The Spiritual Life

Today, The Lord directly confirmed my steps, in answer to my prayers. I was amazed at His goodness! I giggled with astonishment at such a clear answer from Him. : )

A few hours later, He confirmed that the first affirmation was, indeed, from Him! What more could I ask for? I can now walk in this new direction with full confidence and peace. “All authority in heaven and on earth” has nodded His head to proceed!

I pray the same joy and peace for each of you, that we might all continue to learn to lay down each day at His feet and accept with rejoicing whatever He brings on the way.

The following are excerpts from Elisabeth Elliot’s “Gateway to Joy”:

…Every experience, even the most unwelcome, if offered to Jesus, can become a gateway to joy.

God… setteth in pain the jewel of His joy. – FWH Meyers

O joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not in vain, that morn shall tearless be. – George Matheson

Photo captured by the lovely and talented Lauren Lowe. Check out her Flickr site.

Matt Redman & Chris Tomlin wrote this song… I can’t get over the way they capture the beauty of the Lord’s character, and the amazing parallels in His plans for all creation:

You spread out the skies over empty space… Said, let there be light… to a dark and formless world… your light was born.

You spread out your arms over empty hearts… Said, let there be light… to a dark and hopeless world… your son was born.

You made the world and saw that it was good. You sent your only son, for you are good.

CHORUS

What a wonderful maker… What a wonderful savior… How majestic your whispers… How humble your love!

With a strength like no other… and the heart of a father… How majestic your whispers…

What a wonderful God!

No eye has fully seen how beautiful the cross… and we have only heard the faintest whispers of how great you are.

You made the world and saw that it was good. You sent your only son, for you are good.

CHORUS

What a wonderful maker… What a wonderful savior… How majestic your whispers… How humble your love!

With a strength like no other… and the heart of a father… How majestic your whispers…

What a wonderful God!

For the beauty of the Earth, For the glory of the skies – For the love, which from our birth, Over and around us lies; Lord of all, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour, of the day and of the night – Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon, and stars of light; Lord of all, to Thee we raise, This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight – For the mystic harmony, linking sense to sound and sight; Lord of all, to Thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child – Friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thy Church, that evermore, lifteth holy hands above – Offering up on every shore, her pure sacrifice of love; Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given – For that great, great love of thine, peace on earth and joy in heaven; Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise!

- Folliot S. Pierpoint

When the Lord takes hold of you; when he changes your life:

You can’t claim the credit.

You can’t do things the same way anymore.

You see everything differently.

You thank Him constantly.

You praise Him constantly.

You look foolish to the world.

You recognize your brokenness and need for Him.

You can’t go back to the life before.

Photo captured by the lovely and talented Lauren Lowe. Check out her Flickr site.

What do you find at the end of yourself? When you’ve done all you can do, where do you rest?

The Lord is showing me beauty and peace at the fringes of all I have to give.

He doesn’t need all my efforts, my striving and stubbornness. He wants a child who follows His lead, not one who can’t see past the task at hand, running ahead of Him.

He wants a heart that is open and willing. A spirit in tune with His. He can use a life that’s abandoned and listening. When I finally stop kicking and crying and trying, He’s there, ready to begin His work.

At the end of me, is Him.

22 “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22

It seems very clear to me that we live in a time where the vast majority of Christians live a life filled with thorns. Surely, many have heard the word. Many believe the word. Many claim to walk in the word to learn and grow. It is interesting that the verse does not say that they wither away and die. They are not unknowledgeable about the word. But, they have no fruit.

I would be so bold as to say that the life of the modern evangelical believer looks almost no different from the life of a non-believer. Do they still know the truth? Yes. Are they growing and walking the narrow path that Christ demands? Maybe not. The deception of wealth and the worries of this life are so pervasive. The believer today still approaches education, finding a job, and standard of living the same way that everyone else does. They are concerned with their protection and well-being, which doesn’t seem like something all that bad. But the reality is that those things are the “worries of this life.” They are all passing away, and have no eternal value. How many are so deceived in thinking that they are living the “Christian Life” but are in fact simply living for themselves, with no fruit whatsoever? Or maybe they claim to have fruit, but it is fruit that comes from the efforts of this life and again has no value.

Let us let go of the things of this world. To hear the word, the amazing and beautiful gospel of the Kingdom, but to allow the simple things of this world to distract us is a tragedy. Let us live for Christ Jesus, our King and our Lord.

The Lord prompted me to share this tonight:

God is concerned about the condition of our heart. He has taught me this so clearly recently. In all things he desires that our heart is directed fully and completely to Him.

Praise God for his amazing patience, faithfulness and mercy upon me! Oh how tender is he even in teaching me obedience, whether in prayer, with money or my time. Lord, do not ever stop teaching me! Do not lift your hand from my life.

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7