His Salvation Transcends Reproach

 The Lord wants to talk about "thirst" today.  Have you ever been so dehydrated, you thought you would die?  To be so thirsty, it seemed water itself refused to manifest and remain.  I've been there plenty of times in life.  Literally and figuratively.

 Recently, I went through a dry spell, and it seemed I'd never find my way back to God or myself.  Almost took me out, no lie.  Just as God's word is more than bread, His Spirit is our water, our wellspring.  Without either of these, we will eventually perish-spiritually, then physically.

 Now I want to add something to this.  There's thirst for God(Spirit), and then there's thirst for the world(lust and greed).  I was a successful business partner and business owner not too long ago.  If I wanted something, I took it.  I cut people down along the way-many.  God was not pleased with me.  I wasn't aware of this as I didn't have an active relationship with Him.  I was "self-made" in my eyes and not no one could tear me down.  I made sure of it.  Oh my God!  How He has humbled me.

 Being torn down is not the worst thing that can happen to a person.  What really hurts is when He breaks down your fortress and refuses to repair it.  God helped me see how arrogant and cold I was.  I thought I was right.  I let my negative experiences, greed, jealousy, and hatred taint my judgement.  Walking around blind reaping continual judgement.  I didn't know this at the time.  I thought I was a king.  I was a court jester at best.  It was sobering to finally see how others truly felt about me.  Thirst.  It caused a deep thirst to well up inside of me.  That thirst led me to Jesus and he gave me drink.  More than that, He gives me life.  My definition of wealth and life has shifted.  It's not worldly riches that will sate your thirst.  Only God.  Jesus loves you and I love you with His love.  Shalom Shalom

Rescued From the Cliffs of Mispachah

 Our Father in heaven...What words could I use to describe Him?  Loving, patient, merciful, faithful, strong, wise, forgiving, and the list goes on.  He's always on time.  You know, God has a special kind of way of humbling His children.  It's not always fire and brimstone like many of us were made to believe.  Don't get me wrong, he does go there, but it's not what some people think.

 What if I told you that even in God's anger, there is always love.  God loves you, he loves all of us.  He doesn't want any of us to perish.  He hates sin.  Not us.  And that can be confusing sometimes, especially if our heart and lives are not in alignment with His will.  I remember when my heart and life were out of alignment-it was difficult to perceive God.  But that's where he was working on my heart and training me to understand Him more.

 Recently, God humbled me.  At first, he humbled me by bringing to mind he is unpleased with me.  My actions had reached His ears and He drew close to me.  I wanted to die.  I wanted him to end my misery.  I didn't want to live anymore.  That's what I told Him.  He became furious with me.  He wasn't mad because of what I felt.  He was upset because I responded to him in open rebellion.  He was displeased because I rejected faith.

 Then, even more recently, He humbled me again.  This time though, it was the kind of humbling that grabs hold of your heart and hugs it.  He allowed me to see that He sees me.  Not just with our personal relationship, but I'm witnessing proof in the reports that are coming in.  It felt so goooood to finally be seen and not as someone not worth thinking about.  It broke me in the best way.  So there's humbling by destruction and there's humbling by love.  Jesus loves you and I love you with His love.  Shalom Shalom

Building On Foundation Stones

 The Lord is highlighting quicksand right now.  We know that everything built on anything but Christ cannot be sustained.  But those who rely on the Lord will they themselves be refreshed.  In His timing.  "Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope."  ~Romans 5:3-5

 He is encouraging you to lean into him.  To trust him.  Not all fire is spiritual warfare.  You have accepted Christ and you are abiding in him.  Now he is working on you, and the Holy Spirit is refining you from the inside.  Refinement by fire.  His holy fire.  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  ~Romans 8:28

 Do not be dismayed by your current circumstances.  He is testing your heart.  Testing and refining.  That refining fire will cause the sand surrounding you to transform into glass.  Isn't that reassuring?  Then you will be able to identify what has been dragging you down.  Then you will be able to endure.  Through obedience in Christ--and He will lift you up out of it.  Alignment.

 Christ is inside you.  Go within.  I pray this is a blessing to you in Jesus name.  Amen.  Jesus loves you and I love you with His love.  Shalom Shalom

Break Down the Walls of Pride

 I was out for a walk earlier, and the Lord revealed something to me.  We are all like little children in a classroom.  Do you remember those times?  Remember what the teacher would say when the children became too loud or disruptive?  They would say, "Ok class, settle down.  Y'all are getting to be too loud."  The noise level would increase steadily as everyone in the class tried to talk above one another.

 So, we are like little children in a classroom--just different.  Just like in the classroom, in the world, people can become prideful when they witness someone else exercising pride--especially if the world around us is encouraging rewards for pride.  Do you see?

 What sticks out to you after considering this?

 Gentleness should be prized and expressed in this world.  While being gentle will not always guarantee amity amongst yourself and others, it is far better than walking around with a false light leading the way.  Jesus loves you and I love you with His love.  Shalom Shalom