Quiet! Be Still!

Quiet! Be still!

Quiet! Be still!

Quiet! Be still!

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,

"Quiet! Be still!"

Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Mark 4:39

Why is it so hard for me? Why can I not hear? Why does my heart get lost in the storm?

Why can I not remember the LORD of Creation who has ALL AUTHORITY?

Why do my problems, challenges, and emotions appear stronger than they are?

Why do I harbor false beliefs?

Why do I loose faith in trials?

Why?

HE REMEMBERS

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the LORD's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children-

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

The LORD has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

Psalm103:13-19

Why?

Because I am just me and no more.

I am limited.

I am just me.

Empty.

I am not able to be more.

AND the LORD knows it.

He Created me.

He Loves me.

He is Holy.

There is no mistake.

Did he created me this way.

This limited way.

This weak way.

This way.

To Create the Altar in me for His Presence to Dwell.

Did He created me to be His tent of meeting?

Nothing in itself until filled.

The tent.

The Tabernacle.

Completely empty,

meaningless,

and

void

without

HIS

PRESENCE.

Is the reason for my struggle of faith for just that purpose?

Glory!

Will a pillar of fire

by night

and

a pillar of clouds

by day

be my guide?

Glory!

Will the Mercy Seat

be set in my heart

for myself

and others?

Is this the reason to give the sacrifice of praise:

Praise in the storms

Praise in the problems

Praise in the challenges

Praise in the emotions

My God IS with me.

He calls me to be still and remember:

The LORD will fight for me: I need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

The Levites calmed all the people, saying,

"Be still, for this is a holy day.

Do not grieve."

Nehemiah 8:11

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:7

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

Be still before the LORD, all mankind,

because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

Zachariah 2:13

http://www.eternalcog.org/ecgtw/animman.html

Bouquet of Blossoms

I had the best time Saturday! I rode in the church van with wonderful ladies to a Christian Women's Conference.....including a Casting Crowns Concert!

One of my friends, someone I'd really like to get to know better, told me I need to get out more. AND she is RIGHT!!!! Some of the isolation is really good and some is not. Life is just so busy sometimes I forget girlfriend fun or it just doesn't make the LIST. Fellowship does happen in my life. THANK YOU JESUS. My heart would like a bit more. So caught up in responsibilities focusing with tunnel vision.....

Thank you Jesus for sending me the bouquet of blossoms you call daughters.

As followers of Christ, our time is not our own. As wives and mothers our time is not our own. As employees our time is not our own. It seems something is always a priority...it usually is. But not always. There always seems to be enough time to watch a favorite show or sit at the computer or complain about something.

Younger I believe I was a good friend. What happened? The LORD calls us to fellowship! Maybe I don't have much time, maybe there isn't anything during this season of life to squeeze out to make room. Yet there IS the ability to take notice and engage in the moments gifted. There is time to block and save if only rarely.

I started to rethink my girlfriend time and I realized I have more than I thought. Ladies Bible study is the most special. (I am having some withdraw and mourning over following Jesus to another study group) Secondly and similarly is our homeschool co-op. Without each of these groups of ladies I would feel cut off.  More, you bet I'd like. But I do have what I need. Each of these women are gifts.

The next time you extend the heart of friendship, remember you are causing another flower to blossom. Seasons of refreshment.  I've had times that I felt so alone in the battle...I don't anymore. Mostly due to girlfriends of faith.

I can't help but consider the flowers on the Lamp Stand in the Tabernacle.

Make a Lampstand of pure, hammered gold. Make the entire Lampstand and its decorations of one piece-the base, center stem, lamp cups, buds, and petals. Make it with six branches going out from the center stem, three on each side. Each of the six branches will have three lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. Craft the center stem of the Lampstand with four lamp cups shaped like almond blossoms, complete with buds and petals. There will also be an almond bud beneath each pair of branches where the six branches extend from the center stem. The almond buds and branches must all be of one piece with the center stem, and they must be hammered from pure gold. Then make the seven lamps for the lampstand, and set them so they reflect their light forward. The lamp snuffers and trays must also be made of pure gold. You will need seventy-five pounds of pure gold for the lampstand and its accessories.


Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.
Exodus 25:31-40

Jesus is the Lampstand....we are flowers, His bouquet, hammered into beauty....with the oil of the Holy Spirit flowing through us! All made from one piece!

Glory!!!!! May His LIGHT, His GLORY, shine, reflect, give light in the us the almond flowers.
He is calling us to be complete with buds and petals! Must be one with the Center Piece, must be hammered from PURE GOLD. We are called to this kind of friendship...it's the pattern! Flowers Filled with His Spirit, one with Him and each other... there may be hammering in life and refining.......But ooohhh the LIGHT.....it's then we behold HIS GLORY!!!!

I found a source that said:
Almond in Hebrew means "the awakening one", because the almond tree was the first to awake from the sleep of winter and blossom. It spoke of the speedy and powerful result of light.

Subpoenaed!

A subpoena was handed to me a few minutes ago. My hair was wet, evidence of a recent shower. Dogs barking and kids peering around me to get a view of the officer at the door. There is no planning a good time for the summons or negotiating it's dates. This was not convenient. Nor was the order.

I've been called upon to give testimony, to be a witness, to stand before the judge. Before others, some I would know and others I would not. Sounds like another call on my life. Give my testimony, be a witness, stand before HIM. Appointed meetings with others.

At first thought testimony sounds reasonable. Testimony is a legal form of evidence. It is sworn truth.
The Bible is THE TESTIMONY. It is divided into the Old and New Testaments. The TRUTH. The Evidence. Legal evidence. Upon these thoughts the idea of my personal testimony reveals its self. Truthful evidence in my life.  So where is the truthful evidence of Jesus in my life?  It's the stuff that is messy...Redeemed messy. Times God shows up whem I'm down for whatever reason. The times I call from the pit. All the times I know Jesus is REAL and my only hope, those are the pieces of my testimony. Not the easy comfortable no effort living times. Those are good times of rest. Or are they times we look back and see He was carrying us, cutting the path, fighting for us, binding our wounds, cherishing us.  More testimony.

James 2:14-26 puts it well:

Faith and Deeds

  What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.  You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
  You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?  Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.  You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
  In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

GOD is looking for EVIDENCE!

A witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge. Which begs the question, "What is my first hand knowledge?" God has called me, subpoenaed me to share not only His testimony but my first hand knowledge of Him. Yes, quote the scriptures. But more than that, share, declare the Living God IN my life. If I am not sold out it was HIM, I cannot give real personal testimony, I cannot be a witness. I have nothing to share...just regurgitation of what I've been told. Give information. "In theory" witness. What kind of truth is that? NOT truth at all.

Is the piece of paper delivered to me more serious and receive more of my effort than my call, subpoena, to the KING and LORD of All of Creation? Sadly.....my first thoughts are....I gotta make time and change my schedule for that week. IT has become a priority, no, THE priority. YIKES! I'm giving priority to an earthly authority beyond what I give THE LORD at times. I realize there is no room for a pity party or complaining. I accept the earthly law's authority and adjust. WHY do I not do this with Jesus. Ok, I'm not that much of a problem witness all the time. Just when my emotions aren't lined up or I've met my quota, or am tired, or just want something else. So I am a good witness when it costs me nothing and it's easy...... that even sounds horrid to me.
Because God loves me...I am so spoiled..... I must really stink up His nostrils sometimes.

There is something He's called me to lately. More like the Holy Spirit is calling me on the carpet. And spoiled girl that I am.......I won't just accept His authority and adjust my heart, mind and life. I want to, but I want to not make the sacrifices involved. I'm in contempt of court! Jesus keeps bailing me out and advocating for me. OH How I love JESUS!

Everyday I stand before His Throne, In His Presence.

We are called. We are subpoenaed!

Matthew 10:18-20

On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.  But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,  for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Mark 13:10-11

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.  Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

When I am deaf I cannot speak well. When I am deaf I cannot hear the questions. I cannot testify. I cannot be a witness. Evidence is lost and forgotten. In my deafness, isolation grips life, strangling my mind.  The Good News is under gag order.

Jesus, my Savior is so much bigger than my frail existence. He can open my ears and create a beautiful testimony of Himself.  So many ways He continually reveal Himself in my life so that I WILL KNOW HE IS GOD!

Acts 9:10
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.

I pray to have faith like Ananias, "Yes, LORD!" Subpoenaed by the KING to rock my world with His Spirit. Give me that heart Jesus. Give me THAT kind of desire. Give me sight. Give me hearing.

John 1:6-8

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

Called as a witness to testify
Called as a witness to the light
Subpoenaed!