Worship: instantaneously

The nature of worship is an individual phenomena. It has the freedom to happen at any time, planned or unplanned. It's not motivated by where we are, what we are doing, how we are feeling, but by the constant desire to express Love to our Father and Creator in heaven. Most of the time it is preceded by a sense of gratitude, and thanksgiving, without these two seeds of expression it cannot grow into the humbling experience that it is meant to be.

Man before his Creator lifting hands and hearts with the anticipation that "He will meet with us because He Loves us."

Faith opens this doorway to receive "the things hoped for and the evidence not seen." Ask and receive, seek and find, knock and the door will be opened to you! These actions are the creed of those who "desire to worship our Father in heaven." When this is the "constant" within the heart "times of refreshing" will certainly follow.

Spontaneous is the word that correctly describes the ascension into this hallowed ground. But only if you "want to be there."

My experience tonight with instantaneous worship came at the most unexpected time: Watching the "Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Concert on PBS. Wow..........Say what? Yup. Right in the middle of Jerry Jeff Walker's Mr. Bojangles set. What a time to be called out by the Holy Spirit and reminded by Him about all the times He intervened in my life, humbling my heart and bringing praise to the name of Jesus. It left me with tears in my eyes to think that He had my attention so tenderly that He could just drop in on me without cause or notice and share a moment with one of His sons. Unexpected fellowship with my Father..........

You don't need a church service to worship, (even though it's a great place to meet for it), you don't need a great worship song going to enter into His presence, all you need is a heart that knows that your Father Loves you and desires to "commune" with you anytime anywhere.

Are you ready?

Wait for it..........................

Love

J&E in Tn

The Works of True Love

True Love is a wonderful balm,
It heals wounds,
It lifts spirits,
It gives value,
Rejoices the heart,
Opens the eyes,
Helps the helpless,
Frees the oppressed,
Gives hope to the hopeless
Provides for those without,
Empowers the weak,
Makes bold the shy,
Lifts up souls to God,
Love has never and will never fail.
True Love is Jesus Christ.
His True Love is reproduced in our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Love ye one another.
Love
J&E inTn

The human condition

I have many times asked God about the "human condition."
That condition that causes us to have ill health, make bad or even defiant decisions, abuse ourselves, and opt to show rejection instead of Love.
Many times my prayer has been "how does Your Word work, and what is it's application in these areas?"
Since I have been a Christian (making my own disparaging  decisions and actions along these thought lines) I have entreated about these things with still no answer that is "across the board."
My problem is that I can't just ignore the untouched or pushed behind issues that scripture exposes about us.
Think about it: There is an answer in scripture for absolutely every situation that can take place in our lives, for sin there is salvation, infirmity has healing, oppression there is deliverance, death is overcome by life, and the list goes on.
So why then do people (especially believers) seem to trod the same path, and suffer the same difficulties?
God never promised that life wouldn't be without difficulty or trials, and He has promised a "way out", but the question is "does that way out have to take so long before we see it?" Is it because we don't ask Him to shed light in our darkness so we can find the scriptural answer we need to change our hapless situation and then hold on by faith till He says "it is finished."
God is Unconditional Love, there is no lack in Him, He can do all things, He empowers His promises, at the mention of His name every knee must bow, tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.
I don't see any wavering on His side so the "failure" to "lay hold of the promises" must be on our end.
Victory over the human condition (for believers) is proof that God's Love is Unconditional and His promises sure. Able to be stood upon. The inability "to obtain" these deliverance's and promises are both disheartening and troubling, first to the believer, and secondly toward those "who believe not" that are watching.
Hope deferred makes sick.
If we can't produce a "body of healthy believers" in the Body of Christ how then will we be able to "bring that health to the lost?"
Somehow the reference of "the woman with the issue" bears the most amount of significance in relation to this quandary.
She spent all she had and was no better, (went the way of the world first.)
Had to realize that the answer was in Christ, (the promise of God.)
Realized "she" had to reach out in faith and tough Him for her problem to be solved.
Acted on that faith and received the healing she needed.
This single incident might hold the key to "the human condition." Seek God first while there is no emergency "in everything", seek harder as the situation intensifies, press on in Jesus name till you touch Him and the answer is received.
Remember that we can only ask by faith what we have received by revelation, (that which is taught by the Holy Spirit), of Jesus Christ. Scripture commands us to "wait on the revelation of Jesus Christ." This is a continual waiting-receiving, waiting-receiving as long as we "tread this vale."
Having a continuing revelation keeps us "hungering and thirsting after righteousness."
It proves that His Word is "real meat and real drink." Able to answer any questions that we have, and meet all the needs we are given.
Are we ready to "go forward" increasing in faith and the revelation of Jesus Christ? If so the "human condition" will become less and less a part of our lives and Jesus Christ more and more.
Thanks for your time.
Love and peace through Jesus Christ
J&E in Tn

The importance of faith

All tenants of Christianity are based on faith.
First you must believe (have faith) in Jesus Christ to be saved.
You cannot partake in grace without faith. (You are saved by grace "through faith.")
Healing is received by faith. ("Your faith has made you whole.")
We receive benefit by faith. ("According to your faith let it be done.)
Our faith brings miracles to the needy. ("And He saw their faith, the men carrying the bed, and healed the man.")
Faith is a verb, an action, living, producing, having authority, growing!
Matthew 13:32 speaks of faith from beginning to end.
Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
The seed of faith first must be planted in the soil of Jesus Christ, where it is nurtured by the Word of God, cared for by the Holy Spirit, and watered by other believers, so that it can grow into a tree of faith wherein God our Father is glorified, and others will rest in it's branches to receive salvation, comfort and deliverance reproducing more "seeds of faith" till a whole forest of "faith trees" cover the earth.
So this begs the question: "is your faith growing? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Yearly? Ever?
Are you increasing in faith? Exorcising your faith? Inspiring others by your faith? Walking by faith?
If not, why?
Poor teaching? No interest? No inspiration? Just don't care? Never seen it manifest in anyone else? Are you surrounded by others like you, the "anyone else's?"
The command "go ye into" is a command with promise and only about faith. The command it to show forth the Truth about Jesus by promising to "manifest" Gods glory in: raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons............in short the use of faith in the name of Jesus Christ to do the will of the Father, and to "do those things that Jesus did and greater."
Hebrews 12:2
Jesus is "the author and finisher of our faith."
He is also the "judge" of our faith:
Matthew 17:17
Mark 9:19
Luke 9:41
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
Mustard seed faith is just the starting point and it can accomplish the above results. Not having that mustard seed faith was the basis of Jesus anger. Why? Because in this instance they were unable to perform the command of Christ when he sent them out.
We all should set our eyes on things above, and petition God by faith for the answers to our prayers that He might Glorify Himself through the name of Jesus Christ and call all men unto Himself.
If God be with you (and His promises) then who can be against you.
Remember scripture cannot fail, and God cannot fail.
Lets grow in faith and grace with passion and accomplishment.
Just a thought
Love
J&E in Tn

Strength by waiting!

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Let’s start by asking the question here: "When is your time to wait upon the Lord?"

Start of day?

Midday?

End of day?

During  the "night watch?"

How about  "all of the above?"

Let’s look at the way the Scripture above starts: “But they that wait upon the Lord”. Notice that there is no reference to time here. Not beginning of day, nor any specific time of day at all, but only “those that wait.”  We wait by “staying” our minds on Him.

Isaiah 26:3:

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace who’s mind is stayed on thee.”

When our mind is “stayed on thee” we automatically “bring every thought into captivity.”

2 Corinthians 10:5  

“and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

When all our thoughts are “obedient to Christ’s” He doesn’t have to “get our attention”, He already “has our attention.” All the time, anytime! To have this function in our hearts makes our hearing “of the we small voice” keener and our moving into “His presence” a natural part of our life. Most of us know that we are always in His presence because “in Him we live and move and have our being”, but whether or not we are aware of that as a focus is another matter. If we are mature enough in Christ our focus is always to “here the Master speaking and do His will.” Thus the “waiting” upon the Lord merely becomes a practice in sensitivity.

Also note that the opposite of waiting is “impatience” which everyone has experienced along with the side effects of “being wrung out”, tired, weary. But waiting “renews our strength,” and mounts us up with wings as eagles.” There by experiencing times of refreshing, revelation, and deliverance.

The more you are filled with His Word, the more you will see His glory set forth in His creation and your waiting will be satisfied by His meeting you where you are, ”always, all ways and any time day or night.” For me this can take place in a “wake up call” during the night, reading/ listening to His Word, hearing a worship song, or just expressing a prayer of thanksgiving as I walk or work. The times of “waiting on the Lord” are as endless as life itself and the sooner we “seek” them the sooner we will be satisfied with “strength.”  Then the rest of the verse can come to past “they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.”

This is the reward of “perfecting the presence of God.”

God bless and keep.

Love

J&E

Sunday morning intimacy with God

Sunday morning and it's a new day!
How do you experience "His mercy's are new every morning"?
For one "He will never leave you or forsake you."
Does that only mean that when you are in trouble or in difficult times that He will be there?
Or does:
"He will never leave you or forsake you" mean that He is always with you to "teach and admonish" you in "all" things that Christ said by His Spirit?
I have always believed that there is not contradiction in scripture and that all scripture supports all other scripture. So this morning this is what followed my time in "meditation on the Word."
"He will never leave you or forsake you" is God, through Jesus Christ, "always" being there with you in thought, Word and deed, always present on all levels.
Whenever you take the time, (and all the times that you don't), He is with you ready willing and able to "commune" with you in whatever way you "allow" Him to. By prayer, by fasting, by listening, by questioning, by pondering His Word, by confessing sin, how about presenting who you really are to Him? Again any way you employ to enter into His presence, at any time, He is already there waiting to "talk to His son's and daughters."
I believe that we loose the "intimacy" that God wants us to have on a daily, (actually moment by moment) level, because we come to Him covering lies in our heart. Sin always separates us from God as "what can light have to do with darkness." Our way to God and His presence is Jesus Christ who covered our sin's by His blood a sacrifice "holy and acceptable" to God. If God's presence is not there maybe a solemn starting out with a heart felt confession "in Jesus name" or "through the blood of Jesus" might be just what is needed to get the "intimacy" started.
This morning was such a morning for me and once the "heart was made manifest" on my part, confessing my sin's and entering into (or entering through, however you would put it),the "forgiving Love sacrifice of Jesus", everything became productive in "His mercy's are new every morning."
The "we small voice" became louder, His presence became stronger, intimacy became deeper, and the time that followed gave instruction and guidance to my heart.
You never know "what God has on His mind" to talk to us about, but we for sure have on our minds those things that we want to "present before the throne." If we submit our hearts, thoughts, concerns, and petitions before our "King" doesn't it follow that we should "listen" then for His answer. Prayer and intimacy with God means that we will stick around for an answer not just move on because of time constraint or convenience. Remember that prayer is a dialog not a monologue.
So my time this morning:
What did God (through His Holy Spirit) have to say to me?
First the thought of ministry, the who, what, when and where of it. The past and the present was brought to mind, and how it is significantly different from what my first assessment was "when I was first saved." How instead of "reaching the masses", having a pastorate, or some other "great" application the ministry that He worked in my life had to do with "individuals", being consistent (where in is most of my sin), and proving to others that they are valuable "because of the Love of God and Jesus Christ."
Individuals..........now there is a strange way to embrace God's plan with humility and lowliness of heart. One at a time or maybe a small group that isn't in a church setting but on the job, with consistency, love, and passion. What about the individual cashier at the store, or the person on the street that passes by? Are they any better for "passing by" you or are they the same. A lot of value is passed on from one person to the next just through a smile, maybe adding a comment that shows interest like "how are you today"? Your words can bless and lift up a stranger just because you found enough "value" in them to open your mouth and say something kind.
Now that's real ministry. Embracing with value every soul on the street that God has put in your path. Blessing, encouraging, lifting up just with a smile and a word. Priceless.
Then came a review of "ministry gifts."
I am here to tell you backed by scripture, that if you know Christ, and are one of His, called by His name, you have both a ministry and gifts to "manifest His glory" as the gospel of Love, through forgiveness, is lived, preached and shared.
When we had a home church miracles were part of what was happening there as Christ was lifted up and the Father was worshiped. Common place.
But more important in my "calling and election" (ministry) was the meeting of the needs of my co-workers, and those small groups that I had the grace to be before daily, consistently, living the gospel before them and sharing the Love of Christ. Signs and wonders were a big part of proving that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true, and Glorifying my Father in Heaven. Sometimes it took place on an individual basis, sometimes witnessed by a group of my fellow workers, but all the time, in every instance, Christ was lifted up, God glorified, and calling men unto Himself.
Ministry "resides" in the heart, given of God, to be manifest to "all" the earth (imagine that), to PROVE the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true Gospel and He is the only True God.
Take time to listen without aforethought next time you set aside time for prayer. Let the Holy Spirit pray through you. Listen to what He says, where He leads, and how He directs. "Be still and know that I am God" is the heart cry of our Father in heaven during these intimate times.
Yup quite a morning............
Great way to start the day...........
I hope sharing this will challenge you to "draw neigh to God so He can draw neigh to you."
Nothing is impossible for God. His promises are forever.
His mercy's are new every morning.
Love
J&E

A heart, a vision, and Psalm 63 and "Thank the Lord for the nighttime."

Getting late and need to get to bed.

Looking forward to being "woke up" to pray in the wee hours, sometime in this state of rest. Maybe get some "matters of the heart" taken care of.

Is there any other reason for the night time?

Quite, peaceful, no distractions, easy to hear the "we small voice", easy to "get into" the "presence of God."

Read one of my favorite Psalms below:

The first 5 vs challenges my heart and resonates it's desire. Vs 6 speaks to this post. Vs 8 causes me to weep. All of it effects me somehow. I first read this Psalm in a vision just after I was saved before I had read it in the Bible.

Here is one of the reasons my night time is important:

Psalm 63 King James Version (KJV)

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. (This is one of my favorites for this post.)

7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Whats happening tonight with you? Like Glen says: Do you have a spirit of "expectation?"

Love

J&E in Tn