within my soul. My heart is bewildered without You on the throne. I am to be like Jesus.

WHO SHALL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?
WHO SHALL UNITE ME WITH THE SOURSE OF LIFE?

THANK YOU FATHER - for agagpe love that had a plan.
THANK YOU CHIRST JESUS - for agape that carried out the plan.
THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT - for agape that awakened my heart and mind to truth and grace.

MARCH 15

The last two posts have dealt with actually becoming, in this life time, all Christ said we could be. Each generation has struggled with staying on the path of true humility as modeled by Jesus. As we try to mature in the Spirit and do the works of Jesus, we tend to get prideful and depend on ourselves or we shrink back in fear and false humility, never walking in confidence and power. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal the lies that keep you from walking in the fullness of your identity in Christ.

Please know that I have a long way to go. Old programing is hard to throw off. Christ has called us to be His voice and His physical body in the earth in our generation. Surely there is to be one generation who will reveal the glorious Bride that Christ died for.

I AM JUST WONDERING OUT LOUD HERE, but I wonder how differently the world would view the church if we would dis-entangle ourselves from the Old Testament law based religion and live the Christ life of humility and love. "Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Jesus." Phil.2:5-11

The Church is so sin conscious that to call ourselves saints, as the New Testament calls us, sounds like blasphemy. We are saints, not sinners. We are saints who sin but are being delivered from self-focus. Isn't self-focus what sin is? It makes us twisted and perverted from our original design. The Holy Spirit is trying to get us to be God focused and to live by every word He speaks to our heart, not get us so heavily envolved in church centered activities, that we make Christ jealous for our attention.

Pride is not dealt with by demeaning the true self that God created. God has assigned great value humanity. He expects us to move from sinner mentality, poverty and victim mentality, to true humility, self-giving and reigning in life in union with Christ. Christ died to forgive our mess and to restore us to our original purpose. To continue to say, "Oh, I'm not worth much," is to deminish what Christ expects from the new creation saint.

Romans 3:23 states, "We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," but the obvious benefit of the death and resurrection of Christ is to restore us. We were created for that glory. The price Jesus paid reveals the value of the people He purchased with His blood. Is it possible that the greatness of God's human creation actually glorifies God Himself? "We are to be blameless and pure children of God, without defect in the midst of a twisted and perverted generation. We are to shine like stars in the sky, as we hold on to the Word of Life, Christ." Phil.2:15

Humility is not thinking negative of ourself, but in seeing God as being the Source of our greatness. Without Him I am nothing.

Humility is not the absence of confidence, but strength displayed by drawing on the One who promised to never leave us alone. I am called to heal, love, and to give comfort as Jesus did for everyone who would receive Him. I am not called to point my angry, self-righteous finger at all that is wrong in my communty and nation or call fire down in judgment, or to enforce the Christian perspective that would fix our cultural mess. Jesus refused to do this and He could have.

Humility is born out of an awareness of God's presence and how much I need all of Him for all of me.

BROCCOLI WITH FETA AND KALAMATA OLIVES

This is quite good if you like Kalamata Olives. I don't enjoy eating them alone, but this is a delightful warm dish with lots of flavor.

1 lb. Broccoli Cut off the tough stalks and use the head.
Cut Broccoli into bite size pieces and steam until tender crisp.

6 Kalamata Olives, chopped
1/4 cup Feta Cheese, craumbled
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp Lemon Juice or Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
2 TBS Walnut
Sea Salt

While the Broccoli steams, chop Olives and heat the Walnuts if you want them toased. Watch that the nuts don't burn and the Broccoli doesn't get too cooked.
If you like Garlic Cloves, mince one and add to the mix.

Add all ingredients together while the Broccoli is still warm and eat immediately.

My last post concerned a prevailing spirit of poverty in the American Christian community. I talked about contending for all that God's covenant provides the followers of Jesus and refusing to compromise the standard Jesus modeled. I tried to define prosperity as more than currency and possessions. Before going on to other topics, I want to approach this whole issue from a different perspective.

Biblical prosperity does not primarily refer to monetary wealth and possessions. It does enclude these kind of riches, but many godly people live low on the financial income scale. You should be able to pay your bills for the necessities of life, not for keeping up with the American dream. I would call Mother Teresa a very prosperous woman of God, yet she had nothing to call her own. She chose to submerge herself in Calcutta, India, allowing Jesus to love the lowest of humanity and minister to their physical bodies. Heidi and Roland Baker have given up earthly possessions and the "good life" American style, to live among the people of Mozambique, but they see provisions multiplied, healing miracles of all kinds and yes the dead raised on a regular basis.

As we have traveled to Romania and worked with the national Christians, I have been inspired by their faith, humility and giving heart. I know pastors there who serve faithfully tiny churches without a salary. Tal and I ended 2010 by spending December in Romania with Ben and Anna Boingeanu. To me they are truely wealthy people and have lived a lifetime of drawing on the riches of God's grace and provision to meet every kind of need imaginable; from growing up through Communisim and its oppression and hardship, to church planting after the revolution with no adequate salary, to currently becoming foster parents of 12 children and pastor of the large Holy Trinity Church in Braila. They are not wealthy by American standard but they manage what they do have remarkably and they know how to draw on the Covenant of Grace and experience God's peace. Each one of their own two and the foster sons & daughters have experienced God's provision for the family and are being lifted out of the destruction, poverty and victim mentality of so many of their peers. They are experiencing true success and prosperity.

We are children of the King and we have a limitless supply of all we need for living life where God has planted us in a godly manner, but that does not garuntee that we will all have unlimited possessions, travel opportunities, the best of everything, no troubles, trials or disapppointments. It does mean that our hevenly Father knows what we are experiencing, hurts with us according to Jesus, is always working to bless us and care for us.

He never says, "No, I won't forgive your "sins" this time." Or "No, I won't heal you this time." (Psalm 103: I believe He has made it all available to us, but we sabetage God's plans and provision by our unbelief, by our preconceived concepts and blindness, and by destructive habits we are not even aware of, to name a few.

So I say again, God is good, better than we can imagine and He is still a GIVER. God has brought us out (of our human fallenness) to bring us in (to all He is and has). He intends to teach us how to draw on our eternal inheritance now, so don't limit the GIVER by unbelief or false humility. If you fail to withdraw portions of that inheritance, don't blame or shame yourself. There is not a human who ever lived who has, except Jesus Christ. Rather, give serious question when you excuse unbelief by saying, "Well I don't think God still does those things any more. Or I'm not a good enough Christian." or "It is normal to be anxious or angry." Question whether or not you have been unconsciously influenced by American religious ideas and your spiritual upbringing by family and denominational dogmas. This is still an unresolved issue with me and everyone I know to some degree or another.

This is the secret missing ingredient in American Christianity: We have depended more on teaching correct doctrine to become strong in the Lord, than we have depended on knowing God through Jesus Christ and deepening the love relationship. We are more likely to have a conference with our pastor or some spiritual leader, than we are to worship at the feet of Jesus until He speaks peace to our emotions. Most do not value even 1 hour daily to sit in a quiet place longing to encounter God face to face, heart to heart. We resemble the elder brother more than the prodigal son, so when life gets hard and things are with held, we become bitter, fearful, anxious and demanding, rather than running into the arms of Jesus for our answers and to put our hearts at peace.

I know! We are all influenced by our modern culture and the American lifestyle. I don't mean to shame, but there is a strong tendency to interpret Scripture according to our culture and the lowest common denominator of Christianity and I feel compelled to resist this tendency in my own life.