The Cleft of the Rock

It doesn't happen very often but there are times I am so down about my anxiety, fear, limitations with the mental disorder.  I just want to hide in a cleft in a rock.  There are also times that are so wonderful.  I know how blessed I am.  I know the love of God for me.  That my sins are forgiven and I have eternal life with a growing eternal relationship with the Father, Son and Spirit.

Then I realize...He is the rock I hide in.  He is the mountaintop I so delight in.  That my striving is only in His rest.  He truly is all there is in the highs and the lows.  There is perfect peace in His presence.  Oh Lord how I seek your face and want to dwell with you forever more.

Our Whole Heart

God wants our whole heart.  He wants to be the center of our world.  He is zealous for us.  He has great passion for us.  He who has begun a great work in you will be faithful to complete it.

He will show us great and marvelous things eye has not seen nor has ear heard.  Beyond any thing we can dream or imagine.  He will reveal to us the mysteries and His glory.

He told the disciples they could not understand these mysteries.  But we have the Spirit who brings us understanding we could not know apart from Him.  The bible speaks of these.  It is Christ in us.  It is the hope of glory.  It is the gospel in our everyday life.  It is the power of the Spirit that indwells us.  He will make known these things to us and so much more.

God is for You

Posted: 28 Apr 2012 11:01 PM PDT

“God is the strength of my heart.”  Psalm 73:26, NKJV

God is for you. Turn to the sidelines; that’s God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that’s God applauding your steps. Listen for Him in the bleachers, shouting your name. Too tired to continue? He’ll carry you. Too discouraged to fight? He’s picking you up. God is for you.

Max Lucado

Taste Your Goodness

Prepare my heart, Oh Lord, for worship.  During the night my heart grows cold.  Things of this world occupy my mind and steal my heart away from communion with you.    I humbly ask you now to draw me back.  Give me the riches of your presence.  Renewal and Refreshment that only can come from drinking in your presence.

We go to corporate worship, with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  You say when two or more are gathered there you will be also.  Meet us there dear God.  Draw us as the simplest of things distract me.  Focus my senses on you.  Let me taste of your goodness.

I lift my hands to you now.  For you to shower down your goodness on me your child.  I am yearning for you as a newborn yearns for his mother.  Your comfort is about me.  Communion is mine once again.

The Symphony Begins

This morning I sat on my screened porch and watched the wonder take place.  And the symphony
began.  As Gods mere thought awakens the day.  The birds began to sing.  Light began to shine behind the clouded day.  A gentle breeze brushed across my face as the leaves on the trees began to clap.

Right before my eyes I knew I was on his mind.  As He was on my mind.  As I pondered what He might be thinking for my day I remember how he is never changing.  His faithfulness never changes.  His character never changes.  His presence with me never changes.  His love for me never will change.  Even though this day and my relationships and circumstances will change.  He stands like a strong tower.

Excitement fills me as I think of what He might have in store for my day.  I know He will reveal Himself to me in someway.  Through someone.  Through some circumstance.  I cannot wait to encounter Him and His mighty power.  My plan is to look for Him all around me.  As He goes before me, close behind me and His Spirit lives in and through me.  What oneness He has brought me into for ever more.

Your Glory Father

Lord you just don't let me get very far or go very long without wooing me into your presence, alone, once again.  There are so many distractions of this world Father.  I think of you, Jesus and Spirit all through out my day but sometimes I don not sit alone listening for your heart to impart to mine.  Basking in your presence, drenching myself in your love.  Makes me see you more clearly.  Love you more dearly.

You know I do not love as you love.  You know my sin and my weakness.  But you grow me and stretch me to love you more.  To love better.  How deep.  How wide is your loved for me.  Oh that I could begin to fathom its vastness and wonder.

Oh to be like Moses to have you pass before me that I might see your glory.  Show me your glory Father in this day, in the people I am with and the circumstances I encounter.  You can be glorified in the smallest chore to the greatest ministry.  Use me Father.  Shows us more of who you really are and your love for us.

His love Never Fails...

Yesterday I was confronted with doing many things I had never done before.  For some reason, unbelief gripped my heart.  I stopped a moment and said, "Lord I can sit paralyzed in this fear or I can commit  myself to you".

My prayer was, "Lord I am so fearful."  "Please give me courage and help me to go forward in faith."  Slowly, without looking for it my fears were calmed.  I was able to do what I needed to do and complete it.

It is not that I never fear but where do I go with that fear.  "I can go into the wind or hide behind a rock," I read a man say.  Matthew who had lost 3 daughters in a fire.  I was reminded when I turn to Jesus it gives Him glory.  My mentor said, "I cannot brag about my love for God because I fail Him everyday."  "But His Love never fails."

God Forgives Freely and Completely

God forgives us freely and completely because of Christ death on the cross.  Sometimes others are not so free and complete in their forgiveness of us.  It hangs over our head every time me encounter that person.  We must make sure we accept the forgiveness of Christ for us and aren't judging ourselves.

God says that He who is forgiven much loves much.  The person who sees how much Jesus has forgiven them is more free to forgive others.  They have a greater compassion because of Christ compassion on them.

Forgiveness is a process sometimes.  But one we should enter into because it not only sets the other person free it sets us free.  Those who have sinned and those who have been sinned against.

see www.whispersofgod.org for todays devotional

Encounter God

There is a big decision, big for me, I have to make.  It is clear what is the best thing for me to do.  It is pushing me out of my comfort zone.  It is challenging me to step out into faith into a plan God has before me to grow.  Fear of failure and what I am able to do is holding me back.

But when you encounter God everything changes.  You are not just content to do the easy thing or as you please.  Your heart is no longer divided.  You are singled hearted devoted to God for His glory.  You know He knows what is the best for you.

Praying I go with my heart and with Jesus and step out of the comfort zone into His glorious opportunity He has for me.  Not just for me but for others.  To bless them.

Go Tell

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;  


Go Tell it over the mountain and everywhere.  God commissions us to go tell the good news of the gospel.  It is amazing the power the gospel has in it to change lives.  Set people free and heal.


I use to think I didn't have any way of speeding the gospel.  God doesn't call the equipped but equips the called.

Purpose and Plan

When I first was diagnosed with mental disorder I had no idea God could use it for good.  That He had a purpose and a plan for something so awful as what I was experiencing.  All I knew was to endure it.

Now to see the dependence I have on God I can see where He has used it for me to grow in my love for Him.  His ways are not our ways. I have seen how faithful He is no matter what the situation or relationships maybe.  It has been a real growing in faith for me to see He is good no matter what.

Fill me Lord

We all have a void in our heart that only God can fill.  We go to our children, our spouse, friends, jobs and say fill me.

We walk around smiling like everything is ok when we are dead inside.  With our walls of protection and defense are up.  When inside we are filled with fear.

Being honest with God about our fears is the place to go.  Being real with others soon will come.  He calms the waters He can calm your fearful heart.

Soon you have a trust in Him and not yourself.  Where your fear comes from.  He can do the impossible.  He will fill you when nothing else can.

Living in Freedom

It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free.  Are you living in the freedom of the gospel.  If not spend time in the presence of God and His love for you.  The price has been paid for your sins, past, present and future.  Don't live in guilt and condemnation.  You are not a slave but an adopted child of the King who loves you with a passion.

Living Water

John 7:37-39

New International Version (NIV)

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”^{[a] 39} By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. biblegateway

Do you feel you have been in a dry and thirsty land.  Soak yourself in the love of the Father.  Let His Spirit flow through you to overflowing.  You will be refreshed.  Loved and accepted for you are the child of the King.

Abide in Gods Love

1. 1 John 4:12
   No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
   
2. 1 John 4:16
   We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God islove, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
   Bible Gateway

Praying Scripture back to God

Isaiah 40:31

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³¹ Yet those who ^[a]wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will ^[b]mount up with ^[c]wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Strengthen me oh Lord for I wait on you.  I am tired and I am weary.  I do not want to go on my own strength but yours.  Mount me up with wings like eagles I pray.

Taste and See

For years I studied about Jesus.  I had a relationship with Him but had not tasted the goodness of Him in a personal way.  It was more intellectual than trusting Him with my heart.

Then I went though trials.  He comforted me with Himself and the comfort only He can bring.  He became my everything.  I had taken refuge in Him.  Jesus was so faithful to comfort me in all circumstances.

I was able to then comfort others with the same comfort that had comforted me, Jesus.

Psalm 34:8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 ⁸ O taste and see that the LORD is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Grace for Sinners

Christ has grace and mercy for sinners.  He loves the prostitutes, thieves, murders and drunkards.  They in turned loved Him so much there was changed in their lives.  They knew they needed a BIG Savior.  They knew they needed Jesus.  He was full of kindness and forgiveness.  They would turn in repentance to His feet and touch the hem of his garment for healing and strength.

It was the self righteous and the religious leaders Christ would get angry.  They didn't see their need for Him.  They thought they were better than all the rest and they were always right.

Christ died for the sinner not the righteous.

If Only...

Sometimes in the back of my mind I get caught up in the "if only".  If only I were still young.  If I were pretty, smarter, could write better or were a better writer.  I would be happy then.  The truth of the matter these things will not make us happy, content or satisfy us.  Only the Love of Jesus will complete us.

God does not see us as we think we ought to be but He sees the finished work of Jesus in us.  Righteous, Beautiful and lovely.  He does not say if only you were better.  He says you are mine and I love you just as you are.

Jesus in You

Jesus will be faithful to do the work in you.  He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.  Let Jesus be Jesus in you.  Says a good friend of mine.  You can rest in His faithfulness.

We do not have to try harder to do better.  Know that He is your Father in Heaven who lives in you. He does not love us for who we ought to be.  But loves us because of who we are, His.

He Came to Serve

Do you remember Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.  Healing the sick at heart and body.  He came to serve and not to be served.

Everyday I wake with my heart empty.  I can look to myself and begin to go through my day in my own strength.  Or I can look to Jesus to fill my heart to overflowing.  I can go to Him through out my day and be filled over and over again. 

It is a humbling thing to let someone serve you.  But once you do it is wonderful in unity and love and strength.

Not Alone

We are not meant to walk in this journey of life alone.  God has given us each other to love, rebuke, speak truth and build up.  Find someone to pray with and for and for you.  Find a small group of people you can share with confidentially.  A few people you can trust and be honest with.  You will find strength in them when you are weak.

We need people in the body of Christ.  Each person gives you something different.

We hear voices from the Lord, the world and the devil and the flesh.  People help us to determine the still small voice.  Any voice that does not measure up with the word of God is not from the Lord.  Learn to claim the truth and to reject any voice that is not from God.

Monday Devotional

See www.whispersofgod.org for Monday Devotional

Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:34-36

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁴ If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, ^[a]expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evilmen. ^36 [b]Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Anyone can love someone that loves them.  But it is a miracle to love someone that is your enemy.  We love because God first loved us.  Bask in His love.  Drink it in and then give it away.  You will be amazed the power that is in the love of God toward others.  But expecting nothing in return.

The Flower of Easter

Look at the face of the dogwood flower.  You will see a picture of a cross.

He is Risen

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." -Matthew 28:6


Christ lives in our hearts.  He gives us eternal life.  We have the hope of heaven with Him and all the saints  of the past forever.  Glory to God on the Highest.  There is the abundant life that we enjoy now.  Knowing God personally that continues to grow through out eternity.

Go celebrate the risen Lord today!  Celebrate everyday.  For He lives.  When we have encountered the living God we are changed forever.  Our desires, hopes and dreams are new.  We have a new heart and a new way of thinking.

Your the Joy

Hebrews 12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-3

With every step He took toward the cross You were on His mind.  He loves you not for what you do but who you are.  No matter if you ever get any better He loves you just the same.  The cross is the evidence of that.  You are the joy set before Him.

The Crucified Life

Galatians 2:20

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and ^[a]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

It is Christ living His life in and through us.  We no longer live life in our own strength but trusting In Christ.  We surrender our lives to Him.  His death on the cross is all the proof you need to know He loves you!

Be Anxious for Nothing

We are told in scripture to be anxious for nothing.  Also that our Father in Heaven knows our every need. Are you going through difficult times.  You Father knows and understands.  Cast your anxieties on Him.

Our emotions are a wonderful gift from God but they are not always reliable.  When you cannot feel Gods presence.  The reality is that God lives in your heart.  He is so near to you He knows your every breath.  Every hair on your head.  He will never leave you.  You are never alone no matter if you are feeling lonely.  Call out to Him.  Share will Him your heart.  Be anxious for nothing.  Your Father knows and loves you.

Remember

Remember the cross.  Remember His forgiveness for you.  Remember eternal life with Him.  Remember His love for you.  Remember...

Nothing is more precious that you and Jesus are always on His mind.  Jesus died to bring us into intimate relationship with God the Father, Himself and the Spirit.  Jesus is the way the truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except by Him.

The Promise

Something happened this afternoon.  Before I knew it I found myself angry at God.  It shocked me.  It took me by surprise.  "Oh Lord, forgive me," I prayed.

Then I remembered the promise.  I said, "Lord remember the promise".  Remember you said because of your Son's death on the cross for my sins you would forgive me.  You would intercede for me Jesus.  I cried out for mercy and grace.  Once again, "Lord remember your promise to forgive me because of Jesus".

God destroyed all the earth by water but Noah, his family and the animals God told him to take on the ark.  When the dove few to the branch because the water was letting down.  God said I promise never to destroy the earth again by water.  I give the rainbow as a sign that I will keep my promise.

I went outside as I remembered and this is what I saw.  Double rainbows.  It was as if God was telling me my child you are forgiven.  I remember my promise to you and to Abraham and to Noah.

All I could do was run for my camera and take pictures and worship.  To the God of Abraham.  The King of King and Lord of Lords I worship you.  I thought I am like Peter who denied you three times.  Then you ask Peter 3 times.  Peter do you love me.  He said yes Lord three times  I love you.  I had denied God but yet He had forgiven me as He had Peter.  He could use my brokenness and my repentance for His glory.  To all of heaven I lifted His name higher.  I was in awe of God and His promise to me on this day.  And the sign He had given me.

Wisdom of God

We look to our own knowledge.  We look to philosophy or the educated or those who try to grow in their own understanding.  Apart from God there is no wisdom.

Lean not in your own understanding but in all your ways acknowledge Him.  He will give you all the wisdom you need in His word.  All you have to do is ask the Spirit to reveal the truths of God to you.  He will make know to you the hidden thing of the heart and man apart from Him.  Wonderful things you cannot imagine.  More beautiful than mere words can express.  The beauty and revelation of God.

By Grace

We know it is by grace we are saved and not of ourselves.  Our good works don't save us either.  We need and should depend and rely on that same grace for every day  living the Christian life.  Grace is the power of God in us that is a gift from His love for us.   Grace is the power of God that dwells in us through the Spirit of God, Jesus.

We must give up our striving and trying harder.  As we rest in the finished work of Christ we see Grace in us.  We are doing things we cannot do.  Loving in ways we are unable to love.  Forgiving as we are forgiven.  It is God Himself living in  and through us.

Something Beautiful

Do you feel like everywhere you turn there is pain coming your way.  Think, feel, experience, look, do something beautiful.  It doesn't make the pain go away.  But it does bring you comfort during it.