This is not my body! How did it get like this?
It's like I woke up and had slept wrong or something..I got up achy, tired looking ,added a few more wrinkles, and noticed I jiggle more. Jiggling, is soooo not good. I have not seen the body I had as a teen in a coons age-so I can't even hope to obtain that stance again,( I like that saying by the way, "In a coons age" I don't know why, Coons must live a long long time which really isn't my objective.OK random, moving on)
My body is the one I had about two yrs back, not skinny mini, but not queen of jiggly bits either. Queen of jiggly bits crept in on me unaware. I really believe that aliens have taken over our bodies.Think about it -We had ones we liked once, then poof,alien body take over and we transformed into living jello molds! ( And for that matter they have not yet gotten to the skinny minis remaining, so, Be afraid be very afraid!)
I used to say it was my mission to have everyone gain a tremendous amount of weight,so that I will LOOK skinny when I hang out with you, it was a diabolical plan, but unfortunately I can't resist the brownies any better than you can, and therefore I jiggle at the same rate as you do..Well some of you anyway( Incidentally I am having sign twirlers arrive at ALL the skinny peoples homes I know, so the aliens can easily find you as part of my New evil plan! Bwahaha) ( Yeah yeah I know, move on-)
Life and time add up on a body, like mile markers,at 20- I was thin, had a baby, another baby, and yet another baby and would swear that snack packs, oreos and spaghettios were survival foods, and that sleeping almost standing up was normal- in the 30's I put a few pounds on, but I dont know how( alien infusion?something like reversed lipo) Housework and homework and screaming at baseball fields about teamwork, and corn dogs and anything with cheese took over. Marriage blues and way to much stress took me under, and learning to run in multiple directions at once,made me gumby mom! Still I had my little jigglies..
In the 40's I tried to change the tide, and I did for a little bit, Walking a crazy route on top of rocks, through trees, across marshes and through wooded areas,but then I moved away from the 20 acre woods and farm lands I loved to hike through,and so I pretty much stopped walking.( Tennessee woods scare me, big snakes, hunters in suspenders and no shirts, tics as big as Texas, I NO like. And I have this desire to want to see nature better than it can see me!) I drink wayyyyyyyyyy to much coffee ( Never surrender never say Die! Coffee and I are tight like that) and the last year I have taken to a genuine love affair with ice cream. I Divorced in the 40's, man is that ever a harsh weight loss plan! Lost all my baby weight, and even the oreo weight and later remarried to a man who loves brownies as much as I do, and gained it back with love handles besides, I tell you I think that's alien karma.
OK, so I can't really blame everything on aliens.And No, I don't believe in them. Although I have met some very strange folks who honestly believe some very odd things. they kind of remind me of aliens, outer worldly and all, Some more so than others. ( I remember some guys in my highschool who ran around saying bleep, bleep, bleep in school with tinfoil antenna caps on their head, Okey dokey! More than likely they are devastatingly handsome and as wealthy as Donald ( I need to get a new hairstyle)Trump, but originally they were the fellows with the taped up glasses and plaid pants that you scooted away from in school, not because they were viral or smelly, just because they were really, really, weird! Another rabbit trail, sorry : / )
For instance a thought process I find odd is this, Why people think angels are so amazing? No seriously, ( Not that they aren't amazing, don't get your feathers in a twist) but I know people who have a gazillian angel figurines lying all over their house and they read all the angel stories they can get their hands on, total angel freaks, yet they adore a creation more than they do a creator even saying something along the lines of, "Well I don't really believe in God " "WHAT? you believe in angels but ya don't believe in God? hello, thunk thunk is anybody in there? (Why do I hear twilight zone music?) Are ya not realizing or soaking in the fact that it is God who sends angels to help?
They don't work by their own design their commissioned, When I hear those inspiring stories of angels, I don't think wow, what amazing angels, I think WOW what an amazing God, who would love me and others enough to send protection, healing, salvation or words of Hope and rescue- via messengers. How cool..You make no sense my little space cadet. Can you not see there is a truly loving God, who adores you enough to be real to you in a thousand ways both miraculous and simple? He is a whole lot more awesome than the fat little cherub you bought at the dollar store.
And why do people think its cool to wear a cross on their neck and then say a whole lot of words about God that make you wanna run with your fingers in your ears- screaming LA LA LA I don't hear you! ( OK maybe that's just me) See to me wearing a cross is about loving the beautiful King who died on it, understanding the gift in it- are ya hearing me? It's a symbol of love, beauty, transparency, hope, restoration, salvation, and its a story of victory. Your missing it! How sad.
And why do people always come up with the reason they don't come to church is because there are to many hypocrites in it, OK, so your the perfect representation of sainthood then? No ? hmm, Well if a hypocrites ever gonna get fixed don't ya think it should be in a place that might help them get the fixing? And while your at it, unless your really do lead a perfect life, no sin, spankin white .. Well baby, you belong with the rest of us..eh hem., 2nd pew from the back, I will scoot right over!
And why do people follow after the weirdest mindsets in cults about becoming a God or like God,Are you for real? Dude have you seen yourself in the morning? You got drool on your chin and whilst it is a possibility you could in a fell swoop kill a whole lot of people without lifting a finger ( yeah, its called morning breath)that's about all the power ya got,oh that and that not so stealthy armpit thing ya got going there.
So I'm thinking No.Your not really gonna go there oh high priest of twinkie town are ya? Oh Goddess of tarot and palm reading (Who joined arms with, oh whats her name again, one of the Jacksons sisters...drat I cant remember! Well that's the lasting imprint she left on me..Zzz) hey lady... Talk to the hand girl, cuz I aint coming anywhere near your rule of drool!
And why do we believe in the church today that ready acceptance is better than repentance? If we accept all sinful behavior in FEAR of dealing with their fruits, we really are not far from being rotten fruit ourselves, and believe me if this is the pot of new wine every ones raving about, NO THANKS its rancid with stuff I don't want to drink!!!
And why do we teach, preach and talk about the gifts in the body of Christ and then refuse to relinquish control long enough to let anyone use them, isn't that a tad weird? Kinda like saying wow look at my present, and 20 yrs later still having it sit on the shelf unwrapped..Hellooooo.... No wonder we are stagnant and dusty, no wonder the church is groaning instead of growing, and there is more growth than in numbers, try this thought on for size, GROWING PEOPLE SPIRITUALLY ( Can we do that? mmm yeah , its perfectly acceptable to count fruits more than heads!) (Watch out for those old prunes though, they don't like new growth much, stickn to the old ways is better, yup, almost as good as dying on the vine) Listen the way to grow is to let the move of God, MOVE! To encourage , to lift, to counsel, to promote growth and maturity in Christ! No wonder the fields are ripe and their are no laborers, we refuse to teach and enable and then follow through and do something with the giftings. Good Grief, that's just bizarre!
Hunny what is alien to me is all the stuff we accept into our hearts and minds, about God, about sin, about each other, and about whats right and wrong, because I believe, its a few planets off from the SON.
I don't ever want to come to a place where the things of God and the heart of God are far from me, its far more important to me to take my jiggly bits and Run to Him, (in essence becoming more and more an alien to the WORLD) than it it is to gain favor, climb up the ladder, be infamous, or gain a fortune,or improve my title-All of which are things we have made more valuable and more sought after,than relationship with Christ and with one another..
Shes an Alien an Alien I know....I actually can handle that, as long as its about HIM I will gladly take a ride on the God side. Hows about you, Rocket man? Ready to step away from all the junk and head into a whole new world?
Hey , I want to go where No generation has gone before- full throttle, and Unashamed for Jesus! Nothing holding me back, not even a few pounds, speaking of which- does that tractor beam have the ability to slice me down a couple of sizes? No huh? Figures...( Dang it worked in Galaxy quest to..that's so not right.....) OK ,Grab the oreo's and the coffee bro, Roll your Jiggly self ova, and we will keep our eyes to the skies! Beam US up Scotty!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Under the broom tree
I like Elijah, I can almost picture his white beard flowing in the style of his time but a tad less groomed than his peers, after all most prophets tended to be a bit nomadic ,so my guess they were heavy on the visionary side of things light on the appearance side. Tents and desert wanderings were not at all unfamiliar to him but certainly the pomp of royalty that he had come to bring this message to were in stark contrast to his humble stance.
Oh we like to believe that prophets of yesteryear were much like we know today.A self proclaimed toot my own horn vanity in double breasted suits ( or for the prophets back in the day- gold lined tunics) we have certainly grown used to a prophets messages of today being more of seeking fortune- for telling your fortune, then simply giving a message of reform and restoration as the prophets of old did, we prefer warm and fuzzy to life changing and convicting. The Holy men of old weren't about being worldy eye candy,they were about bringing Gods message and giving him Glory.
No, good old Elijah walked out his life from a much more simplistic and humble standing.
I don't believe his demeanor portrayed any Spiritual weakness, he was strong in a sound inner knowledge. Which made him a highly esteemed peer and a very respectable man- a gentle talker with weathered lines of wisdom and laughter etched on his face. A man people listened to because the manner in which he carried himself demanded respect without uttering a word, it was simply who he was..
I believe he carried his calling with such humility that guards nearby simply kept him in a tentative view relaxing their grip on swords and eyeing him almost mockingly.( Like were not afraid of the big bad Elijah) A thousand Godly priests before him had already came and died for their faith, But Elijah stood unwavering- with the God given assurance he walked in Holy authority, and the powers of hell shrank back in acknowledgement and fear.
Elijah, clears his voice- and speaks in low somber tones of a challenge that his adversaries could not resist, "Let us both pray to our God, and the God who is real will bring the fire for a burnt offering.".( paraphrased ) Well they couldn't very well shrink back from such an offer, to do so would be paramount to saying their Gods did not exist and Jezebel wasn't having it! After all temples were erected in honor of her Gods and she herself had commissioned statues and idols cast in Gold and laden in jewels in their images.
She had already made a mockery of Elijah's God and his worshippers. Pursuing the priest, mocking and then as a last testimony of cruelty viciously murdering them for their faith. What audacity this man Elijah had! Of course they would take the challenge- her responses tinged with poison, this vile harlot of idolatry in every way mocked Gods sovereignty.
Along came solemn processions of chanting priests covered in ash and waling loudly before their Gods. Thrashing about in a mad conglomeration of wreathing sacrificial abandon.Hissing and screaming in fevered adoration and fervent prayers they circled the offering pensively, cutting their flesh and taring their garments, hour after hour of maddening contortion and clamor, the incessant screaming stilled until one by one finally fell exhausted to the wayside, notably silent.
Not even a puff of smoke.How odd..
Elijah offered some closing ideas.."Perhaps they are sleeping? "( with all that noise? really?!) Wake them, get a little louder, scream , dance, hop on one foot maybe? (No, he didn't really say that last bit, that was from me, active imagination this..). I think though he did have a little fun at their expense while he was waiting.Human nature you know..
After hours of travail with no action, angry and exhausted they dejectedly led Elijah to the offering.
Elijah lined up servants and had them to one after another fill their water jars and pour container after container over the offering, dousing any shred of dryness until there could be no doubt to anyone seeing, to light this offering up it was going to take an extra special God.
Water dripped into the caverns of the offering and settled in puddles over the side, and poured out to the wading feet of Gods prophet. One can almost picture the soft swoosh of his sandals as they hit the wet ground as he stood and addressed the waiting crowds.
And then.. he prayed, not in a fervor of excited wales nor in the scuffle of barbaric dance and demonically shrieked prayers but in a strength and assurance not his own . He prayed and presence and power hit the walls and surroundings in waves of electric current -filling the courtyards with a sense of electricity so acute prickles of heat coursed over their bodies and covered them in a fearful thoroughly drenched sweat.
The atmosphere was charged with the imprint of God almighty! And when it at last felt it would com bust from tangible presence!and then it happened...
His spirit came down in a bolt of swift fire expanding over the entire circumference of the offering, heads turned from the massive body of heat but peered out of the corners of their eyes in awe.Coursing intense light fell in streaks of red, blue, orange and yellow with such an intensity that the flame forced the crowds to further back up at already fifty feet away . transfixed they stood watching as this massive body of flame incinerated the offering, in a tornado of heat, it exited vacuuming up ash and char, and licked up the residue leaving only trails of mist- and the tsss tsss sound as heat hit water and extinguished it into vapor.
The remaining waft of smoke was strangely scented, not of the animals left on the offering, but of ? of? What was that smell? Slowly recognition hit them- the thick essence of burial perfumes permeated the air in the scent of myrrh and frankincense. An uneasiness settled over the crowd. In stunned silence people stood transfixed. Time ticked by in those moments heavy with fear- then the tide of faces started slowly shifting from a nervous murmur into a somber slow muddled cry- until entire throngs lay face down weeping in anguish and remorse to the one true God in a plead for mercy..
Of course for the better part, I can only imagine these images, but it is mostly how the story goes.
So it is hard for most of us to imagine, when that same man who faced fierce warriors sent to kill Gods priests, and that exact same man who mocked a kings Gods and put his sopping footprints on the backside of an evil queens pride, the same exact guy who would stand boldly and make a proclamation with absolute assurance that His God would meet him there, had suddenly turned tails and ran in fear. How can that be? now that's REALLY odd!
I don't think it was as odd as one might consider. He had spent likely a good deal of time in fasting and prayer before this meeting. He had focused so strongly on Gods power and purposing for this tension filled event that his focus had little time to consider any other possibilities or remaining threats. This guy was undeniably purpose driven.
And just like us when the event we have worked towards for months is through, and we suddenly face the after math with the resources we have left,were wiped out- spiritually speaking I believe poor old Elijah was just out and out.. exhausted.
He had faced demonic encounters and without even realizing how they dissipate energy he had tapped out. Suddenly he faced an angry pride filled woman, who's Gods had not only been mocked they had been obliterated, and watched as an army mounted up in pursuit of his life, he was tired , defense,less, and riding on fumes..
We do that We fight the good fight, we stand and travail .We pray and weep before God in intercession and usually come out exhausted, and that's without the added effects of demonic warfare! Throw that in for Good measure and you might just find yourself right about where Elijah did, running for your life, in the solace of the desert and praying for a swift end beneath a broom tree.
I have only had a couple of encounters with a Spiritual foe in this capacity but I know enough to say, it left me physically exhausted in the extreme, it left me entirely drained in the Spiritual sense ,and yes, even praying God would take me home.
Not so much from fear of the advisory, no not really, merely from desire to be done with the battle and longing to be left to rest.
Elijah felt alone in this place because in terms of humanness, well, he was alone. The friends and peers he respected had to his knowledge all died, and mourning hit him like a ton of bricks. He, as it seemed was all that was left, he was despised ,sought after, and thought no-one that he grown to know or love, remained.
Like the Lord on Damascus road he walked the loneliest mile through a desert, and all he had known and loved was no where in sight. Like the Lord he had followed Gods plan, and well, felt a bit like having the cup pass him by, easy way out in this scenario for Elijah, was to call it quits and head on Home to the big guy in the sky, that's almost sensible. Well if your beyond exhausted and heartbroke it seems sensible anyway.
You know what is more unusual to me in this scenario? That God waited for Elijah to rest, in fact, parallel to most Christians ways of thinking, He did not call Elijah a failure for seeking solace ( which is what we most often do when a person having gone through fierce hardship begins to weep and beg God for mercy in the Broom tree places of our lives. ) Gods rational is not like mans, He knows we need rest from battle, He knows he will overcome the circumstance but He allows for the vehicles he uses, i. e . "US" - to take a solace, to have a breakdown moment or two and to rest our weary souls under a temporary shade..
Ever seen a broom tree? Not much for cool rest to depend on there. Again its a temporary place to be under the broom tree, its for resting weary bones after long battles and rejuvenating souls, not to build a residence in. However a lot of times when we have been under hardship, heartache, disappointment, discouragement, loss and the draining force of spiritual battle, we oft times want to just stay under the one teeny tiny remnant of shade we can find, have ourselves a good long standing pity party there, curl up in a chubby ball( well in my case chubby) and call it done.
I know for me, the broom tree has come and gone a few times, what I have noted is, its not a comfy place for very long, in the heat of retreat it offers only temporary shade and only temporary comfort, because the real resting place, is where ever Gods Will for us resides. Staying under the broom tree to long makes us restless and sunburned. and, is pretty boring really.
Not that I like battle to much either, that's exhausting, but you know what I do like?
I like it when I know the undeniable hand of God is resting on me in powerful ways and that only happens when I am motivated to move back out from under the covering and head back into the war-
I like facing Goliaths in God and walking away victorious.
I like it when I have faced the spiritual realm and have called on a mighty God, and watched as his Spirit MOVED with Fire!
I like it that when the adversary comes to kill steal and destroy the voice of God within me,and then God SPEAKS with certainty and moves with power before me and on my behalf.
I like it when I can see it happen, and I know I can't see it - if I am playing patty cake to long under the broom tree.
Hang in there People of God, rest in HIM. but keep in mind, its just a break- you still gotta get ready for the good stuff! and the Good stuff will always be where we can See him move in power, right back out in the battlefield we took solace from.
If we are real honest we will have to admit we would far rather be in the thick of Gods movement fighting and praying like mad, then in the pitiful,lonely, weary shade of the broom tree.
So beloved, where ever you are in the Lord, whether the thick of battle or the thin wisps of the broom tree, Just KNOW God is still there, that He is not leaving you alone, ( and Yes, there are others saints in battle and you need to find them!) Your not the only warrior, going through the only battlefield all by yourself, your not abandoned, your not powerless, a Mighty God enables you day by day to take rest, to fight another day, Hang in there..and when its time, come out from under your broom tree refreshed and prepared to kick some demonic booty!
Amen? and Amen! Go get em' Tiger!
Oh we like to believe that prophets of yesteryear were much like we know today.A self proclaimed toot my own horn vanity in double breasted suits ( or for the prophets back in the day- gold lined tunics) we have certainly grown used to a prophets messages of today being more of seeking fortune- for telling your fortune, then simply giving a message of reform and restoration as the prophets of old did, we prefer warm and fuzzy to life changing and convicting. The Holy men of old weren't about being worldy eye candy,they were about bringing Gods message and giving him Glory.
No, good old Elijah walked out his life from a much more simplistic and humble standing.
I don't believe his demeanor portrayed any Spiritual weakness, he was strong in a sound inner knowledge. Which made him a highly esteemed peer and a very respectable man- a gentle talker with weathered lines of wisdom and laughter etched on his face. A man people listened to because the manner in which he carried himself demanded respect without uttering a word, it was simply who he was..
I believe he carried his calling with such humility that guards nearby simply kept him in a tentative view relaxing their grip on swords and eyeing him almost mockingly.( Like were not afraid of the big bad Elijah) A thousand Godly priests before him had already came and died for their faith, But Elijah stood unwavering- with the God given assurance he walked in Holy authority, and the powers of hell shrank back in acknowledgement and fear.
Elijah, clears his voice- and speaks in low somber tones of a challenge that his adversaries could not resist, "Let us both pray to our God, and the God who is real will bring the fire for a burnt offering.".( paraphrased ) Well they couldn't very well shrink back from such an offer, to do so would be paramount to saying their Gods did not exist and Jezebel wasn't having it! After all temples were erected in honor of her Gods and she herself had commissioned statues and idols cast in Gold and laden in jewels in their images.
She had already made a mockery of Elijah's God and his worshippers. Pursuing the priest, mocking and then as a last testimony of cruelty viciously murdering them for their faith. What audacity this man Elijah had! Of course they would take the challenge- her responses tinged with poison, this vile harlot of idolatry in every way mocked Gods sovereignty.
Along came solemn processions of chanting priests covered in ash and waling loudly before their Gods. Thrashing about in a mad conglomeration of wreathing sacrificial abandon.Hissing and screaming in fevered adoration and fervent prayers they circled the offering pensively, cutting their flesh and taring their garments, hour after hour of maddening contortion and clamor, the incessant screaming stilled until one by one finally fell exhausted to the wayside, notably silent.
Not even a puff of smoke.How odd..
Elijah offered some closing ideas.."Perhaps they are sleeping? "( with all that noise? really?!) Wake them, get a little louder, scream , dance, hop on one foot maybe? (No, he didn't really say that last bit, that was from me, active imagination this..). I think though he did have a little fun at their expense while he was waiting.Human nature you know..
After hours of travail with no action, angry and exhausted they dejectedly led Elijah to the offering.
Elijah lined up servants and had them to one after another fill their water jars and pour container after container over the offering, dousing any shred of dryness until there could be no doubt to anyone seeing, to light this offering up it was going to take an extra special God.
Water dripped into the caverns of the offering and settled in puddles over the side, and poured out to the wading feet of Gods prophet. One can almost picture the soft swoosh of his sandals as they hit the wet ground as he stood and addressed the waiting crowds.
And then.. he prayed, not in a fervor of excited wales nor in the scuffle of barbaric dance and demonically shrieked prayers but in a strength and assurance not his own . He prayed and presence and power hit the walls and surroundings in waves of electric current -filling the courtyards with a sense of electricity so acute prickles of heat coursed over their bodies and covered them in a fearful thoroughly drenched sweat.
The atmosphere was charged with the imprint of God almighty! And when it at last felt it would com bust from tangible presence!and then it happened...
His spirit came down in a bolt of swift fire expanding over the entire circumference of the offering, heads turned from the massive body of heat but peered out of the corners of their eyes in awe.Coursing intense light fell in streaks of red, blue, orange and yellow with such an intensity that the flame forced the crowds to further back up at already fifty feet away . transfixed they stood watching as this massive body of flame incinerated the offering, in a tornado of heat, it exited vacuuming up ash and char, and licked up the residue leaving only trails of mist- and the tsss tsss sound as heat hit water and extinguished it into vapor.
The remaining waft of smoke was strangely scented, not of the animals left on the offering, but of ? of? What was that smell? Slowly recognition hit them- the thick essence of burial perfumes permeated the air in the scent of myrrh and frankincense. An uneasiness settled over the crowd. In stunned silence people stood transfixed. Time ticked by in those moments heavy with fear- then the tide of faces started slowly shifting from a nervous murmur into a somber slow muddled cry- until entire throngs lay face down weeping in anguish and remorse to the one true God in a plead for mercy..
Of course for the better part, I can only imagine these images, but it is mostly how the story goes.
So it is hard for most of us to imagine, when that same man who faced fierce warriors sent to kill Gods priests, and that exact same man who mocked a kings Gods and put his sopping footprints on the backside of an evil queens pride, the same exact guy who would stand boldly and make a proclamation with absolute assurance that His God would meet him there, had suddenly turned tails and ran in fear. How can that be? now that's REALLY odd!
I don't think it was as odd as one might consider. He had spent likely a good deal of time in fasting and prayer before this meeting. He had focused so strongly on Gods power and purposing for this tension filled event that his focus had little time to consider any other possibilities or remaining threats. This guy was undeniably purpose driven.
And just like us when the event we have worked towards for months is through, and we suddenly face the after math with the resources we have left,were wiped out- spiritually speaking I believe poor old Elijah was just out and out.. exhausted.
He had faced demonic encounters and without even realizing how they dissipate energy he had tapped out. Suddenly he faced an angry pride filled woman, who's Gods had not only been mocked they had been obliterated, and watched as an army mounted up in pursuit of his life, he was tired , defense,less, and riding on fumes..
We do that We fight the good fight, we stand and travail .We pray and weep before God in intercession and usually come out exhausted, and that's without the added effects of demonic warfare! Throw that in for Good measure and you might just find yourself right about where Elijah did, running for your life, in the solace of the desert and praying for a swift end beneath a broom tree.
I have only had a couple of encounters with a Spiritual foe in this capacity but I know enough to say, it left me physically exhausted in the extreme, it left me entirely drained in the Spiritual sense ,and yes, even praying God would take me home.
Not so much from fear of the advisory, no not really, merely from desire to be done with the battle and longing to be left to rest.
Elijah felt alone in this place because in terms of humanness, well, he was alone. The friends and peers he respected had to his knowledge all died, and mourning hit him like a ton of bricks. He, as it seemed was all that was left, he was despised ,sought after, and thought no-one that he grown to know or love, remained.
Like the Lord on Damascus road he walked the loneliest mile through a desert, and all he had known and loved was no where in sight. Like the Lord he had followed Gods plan, and well, felt a bit like having the cup pass him by, easy way out in this scenario for Elijah, was to call it quits and head on Home to the big guy in the sky, that's almost sensible. Well if your beyond exhausted and heartbroke it seems sensible anyway.
You know what is more unusual to me in this scenario? That God waited for Elijah to rest, in fact, parallel to most Christians ways of thinking, He did not call Elijah a failure for seeking solace ( which is what we most often do when a person having gone through fierce hardship begins to weep and beg God for mercy in the Broom tree places of our lives. ) Gods rational is not like mans, He knows we need rest from battle, He knows he will overcome the circumstance but He allows for the vehicles he uses, i. e . "US" - to take a solace, to have a breakdown moment or two and to rest our weary souls under a temporary shade..
Ever seen a broom tree? Not much for cool rest to depend on there. Again its a temporary place to be under the broom tree, its for resting weary bones after long battles and rejuvenating souls, not to build a residence in. However a lot of times when we have been under hardship, heartache, disappointment, discouragement, loss and the draining force of spiritual battle, we oft times want to just stay under the one teeny tiny remnant of shade we can find, have ourselves a good long standing pity party there, curl up in a chubby ball( well in my case chubby) and call it done.
I know for me, the broom tree has come and gone a few times, what I have noted is, its not a comfy place for very long, in the heat of retreat it offers only temporary shade and only temporary comfort, because the real resting place, is where ever Gods Will for us resides. Staying under the broom tree to long makes us restless and sunburned. and, is pretty boring really.
Not that I like battle to much either, that's exhausting, but you know what I do like?
I like it when I know the undeniable hand of God is resting on me in powerful ways and that only happens when I am motivated to move back out from under the covering and head back into the war-
I like facing Goliaths in God and walking away victorious.
I like it when I have faced the spiritual realm and have called on a mighty God, and watched as his Spirit MOVED with Fire!
I like it that when the adversary comes to kill steal and destroy the voice of God within me,and then God SPEAKS with certainty and moves with power before me and on my behalf.
I like it when I can see it happen, and I know I can't see it - if I am playing patty cake to long under the broom tree.
Hang in there People of God, rest in HIM. but keep in mind, its just a break- you still gotta get ready for the good stuff! and the Good stuff will always be where we can See him move in power, right back out in the battlefield we took solace from.
If we are real honest we will have to admit we would far rather be in the thick of Gods movement fighting and praying like mad, then in the pitiful,lonely, weary shade of the broom tree.
So beloved, where ever you are in the Lord, whether the thick of battle or the thin wisps of the broom tree, Just KNOW God is still there, that He is not leaving you alone, ( and Yes, there are others saints in battle and you need to find them!) Your not the only warrior, going through the only battlefield all by yourself, your not abandoned, your not powerless, a Mighty God enables you day by day to take rest, to fight another day, Hang in there..and when its time, come out from under your broom tree refreshed and prepared to kick some demonic booty!
Amen? and Amen! Go get em' Tiger!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Whats NOT to be Excited about? Experiencing God, unplugged!
Many times I have heard fellow believers speaking on seeking after God almost like a great adventure, as if He is lost and we have to find Him ,they seek him out in revival meetings, in churches focusing on special speakers, they seek Him out in coliseums and football fields, and I wonder, why isn’t He at home? Why is He not being found in our church, in our town, in our circumstances? Why do we have to leave and find him elsewhere? Hmm. Good question.
I remember the teens coming back from camp and from weekend conferences, and being so intensely fired up that you would think someone lit them up with matches, but over time, the zeal dwindled down to day to day, and sometimes they even completely walked away.. I remember how their zeal re- stoked the church, excited voices and excited emotions mingled in with corporate praise and lit a room with expectation.. ah that’s the word, EXPECTATION.
We have let our expectations of God, become traditions of man, hunny they aren’t even in the same realm! We have allowed agenda and bulletins and programs surpass Presence. We watch our watches and the minute it passes 20 minutes of praise and worship( or less) we shuffle our Bible into place and push the pulpit forward. I am not saying its wrong to have the Word of God, but the Word should be enhancing the praise and visa versa, but, in most cases we have become so stagnantly committed to program that we entirely dismiss further pursuing presence. Can someone Please tell me why that is?
I can tell you what I believe it is, but your not gonna like it. I believe we think that Gods spirit needs our help. We believe that if we don’t fill those moments with our words God won’t be known. We believe that what we have prepared and felt from God wont be told to others if we let Go and let him take over, And yet we profess to believe his Spirit can convict , change, renew, awaken and modify above and beyond anything we can do. So, which is it? Can God handle service on His own, or does he need us? Mind you, I am not saying the Word of God is not important or relevant,( Gods Word is pivotal!) but what I am saying is, His words can and should mingle with presence, and perhaps, mind you , just perhaps, He will STILL speak them without them being from the pulpit.
Expectancy- that’s a beautiful word, indeed a beautiful expression of what our hearts should be doing when we gather together in praise, Why have we stepped away from it?
I believe over all, we have let agenda and time allotments, and programs rule our thinking. We have in essence tied our own hands with normality and are no longer looking for an outpouring or rejuvenation. While balance is important in the body, so is comprehending that God in all ways and by all means should be Glorified. That his name and exalting him should never take a back seat to a bulletin, nor to hand shaking and pot luck.
We have a lot of times made church far more of a social hour, and a get together than a place to corporately raise God in praise. Which explains why we love concerts and conferences and retreats so much, it takes us from standard church as usual, and puts us into an air of expectancy, we go there desiring a shift and change in our lives,
And oft times we do find it there. What a shame ! Because in truth we should be finding it, well, everywhere. But Particularly in our church, and I cannot fathom why we can turn up the music full blast in our cars and homes and dance like idiots to footloose, or scream bloody murder to a football hero who just fumbled in outfield, and we cannot let go and let God ROCK HIS HOUSE> His earthly house, his portable house and any other house God wants to rock.mmm, mmm, mmm, TRUTH.
I want to challenge you saints, you ministers of God, set the atmosphere for expectancy. Change your agendas, change your programs, change you Mind. Who said it had to be church as usual? Haven’t you yourself been craving more? Well commit to more!
Set the air of your church by putting the fragrance of praise in the air before the doors to the sanctuary are opened, have the worship teams pray and get in the spirit before their feet hit the floors of the stage, have the atmosphere around them as welcoming to the spirit and untie their hands so they can move with where God is going. Allow your church to have a better understanding of corporate praise by setting their minds to it, inform them of changes and begin to move away from stoic programming and catapulting into a Presence first mentality.- its not hard to wrap your minds around these theories, when you consider this thought, David wasn’t a man after Gods heart because of anything he did to impress God,( we tend to think temples, and services, and alters and ceremonies are impressive) the temples didn’t thrill God, the stoic priests did not charm his ears, but David laying himself entirely real, entirely bare, dancing and singing, and Loving God full throttle,now that got Gods attention!
Beloved heaven wont be about sermons laced with a thousand rabbit trailed stories,(and FYI we wont enlighten God with what we disclose about him up there,he not only wrote the book HE IS THE BOOK) but we WILL be praising Him ( Yeah, even the ones with bolders weighing ten tons who cant manage to lift a hand in praise, yep, you guys will be waving those hands in the air and praising like you just don’t care- up there!) So I say we might as well get the hang of it now, LET Go, Let God be the most exciting thing you have experienced in Church and in life, because,( Hellllloooooo) HE IS the most exciting thing you can experience.
Beautiful father God take out my man agendas, and my small thinking and expand my territories and my tents of praise- because I want to experience you God, I want to undo my sandals and walk on Holy ground, I want to walk in your midst until your face is shining off me, I want to radiate, I want to dance like David, I want to sing til' my throat gets scratchy,( and I get that real cool Carly Simmon voice) I want to give you Glory Lord, because YOUR worthy ! AMEN.
I remember the teens coming back from camp and from weekend conferences, and being so intensely fired up that you would think someone lit them up with matches, but over time, the zeal dwindled down to day to day, and sometimes they even completely walked away.. I remember how their zeal re- stoked the church, excited voices and excited emotions mingled in with corporate praise and lit a room with expectation.. ah that’s the word, EXPECTATION.
We have let our expectations of God, become traditions of man, hunny they aren’t even in the same realm! We have allowed agenda and bulletins and programs surpass Presence. We watch our watches and the minute it passes 20 minutes of praise and worship( or less) we shuffle our Bible into place and push the pulpit forward. I am not saying its wrong to have the Word of God, but the Word should be enhancing the praise and visa versa, but, in most cases we have become so stagnantly committed to program that we entirely dismiss further pursuing presence. Can someone Please tell me why that is?
I can tell you what I believe it is, but your not gonna like it. I believe we think that Gods spirit needs our help. We believe that if we don’t fill those moments with our words God won’t be known. We believe that what we have prepared and felt from God wont be told to others if we let Go and let him take over, And yet we profess to believe his Spirit can convict , change, renew, awaken and modify above and beyond anything we can do. So, which is it? Can God handle service on His own, or does he need us? Mind you, I am not saying the Word of God is not important or relevant,( Gods Word is pivotal!) but what I am saying is, His words can and should mingle with presence, and perhaps, mind you , just perhaps, He will STILL speak them without them being from the pulpit.
Expectancy- that’s a beautiful word, indeed a beautiful expression of what our hearts should be doing when we gather together in praise, Why have we stepped away from it?
I believe over all, we have let agenda and time allotments, and programs rule our thinking. We have in essence tied our own hands with normality and are no longer looking for an outpouring or rejuvenation. While balance is important in the body, so is comprehending that God in all ways and by all means should be Glorified. That his name and exalting him should never take a back seat to a bulletin, nor to hand shaking and pot luck.
We have a lot of times made church far more of a social hour, and a get together than a place to corporately raise God in praise. Which explains why we love concerts and conferences and retreats so much, it takes us from standard church as usual, and puts us into an air of expectancy, we go there desiring a shift and change in our lives,
And oft times we do find it there. What a shame ! Because in truth we should be finding it, well, everywhere. But Particularly in our church, and I cannot fathom why we can turn up the music full blast in our cars and homes and dance like idiots to footloose, or scream bloody murder to a football hero who just fumbled in outfield, and we cannot let go and let God ROCK HIS HOUSE> His earthly house, his portable house and any other house God wants to rock.mmm, mmm, mmm, TRUTH.
I want to challenge you saints, you ministers of God, set the atmosphere for expectancy. Change your agendas, change your programs, change you Mind. Who said it had to be church as usual? Haven’t you yourself been craving more? Well commit to more!
Set the air of your church by putting the fragrance of praise in the air before the doors to the sanctuary are opened, have the worship teams pray and get in the spirit before their feet hit the floors of the stage, have the atmosphere around them as welcoming to the spirit and untie their hands so they can move with where God is going. Allow your church to have a better understanding of corporate praise by setting their minds to it, inform them of changes and begin to move away from stoic programming and catapulting into a Presence first mentality.- its not hard to wrap your minds around these theories, when you consider this thought, David wasn’t a man after Gods heart because of anything he did to impress God,( we tend to think temples, and services, and alters and ceremonies are impressive) the temples didn’t thrill God, the stoic priests did not charm his ears, but David laying himself entirely real, entirely bare, dancing and singing, and Loving God full throttle,now that got Gods attention!
Beloved heaven wont be about sermons laced with a thousand rabbit trailed stories,(and FYI we wont enlighten God with what we disclose about him up there,he not only wrote the book HE IS THE BOOK) but we WILL be praising Him ( Yeah, even the ones with bolders weighing ten tons who cant manage to lift a hand in praise, yep, you guys will be waving those hands in the air and praising like you just don’t care- up there!) So I say we might as well get the hang of it now, LET Go, Let God be the most exciting thing you have experienced in Church and in life, because,( Hellllloooooo) HE IS the most exciting thing you can experience.
Beautiful father God take out my man agendas, and my small thinking and expand my territories and my tents of praise- because I want to experience you God, I want to undo my sandals and walk on Holy ground, I want to walk in your midst until your face is shining off me, I want to radiate, I want to dance like David, I want to sing til' my throat gets scratchy,( and I get that real cool Carly Simmon voice) I want to give you Glory Lord, because YOUR worthy ! AMEN.
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