Didn't I Tell You...?

This verse became very personal to me yesterday. Over and over I was shown His glory, and was encouraged to walk by faith in order to see more. Not only did God speak, directly answering an issue, but the same verse came from totally different sources within an hour of each other.

I believe it can speak to all of us.

"Jesus said to her, 'Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?'"
John 11:40

Do you really believe this? Ask the Lord to help you search your heart and know for certain. Then join me in my prayer to the Savior, "...I do believe! Help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

Detox

Today I get to go through my first detox session! For those of you who don't know the problems I have had with my health, this is a big deal to me. I'm praying that the Lord will use this to send me on the road to a somewhat normal health. Today's session is just the first step, but it should begin helping right away.

So I've decided to do a detox of the soul too! Since they are going to remove many harmful things taken from my physical body, this is a good opportunity to listen to the Spirit and read the Word. The purpose is to see what harmful things I have let creep in and become toxic in my walk with Jesus Christ.

First thing in the morning I plan on getting in some good reading - just for the sake of reading - in the Bible. There are many studies I prepare for throughout the week, but seldom do I get the chance to just read for the love of it. Then, I will have a two hour session at the clinic where I plan on having the Word next to me while listening to what He has to say to me. Afterwards, I will just have to listen and see what comes next.

Please pray for me today. Yes, I want my physical health to improve, but even more so my spiritual health. Pray that I love the Lord with all I'm worth today. And that toxins are removed all around!

"What If " Waivers

Is there anything that could make your faith in God waiver?

What if an innocent person you loved died?
What if you saw a ghost?
How about if another planet with life on it were discovered?
What if something you believed about God, but wasn't obvious in the Bible, were proven false?
What if a psychic could tell you very specific things that very few people knew?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths".  Proverbs 3:5


"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways not My ways.' This is the Lord's declaration."  Isaiah 55:8

Having faith in God is perhaps questioning Him as to Why? at times, but never questioning whether He even really exists.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created things will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!  Romans 8:38-39

Surfing

Though I grew up on Daytona Beach, the only surfing I did was body surfing. I do know others who surf and realize that Daytona has better waves than the west coast of Florida, but they are still nothing spectacular. The people who ride those huge waves like you get in Hawaii amaze me. There is so much raw power there!

As I sat talking with God the other day trying to decide how to best describe an active, vibrant walk in His will, surfing came to mind. There is amazing power and push in water though it can easily swirl around you as well. There is no sitting still either when keeping up with God's will in your life. Yes, He may have times where He wants you to "Be still, and know I am God..." (Psalm 46:10), but even then you have to watch expectantly and be ready to move when He calls: Just like waiting for the right wave to ride.

Often too, God calls us to ride on the edge of what He is doing and if we stray, it all will come crashing down on us. There can be danger, and there is only one way to go safely- which He will show to us as needed. You can not plan the exact path of your ride either. You just know, "Go that way!" Much will be risked, but there is so much more to be gained.

...And what a ride! Count me in.

Brain Cloud

There is a line out of the movie Joe Verses The Volcano that I love to use when I just can't seem to think straight. The main character, Joe, is a hypochondriac who continues to go to doctors until one finally plays to his fears and tells him that he has a Brain Cloud; which, of course, is made up. So whenever I'm having a moment, I jokingly say that I have a brain cloud.

However, as I was reading today, I found a very interesting passage by Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest that has me rethinking this little phrase. The following is most of the devotional from his July 29th entry:

 "Behold, He cometh with clouds." Revelation 1:7

In the Bible clouds are always connected with God. Clouds are those sorrows or sufferings or providences, within or without our personal lives, which seem to dispute the rule of God. It is by those very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were no clouds, we should have no faith. "The clouds are but the dust of our Father's feet." The clouds are a sign that He is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow and bereavement and suffering are the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near without clouds, He does not come in clear shining.


It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials: through every cloud He brings, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child - God and my own soul, other people are shadows. Until other people become shadows, clouds and darkness will be mine every now and again. Is the relationship between myself and God getting simpler than ever it has been?


There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God's character, we do not yet know Him..." (Emphasis mine)

How blessed I am that my Father has clouded my mind with His presence! I only pray that I will stay that way always. 

I implore you to ask the Spirit to reveal to you today if there are any areas where the "darkest, blackest fact" may "damage God's character" in your mind and heart. If so, be honest with God about it for the healing of yourself. He already knows. Then spend some time getting to know and trust the God who loves and cherishes you so much. Remember: He is the essence of trustworthy.

How Real Is Too Real?

How real is too real?

There are things we know God has not explained to us because there is no way we could comprehend them. 1 John 3:2 tells us that, "...we are God's children now, and what we will be has not not yet been revealed." Then again in Revelation 10:4, John heard what the seven thunders spoke, but was told seal it up; to not write it down. Ecclesiastes 3:7 also tells us there is "...a time to be silent and a time to speak."

So the question - or, in point of fact, the quest - is for us to find the right balance of truth, love, wisdom, passion, and compassion.

As much as I would love for there to be a distinct formula for this, there is really only one answer: Ask God daily for the wisdom to know what to say and when to say it. For every day, every person, and every circumstance is different. Then listen. Listen for the Spirit to move your heart and tongue in the right direction. Listen with faith, knowing that God desires for the light, love, and wisdom of His Son Jesus Christ to shine through you. And pray. "Pray constantly," so that you "Don't stifle the Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 19)