Rivers of Oil

 Favor cannot be won.  It is given freely.  It is offered to all who call upon him.  A king is the one who gives favor, and just like a king, God gives us favor.  He reminds us of this in Jeremiah 29:11:  "For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  But this doesn't mean we don't aim to please him.

 We will not become ensnared by the ways of this world.  If God said it, will it not come to pass?  For we don't spread the good news for favor of men.  Rather, we share the good news that it would be pleasing in our Father's sight.  And it is by His Spirit that this has come to pass.

 I remember before I came into agreeance with Jesus.  Yes, I still had favor, but I had no desire to please God.  When I agreed to abide in him as he has in me, I was coming into agreement with God.  He began to breathe His Spirit into me and I became one who reveres God instead of one who cares only for self.  It wasn't anything I could do in my own strength. I couldn't earn the favor on my life, for he shows this favor to all peoples.

 Favor is grace and we all have grace through Jesus.  I encourage you to remain patient with God's process.  You will see His expected end.  And that end is not the end, but a beginning.  Jesus loves you.  I love you.  Shalom Shalom

 

The Violence of Madmen

 The Lord took me to Matthew 24:26 today. The Lords says, "Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth, behold, he is in the secret place; believe it not.

 The coming of Christ is like a boat out on the sea.  Many will say, "Look, he is over there in the reefs", but do not go there, or, "Look, he is below deck", but do not believe it.  Only the Father knows the hour.  There is no man, or angel of heaven that knows when he will come.  Just like the night sky changes into day and different hues arise, you know to drop your nets: so you will know that the harvest is near.

Deliverance in the Bruising

 Today, the Lord has a word for the prodigals, the stranger, and the seemingly profane.  "Your lips are as sweet as nectar, my bride.  Honey and milk are under your tongue.  Your clothes are scented like the cedars of Lebanon." (Song of Songs 4:11)

 Do not let the seasons of your past define you.  The prominence of the Lord eradicates the arrow by day and the terror of the night.  If you find yourself suffering persecution by the enemy, just know Jesus did as well.  And if your past should rise up to accuse you, let also your remembrance of His love rise up to comfort you.  When I am weak, He is strong.  

 I, too, am a prodigal.  I have a colorful past to say the least.  I've been immoral, loose, a glutton, and prone to exalting the desires of my flesh.  But you wanna know something?  It was in my darkest moments when the Lord showed up mightily on my behalf.  It's been about four years now since the day the Lord opened my eyes to him.  I was deep in drunkenness, lust, irreverence, and greed.  I was literally dying-spiritually and physically.  And I am convinced if it wasn't for the Lord chasing me down, I never would have made it this far.

 Not all attacks are through others.  A lot of times, the attack comes from within your own household-your mind.  Household enemies.  This is where the enemy does most of his work.  Why?  If he can confuse us as to where the attack is coming from, he has already won.  He is the one that attacks our innermost being-our thoughts and our emotions.  But the Lord is the one who has won.  It has already been done.  His victory is timeless and stretches out through all the ages to cover the weariness of many.  The Lord says, "I have made your words my words and your heart my heart.  I clothe you with life."  Jesus loves you.  I love you.  Shalom Shalom