Today I am perplexed. The world is crumbling, overwhelmed by the burdens it is carrying. In fear our children look on, uncertain of the future for this world - the world, You O Lord created. Technology has overtaken, confusing and distorting reality. Technology has robbed our children. It has robbed them of dreams, imagination, creative thought, goals, character, and compassion. The enemy has found that one crack in our society, seeking whom he may devour. Not only are our children vulnerable, but even the most seasoned saints are at risk.
Although I wrote about this issue 3 years ago, I felt led to revisit it. The pull on our minds is stronger now more than ever in my opinion. "With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against Him." ~Ephesians 4:17-18~
We must stay in communion with God - reading His Word daily, praying in the Holy Spirit without ceasing, and consistently having fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters. We need to not only pray without ceasing - we need to fast and pray. That is the only way we can rescue our children from Satan's snare.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise."
~Psalm 111:10~
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
~James 1:5~
"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."
~Proverbs 4:7~
"Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city."
~Ecclesiastes 7:19~
~ Lord, give me Your wisdom as I lead and guide my children. I do not want to be a parent who is looking the other direction, so consumed with my own needs; blinded to what my children need. It breaks my heart Jesus, when I see children wandering around alone, with no one to love, care, or nurture them. Where are the parents of my generation? Parents who set guidelines, boundaries, and viewed their children as blessings from You and not as burdens. As I seek Your wisdom Father, give me courage and strength to stand in the gap for my kids. Thank you Lord for my children - my precious gifts that You entrusted me with. I love you Lord. In the sweet Name of Jesus, Amen ~
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
What a Great Message
"What a great message at church today", I've said many times before.Though heartfelt, how much of that "great message" actually penetrated me, changing my life for the better? Don't get me wrong, I have genuinely had those life-changing experiences and praise God everyday for lifting me up and setting me on solid ground once again - opening my eyes and changing my perspective and focus on Jesus.
Yet there are those other times - that rut we find ourselves in - going through the motions; either unintentional or intentional, because heaven forbid people see our pain. If we let others see, then our relationship with the Lord may be questioned. That is such a lie from Satan! We need to be real with God and with people. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" Psalm 51:17. "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" Psalm 51:10. God wants us to be broken and real - pure - with Him. Contrite means to be completely repentant of our sins; our wrongdoings. The Lord desires a heart that is 100% broken and contrite - repentant; all His.
Today God did give me a Great Word through a wonderful, Spirit-filled, on Fire minister visiting our church. It was a Great Message that indeed penetrated my soul, my mind, my heart: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" ~ 1 John 1:9. This minister told me that Word was for me. It pierced me deep and I felt a release I didn't understand. When I went and sat back in my seat, I quickly grabbed my Bible and looked up this scripture. Upon reading it, I thought, "Lord, what sin? I'm a Christian and have been living right...haven't I?" Then I read the following verse "If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives" ~ 1 John 1:10. BOOM...in my face...thank you for answering that Lord!
Then a flood of my most recent "little" sins came to mind: losing my temper, having a bad thought or speaking a negative word about someone, being impatient, watching a movie or listening to music that is questionable, partaking in something unhealthy for my body; need I go on. These sins that seem trivial and a part of "being human" as we tell ourselves, are not trivial to God. "Finally, brothers, 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" ~ Philippians 4:8.
The Lord does not expect us to be perfect - He's not into setting His children up for failure. What He does desire is "...truth in the inner parts..." ~ Psalm 51:6 I believe that God wants us to strive to be holy, keeping our lives above reproach - setting a standard as a witness of His truth and His righteousness.
"Dear Lord, help me to always be aware of my attitude towards others. Give me a heart filled with Christ's compassion - putting others' needs before my own. I pray your Holy Spirit quickens me when someone needs an encouraging word spoken to them. Do not let me judge or criticize - to remember my own transgressions before I am quick to throw a stone. In the precious Name of Jesus, Amen"
Yet there are those other times - that rut we find ourselves in - going through the motions; either unintentional or intentional, because heaven forbid people see our pain. If we let others see, then our relationship with the Lord may be questioned. That is such a lie from Satan! We need to be real with God and with people. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" Psalm 51:17. "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" Psalm 51:10. God wants us to be broken and real - pure - with Him. Contrite means to be completely repentant of our sins; our wrongdoings. The Lord desires a heart that is 100% broken and contrite - repentant; all His.
Today God did give me a Great Word through a wonderful, Spirit-filled, on Fire minister visiting our church. It was a Great Message that indeed penetrated my soul, my mind, my heart: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" ~ 1 John 1:9. This minister told me that Word was for me. It pierced me deep and I felt a release I didn't understand. When I went and sat back in my seat, I quickly grabbed my Bible and looked up this scripture. Upon reading it, I thought, "Lord, what sin? I'm a Christian and have been living right...haven't I?" Then I read the following verse "If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives" ~ 1 John 1:10. BOOM...in my face...thank you for answering that Lord!
Then a flood of my most recent "little" sins came to mind: losing my temper, having a bad thought or speaking a negative word about someone, being impatient, watching a movie or listening to music that is questionable, partaking in something unhealthy for my body; need I go on. These sins that seem trivial and a part of "being human" as we tell ourselves, are not trivial to God. "Finally, brothers, 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" ~ Philippians 4:8.
The Lord does not expect us to be perfect - He's not into setting His children up for failure. What He does desire is "...truth in the inner parts..." ~ Psalm 51:6 I believe that God wants us to strive to be holy, keeping our lives above reproach - setting a standard as a witness of His truth and His righteousness.
"Dear Lord, help me to always be aware of my attitude towards others. Give me a heart filled with Christ's compassion - putting others' needs before my own. I pray your Holy Spirit quickens me when someone needs an encouraging word spoken to them. Do not let me judge or criticize - to remember my own transgressions before I am quick to throw a stone. In the precious Name of Jesus, Amen"
Monday, June 24, 2013
Upper Room Experience
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" ~ Acts 2:1 - 4 ~
There is an intense hunger for God sweeping the world today. Souls are longing to see and feel the "real thing". People torn, broken, and empty - hoping to be filled and satisfied; no more pain, sorrow, or loneliness. The world is looking at Christians for compassion, strength, and stability. They may not outwardly express it, but inwardly they crave it.
In this day of high tech everything, too many Christians have gotten into the rut of the "I want it now" syndrome. If they don't get it now, they become dulled to the "real things" of God. What example does the world have of God? What do they see in Christians that turn them off from God? When they reach out for a hand from the church, too many times they are wounded, rejected, or snubbed. Therefore the result is a world of hurting people with no one compassionate to turn to. Christians I ask you how can we show Jesus to the world if we do not know how to love people?
Churches across America need an Upper Room Experience to fall on them, flow through them, flood their hearts, minds, and souls...I see in myself a great need to draw closer to the Lord, dig deeper into His Word, and Pray, Pray, Pray...
Verse 1 states "...they were all together in one place". There is too much division in church families, ripping the body apart. We need the Holy Spirit's empowering to strengthen the cords between us - bridging us to those outside looking in. Once we rebuild the bridge among us, we can construct a bridge of steel to the lost.
In verse 2 the word that stands out to me is "Suddenly..." The body of Christ must pray for the "Suddenly" to be rekindled in the core of the church. Shake off pretensions, presumptions, pretending to be something we are not. The church must have a Holy Ghost revival to shake things up; to restore, refresh, and renew.
"Holy Spirit of God, reign down from heaven your anointing oil and fire upon your people. Let the world see the 'true and real church'; the church You, O God intended"
"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" ~Acts 2:17~
There is an intense hunger for God sweeping the world today. Souls are longing to see and feel the "real thing". People torn, broken, and empty - hoping to be filled and satisfied; no more pain, sorrow, or loneliness. The world is looking at Christians for compassion, strength, and stability. They may not outwardly express it, but inwardly they crave it.
In this day of high tech everything, too many Christians have gotten into the rut of the "I want it now" syndrome. If they don't get it now, they become dulled to the "real things" of God. What example does the world have of God? What do they see in Christians that turn them off from God? When they reach out for a hand from the church, too many times they are wounded, rejected, or snubbed. Therefore the result is a world of hurting people with no one compassionate to turn to. Christians I ask you how can we show Jesus to the world if we do not know how to love people?
Churches across America need an Upper Room Experience to fall on them, flow through them, flood their hearts, minds, and souls...I see in myself a great need to draw closer to the Lord, dig deeper into His Word, and Pray, Pray, Pray...
Verse 1 states "...they were all together in one place". There is too much division in church families, ripping the body apart. We need the Holy Spirit's empowering to strengthen the cords between us - bridging us to those outside looking in. Once we rebuild the bridge among us, we can construct a bridge of steel to the lost.
In verse 2 the word that stands out to me is "Suddenly..." The body of Christ must pray for the "Suddenly" to be rekindled in the core of the church. Shake off pretensions, presumptions, pretending to be something we are not. The church must have a Holy Ghost revival to shake things up; to restore, refresh, and renew.
"Holy Spirit of God, reign down from heaven your anointing oil and fire upon your people. Let the world see the 'true and real church'; the church You, O God intended"
"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" ~Acts 2:17~
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Parenting: Cowards need not apply
Calling all parents, calling all parents!!! The enemy is coming...repeat, the enemy is coming!!!
"Be self-controlled and ALERT. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I Peter 5:8.
This world we live in today is filled with so many distractions; gadgets galore! We have T.V.(Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, etc...) computers(facebook, myspace, twitter, etc...), I-Pods, MP 3 players, cell phones(unlimited talking and texting and picture messages), UGHHHHH!!!!! When our kids are "plugging" in, remember, that means they're "tuning" us out.
Yes, it's all fun stuff; I like watching t.v., and facebooking, too; but, even as an adult, you have to be careful!
The mind is such a vulnerable place the enemy loves to get into. That's why we all need to keep our mind filled with God's Word and Pray without ceasing...never cease to pray!
Distractions are pulling our children away from the church, God, and even away from us. Too many of us give up too easily...I think because we're afraid. We're afraid of not being the "in-with-it" parent; that if we allow our kids some freedom, and fun, then they'll appreciate us more ( WRONG!). It could be too, that society has made us feel paralized as parents; that if we make too many waves in our childrens' lives, the authories will be in the middle of our business and take our children away from us, which is a horrible, unneccesary fear!
What happened to raising our children up the way 'our' parents were raised (us that are over 45, anyway). Yes, things still happened, but for the most part, they were taught RESPECT for their parents,other authority, and number one, for God. Even if they didn't always go to church, there was an unspoken respect for those who did. What's changed the behavior of our youth today?
I believe all the uproar of "having rights" has been a big contributing factor. What about parents rights?!! Adding all the distractions around our children, and you have disobedience: rebellion, lying, cheating, stealing, "dissing" parents' or teachers' rules, utter chaos and confusion.
Somehow, we need to get our children back from the enemy and into our arms again. They our precious gifts from the Lord, and we have got to grasp that in our heads! If we don't, then they're gone...and we're sitting all alone, wondering "what happend?" All the hopes and dreams they talked about when they were little, all the plans they had....GONE!!! Just like that.
" snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupt flesh." Jude 23
This is the kind of unconditional love we MUST show to our children...they need us to help them...they're crying out, believe it or not , for a generation of parents who are not afraid to stand their ground...to not be intimidated. Kids deep down really need us to still hold their hand when crossing the street.
>Lord Jesus, help all parents to first, get rid of their own "distractions", then they can see more clearly how to help their children,"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the PLANK in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3. Father, secondly, give parents wisdom as they seek you and your Word. Grant them boldness and cast away any fear, as they instruct and guide their children. Go before them, I pray, and clear the path for them to communicate with their children. Thirdly, help parents to remember to be understanding and compassionate towards their child, "Fathers (and mothers) do not exasperate your children; instead,bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4<
You can do this, parents! Do not be afraid! The Lord gave these precious gifts to us to love, nurture, water with His Word, and "prune when needed"(so they can grow). Hold onto them, minister to them, cherish them.....and when they are grown let them go and give them back to the Lord. Trust Him to do the rest!
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6
"Be self-controlled and ALERT. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I Peter 5:8.
This world we live in today is filled with so many distractions; gadgets galore! We have T.V.(Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, etc...) computers(facebook, myspace, twitter, etc...), I-Pods, MP 3 players, cell phones(unlimited talking and texting and picture messages), UGHHHHH!!!!! When our kids are "plugging" in, remember, that means they're "tuning" us out.
Yes, it's all fun stuff; I like watching t.v., and facebooking, too; but, even as an adult, you have to be careful!
The mind is such a vulnerable place the enemy loves to get into. That's why we all need to keep our mind filled with God's Word and Pray without ceasing...never cease to pray!
Distractions are pulling our children away from the church, God, and even away from us. Too many of us give up too easily...I think because we're afraid. We're afraid of not being the "in-with-it" parent; that if we allow our kids some freedom, and fun, then they'll appreciate us more ( WRONG!). It could be too, that society has made us feel paralized as parents; that if we make too many waves in our childrens' lives, the authories will be in the middle of our business and take our children away from us, which is a horrible, unneccesary fear!
What happened to raising our children up the way 'our' parents were raised (us that are over 45, anyway). Yes, things still happened, but for the most part, they were taught RESPECT for their parents,other authority, and number one, for God. Even if they didn't always go to church, there was an unspoken respect for those who did. What's changed the behavior of our youth today?
I believe all the uproar of "having rights" has been a big contributing factor. What about parents rights?!! Adding all the distractions around our children, and you have disobedience: rebellion, lying, cheating, stealing, "dissing" parents' or teachers' rules, utter chaos and confusion.
Somehow, we need to get our children back from the enemy and into our arms again. They our precious gifts from the Lord, and we have got to grasp that in our heads! If we don't, then they're gone...and we're sitting all alone, wondering "what happend?" All the hopes and dreams they talked about when they were little, all the plans they had....GONE!!! Just like that.
" snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupt flesh." Jude 23
This is the kind of unconditional love we MUST show to our children...they need us to help them...they're crying out, believe it or not , for a generation of parents who are not afraid to stand their ground...to not be intimidated. Kids deep down really need us to still hold their hand when crossing the street.
>Lord Jesus, help all parents to first, get rid of their own "distractions", then they can see more clearly how to help their children,"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the PLANK in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3. Father, secondly, give parents wisdom as they seek you and your Word. Grant them boldness and cast away any fear, as they instruct and guide their children. Go before them, I pray, and clear the path for them to communicate with their children. Thirdly, help parents to remember to be understanding and compassionate towards their child, "Fathers (and mothers) do not exasperate your children; instead,bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4<
You can do this, parents! Do not be afraid! The Lord gave these precious gifts to us to love, nurture, water with His Word, and "prune when needed"(so they can grow). Hold onto them, minister to them, cherish them.....and when they are grown let them go and give them back to the Lord. Trust Him to do the rest!
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A Fresh Start
I challenge you to make a list of all the "would have, could have, and should haves", and rip it up! Make a new list of the things that really matter...'time' with your children, 'time' with your parents, and 'time' with God.
" 1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. 2 Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. 3 Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute, 5 praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!!!"
Psalm 150:1-6
"13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4
There is so much to be thankful for. Take "time", number one, with the Lord, love on your children, and tell your parents "thank you" for loving you. Give back to the ones who gave for you. You will be blessed.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
My Shepherd
Let me introduce you to my Shepherd first...He is everything to me...He leads me, guards me, knows all there is to know about me....and still loves me just the way I am...unconditionally! He's my best friend; I can tell Him anything. I began this blog in order to share what the Lord has done for me and to hopefully encourage others to never give up on themselves. My site is titled "Lifted Up Higher", because that is exactly what God is doing in my life each day. As I draw closer to Him in prayer and the Word, my eyes, my ears, my heart...are more open than ever to His voice...the Holy Spirit. My first entry is simply an introduction. As the Lord directs me each day, my hope and prayer is to witness, give insight,& inspire those who read my posts. Maybe it will cause others to search their own heart and desire to walk with Jesus closer...to stop and listen to that still small voice saying "sit with me and talk awhile." Always in His Love!
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