Speak to the Mountain

Mark 1122-26
There is so much of the Bible we choose to take literal, and then there are verses like this...do we dare take it literal?
Step One: Have Faith in God... it doesn't just mean believe there is a God... have faith in Him...in who He says He is, in what He says He'll do.
Step Two: Speak to the mountain and tell it to be cast into the sea. Don't do it with doubt in your heart, but believe and what you ask will be done. Is it Mt. Whitney? Or other mountains in life...sickness, broken marriage, job loss... what is your mountain. Have you just decided to tell it to move, be cast aside, get out of the way, it isn't going to stop you...why? Because you have faith in God...He will see to completion all He has begun in you...He will bring all things together for good to those that love Him...He has given us all His riches in glory, if the flowers of the field are clothed why should I worry about tomorrow... All of a sudden the mountain isn't a mountain in the face of God!
Step Three: No doubt in your heart. Do you believe God or not?
Step Four: Whatever you ask in prayer, believe and you will receive them. But.... These are the red letters, people...Jesus said it, not me! But what am I to pray for, and am I believing in the prayer or God, who will answer according to His will and purpose? I say...ask, be bold, and ask again. If you aren't getting anything back from God, ask Him how you should pray and keep at the dialogue until you get an answer one way or another. God isn't deaf, he hears us!
Step Five: AND... Yes, Jesus said "AND"... when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive them. I wonder if that is why we aren't getting answers? Just sayin'!

Run!

Mt. 14:23

Jesus left the crowd, we see this on more than one occasion. He left the crowd, the demands, the needs, the have to's, the should's, the "but".... and walked away. Sometimes it was early morning, sometimes in the midst of a busy demanding day, sometimes it was all night because it was the only time to get away.



There was one thing about the "running away" that Jesus did...He ran to someone. His Father.

No matter the pressure, the emergencies, the expectancy of others, the internal struggle to meet the needs...he ran to the Father.



This week I ran. For awhile I have been running away from things...people...demands...etc. Zoning out on tv, video games, busyness...but running none the less. This week I decided to run to the Father. Why do we struggle so much to do something so simple, so basic, and yet so profound for our lives, and that is run to...the Father. Our Father. Our Abba, daddy. Our King and Lord and Powerful Majestic God.



The moment I got into the car to come to a place of refuge by the beach to rest and heal...I put out my hand and asked God to hold my hand, to be with me, that I desired His company. His presence immediately filled the car. I didn't have much to say...no words can express what is on my heart and mind right now, but it didn't matter...He was there.



After a few moments of drinking Him in, thanking Him for being so tender, so close, all of a sudden I had this image of a child sitting on his dad's lap wanting to drive the car. It was as though God said, let me drive. And I was "spiritually" sitting in His lap and He was driving.

No worries, my eyes were still open and hands still on the wheel! But it was tangible to me.



Jesus went away from the multitudes, to the mountain top, by himself to ...pray.

If Jesus felt the need to commune with the Father, how much more do we need to. And I don't think he went begrugingly out of obligation, I think He couldn't wait...and neither can I!



Dear Father,

How we take your presence and grace so for granted. It is such a privilege to commune with you, to hang out with you, to be near you...Lord, I so want to pray as Jesus did, would you teach me? Would you guide me to commune with you as Jesus did? I don't want to miss anything when it comes to you! I love you so...

In Jesus name,

Amen

Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:9-14

When Jesus was asked how to pray...this was His model. When I pray the Father's prayer in private, I often use it as a launching pad...May this help you expand your prayer and understanding as we follow Jesus' example:



Our Father in heaven: You are the Father of all...I praise you that you are the Father of those that do not yet know you and you are pursuing them fervently. Thank you that you are my Father and that you have made yourself known to me...I am so grateful.

Hallowed be Your Name: Father there is no one like you. There is no name above the name of Jesus. Your name is precious, holy, and powerful. Thank you that I know you, and your name.

Your Kingdom come, your will be done: Lord, I can't wait to see your kingdom in it's entirety...but in the meantime, I am excited that Your Kingdom purposes can be done here on earth through your people. Lord, make me Kingdom minded, and purposeful about bringing some of your holy, beautiful, powerful kingdom here on earth in each conversation, each choice, and each touch... May your will be burning in my heart that it may be my one pursuit to obey you in all things.

On this earth, as it is in heaven: Father, I thank you that Jesus came to give us a glimpse of how you, the Spirit, and Jesus operate in oneness, as you do in heaven. Thank you for showing us power, truth, compassion, knowledge, and the defeat of evil...I pray that through your people, more and more of your Kingdom will be manifested here on this earth as it is in heaven. May it begin with me.

Give us our daily bread: Lord, you are so amazing in provision. Your storehouse is never empty and some way, some how, you always show up. Thank you for the blessing of being your child, for that privilege brings your provision for all of life. Thank you that all that I need for this day to survive is on the way. And thank you that you often give so many blessings that are just extra touches of love.

Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors: Thank you for making this a daily prayer...to keep short accounts with each other. Lord there are people that have not forgiven me for things, and I ask that you will soften their heart and help me know how to reach them. Lord, soften my heart toward anyone that I have held a grudge or unforgiveness against. I praise you, Lord that you set the stage of the ultimate forgiveness, can I do any less. Thank you for forgiving my sins as I forgive those that have sinned against me. You are so merciful, grow me in mercy, Oh, Lord.

And lead us not into temptation: Lord, this is the morst revelatory verse...we so often ask you to strengthen us to face temptation, but God, I am weak. I don't stand up to temptation 100% of the time. So, Jesus, thank you for this amazing clue of how to pray for a sinless life! Ask that God not allow me to even be led into the face of temptation at all...no temptation...no sin! Lord, may this apply to my thinking, my attitudes, my actions, my words, all of me.

But deliver me from the evil one: Father, I thank you for the victory that is mine in Christ. I praise you that the devil is defeated. Deliver me from his lies, his deceptions, his trickery, his pull on my flesh, and his seduction. Deliver me from pride which is his foothold. Thank you, Lord, that you are my foothold and you will never let go!

For yours, O God, Is the Kingdom of all Kingdoms, the Power of all Powers, and the Glory of all Glories...and I love you so, Dad!
In Jesus Name,

Amen.

First Things First

Matthew 6:33

What am I looking for? What are we seeking in this life? Are we finding it?

Have you ever noticed that what we seem to be looking for we never find...peace, contentment, purpose. Perhaps we are seeking for them in the wrong place, or seeking to solve the problems we face and then we will have what we long for. If I can just get through this, then... If I can just have this in my life then... If he or she would just ? then...

This was the first verse I ever learned to apply to my life, and through the years I must remind myself of it at times. The world pulls hard, no, really....it pulls hard! If we are not careful we begin to seek in all the wrong places over and over again.

We are called to seek one thing... His kingdom and His righteousness. Condensed this ultimately means, seek Jesus. Don't just seek...but seek first! That is the ultimate clue, seek God first.

The passage moves forward from there with "then"...if we seek God first, "then" "all these things will be added unto you".

God first...He takes care of the longings in our hearts, our deepest desires are truly met when Christ is the one we daily seek.

Sweet Jesus,

How grateful I am for your example of seeking God first. Forgive me for the times that I seek after elusive things. Thank you that you are worthy of my seeking, that you are beyond all I can imagine, you are mighty and powerful. You are kind, good, and gracious. You are love. Why would I go anywhere else? Teach me how to seek you, turn my heart toward you, and protect me from getting off track. Thank you God.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Fallow Ground

Hosea 10:12

The Word encourages us to break up fallow ground...ok, I had to look it up...what is fallow? It is ground that is uncultivated, left without seed for a season, not in use, inactive. At the beginning of the verse for today, it says to "sow with a view to righteousness", "reap in accordance with kindness", "break up fallow ground". Three steps.

When we sow seed in a garden or a field, we have a view or perspective of what we are desiring to accomplish; what we hope to reap. I won't plant flower seed if I want vegetables in the harvest. Do I even have a perspective or plan of what I am hoping to reap with the seeds I sow? Am I just living life planting whatever seed I feel like planting in the moment? What kind of chaotic garden will I end up with ? We are encouraged to plant with a view, perspective, plan, desire for a garden that will reap a harvest of righteousness...specific seed, for a specific produce.

Reap in accordance with kindness...rigteousness can easily turn into judgment, a critical spirit, a spirit of pride can take root... When our seed of righteousness begins to spring forth with an amazin harvest, we must be kind while reaping, patient with those that are still figuring out what kind of seed they desire to plant. We need to kindly bring people to our field and have them taste of the fruit of righteousness to awaken a desire in them to also plant the same field.

We cannot do any of the above without addressing the "fallow ground". It is a heart that has been left unattended. A choice piece of land that has been unseeded for a season. The Word of God is likened to seed in Jesus' parables. Do we have an un-seeded heart? Have I left my mind spiritually unattended? It is time to dig it up, turn the soil of my heart and prepare it for the Word of God to be planted there which is the beginning of righteousness...it leads us to repentance, reveals truth, shows the path to Christ.

The last part of the verse in Hosea, tells us why we are to do these things... "It is time to seek the Lord until He rains righteousness upon us." We as a church have been called to prayer...it is time to seek the Lord, to turn the fallow ground, to plant the Word, to walk in righteousness and kindness, and to cry out for God's holy rain to water our prepared hearts and minds and to bring a harvest of souls into His kingdom.

Lord God,

I confess that there are seasons that I have a fallow heart and mind. God, how I desire to have a true passion and hunger for your Word. I so desire to have your heart of holiness, I so long to truly desire righteousness in all areas of my life. I pray that you will awaken an awareness in me of the type of seed I am sowing in my life. I seek you God, I cry out to you Lord, I hunger for you, thirst for you, long for you... Rain on us as a people, O God, pour out your Spirit upon us. May your Spirit of revelation and salvation come into our land and bring forth a harvest of souls for your glory! Come Lord Jesus, Come!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

The Round About

Psalm 119:1,2

Driving in California can be quite the adventure, to say the least! I have been raised and lived in California my whole life. I don't need to read every traffic sign or traffic instruction because I am so familiar with the area and how we roll, that it is second nature. Now I know I shouldn't post this because the inevitable will happen, but for the sake of the application I will knowingly jinks myself...I have never gotten a traffic ticket in over 30 years of driving! There should be free insurance for something that incredible!

I follow the precepts of the land...I adhere to the laws and mandates...and I have a clean record!

My driving record is righteous!

A few years back, I met my daughter in London and we flew to Scotland where we rented a car. How hard can it be? The first exit from the airport was a "round about"... getting in the car on the wrong side should have been the clue that nothing was going to be easy from this point on!

I pull out of the airport with some confidence and all of a sudden I am going in circles...no, really! Around, and around, and around...and as I slow up to try to read the signs, there are honkers, nudgers, and almost collisions as I have absolutely no idea how to navigate a round about! (For those that are missing out, it is a circle that cars enter and exit at several different points around the circle.)

I couldn't follow the driving laws, because I didn't know them. I tried to follow them as I came upon the signs, but the moment I tried to put it into action, it past as soon as I would finally read it. As the trip went on, I began to master the dreaded "round about". I knew in my mind the accurate way to navigate and was able to use the signs as markers because the truth of the signs were already stored inside my understanding!

There are days, or seasons, when we feel like we are in a foreign land trying to navigate precarious, and sometimes dangerous situations. We are desparately looking for the signs to direct us as we are being bullied by the enemy who keeps honking at us and threatening a collision. Jesus was the ultimate navigator of spiritual round abouts! He navigated with the Word stored up in His heart. When faced with temptation, He quickly recited God's precepts, His direction, His truth.

How are you navigating the treacherous roundabouts of your life? As things are coming at you from all angles, are you well versed and know God's ways, His precepts, His mandate for life? If we are familiar with His Word, it will be like driving in territory that will come as second nature, and we will avoid spiritual collisions!

Lord,

How powerful is your Word, O Lord! Thank you for leaving something so precious, so priceless, and so intimate in our hands. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I neglect your Word. I pray that you will lead me in your Word and into all truth. I praise you that Your Word is good for reproof, correction, guidance, teaching, and so much more. I praise you that as I store your Word up in my heart, it gives me the internal knowledge of the mandates to navigate the spiritual highway of the unseen. Thank you for your instruction manual that will keep me on the path of righteousness and truth. Increase in me, O God, a hunger for your Word and a diligence to follow all that you have instructed, so that I may celebrate a "collision free" journey.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Heavenly Kareoke

Psalm 105:1-4

We have a daughter that sings like an angel...no really! I am not just a bragging mom, well I am, but she really has an amazing voice in spite of me! She has been singing since she was two. The day I noticed a two year old singing in perfect pitch was the day I knew there was something going on with our toddler besides just the terrible two's! She joined the kiddie choir at church, performed in the Christmas plays, etc. Sang at school from elementary all the way to college where she traveled the world, literally, singing. We loved hearing her sing on stage...but that meant a lot of singing behind the scenes! Not to mention the warm-ups! I always knew when she was happy because she would sing...sing while dressing, while cleaning, while running errands...happy = singing in her world.

I have to confess that we were not always the adoring fans that you would expect. Her loud projection for the stage would become deafening at times...dinner time was not acceptable as a stage...and then there were the opera years! Unfortunately we are guilty of "sushing!"

Now she lives in another state, and I hear her very rarely. Oh how I miss my singing girl around the house! We went on a family cruise last year and we all begged her to get up and sing during kareoke. She really doesn't like doing that because honestly, none of the rest of us can compete once she has taken the stage. It was my parents 50th anniversary and they soooo wanted her to sing...so she relented. Well, she was such a hit, everyone started coming to the kareoke forum each night to hear her sing. And honestly, I couldn't get enough of her...I missed it so much.

This Psalm speaks of singing to the Lord, singing praises to His name. It reminds us to remember the Lord and to respond with singing. Ok, her is the personal confession, kareoke was on my bucket list...and yes, to the dismay of my entire family, I was going to break through and sing kareoke. I will use the word "sing" very loosely in this context! Needless to say, I have been requested, no banned, from ever singing kareoke again...at least in the presence of my family!

God loves to hear us sing to Him. I saw the faces of my parents as they watched with joy and pride as Sarah blessed them with song. How must God look as He hears us reflect back to Him special memories of times we have shared with Him. Love songs to our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Songs of victory, songs of mourning, songs of celebration, songs of longing, songs that direct our heart toward Him.

We miss Sarah's music, it brings such joy to our hearts. Let us not leave God wanting and waiting for us to take center stage, at least in our minds, and perform for an audience of one.