Gentle Lights of Autumn

Candlelight   as well as  all other   accent lighting  that  gently sets a tone  or mood for the evening   are  all part of the welcoming ambiance of  an Autumn celebration!

Doesnt matter the formality of the meal...

or   whether it is  real  firelight or  electric....

the    warming glow  still has its  effects!

The gentle light even  enhances an otherwise  quiet  afternoon!

it elevates the     rhythm  of  mirth  around a table

or  subdues  the  tone    for  elegance

as the light  reflects    form  one    surface to another!

candlelight  can  quiet  a soul

and  welcomes all to enter in and   enjoy the repast!

The  welcome light     is an invitation  to  come in and     sit a spell and   enjoy   an evening   with us!

Sharing  on PInk Saturday.

Hodgepodge Wednesday

1. Are you comfortable with silence? If you're home alone, do you like silence or do you need regular background noise? Do you seek out times and places to be silent? What's your favorite place to find silence/be silent?
AS an only child and now an empty-nester, I am very comfortable in my skin and alone.. during the day.... When I retired I had 8 years of silence before my hubby retired... and I relished it so much. I spent most mornings alone with the coffee, journal and the Lord. In my spirit I danced and sang worshipfully .. it was so meaningful and I grew immensely in my spirit... Now that hubby is home my patterns have changed because that other quiet time was so personal I cant seem to get that groove on anymore... but I love to listen to wonderful instrumental music and allow my spirit to soar and I have always loved spending quiet time reading and really enveloping myself in a good book!
2. October 28th is National Chocolate Day. Can't let that go by without a mention now, can we? Will you celebrate? How? Let's say you can have one of the following right this very minute...a cup of hot chocolate, a strawberry dipped in chocolate, a bowl of plain chocolate ice cream, or a slice of chocolate pie...what's your pleasure?

Well, since yesterday was hubby's 's birthday we did our celebrating at our church dinner... and they did actually have the most delectable chocolate cake... otherwise.. my sweet of preference these days is a dollop of caramel gelato!
3. How do you feel about blue jeans? Favorite thing in the world to wear or nope, don't own a single pair? How often do you wear blue jeans in a typical week? Do you own a blue jean jacket?

Now that I'm retired... I dress so simply... I am really a low maintenance gal... I love jeans..and about half of my comfy slacks or pants I wear are jeans of some type and I do have 3 jean jackets that I enjoy during this transitional season. But, to be honest my first pick is what my hand lands on first. Today it is olive green knit pants... Ok, they a re very comfy!
4. Are you superstitious? If so, in what way?

Not at all. If anything I believe there are no coincidences... our lives are numbered and God is in control.... when I mess up it is when I went astray and chose my will over His.

5. If you had to come up with a costume using only things you have on hand right now, what could you come up with?

If I had to dress up it would probably be like I did for the Downton Abbey affair we partook of a few years ago... I mainly would decorate a hat, and pile on the pearls and any other gaudy item I could find.. where my velvets and draw a shawl or cape about me... Wallah!

6. What scares you a little? What do you do when you feel scared?

As I alluded to a while ago Ive never been too keen about being alone at night.... I know who I am in the Lord and he is always with me.... but the rest is a long story.


7. Perhaps today will be the day I _____________________.

type up that long article I posted just previously to this one... that was 8th in a series of which I'm not sure the total number will be.. it is all out of my hands.


8. Insert your own random thought here.

So I will just copy that last post I posted here as well... it is a message taht needs to be seen, read, and digested by many!

Ezekiel 22:30-31

"And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.”

So why was God seeking a man who could rebuild the wall:::: let's look at Ezekiel 22 and see if we draw comparisons to the US today....

22 The word of the Lord came to me:  2 “Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst ( abortion and  haresting body parts)and defiles herself by making idols,( greed, power, self seeking,  so many) 4 you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed and have become defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries. 5 Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.

6 “‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. (our  government's agenda to support  abortion) 7 In you they have treated father and mother with contempt;  )This   item   has  huge implications in Malachi...  will discuss  in future)  for now let us   remember the  chaos in schools and communities where  youths  are   fighting   all forms of  authority,   police,   teachers,  principals, community   gang  activities)  in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.8 You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.( God's holy covenant has been desecrated  with the  marriage amendment) 9 In you are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood; in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts. 10 In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed; in you are those who violate women during their period, when they are ceremonially unclean. 11 In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife, another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law, and another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter. Immorality is rampant  and  good is evil and evil good   if you watch   the television which  brings  filth into our homes and  pornography is prolific 12 In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord.  (We have not only forgotten Him  but  He is pushed out!)

Verses 13-29  continue  to explain  how God's wrath with    come on the people....   He sent  Ezekiel to  warn the people and then God looked to  see if there was  one   righteous who  would  rebuild the wall before him and come before  the people in intercession....   But there was none!  Verse  31 continues 

31 "So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

One of my favorite Bible Scholars is Derek Prince (1915-2003) You  can find much of his teaching on youtube and  he authored  hundreds of  books....  I  gleaned much of the  next information from his book,  Will You Intercede? He  shows us that  there were  at least  4 great  interceders  in the  Old Testament and  he points out  several  main features  that  an   necessary for an  intercessor  as  witnessed  through these  great  heroes who plead  for  God  to relent  and turn His wrath from the people:

• intimacy with God~ men like  Abraham and Moses who walked with and talked with God
• boldness~  Abraham and Moses  both  actually challenged God
• conviction of God's absolute justice~ Abraham  and Daniel both  were completely convinced that the  God's judgment was just   due to the sin of the people
• desire for  God's glory to be manifest  and not for personal  gain~ here we can think of  Moses  how  God wanted to make of him a great nation and  Moses  didn't want the  glory  but  for God to be lifted  higher
• Conviction of the cause even  at the risk of  personal life~ Daniel and Esther
• Identifying with  those for whom they were interceding~  Daniel and Esther  

 Then  we  look again  Isaiah 59:15  the people were so wicked and backsliddened ,  there was  so much corruption and violence,  "  Truth cannot be found anywhere. And people who refuse to do evil are attacked. The Lord looked and could not find any justice. And he was displeased."

Some  versions  say God was  appalled!    When not one  faithful, and true  believer couldt not be  found you might say  the case was hopeless..

In Ezekiel, God  said ,"Again a message came to me from the LORD: 24“Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: In the day of my indignation, you will be like a polluted land, a land without rain"  Scholars  look at   the word  " rain "  and it can be  construed as  the lack of  rain of the Holy Spirit  on the people... 

Princes Book   asks us to continue with Ezekiel  22 to  find out  who  is guilty of  bringing  the land under God's just judgment:

Princes:  government and it's    rulers

Prophets and priests:  spiritual leaders 

People:   us

what  was their  aim  in every case....  personal interests...   they failed the nation through their  self seeking and corrupt, wayward  ways,,,,  they were a crooked people  who  had forgotten  God....

So the "walls of the city"  had crumbled  God's protective hand....  God sought even one  person who would rebuild the line of communication with Him but  there was  not one...

Let's get more personal now....shall we?

What about our community... city... nation??My husband and I attend  our local Intercessors for America group  in our fair town....  only one  such group  in a city  and county of nearly 200,000. people  and an area of  dozens of churches.  We meet in a living room  of a home  every first  Friday of the month to intercede for  the nation,  society, the church , and Israel.  On any given  meeting night   I have never seen  over a dozen .. and always the same dedicated ones....  I suppose there is but a  remnant of  folks in  our  city  who care enough to  think about  pleading for  the nation.... I  don't  mean to sound judgmental,  but  I do  think it very sad  knowing  how very far our nation has fallen  away from God,   and so few who are  willing to give up  a couple of hours a month to seek  God's  face! Knowing the  deep darkness that  is spreading over our  own community... drugs, human trafficking,  violence,  even  known witchcraft  in our area.  Our city needs transformation.  We  need the cleansing rains of the Holy Spirit to wash us anew...  but again.. it  can not happen until   floods of God';s people  decide to remove the basket from their light and  become God's salt in the earth...Where are the intercessors,  the image bearers, the  ones through  their  daily living  attract  the  world to the Lover of  our souls  to the dying world...

But I Found None Part 8

Ezekiel 22:30-31

"And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.”

So why was God seeking a man who could rebuild the wall:::: let's look at Ezekiel 22 and see if we draw comparisons to the US today....

22 The word of the Lord came to me:  2 “Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood in her midst ( abortion and  haresting body parts)and defiles herself by making idols,( greed, power, self seeking,  so many) 4 you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed and have become defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries. 5 Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.

6 “‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. (our  government's agenda to support  abortion) 7 In you they have treated father and mother with contempt;  )This   item   has  huge implications in Malachi...  will discuss  in future)  for now let us   remember the  chaos in schools and communities where  youths  are   fighting   all forms of  authority,   police,   teachers,  principals, community   gang  activities)  in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.8 You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.( God's holy covenant has been desecrated  with the  marriage amendment) 9 In you are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood; in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts. 10 In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed; in you are those who violate women during their period, when they are ceremonially unclean. 11 In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife, another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law, and another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter. Immorality is rampant  and  good is evil and evil good   if you watch   the television which  brings  filth into our homes and  pornography is prolific 12 In you are people who accept bribes to shed blood; you take interest and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors. And you have forgotten me, declares the Sovereign Lord.  (We have not only forgotten Him  but  He is pushed out!)

Verses 13-29  continue  to explain  how God's wrath with    come on the people....   He sent  Ezekiel to  warn the people and then God looked to  see if there was  one   righteous who  would  rebuild the wall before him and come before  the people in intercession....   But there was none!  Verse  31 continues 

31 "So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

One of my favorite Bible Scholars is Derek Prince (1915-2003) You  can find much of his teaching on youtube and  he authored  hundreds of  books....  I  gleaned much of the  next information from his book,  Will You Intercede? He  shows us that  there were  at least  4 great  interceders  in the  Old Testament and  he points out  several  main features  that  an   necessary for an  intercessor  as  witnessed  through these  great  heroes who plead  for  God  to relent  and turn His wrath from the people:

• intimacy with God~ men like  Abraham and Moses who walked with and talked with God
• boldness~  Abraham and Moses  both  actually challenged God
• conviction of God's absolute justice~ Abraham  and Daniel both  were completely convinced that the  God's judgment was just   due to the sin of the people
• desire for  God's glory to be manifest  and not for personal  gain~ here we can think of  Moses  how  God wanted to make of him a great nation and  Moses  didn't want the  glory  but  for God to be lifted  higher
• Conviction of the cause even  at the risk of  personal life~ Daniel and Esther
• Identifying with  those for whom they were interceding~  Daniel and Esther  

 Then  we  look again  Isaiah 59:15  the people were so wicked and backsliddened ,  there was  so much corruption and violence,  "  Truth cannot be found anywhere. And people who refuse to do evil are attacked. The Lord looked and could not find any justice. And he was displeased."

Some  versions  say God was  appalled!    When not one  faithful, and true  believer couldt not be  found you might say  the case was hopeless..

In Ezekiel, God  said ,"Again a message came to me from the LORD: 24“Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: In the day of my indignation, you will be like a polluted land, a land without rain"  Scholars  look at   the word  " rain "  and it can be  construed as  the lack of  rain of the Holy Spirit  on the people... 

Princes Book   asks us to continue with Ezekiel  22 to  find out  who  is guilty of  bringing  the land under God's just judgment:

Princes:  government and it's    rulers

Prophets and priests:  spiritual leaders 

People:   us

what  was their  aim  in every case....  personal interests...   they failed the nation through their  self seeking and corrupt, wayward  ways,,,,  they were a crooked people  who  had forgotten  God....

So the "walls of the city"  had crumbled  God's protective hand....  God sought even one  person who would rebuild the line of communication with Him but  there was  not one...

Let's get more personal now....shall we?

What about our community... city... nation??My husband and I attend  our local Intercessors for America group  in our fair town....  only one  such group  in a city  and county of nearly 200,000. people  and an area of  dozens of churches.  We meet in a living room  of a home  every first  Friday of the month to intercede for  the nation,  society, the church , and Israel.  On any given  meeting night   I have never seen  over a dozen .. and always the same dedicated ones....  I suppose there is but a  remnant of  folks in  our  city  who care enough to  think about  pleading for  the nation.... I  don't  mean to sound judgmental,  but  I do  think it very sad  knowing  how very far our nation has fallen  away from God,   and so few who are  willing to give up  a couple of hours a month to seek  God's  face! Knowing the  deep darkness that  is spreading over our  own community... drugs, human trafficking,  violence,  even  known witchcraft  in our area.  Our city needs transformation.  We  need the cleansing rains of the Holy Spirit to wash us anew...  but again.. it  can not happen until   floods of God';s people  decide to remove the basket from their light and  become God's salt in the earth...Where are the intercessors,  the image bearers, the  ones through  their  daily living  attract  the  world to the Lover of  our souls  to the dying world...

The Day of the Lord part 7

So let's talk for a bit about "the day of the Lord"!     It is mentioned   quite a bit  in Scripture,  but in all of my    studies in church I really  don't remember    many sermons discussing it..  But  surely it is a great import because scholars have deemed it.. the phrase “the day of the Lord” is used nineteen times in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5,30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:5) and five times in the New Testament (Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10). It is also alluded to in other passages (Revelation 6:17; 16:14). Therefore, we need to know what it is there for! Don't we?

Is.2:12 For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

Is 13:6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!

Is 13:9  Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.

Ezekiel 30:3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

Joel 1: 15 Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.

Joel 2:1Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,

Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near,  in the valley of decision.

Obadiah 15  For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.

****Malachi 4: 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

What is meant  about   the Elijah prophet here is   not the    Elijah  sent during the Tribulation or  spoken of in the  Revelation...   but  is   those Christians  who accept the call of God  to take up the  Spirit of Elijah to  "prepare the way of the Lord....   I have spoken   previously  about this remnant   of  the church whose  relationship with  Christ is so  deep,  that  they  desire above all else to   allow the Holy Spirit to refine them...    to become  image bearer's of Christ  to  demonstrate  His   nature to  everyone in their  realm of influence.. the  church,  their  classrooms,  their   work place,  community,  city, and the world.  These are people who  

• Know who  Christ is
•  Know   who they are in Christ
• Joint heirs with Him
• Seated in heavenly realms
• Are called to  demonstrate   His image to the world
•  are a Royal priesthood
• And why is that  these people will be  demonstrating the spirit  of Elijah?   To  help usher  in the great Awakening   before the terrible    Day of the Lord...   to  carry the  image of Christ to our  dying world  and  so that many will "see" and  know  that He is God..   what a mighty  work for the Kingdom of God...  I  truly wish to be a part of that! 

And as  we  continue this study  we will be able to  add a few more  items to that list.  For now, let's look at  what the NT has to say about the day of the Lord

17 Act 2: 17‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. *******21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

IThess 5:2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

  This is not the rapture,  for that will be wondrous....   but  the day of which I write is  described as  horrible  and  dark.

2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Now  I don't know  how you have  studied the minor prophets, but many of those  references were  speaking  of  Old testament  events  foretelling    God's judgment  on the nation of  Israel for it's disobedience and turning away.... God in His mercy gave many   opportunites  for the people to  turn from their  wicked ways.. he always sent  prophets to warn  the people  before  we acted...  but the  people  were wayward,  and     God removed His hand of protection from  Israel and the people were  scattered,  the temple destroyed, the land  was devastated...  

 But starting with   Joel 3 and Malachi 4 God is speaking  of a future day of the Lord  when  he  judges the nations ..   when the  people of nations will   'come to a valley of decision'  to decide if they will  continue in their  wicked ways  along crooked paths  ...  or  help to make straight the way of the Lord's coming  by     turning back to Him  with all their heart.. become those living stones the temple of God...   giving daily sacrifices of praise,  and worship, thanksgiving and  interceding...  

AW.. a new concept of intercession!  More on that next time!

If you are   following along with me on this topic..  I highly recommend you do your own study in  these books. I don't know why pastors do not  preach them.. at least  none Ive ever heard...  but we have the Holy Spirit to  show us... to teach us...  but here is the thing... I am reminded   of  why I began this  study in the first place....   I was hearing God speaking  to me to "Prepare... Prepare the Way of the Lord""'    And  in my spirit  I   knew  He wanted me to research it  and share about it    to get  this word  abroad as much as  I am able... 

Come Stroll Around with Me, Please

  I am delighted to have been featured on    A Return to Loveliness. I have followed  Kathy's beautiful; blog  from  almost the very beginning   of my   blogging  experience in 2008.    When  God spoke to us in His Word " Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things"  Phil. 4:8     I believe  He  was speaking of   Kathy's blog.... I am always   uplifted  by my  visits there!

Come take a stroll with me around the house,  won't you.. we'll   stroll  from room to room....    Living in a 1930's English Tudor home  is not   what  I suppose   the younger  generation is  looking  for   ...   I love the charm of  an older house...even though  I do not  have open    sight lines...  as I sit here in the kitchen a t my computer  station, this is   w hat I can see    .. right into the hall...

 and if I bend way over I can see   into  the  living room!

and   from the kitchen I can see into the dining room

  

So  I   walk into the  dining room    it's is just off to the  left  of my desk

  from there  I can see into the  living room  through the  typical  archway

 A few steps around the  table  bring me  right to the  threshold

 Looking back  into   the  dining room

Our house  makes one   circular path....   making    a sudden right  I'm  back  into the hall

a stopover in the  tv room.

  and then back into  the kitchen..

 out to the    sunroom..

now that we have  blinds all around the room,  it is cosier than ever!

  and back to the kitchen...  the heart of the home!

  I love   my   old,  very   charming     home....  with it's   chambers set  apart    for  various   purposes...

So  I  step  back over to my  computer station   (Ha..hA..ha  right below the  one  cabinet door that    hasn't  been finished   because  it had to be reordered and   took weeks to get it  installed...  well, it is what it is.... It's on the  painting schedule for later this week!)

   but   I think about    what   young buyers are looking for in a home....do they not realize that wide open spaces are  drafty....  or that  once  retirement comes  hubby and wife  really don't want to be sharing the same space all the time....  I love   the  demarcation of separation... as did our  daughter and her boyfriend when they were dating.  

Yes,  I   really love our  cosy     home  down   our  leafy lane

 but  we aren't getting any younger   and  I  just wonder  what   a prospective buyer would  have to say about  a home like ours.... our daughter says that the pendulum  is swinging back to more   traditional homes in Massachusetts...   but  I have yet to  see  that trend  change on the home  network....   so I just continue to say I  prayer each time I traverse to the second floor... and  am thankful  to have  a home filled to the brim with  charm, blissful memories,  and loads of love!

Hearing from God parts 1-6

Over the  past few days I have been   writing  a 6 part    teaching on  hearing from God...  When I began this I  thought it would be  around  3 parts, cut and dried...   but the Holy Spirit showed up and  it  is ever expanding.  I decided to combine the  first 6 parts  so this is lengthy,  but there is  some very  important  Biblical truths here....  THis writing is based on scripture,  my  inner   response to the call  from God on my heart  as Ive been studying    Ephesians,  and  attending some  very  wonderful  prayer  events  at   Jim Tarter's  home...   He hosts our local   Intercessor's for America   prayer group,  has led many Bible Studies in our   city, and   much of it is based  on  a book   written by   my very  brilliant  Bible teacher and  author  of  many  books   found  on www.lulu.com  for free download.  Just look up his name in the seach bar.   James Tarter.    I  asked him to please  review what ive written in these 6 parts and  reminded me    how very important the coming dayof the Lord is to the  overarching  theme of this writing....  so In part 7 I will be taking up that key component!

  Hearing from God part 1

I recently made a life changing purchase.So many friends were recounting to me the very same thing... that Sarah Young's devotional, Jesus Calling, was having such a powerful impact on their lives, so I finally bought my own copy. Upon some research on Ms. Young I learned that she and I shared a deep appreciation for our quiet time with the Lord... and she, like I, enjoyed journaling our experiences... but she had taken her experiences to a deeper level.. writing what she felt the Lord speaking to her and these writings became the basis of her devotional.

It was September 23rd when I bought and started my devotional journey and right away I understood why so many felt inspired by each day's postings... I understand that the Bible is God's inspired Word to us, but surely, in the manner in which Ms Young recorded her experiences with God through and including scriptural references, her devotionals really do express each day a heaven sent word that seems to heal a broken spirit or quell an uneasy heart.


Even as a long time Christian who is fully connected in the local church, as well as community ministries, more than ever lately, I needed these simple yet dynamic messages. On September 23rd and on every other page since, the theme was and is seek the presence of God....for in life's circumstances great and small His presence is all we need.


For me, I was becoming inwardly a bit unhinged. With all the depressing news, terror extremists, turmoil in the world, prophetic disasters looming on the horizons, catastrophic storms, blood moons, etc. My mind seemed to be swept up in a tornadic maelstrom that interrupted my sleep and even my relationships.. to say I was edgy was an understatement. I couldn't even fully enjoy my precious visit with my daughter and her family, including our 2 year old granddaughter, whom we actually visit a handful of times a year, ...for my psyche, but really the devil, was whispering to me "This may very well be the last time you'll be able to get together with your family".... isn't it funny for the devil can sound just like yourself in your head...and also funny.. how .. and I knew this from all of my years of seeking God through Bible studies and Church activities.... I knew it, but after that first read on September 23rd, and especially successively ever after, the reminder that God is always present really is the most wonderful good news of the gospel for the believer!

Tomorrow I will share how I started hearing from God.

part 2

Hearing from God part 2

As a believer, my God, my heavenly Father, Abba, Daddy, is sovereign over all things... all power.. all nations.... all storms..... all bumps in the night and He has me by the hand and He'll never let me go. There is no extremist plot that could ever take Him by surprise. There is no medical report that He couldn't see me through.. There is no tomorrow or future trial, that He doesn't have the resolution for because He is already there working every single thing in my life and all believer's lives for our good. Oh, to be able to rise above our daily circumstances and see our lives from His perspective. But that is what faith is all about. Even though we can not see, we still know and believe, and expect good gifts, loving kindness, mercy, grace, and love from the one and only God, the lover of our souls, our Abba, Father God! ....because He is the manifestation of all those things.. His attributes are love...mercy... loving kindness,.... justice.... faithfulness....patience.... gentleness ....compassion... Just so we could better know Him he sent His son as an exact replica of Himself. For Jesus only did what he saw the Father doing....

So now as I have gained a deeper insight into my own spiritual walk with God, I seem to be able to hear His voice a little clearer. Recently, in a prayer session( at James Tarter's home) as we worshipped then listened for His still voice, I clearly heard the word "anchor". When I shared the word with the prayer group I was told by one of the Bible scholars there that the word "Anchor" was actually the first symbol for Christ before the symbol of the cross became evident. I found that of great interest, but for me personally it really brought a sense of stability.. a sense of security a truly solid foundation on which to rest my weary soul, as I saw myself anchored on Christ,.

Oddly enough, I couldn't think of a time when I had given any thought to an anchor except as I watched the hull of the Titanic upend. I couldn't remember even seeing the word written in print in a long time. I know I didn't just think up the word. It just popped into my head, suddenly, just as the worship music stopped and we were asked to wait on the Lord. Well, I didn't have long to wait. Plop there it was!

I didn't dwell on it that much in the coming days, but then within the succeeding 2 weeks the word "anchor" started coming up probably over a dozen times. As a small group leader in Priscilla Shirer's study The Armor of God the word has been used in conjunction with each of the spiritual weapons of our warfare. And each time I see the word I take pause to contemplate for myself what significant thought the Lord had for me specifically.
Because God had already begun a work of prayer leadership in my life through an interdenominational prayer ministry that my small group of prayer ladies were led by the Spirit to initiate in our community... I am believing that the relevance of the word anchor and it's repetitious use in the prayer warrior study that I am partaking of at this time, that God is broadening my assignment... to be a more diligent prayer warrior.





I feel He is calling out to me in another way as well.... and This time I have to confess I have been hesitant in launching out... until He got my attention... More to follow!
part 3  please read on

Hearing from God part 6B

It is not my wish to leave this series hanging in mid air.  but as a small group leader  leading  a  group  in the Armor of God  BS   I  have  other  studies  that are  currently taking my mind and time....   to tell the truth  about   my thinking at this time...  when I started this series I really thought it would  be about  5  compact  posts.. but over  the   hours of  typing  it out and praying over and listening  the topic has expanded  well beyond  my  preliminary  estimations.    And to be  sure,  I  am happy about how  the Spirit has led me to    the  ever broadening  all encompassing  issue of  learning  the need for, and   the how tos  of  manifesting the true nature of Christ to a dying, very needy world, society,  community, nation!  I hope  that the  ground work for the  why  has been laid...  As  I am considering the how-tos, the requirements and prerequisites  are expanding as well...  Because I am determined to  do the best job that I can on this thesis,    to please the author  of  my life, the author of the Word, and  show that  by  his Spirit  it is  my deepest desire to    discern and  divide His word rightly,   I need to  do more  study....I have already mentioned  that  one    very  pertinent   issue is that of  how we  exhibit holy fire in the world...    you may be  contemplating that one, as well...  however, another  integral topic is  intercession...  if we are  to  be  demonstrating  Jesus of Nazareth's true nature to  the  world,   He certainly is an  interceder... He is doing that for us every  day in heaven...praise His holy name.  I am sharing these  two   components today  to let you understand why I will be  absent from this topic for  a few days a s I   gather my  thoughts and  determine how to   knit  together  and finish  this magnificent tapestry   that  I have  begun.  Perhaps  you  might   be interested in doing your  research in  the  issues I have  brought to light and    laid  before  us...  I would be very interested to hear from  anyone...  especially if  any of this has  had  any meaning for anyone  personally.  The next time I write to this series  I will erase this  explanation and  begin  again on  part 7.   Blessings!

Hearing from God part 6

                                                                                                         One of my favorite passages in the NT is Ephesians 1:18- 23~ ~Paul's prayer  

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He (God)  has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in his Holy people, 19 and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church,  (Authority)23 which is His body,  (the church) the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.   This,  as  many other  passages,  explains     what we need to fully understand..  first of all,Paul prays that we who believe and are  called  the children of God   can see clearly  and that  our hearts will be enlightened so that we may KNOW   the hope  in Which God has  called us....  the passage goes on to relate the  immeasurable  inheritance  we  gain through Christ..   such a powerful truth than many pastors   will simply pass right over this section.. for  perhaps only the Holy Spirit can  truly  enlighten us to the power, the riches,  the authority is ours  because  since the  days of Paul  even until the ages to come...  Because  there is so little teaching on this  many Christians  read it with   wonder  then   wander   aimlessly  through life  perhaps  knowing it in our minds,  but not truly believing it in their hearts and applying its truth in their circumstances.

Then there is  Ephesians 2:6   And God  raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  SO there we are  right now  with full access to the throne room and the ear  God through and because  of   Christ's death on the cross..  to  win back all that the enemy  stole from  us in the garden  when  sin came into the world...  The  very same authority God had given  to  Adam and Eve  was relinquished to satan  and  it wasn't until  Christ  's death  and victory over the grave  that  the authority  was  won back . Then  Jesus  was  caught up to heaven and   he left that authority with us  when  he  gave out the great Commission...  to take the authority and  use it to  reclaim what the  enemy tries to take from us,  to  empower us to walk boldly  on earth  spreading the gospel,  healing the sick...    delivering    people  from the throes of  the enemy... when we  wield that authority in the precious name of  Jesus..  we can speak to  the storm,  we can  lay hands on  our  friends and family in prayer.. and when  we  pray  in His name  it is actually praying in his nature...   as he would pray..  Then we are  praying in his will. IN His nature??????  Doing what we  saw Jesus do,...  loving,   merciful,  kind,  compassionate, just, humble, full of grace, giving,   caring for the poor,  the sick,   the  wounded,   the  lost, those who needed deliverance....  and he only did what he saw the Father  (The Invisible God) doing...  so  He is the exact  replica of God on earth...  and after  Jesus went to be with the  Father  we were to grow into the fullness of HIm   so that we might  reflect the true nature of Christ to the world to win souls and shine away the darkness and  light up the earth!   where is your light now... Are you beginning to  think about  removing that  basket!

 Wow,  we really have to know Him well to  pray like that don't we...  to fully know His nature.  Let's look back for a moment.. at the moment of our salvation....according to 

Romans  :16-17 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. So when someone asks you how do you know you're a child of God... it is because the Holy Spirit testifies to us that we are....we simply usually say, well, I know that I know that I am.... because if you are a believer, you know it. If you have prayed the believer's prayer,  repented and given your life to Jesus, don't let satan rob you of the knowledge that you are a child of God . many find it easier to listen to satans lies than the truths of the Spirit.

So true believers are called, they are children of God and joint heirs with Christ, they are seated in heavenly places right now with Him and with God the Father!
However, there is another important component.. see if you glean the concept from these scriptures.
1 Peter 2:9 - But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1 Peter 2:4-10 - To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious, (Read More...)

Revelation 1:6 - And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9-10 - But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (Read More...)

Revelation 5:10 - And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Exodus 19:6 - And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Lest we be fooled by satan's whisperings.. remember we are grafted in to the nation of Israel... so  Exodus 19:6 also relates to the church...


What do we make of these references to priesthood...
What did the priests do.. They prayed over the temple, God's holy place, they offered sacrifices...    They bled the blood of perfect lambs, goats, doves, for atonement of sin for the people.
Now we don't do this today, the Jews don't even do this today.... but Paul went on in Romans 12:1 to say,"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Where do we do this... at the holy temple.... that my friend is none other than in our hearts... through praise, worship, and prayer.. intercession... .. When I imagine those priests of old I always see  fiery altars ... our heart, as a holy priest, should be a flame for God... and we shouldn't let the flame go out. Now I ask you, reader, as I ask myself... has my flame been continually burning? Have I been pleading the blood of Christ over my circumstances, my unsaved friends, my community. our nation! if I'm a royal priesthood and all the believers that I know have that same calling well then wouldn't our churches be on fire for God..????   Wouldn't the light of Christ be burning so brightly that the darkness would flee into the pit from whence it originated.?????
Believers, I fear we have dropped the ball here... We cannot have the royal standing before God in heavenly places yet be a silent, unholy priest here in our realm of influence... I don't think that pleases our heavenly Father, who in His mercy is patiently waiting for us to get with the program... But how patient is He....that is the question... I think I have laid some ground work today... there is so much we need to know about our holy fire... and it may not always be easy to endure it... it will be a refiner's fire that we must be willing to endure to begin that internal transformation that is so desperately needed! I don't know about you but I feel the need to do a bit of repenting now!