A new time of immersion....

Well, it's August 9th.  Already.  What a fast and surprising year.  I'm not going to go into details- that's for later, maybe.  It's been a busy year.  I've had a wonderful year yet there has been sadness also.

But for some reason I am....feeling like there is something I need to be doing.  It's as if God's says..."Ok, ready?"  Am I?  Am I ready?  In a sort of a way I am wondering if I am stuck.  But then I feel God- pulling- me to "deeper".  

I really don't want to waste my life.  There are some days I can wrapped up in being worried about the future and material things- new roof, new heat pump, gravel the driveway, pay off the house.  Things like that.  

Then a part of me is SO tired of cleaning houses/offices.  I love the people, it's just that my body is growing older and more tired- and my mind is weary of fighting the battle of going to work each day and night.  But, what can I do that I can make that good of money?  So....in a way, I am stuck in my job unless I want to work more hours for less pay.  

I spent several months reading Devern Fromke's Ultimate Intention.  What is God's ultimate intention concerning Himself and man?  It was very revealing.  Living wholly unto God and being poured out for others.  

Am I living wholly unto God?  Am I being poured out for others?  If God is pulling me deeper into Him, so that He can speak into me- anoint me with Himself- where does this start?  Now, I do know that it's after He has spoke into me Himself then I can be poured out for others- for it has to be Him working/living/speaking through me.  

For one thing I'm going to have to spend less time on FB.  That is such a time waster.  

I think for now, I am going to spend some time each morning in 2nd Peter.  Patricia and I taught through 1 Peter last summer.  I still have the notes on that but we didn't go through 2nd.  I'd like to be able to use my Bible, computer, biblehub and a notebook.  Just good ole fashioned studying, reading and praying through the teaching and learning.  His teaching, my learning.  When I say learning I mean "to KNOW".  

Here are some "know/knowledge" in Greek, Strong's Dictionary and Concordance, also HELPS WORD studies:

Ginosko: 1097 I am taking in knowledge, come to know, learn; I ascertained, realized. properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance), experientially know 

Epiginosko 1921- to know exactly, to recognize, I come to know by directing my attention to him or it, I perceive, discern: I found out.

Gnosis 1108  knowledge, doctrine, wisdom; "intellectually know" functional ("working") knowledge gleaned from first-hand (personal) experience, connecting theory to application; "application-knowledge," gained in (by) a direct relationship (from ginosko)

Epignosis 1922
John MacArthur- deep, rich, full, experiential knowledge. It is the knowledge that comes through personal acquaintance with the truth.
Kenneth Wuest-  Knowledge” or epignosis is full, perfect, precise knowledge as opposed to gnósis, imperfect, partial knowledge.
Trench-  the idea in epignosis is that "It is bringing me better acquainted with a thing I knew before; a more exact viewing of an object that I saw before afar off. That little portion of knowledge which we had here shall be much improved, our eye shall be raised to see the same things more strongly and clearly.
-a deep, experiential, accurate and intimate knowledge 
-true, full, genuine knowledge

Wayne Barber- GNOSIS & EPIGNOSIS is the final product of the parallel verbs ginosko & epiginosko 

I want to deeply, intimately, accurately, by experience- KNOW Jesus.  I want Him to immerse me in Him.  I need this.  I need just Him and me, right now.   

So...time to immerse myself in prayer and His revealing His Words to me....

"I will" Oh how God suprises you when you don't expect......

This woman. Oh how she is the flavor in my life. How so? You know when a plate of food is set before you- and it tastes bland until you add salt, pepper and spices, and viola! It's like a whole different plate of food before you!

That's Connie. I have a few memories of my Mom but to have the every day experiential love, care, conversation and activity of a mother I did not have. 

Adult women need mothers too. Connie came into my life when I was an overwhelmed wife and mother. A babe in Christ. We've had about 13 years together now. I'm so thankful how Connie AND Beas have loved loved loved us. 

Connie- your guidance, your laughter, your prayers have added to my life what I missed but never ever thought I would have. You have been so instrumental in breaking cycles in me and my family and helped me become the wife, mother, daughter, friend and sister that I am today. And now, grandmother!

Joel 2:25 I will make whole or good, restore thing lost to you the years the locusts has eaten. 

Now to the One being able to do exceedingly above all things that we ask or think, according to the power working in us to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21

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How is God manifest (revealed and expressed) in us and through us?

What does "being filled with the Spirit"/"living from Christ who lives in me" LOOK LIKE?

How is God manifest (revealed and expressed) in us and through us?

But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.- 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12

I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.- 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Most of all- intimacy with God, praying without ceasing, should be the foundation of our moments and our decisions.

Let all bitterness, and rage, and anger, and clamor, and slander, be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, as also in Christ God forgave you.- Ephesians 4

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. - 1 Peter 3:8-9

But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:23-26

1 Timothy 1:5

But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (Hmmm....I'd love to hear a sermon on "conscience". I don't think I've ever heard a sermon on having a good, clean and clear conscience.)

 Be diligent. Be patient. Work hard. Steady, certain steps- one foot after the other. Always remember that you can't remake the choices you make today so make decisions that positively effect your future. 

Jesus- my Life.

I'll just tell you. Life without Jesus is meaningless. You see, if Jesus is the Center of who you are- and you are living from that truth- then He puts all other things in their proper place.

Otherwise, life is just something you are trying to fill up. Trying to make sense of. But you never will. You will still feel empty, lonely, void and fruitless.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

If you are living this- lonely, fruitless, empty life then you are exactly where the enemy of your life, your soul and your heart wants you. John 10:10a "The thief comes only that he might steal and might kill and might destroy."

But Jesus.

"I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." John 10:10b

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11

Life isn't about will you live when you die. Life is starting to live NOW. And it's so so clear in Scripture and bore fruit in my life as well as countless others- that when I found my life IN Jesus (and continue to yield to Him and abide in Him) I found everything I needed and wanted. He filled the emptiness and loneliness with Himself and then everything else in my life was put in it's true place, it's proper place.

Learning to trust and hear God.....

1 John 2:20

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.

1 John 2:27

As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

 It has taken me a long to learn and grow into who God has created me to be. Don't get me wrong- I am still learning and growing but I am more comfortable with who I am now.

I used to jump right into things. I used to be the first on board. I used to do a lot of things because people asked me to, or because I thought it was what I thought God wanted me to do.

A lot of things I did without truly asking, "Jesus, is this really what You desire for me?" And then listening for His response.

I did a lot of things I- in my inner man- did not really want to do. I did it to fill an empty spot sometimes. I did it because nobody else would.

Now, I think carefully and even pray about even the littlest things. "Lord, what do You think about this?" And I listen to Him.

I love to teach. I love to speak about what God is speaking into me. Because if He is speaking into me, I know He is speaking into others. When I hear others teach/speak about what He is doing in and through them- my heart just about leaps out of my chest because it's like that with me.

Through the years I have come to the realization that I am not a "weekly" teacher. For one thing- I don't really like teaching from pre-written material. I don't like being handed a teacher's guide and have to teach what God has spoke into someone else. Second- it takes a lot of time, of thinking, of study- and praying, listening to the Lord as He guides me and teaches me.

So, I have come to the happy understanding that I love to share what God is speaking into me, what He is teaching me BUT He has not created me to do this every week- year after year.

Before I understood this I was in chaos a lot. I thought I was letting God down. I thought I wasn't doing enough for Him. I thought He wouldn't be pleased with me.

Then I opened the Scriptures and He spoke to me through them. He began to speak into me that He created me, uniquely. That He wasn't making clones. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am who I am because He has made me this way. He asks me to yield to Him, surrender to Him- to allow Him to be Who He is in me and through me. THIS pleases Him. Abiding. Trusting.

So, when I am asked now to teach/speak- to me, honestly, it's sharing the truths of this magnificent God who loves us- who has given us everything we need for life and godliness, I get really excited! It's not a chore to me. It's not toiling to me. It's not drudgery to me.

I get to share- Him! He leads me, He guides me- He speaks into me. It's amazing how He is the One who puts all the pieces together! I'm just along for the ride. A vessel. A branch.

Have you asked the Lord to bring you to the place of being comfortable with who He has created you to be? Maybe you are like me- you are doing just to be doing? Or just maybe you are still in the process of God speaking into you who you are- maybe He is weeding some things out of your life that are choking you? Maybe He is fertilizing some things in your life to they will grow and expand?

Spend some precious time with Him and He will nurture and grow you in Him.

Content

A friend and I have been talking about "contentment".

What does it mean to be content?

HELPS Word Studies says this about being "content":

-[842 (autárkēs) comes from autos ("self") and arkein ("sufficient") meaning "self"-sufficiency, which is entirely God-produced.]

-842 /autárkēs ("sufficiency within") occurs only in Phil 4:11 where it refers to positive self-sufficiency (inward adequacy) – i.e. that comes through the indwelling power of Christ.

-self-sufficient, content in the sense of being satisfied because living in God's content (fulness). This inward sufficiency is as valid in "low times" (suffering) as in "high times" (temporal prosperity).

Paul, says this about being content:

Philippians 4:11-12
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 Timothy 6:6-8
But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

You don't have to be healthy and wealthy to have contentment.
You don't have to have all the money in the bank and material possessions to be content.
You don't have to have the perfect children, the perfect spouse, the perfect house, the perfect job, the perfect- anything.

All you need to be truly content is Jesus. And if you have Jesus- He is and has given you everything you need for LIFE and GODLINESS.

So then, why are so many people, believers, discontent? Maybe you are choosing to be discontent rather than contentment?

Maybe you- we- I am choosing to allow the circumstances and situations in this world to become our idols- maybe we are worshipping them instead of the Giver of Contentment?

How can that be you say? I dislike my circumstances! I dislike my situations! How can I be worshipping them? Whatever has YOU- has your attention- has become your idol and you are worshipping it.

Friend, are you content? Are you living in God's contentment and fully satisfied in Him? As my friend Sandy says, "Jesus is the cake and everything else is the icing."

This old world may not feel like it but it is temporary. Faith is not. Faith that God holds you IN HIM- right NOW. Whatever you are going through is temporary. It will end one day. But we do not live like those who have no hope. And our hope (and contentment) is not in or of this world.

You can be content right now. Wherever and in whatever circumstances you are.

Maybe you just need to spend a bit of time talking to and listening to the Giver of contentment? I know He would like nothing better.

Bone weary

In the morning- 

He will refreshen me, He will give me rest and He will quieten me with His love. 

I woke up this morning tired- almost bone weary. 

I think the last three weeks are catching up with me. You can only live on a roller coaster for so long. 

We have had great unexpected sorrow and aching expected grief. 

We have had sweet joy and happy fellowship and loving kindness. 

I rolled out of bed, fed the dogs, fixed my coffee- tired. And then I opened the door. 

A little rain and a little coolness- 67 degrees- goes a long way when you are parched and dry. 

My running shoes- and dog- were calling me. 

Jesus speaks to me in the most gentle, nourishing ways. This morning He spoke to me about His healing and wholeness for my soul (mind,will and emotions) through this: