Two Coins

"Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21:1-4

The rich gave from their wealth, their knowledge. When we are rich, we don't have as great of dependance on the Father. We trust in what we know. The Father wants us to come to a place of trusting Him even when we don't know. If we are poor, we can only depend on the Father for our next meal, for all our supplies. Walking in humility is similar, if we know our great need for Him, trusting He will fill us because we cannot do anything on our own.

The poor woman gave all she had to live on. Have we poor like she, dependent on the Father for life, all we have to live on? Like Paul, have we given up all knowledge considering it as rubbish? We must seek to give up all knowledge for Him who brings true life. If we give all we have to live on, He truly becomes the One who we rely on, nothing else can help us get through our days - we cannot survive without Him. He is our precious treasure, worth far more than earthly treasures could ever be.

Are we ready to give all we have to live on? This is worth far more. Our faith will be tested, our love will be tested, are we willing?

Done Unto Him

I have ideas and hopes, which I try to "work out' but its me trying to do it and not letting go and letting the Lord work it out IN faith.
Praise God He's convicting me of this and HE will help me get through the GRIND of this weakness. He will shine through.
How easy it is to think we are so important and we need people to care about us. We need to have our mids renewed, we need to SEE things from His perspective to know we ought to give it all to Him pouring out our lives to HIM.
All we do should  be done unto Him, knowing we should only expect to receive our reward from Him. Even if no one thanks us or says anything t us, will we not be willing to pour ourselves out? He sees our hearts He knows what we truly desire. We can't fool Him.
It can be sad to look around at the condition and state of this world. I am seeing the importance of looking to HIM more. This world is distraction but He will give peace when we set our mind on Him. Praise God.

Until Completion

Today was a long busy day, full of jobs to do around the house (shop). It was fun also, to spend special times with my sister. The time is passing away quickly, and only what is done with Him will count for anything.
It's not good to be afraid of Him, but to fear we might do something to displease Him, to have respect for Him, fearing Him in reverence in awe as we desire to please Him. How can I please Him all the more in this one short life that can be so full of "things"? Stepping out in faith, doing the next thing placed in from of me - obedience out of love - these matter to Him.
A good attitude, things we cannot muster up ourselves, but rather to SEEK HIM all the more for grace in our time of  need. As He continues to reveal these things, I pray to grow in FAITH that they WILL be done according to His words.
For the third time this week, people have asked me if I will be going to college etc. and I feel sort of like Peter - three times they've asked. I have wanted to say, "I'll do whatever the Lord leads me to." Yet instead, I have said, "I don't know.", which is true, but I desire to do whatever the Father has for me, nothing else. Will it be said at the end of my life that I have finished all the work the Father gave me to do? This is what I pray will be able to be said. He is able to make it come about, praise God!

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21

Faith, Hope, Love, Light

At times we may be afraid to speak out, but the Father can give the right words at the right time, we must go IN faith. we must speak in faith HE will show us what to do next.
Do we trust Him?  Will we be wiling to follow Him with our whole minds? We must believe He will help us, He will take us from here.

I long to obey your voice in everything today - You will help me where it least seems possible.

How does the world know we are His disciples? It's not by our knowledge, neither by many words, nor by going to church or smiling often. Even doing the right things in from of people, it's by our love for one another. Compassion for our fellow servant. are we willing to give of ourselves for one another? Are we willing to be poured out for Him and others? We only have one life, are we living it to the fullest?
Rather than telling someone something He wants us to have a life - radiant, reflecting HIS GLORY. Forgiveness rather than hate. Patience. He wants us not to mention what those in darkness do, but rather expose them as if we are a "flash light".

"For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”" Ephesians 5:10-14
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." John 3:19

What do we find ourselves more attracted to, light or darkness? Are we hiding the emptiness in our lives? Or do we want them to be exposed, so He can take them away and fill us with His light?

His Perspective

The Father has been revealing to me that I must not have an earthly mind, no matter how hard others try to get me to think the way they do. I must desire to have HIS PERSPECTIVE for He gives life.
It can be so easy to be swayed by other peoples thoughts yet, we must seek to follow the Father for what He says not anyone else, to have close fellowship with Him and of course, it's good to have advice from godly brothers and sisters, but we must not give up, we must continue in prayer.
We are not promised tomorrow, will our lives show forth His glory? How can we show the world suffering is actually used by God?

 Father, lead us to those who are seeking You, who are groping for something more. 

We may not know where to go, but may our lives reflect a need for the Father, causing others to see how much they need You too. We only have one life. How can we glorify the Father in this one earthly life? Are we seeking Him to know how we can please Him each day?

Quickly Passing

The days go by so quickly. So much to do and so little time, but I am doing what He desires, so far as I ask Him where He wants me, He keeps reminding me - He has given me this place to be, to grow and learn. He is helping me through. Today, I found myself not feeling as well, yet He helped me through. I need more of His power not to say, but to seek to encourage and help others, rejoicing.
He will help us not to speak in a way which is not profitable for others, but only for what is good for building the body up, in love.

"Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up." - 1 Corinthians 8:1 

We can have so much knowledge on what is good to say, and what is not - but only what is done from love will build up.

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." Ephesians 4:15-16

This is something I need to grow in, speaking the truth IN LOVE. In every way, we are to grow up into Him who holds us together as one, He causes us to grow so we may be built up in love. There is no room for unprofitable speech, it is not fitting for us. He will help us in this area, when it seems so impossible we can remember He gives us the power to do as He commands.
I want to live everything I believe, everything I know (those who know are going to be judged more severely). I don't want to merely speak words even to others, or write or know things, but to live out everything the Father has revealed to my heart. Praise God, when He gives the desires, He will work them out to completion as we continue to seek Him!
Today I found some fresh air after work while doing a small task. Also earlier in this day, I spent writing a lost chapter I had edited. Praise God He reminded me of Brother Zac's words. When he would write letters, sometimes they'd have to be thrown into the fire seven times until they were right, in the way the Father would have them. It was a lesson for me too.
I desire to have more of a heavenly mind in these passing days, to be hidden with Christ in the heavenlies. What a beautiful picture! So this world can't take me captive. I want to be with Christ. Is this your desire as well?

"Father, May I go up with You,
into those heavenly places
hidden with You
All the day through
seeing these daily life situations
just as you would.
Thank You Father, You will do it.
 Amen"

In the Quiet

Again the busy workload at the office is easily overwhelming as I see all the different jobs needing to be done. Sometimes its hard to focus on the Father and my work, yet I am reminded how Mary sat at Jesus feet and listened. We can be listening for His voice throughout the day as He will speak through different kinds of situations. Are we willing to obey?
At lunch, I stepped outside to eat, while standing enjoying the sunshine and sending requests to the Father, I enjoyed knowing He was near, right by my side - even inside my heart. Praise God! He brought this question to my mind, "Where are our minds when we have a spare moment? Do we find ourselves turning to Him when we have a change or do we start thinking on tother things?

"Blessed are the pour in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God." Luke 6:20

 He wants us to be poor, depending on Him turning our minds to Him, always sensing our need of Him. He wants us to hunger for Him, are we desperate for Him? Will we sow in tears?

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!" Psalms 126:5

 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation." Luke 6:24

It is a serious thing not to see our need and lack which we have in ourselves. When others speak well of us, woe it is - that is how the false prophets were treated. We must seek to have a sense of need, lacking what only He can fill. When hardships come up at work, I want to grow even more in turning to Him who will satisfy - who will help me. Thank you Lord!

"Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!" Revelation 8:13 

Was challenged by this verse from Brother Zac Poonen who wrote, "The Last Trump". I was challenged for he explains all the earth dwellers are those whose minds are set on earthly things. Where is our mind set? Is it on Him or the things of this earth? Are our lives hidden in Christ?

He will make it so in our lives, He will help us set our minds on Him having His perspective of earthly things. Praise God!

How Much?

The Father has been convicting me of having a spirit like the Pharisees, who were always pointing out faults in other people (especially Jesus and His disciples). To build fellowship, I see we must rather PRAY for those we see doing something we don't necessarily agree with. Either the Father will give us light, or them - but He knows what is best, can we not leave it up to Him? How serious are we? Do we really love them? Do we really love Jesus?

I see I need to be made more into His likeness here, being able to bear with them and to have WISDOM on what to do next.

Jesus prayed ALL NIGHT to His Father when choosing His disciples. Even at the beginning of Luke we read how ofter Jesus withdrew to speak to the Father and listen. He then chose who God wanted for the apostles » may I not become a traitor but always humbling myself, constantly seeking my NEED of Him.

Rivers of living water will flow out of our lives when we are crushed, are we willing to undergo crushing? Trusting He knows we need it?

In the Father's word there is power may we never take this lightly, but know that if He says the word - it will be so. He will see us through. Amen!

Ever Nearer

I am finding the Father allows trials to grow us deeper into need and love for Him. He will allow things not to work out as we expect. He allows D I S S A P O I N T M E N T S » He wants us to grow in a deeper love for Him through each disappointment.

Today He allowed something to happen which started to make me disappointed and a little sad. yet He was gently nudging on my heart, "Come to Me in this disappointment. I'm allowing this to reveal your heart and show you your greater need for Me." Yes, and when the tests come and I fail, yet again he shows me HOW MUCH I must depend on Him even more.

Distractions may come, my own selfish pursuits, my own ideas and yet, there's a longing » a "Holy discontentment" to go UP HIGHER with Him. We will not understand clearly unless we feel our way towards Him, finding Him » thus leaving all our own pursuits behind. Then finding His ways are so much better, anyway.

It is so worth it to go through a challenging time WITH Jesus. It is so powerful to find Him in our disappointments. He's there » waiting for us to FIND HIM. Will we seek Him in our disappointments? Or will we continue in our selfish pursuits? Do we see our need for MORE of those living waters flowing from our innermost being?

A Busy Month

This month has been off to a busy start. When things just don't go as you expect or hope, while work keeps growing busier, it can definitely be challenging. Nevertheless, it is here in these moments the Lord is looking for faithfulness. It is in these areas, where not many will see - He is looking for complete devotion. This job that He has set before.

I find it so important not to let the "busy" get to us, but to take time alone with the Father. Went up the mountain into the bush with my Mom and sister to pick berries. There we found such horribly disgusting berries! I was sick to my stomach. I felt the Lord wanted me to slow down and not worry about trying to get the best huckleberries, to rather find more time with Him in silence, rather than hurrying from bush to bush, trying to get the biggest berries.

Also, I found He was wanting me to learn that these two berries can look exactly the same (with only a slight difference), when inside the one can be loosing it's very life. It can make a good impression but a worm is eating it inside, causing very little noticeable damage inside. Our lives can be wasting away also, without anyone really noticing it. Will we be content with a worry/distraction eating away the life God has renewed/remade inside us?

Many won't notice a difference if we go along with a "worm" until soon we become dried up with no life flowing through us anymore. I pray this doesn't happen and that every distraction/worry/care may be rooted out so His abundant life may flow through. If we let that "worm" get to us, we will soon be useful for nothing, only to be thrown away. We must take it serious, giving up every worm. He will help us. Amen.

Willing to Obey

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:22-27

We must seek not only to hear His voice, or read the word, but do what He wants us to do. The days get busy, our heads can easily get foggy. When we're tired, we can find ourselves slipping into habits, forgetting what He has spoken to us. It doesn't have to be this way.

The mirror in which we look can be like the Bible, we forget what He has written, going about our days not realizing there is dirt on our face until we look at the Bible once again. However, we can have His Spirit inside of us, reminding us of His word and of what He requires from us. He does require obedience. Are we willing to obey?

To have even more faith, knowing that it will be done according to His word. He has promised to help us, it will be so. He has promised to cleanse us, this will be done. He has asked us to give something up so we can have something even better, He will do it.

"Father, thank you for each lesson you have for me.
 I desire to listen and obey, coming to You for my every need.
Willing to do whatever you desire. I can be so overwhelmed by "busy".
May I be lead to the rock that is higher than I
knowing this will be done how you seem fit
and I don't have to worry about it."
Amen

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." - Ephesians 4:29

Willing to Listen

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Get rid of all the moral filth and evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." - James 1:19-21

Are we willing to listen? I find it can be easy to want my own way rather that being willing to listen to hear the better way. I'll speak my mind, then afterwards the Lord reminds me I didn't go to Him first. As we come to Him in humility, He does reveal the better way, but this doesn't have to be the routine. In the moment, my flesh arises and I think I know what to do. Yet this way must be rid from my life so I can hear what He says better. Instead, we can seek Him for His mighty power in the moment - being small - humble and accepting the word the Father has already given us, which can save us. This is powerful, the word He has given us, if week are willing to let go of everything else and seek Him, this word can save us. It can prevent us from not listening for His voice, speaking to soon thus becoming angry.

We need to seek to obtain these attitudes in our everyday life, He can give them to us if we ask for them in faith.

- We must be quiet (we can't hear the Father speaking to us if we are busy talking - to Him or others)
- We must be calm (if we are angry or frantic, we won't be able to hear His voice)
- We must be clean (if we're dirty full of our own righteousness or even our own ideas, our flesh, we will find we must confess to Him, throwing away all confidence in our flesh so He can fill us)
- We must be humble (if we have no need, we will not hear Him speaking, we must see our deep need for more of Him in our lives)

Will we be willing to listen, to surrender our right to what we think others should hear, and wait to hear what the Father is impressing our hearts? We must not only hear His voice speaking to our hearts, but also obey what He is asking of us.

We must be ready for whatever He tells us from His word or His voice, impressing something into our hearts. When we think we can do it on our own, it won't work. Just like the disciples had to give up everything to follow Jesus, so must we give up everything to follow Him.

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:1-3

Here again we are called to get rid of every evil thing and instead of delighting in them, craving pure, spiritual milk so we may grow up in this salvation. He truly is good, and He longs for us to desire Him alone, having room for nothing else.

Will we come to Him like the Leper did, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Do we believe this in faith? Jesus is answering us the same way He answered the Leper, "I am willing. Be clean." All that filth can be cleansed when we go to Him in faith, and He will help us for the future. Praise God!

Speak O Lord, Your servant is listening