“Therefore I will block her path with thorn bushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them…Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make a Valley of Anchor a door of hope… In that day, declares the LORD, you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master’… I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion…in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.’” Hosea 2:6-7; 14-16; 19-20.
God considered Himself in a marriage with Israel, His chosen people. Many times in the Bible the unfaithfulness of Israel towards God is compared with a wife becoming an adulteress to her husband. Israel had chosen to follow the many gods of the land instead of the one God of Creation. She (Israel) had found herself chasing the gods to satisfy her greed, emptiness, loneliness and discontent.
When we have departed from our vows with God we will never find contentment and satisfaction in life. We, too, will chase after things demanding their faithfulness to us and their responsibility in making us happy. We will come against broken wall after broken wall and will experience a life of ‘thorn bushes instead of rose bushes.’ God will only allow us to chase after the things of this world for so long. ‘But God, ever loving, is determined to frustrate Israel’s wicked passions: When she reaches a point of despair, she will then go back to God, her husband…Here the purpose of God’s punishment is revealed; its purpose is not to destroy but to deliver, not to drive away but to draw back…God will give her a new chance, a new start.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 1221.
When we turn our hearts back to God, instead of feeling like we are trapped in a ‘bad spiritual marriage,’ we will rediscover our true love in Christ. We will go from being mastered by religion to being intimate in our spiritual fellowship with God. We will go from slave to bride once God has reminded us of His love through His tenderness in the wilderness. We will renew our wedding vows with the source of the only true Love of our lives.
‘Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready…Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ Rev. 19:7, 9.
We are all invited…
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Stations in Life
“Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, ‘Wherever you turn, they will attack us.’ Therefore, I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points… at the exposed places…each of the builders wore his sword by his side as he worked.” Nehemiah 4:12-13, 18.
In reading this passage this morning my heart swelled with gratitude and humility in realizing that God stationed my grandmother at some of the lowest points of my life. I had a less than stellar faith throughout my adulthood. When my walls came crashing down during my daughter’s drug use my lack of faith was completed exposed. I felt spiritually naked as I constantly lived in fear, doubt and hopelessness. Faithfully, God placed a few spiritual giants around me, armed and dangerous in faith, such as my parents and grandmother who stood by my side, and prayed for my family constantly.
In rebuilding my emotional walls, I finally knew the importance of building with a new architect and a more anchored foundation. My anchor was cast and my faith was stabilized through daily prayer and Bible Study. The more time I spent in the Word the more alive my faith became.
We are told in Ephesians 6:17 to ‘…take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ To ‘take’ is to carry or transport something from one place to another. Through my time with God, He transported His message of love and hope. He carried my faith from my intellect to the inner chambers of my heart. He strapped His sword to my side and it never leaves me.
Through my trials He has now stationed me in GriefShare to serve alongside those who walls have been torn down, and find themselves at some of the lowest points in their lives. Their emotions are raw and their hearts are totally exposed but each night we meet I see God’s message of love and hope taking root. I thank God that at this point in my life I have been stationed in His army to help rebuild the lives of the heartbroken. I am well aware that there will be future times when I am the one who needs someone carrying the emotional load… ‘but I will wear my sword by my side as I work.’
In reading this passage this morning my heart swelled with gratitude and humility in realizing that God stationed my grandmother at some of the lowest points of my life. I had a less than stellar faith throughout my adulthood. When my walls came crashing down during my daughter’s drug use my lack of faith was completed exposed. I felt spiritually naked as I constantly lived in fear, doubt and hopelessness. Faithfully, God placed a few spiritual giants around me, armed and dangerous in faith, such as my parents and grandmother who stood by my side, and prayed for my family constantly.
In rebuilding my emotional walls, I finally knew the importance of building with a new architect and a more anchored foundation. My anchor was cast and my faith was stabilized through daily prayer and Bible Study. The more time I spent in the Word the more alive my faith became.
We are told in Ephesians 6:17 to ‘…take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ To ‘take’ is to carry or transport something from one place to another. Through my time with God, He transported His message of love and hope. He carried my faith from my intellect to the inner chambers of my heart. He strapped His sword to my side and it never leaves me.
Through my trials He has now stationed me in GriefShare to serve alongside those who walls have been torn down, and find themselves at some of the lowest points in their lives. Their emotions are raw and their hearts are totally exposed but each night we meet I see God’s message of love and hope taking root. I thank God that at this point in my life I have been stationed in His army to help rebuild the lives of the heartbroken. I am well aware that there will be future times when I am the one who needs someone carrying the emotional load… ‘but I will wear my sword by my side as I work.’
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Removing the Rubble
“Meanwhile, the people of Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Nehemiah 4:10
The year was 1989 and the devastation was at the hands of Hurricane Hugo. We live in the middle of six acres, full of pine trees, oaks and cedars. Through the night the wind violently whistled as we heard the breaking of trees outside our window. As the light fought to appear in the eerie and damp morning of gray skies, our heart and spirit failed at the devastation of the storm. Our driveway, which is a half-mile long, was littered with tree after tree, not to mention the broken trees that were twisted into each other on both sides of the drive. We lost close to 500 trees that night. For some reason I felt the need to go to the top of the hill and examine the damage. In order to get to the top I climbed over tree after tree across the drive until the count was up to 62. When I got to the top I looked over the horizon and was simply overwhelmed at the work that lay before us. Where beauty used to be displayed was utter chaos and destruction. The rubble left behind was mind blowing and seemed impossible that it would ever be disposed of and the beauty of the land returned. One thing I knew for sure…for order and beauty to return there had to be a lot of debris removing efforts.
As many of us have experienced, the death of a loved one can be more powerful than anything nature has to offer. We get that phone call and suddenly our lives are twisted and broken just like the trees. The debris lays scattered along the pathways we must travel. Devastation and despair is our traveling companion and it is a journey that must be traveled. We climb over emotion after emotion to try to get our breath and get back to a point in life where we can see the horizon again.
God will not leave us alone to remove the rubble, but will kneel with us. He will place His healing hands around each emotion and remove it. Our pathways of debris will be washed away through our tears as God heals our hearts. Whether our devastation is the death of a loved one or other discouraging circumstances, we must trust that removing the rubble is a certainty. Beauty will reveal itself as the rubble is removed, piece by piece.
You may be depleted by your storm, but you can be certain that after the storm, the clouds will disappear, the rubble will be removed and the Son will beam again.
'So we rebuilt the wall...for the people worked with all their heart.' Neh. 4:6
The year was 1989 and the devastation was at the hands of Hurricane Hugo. We live in the middle of six acres, full of pine trees, oaks and cedars. Through the night the wind violently whistled as we heard the breaking of trees outside our window. As the light fought to appear in the eerie and damp morning of gray skies, our heart and spirit failed at the devastation of the storm. Our driveway, which is a half-mile long, was littered with tree after tree, not to mention the broken trees that were twisted into each other on both sides of the drive. We lost close to 500 trees that night. For some reason I felt the need to go to the top of the hill and examine the damage. In order to get to the top I climbed over tree after tree across the drive until the count was up to 62. When I got to the top I looked over the horizon and was simply overwhelmed at the work that lay before us. Where beauty used to be displayed was utter chaos and destruction. The rubble left behind was mind blowing and seemed impossible that it would ever be disposed of and the beauty of the land returned. One thing I knew for sure…for order and beauty to return there had to be a lot of debris removing efforts.
As many of us have experienced, the death of a loved one can be more powerful than anything nature has to offer. We get that phone call and suddenly our lives are twisted and broken just like the trees. The debris lays scattered along the pathways we must travel. Devastation and despair is our traveling companion and it is a journey that must be traveled. We climb over emotion after emotion to try to get our breath and get back to a point in life where we can see the horizon again.
God will not leave us alone to remove the rubble, but will kneel with us. He will place His healing hands around each emotion and remove it. Our pathways of debris will be washed away through our tears as God heals our hearts. Whether our devastation is the death of a loved one or other discouraging circumstances, we must trust that removing the rubble is a certainty. Beauty will reveal itself as the rubble is removed, piece by piece.
You may be depleted by your storm, but you can be certain that after the storm, the clouds will disappear, the rubble will be removed and the Son will beam again.
'So we rebuilt the wall...for the people worked with all their heart.' Neh. 4:6
Friday, February 24, 2012
Posting Guards
“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” Nehemiah 4:8-9.
When the opposing leaders of their surrounding regions saw that God’s chosen were successfully rebuilding the wall they became incensed and plotted to overcome Jerusalem. What did Nehemiah do? We are not surprised to find him on his knees since that has been the power behind the project since Neh. 1:1.
We have an enemy who surrounds us and looks on our attempts in building walls for God with contempt and anger. Every nail we pound, every bolt we insert and every bar we secure in the gates and walls of God’s kingdom sends Satan into a tantrum. While he has many weapons in his arsenal, we have the crushing weapon of access to God through prayer. In every endeavor for God we have been assigned to that place to work for Him. We only have to go to Him in prayer and ask for His protection against the opposition. God will guard us but His word imparts our responsibilities in guarding ourselves.
1 Timothy 6:20 instructs us to ‘Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and opposing ideas.’
Proverbs 4:13 instructs us to ‘Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.’
Proverbs 4:23 instructs us ‘Above all else, guard your heart.’
Our confidence can be complete when we implement these three verses as purpose, guidance and attitude. We all have an area in which God has entrusted us for His work. We all have guidance from God regarding the manner in which we are to follow Him in His work. Above all else, we must allow our hearts to remain humble, grateful and committed in His work. Our attitude has feet and it will take us wherever it wants to go. God expects us to complete the work for which He has called us. ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord…Remember my chains. Grace be to you.’ Col 4:17-18. Paul understood the power of this process in guarding what God had given him to complete, in staying committed to the revelations of God, and always guarding the attitude of his heart.
While Paul was bound by chains, we have a Savior who was bound by ropes on the cross. Because of Jesus Christ guarding and staying committed to the work that had been entrusted to Him, His chains bought our freedom. He completed the work and we are recipients of the grace that was bought for us.
When the opposing leaders of their surrounding regions saw that God’s chosen were successfully rebuilding the wall they became incensed and plotted to overcome Jerusalem. What did Nehemiah do? We are not surprised to find him on his knees since that has been the power behind the project since Neh. 1:1.
We have an enemy who surrounds us and looks on our attempts in building walls for God with contempt and anger. Every nail we pound, every bolt we insert and every bar we secure in the gates and walls of God’s kingdom sends Satan into a tantrum. While he has many weapons in his arsenal, we have the crushing weapon of access to God through prayer. In every endeavor for God we have been assigned to that place to work for Him. We only have to go to Him in prayer and ask for His protection against the opposition. God will guard us but His word imparts our responsibilities in guarding ourselves.
1 Timothy 6:20 instructs us to ‘Guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and opposing ideas.’
Proverbs 4:13 instructs us to ‘Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.’
Proverbs 4:23 instructs us ‘Above all else, guard your heart.’
Our confidence can be complete when we implement these three verses as purpose, guidance and attitude. We all have an area in which God has entrusted us for His work. We all have guidance from God regarding the manner in which we are to follow Him in His work. Above all else, we must allow our hearts to remain humble, grateful and committed in His work. Our attitude has feet and it will take us wherever it wants to go. God expects us to complete the work for which He has called us. ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord…Remember my chains. Grace be to you.’ Col 4:17-18. Paul understood the power of this process in guarding what God had given him to complete, in staying committed to the revelations of God, and always guarding the attitude of his heart.
While Paul was bound by chains, we have a Savior who was bound by ropes on the cross. Because of Jesus Christ guarding and staying committed to the work that had been entrusted to Him, His chains bought our freedom. He completed the work and we are recipients of the grace that was bought for us.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Gates That Never Break
“They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.” Nehemiah 3
Throughout the third chapter, the concentration on where they began the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem is obvious. Jerusalem would eventually be fortified with walls but the crucial work began with accesses into the city, the gates. Jerusalem had many gates which led into and out of the city. Securing the gates first was crucial as they marked entry points where the enemy’s assaults were always concentrated. Houses were built both around these gates and into the walls which supported these gates. ‘Nehemiah assigned sections of the wall to those whose houses were located in that section; thus they had a greater interest in performing their work well.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
As the Body of Christ we have a part in building the church and protecting what it stands for in our culture. The enemy has entered into the region, torn down the walls and has too much access, too many gates. Just as the wall around Jerusalem, we all have a part in rebuilding the wall around Christianity. God gave us this awesome responsibility in His word. ‘Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’ 1 Co. 12:27.
We are called to work on our spiritual gates as it is the access Satan has into our mind and hearts. What are we allowing into our hearts and minds through the gates of television or inappropriate conversation? What hinges of bitterness or selfishness are rusting and losing strength in our attempts to protect the Body of Christ? What access are we giving the enemy who is lingering around the gates for the perfect opportunity?
Through our adversities God is trying to fortify our gates and strengthen our testimonies. In the time of Nehemiah, he gave each man the gate closest to his home to repair and monitor. The gate that God assigned me is a grief ministry, and He uses my past suffering for others to rebuild their hearts which are in disrepair. In this ministry I am surrounded by torn down hearts and broken dreams. He has used my daughter who has overcome addiction to sponsor and encourage other women to rebuild their walls of dignity and a life of sobriety.
It doesn’t matter what our adversity has been, God will use it as access for others. ‘All these different people were working together with one purpose in mind: to rebuild the wall. So it is among Christians. Our one overriding purpose is to build up the church of Christ and to make disciples of all nations. And Christ has assigned to each of us our own ‘section of the wall.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
We will all suffer outside the gate until we enter the Gates of Heaven. Even Jesus knew what it was like to suffer outside the gate. 'And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gates to make the people holy through his own blood...Let us, then, go to him...For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that has to come.' Hebrews 13:1
Throughout the third chapter, the concentration on where they began the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem is obvious. Jerusalem would eventually be fortified with walls but the crucial work began with accesses into the city, the gates. Jerusalem had many gates which led into and out of the city. Securing the gates first was crucial as they marked entry points where the enemy’s assaults were always concentrated. Houses were built both around these gates and into the walls which supported these gates. ‘Nehemiah assigned sections of the wall to those whose houses were located in that section; thus they had a greater interest in performing their work well.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
As the Body of Christ we have a part in building the church and protecting what it stands for in our culture. The enemy has entered into the region, torn down the walls and has too much access, too many gates. Just as the wall around Jerusalem, we all have a part in rebuilding the wall around Christianity. God gave us this awesome responsibility in His word. ‘Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’ 1 Co. 12:27.
We are called to work on our spiritual gates as it is the access Satan has into our mind and hearts. What are we allowing into our hearts and minds through the gates of television or inappropriate conversation? What hinges of bitterness or selfishness are rusting and losing strength in our attempts to protect the Body of Christ? What access are we giving the enemy who is lingering around the gates for the perfect opportunity?
Through our adversities God is trying to fortify our gates and strengthen our testimonies. In the time of Nehemiah, he gave each man the gate closest to his home to repair and monitor. The gate that God assigned me is a grief ministry, and He uses my past suffering for others to rebuild their hearts which are in disrepair. In this ministry I am surrounded by torn down hearts and broken dreams. He has used my daughter who has overcome addiction to sponsor and encourage other women to rebuild their walls of dignity and a life of sobriety.
It doesn’t matter what our adversity has been, God will use it as access for others. ‘All these different people were working together with one purpose in mind: to rebuild the wall. So it is among Christians. Our one overriding purpose is to build up the church of Christ and to make disciples of all nations. And Christ has assigned to each of us our own ‘section of the wall.’ The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p. 757.
We will all suffer outside the gate until we enter the Gates of Heaven. Even Jesus knew what it was like to suffer outside the gate. 'And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gates to make the people holy through his own blood...Let us, then, go to him...For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that has to come.' Hebrews 13:1
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Living Among the Ruins
“Then I said to them, ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the walls…’ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king said to me.” Nehemiah 2:17-18
After Nehemiah had surveyed the landscape of Jerusalem, he spoke up to the men who were with him. These were the leaders and residents of Jerusalem who had evidently become complacent and reconciled that they were going to live among the ruins. Their eyes no longer looked upon the needs of the land with sorrow, disgust or worse…passion. They had built their lives around the acceptance of a less than meaningful environment. Their city was supposed to be seen as the joy of the entire earth, the city of the King, the visible throne seat of God’s temple. Where had their joy gone? At what point was their passion replaced with numbness and their attention to God’s temple ignored? Thankfully Nehemiah, who was not living among them, was obedient to God’s call. He not only supported the cause but he passionately got involved with the cause. He could have just written a check or sent a group of contractors with the blue print, but God led his heart to passion which always prompts action, self-sacrifice but amazing joy and purpose.
Who among us lacks passion and purpose in life? Who among us has no spiritual country in which to serve? Who among us has accepted to live among the ruins of their burnt out hearts? 1 Co. 3:16-17 states, ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you…for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.’
The thing that brought about change, restoration and joy to God’s city and temple was a call to action. God’s temple will be rebuilt when we take notice of the work that is out there to rebuild, both in community and in our hearts. God has given us the means and resources to rebuild broken lives and extinguished passions. When we follow God in active service He will restore the broken and burnt out places in our own lives and hearts, His temple.
Our world, both nationally and internationally, provide enough poverty, brokenness and sadness for the Body of Christ to actively serve until the Second Coming. God intends for each of us to serve actively and passionately, with our checkbooks and our hands. Let us answer the call of the people of God’s city as they did in Nehemiah. ‘Let us start rebuilding…The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, [those opposed to taking action] you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’ Nehemiah 2:20.
Let each one of us pray for God to impassion our hearts with what impassions His heart. May we recognize the areas of rebuilding for others instead of living among the ruins so that we may have a share in the great city of God.
After Nehemiah had surveyed the landscape of Jerusalem, he spoke up to the men who were with him. These were the leaders and residents of Jerusalem who had evidently become complacent and reconciled that they were going to live among the ruins. Their eyes no longer looked upon the needs of the land with sorrow, disgust or worse…passion. They had built their lives around the acceptance of a less than meaningful environment. Their city was supposed to be seen as the joy of the entire earth, the city of the King, the visible throne seat of God’s temple. Where had their joy gone? At what point was their passion replaced with numbness and their attention to God’s temple ignored? Thankfully Nehemiah, who was not living among them, was obedient to God’s call. He not only supported the cause but he passionately got involved with the cause. He could have just written a check or sent a group of contractors with the blue print, but God led his heart to passion which always prompts action, self-sacrifice but amazing joy and purpose.
Who among us lacks passion and purpose in life? Who among us has no spiritual country in which to serve? Who among us has accepted to live among the ruins of their burnt out hearts? 1 Co. 3:16-17 states, ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you…for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.’
The thing that brought about change, restoration and joy to God’s city and temple was a call to action. God’s temple will be rebuilt when we take notice of the work that is out there to rebuild, both in community and in our hearts. God has given us the means and resources to rebuild broken lives and extinguished passions. When we follow God in active service He will restore the broken and burnt out places in our own lives and hearts, His temple.
Our world, both nationally and internationally, provide enough poverty, brokenness and sadness for the Body of Christ to actively serve until the Second Coming. God intends for each of us to serve actively and passionately, with our checkbooks and our hands. Let us answer the call of the people of God’s city as they did in Nehemiah. ‘Let us start rebuilding…The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, [those opposed to taking action] you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.’ Nehemiah 2:20.
Let each one of us pray for God to impassion our hearts with what impassions His heart. May we recognize the areas of rebuilding for others instead of living among the ruins so that we may have a share in the great city of God.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Acceptable Gifts
“My father had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord…Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple… ‘…there is no God like you – you who keep your covenant of love…who continue wholeheartedly in your way.’ ‘You have kept your promise…with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it – as it is today.’” 1Kings 8:17, 19, 23-24.
King David had a plan and was determined for God to have a physical temple. He had in his heart that his next work project would be to build a temple for the Name of the Lord. God confirmed through David’s prophet, Nathan, that while this was a good endeavor it wasn’t the work plan God had for David. God had His own reasons why David would not carry through with the desire of his heart but He did allow David’s son to carry out the plan. His son, Solomon was well aware of his dad’s desire and what God had told him. Although it must have stung David’s heart that his work plans didn’t match God’s plans, David was known as a man who had a heart for God. David’s heart was Spirit-purposed instead of flesh-purposed. ‘When David longed to build God a dwelling place for His Name, God reshaped the vision and fulfilled the promise by His own power.’ Nehemiah, p. 31.
I know in my own personal desires, I felt that God was leading me to write books. It was according to His will and plan for me to write one, but He then led me into another work plan. My writing is more of a day to day application than days spent in the process of publishing and book signings. Getting the message of a deeper fellowship with God was in my heart but He had a better way to accomplish spreading this message. I have struggled with letting go of what I had in my heart and accepting what means in which I am to operate.
Because David was looking onto the spiritual landscape through God’s desires he was able to respond with complete joy and gratitude. There is one thing that will move us from our desire to the desire of God as Paul wrote about in 2 Co. 8:1-12…grace. ‘…we want you to know about the grace that God has given…but they gave themselves first to the Lord…And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable.’
I know personally that anytime I give myself to the Lord first, He will reshape the vision in my heart and give me the grace to accept it. Many times, I have prayed for a willing heart to accept the things that disappoint me and reshape the visions that are deep in my heart.
‘…with your mouth you have promised it and with your hands you will fulfill it – as it is today.’
King David had a plan and was determined for God to have a physical temple. He had in his heart that his next work project would be to build a temple for the Name of the Lord. God confirmed through David’s prophet, Nathan, that while this was a good endeavor it wasn’t the work plan God had for David. God had His own reasons why David would not carry through with the desire of his heart but He did allow David’s son to carry out the plan. His son, Solomon was well aware of his dad’s desire and what God had told him. Although it must have stung David’s heart that his work plans didn’t match God’s plans, David was known as a man who had a heart for God. David’s heart was Spirit-purposed instead of flesh-purposed. ‘When David longed to build God a dwelling place for His Name, God reshaped the vision and fulfilled the promise by His own power.’ Nehemiah, p. 31.
I know in my own personal desires, I felt that God was leading me to write books. It was according to His will and plan for me to write one, but He then led me into another work plan. My writing is more of a day to day application than days spent in the process of publishing and book signings. Getting the message of a deeper fellowship with God was in my heart but He had a better way to accomplish spreading this message. I have struggled with letting go of what I had in my heart and accepting what means in which I am to operate.
Because David was looking onto the spiritual landscape through God’s desires he was able to respond with complete joy and gratitude. There is one thing that will move us from our desire to the desire of God as Paul wrote about in 2 Co. 8:1-12…grace. ‘…we want you to know about the grace that God has given…but they gave themselves first to the Lord…And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable.’
I know personally that anytime I give myself to the Lord first, He will reshape the vision in my heart and give me the grace to accept it. Many times, I have prayed for a willing heart to accept the things that disappoint me and reshape the visions that are deep in my heart.
‘…with your mouth you have promised it and with your hands you will fulfill it – as it is today.’
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