Saturday, January 31, 2009
The God kind of Love
"Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone, to have a deep relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God to a Christian says 'No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content being loved by Me... giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, then you will be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You'll never be united with another until you are united with Me, exclusive of any other desires or longings.
I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to bring it to you. Just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things, experiencingthe satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you. You just wait, that's all. Don't be anxious, don't worry. Don't look at the things others have gotten, or I have given them. Don't look at all the things you want, just keep looking off and away up to Me or you'll miss what I want to show you.
And when you're ready, I'll suprise you with a love far more wonderful than any could dream. You see, until you are ready and the one I have for you is ready (I am working at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time), until you are both exclusively with Me and the life I've prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me and is thus THE PERFECT LOVE. And dear one, I want you to have this wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and completely the everlasting union of beauty.
Know that I love you and be satisfied.' "
I LOVE YOU 9:51 PM
Sunday, January 25, 2009
From the Inside Out
This afternoon as I was driving home from daytona, I was worshipping in my car to Hillsong United's "Mighty To Save". The words hit me in a way they never have before even though I had heard them a million times. And my mind started processing what my heart was hearing.......
A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
My heart and my soul
I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out.
So what does it mean to be consumed by God from the inside out? Is it merely an internal change that is between you and God? No, it is a life-changing transformation that allows us to reflect God to those around us by standing out from society and upholding values that seem to have paled into insignificance.
Romans 12:2 - Amplified Bible
"Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]."
We are to come out from among them and be separate, seeking not to get caught up in the mediocrity that this world offers but by relentlessly pursuing the righteousness of Christ and living in His will for our lives.
I LOVE YOU 4:30 PM
We may not always get what we want, but we will always get what we expect.
Why is it that when we expect a day to be like any other it turns into the most tiresome routine?
If we have an expectancy that something different may happen, that God may do something in and through us, then the chances are, He probably will because we can trust Him to do it.
As Steven Curtis Chapman puts it:
Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond my wildest imagination
Lord, I come with great expectations.
As we expect more of God, He will indeed bring His plans to fruition.
The challenge... to come with greater expectation.
I LOVE YOU 4:24 PM