1 Samuel 30:6

6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Webster's 1828 dictionary definition: encourage

ENCOUR'AGE, v.t. enkur'rage. To give courage to; to give or increase confidence of success; to inspire with courage, spirit, or strength of mind; to embolden; to animate; to incite; to inspirit.

I'm not really sure the whys or wherefores; I just 'feel low. Is it physical or just emotional or is one causing the other? I'm not sure. I think haywire hormonal imbalance is part. Nonetheless, I know God is faithful. The scripture that comes to mind was one Miss Gamble was famous for quoting: David encouraged himself in the Lord...when I look up 'encourage' in Webster's dictionary, I see words like courage, embolden, inSpirit!

I'm guessing it's time for me to shut this down and spend time in the Word - to encourage myself in the Lord. For by my God, I can run through a troop and leap over a wall!

Psalm 18:28-30

28For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Stuffed up, but still getting air

Today is the day before the Thanksgiving festivities. So much to do, cleaning, prep work, cooking and here I sit at the computer. I'm all stuffed up in my sinuses. Little air is getting through so I'm not fully breathing through my mouth. I'm just 'snuffing' a lot. It's bearable, but not optimal.

Isn't that just how most of us spend our spiritual lives? Spiritually alive, but not optimal. We listen to Christian radio, but are not avidly in the WORD like we are the latest 'religiously themed' book or the latest "IN" TV program. Why is that? Why is it when the winds of trial blow, we fall over? Is it because we are spiritually fed and watered, or is it because we've filled our spirit man with preservatives and synthetic materials instead of the meat of the WORD and the fellowship - you know the One-on-One time with our Lord, that our spirit man is stuffed up. Breathing, but not optimally. Why are we not more discerning? More loving, but with mercy and justice, walking humbly with our God. He has shown us, but if we are not looking in the right direction for our focus, we are becoming blinded by the angel of light and we lose hope. Let us blow out the dust of this world, do a cleanse with tears of repentance, wash our walk with the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb, get back to our post...on our knees, on our faces, in His Word and in His time, making something beautiful of our lives. Then we will be on track to birth our Isaacs, not impatiently forcing issues and bringing Ishmaels into our lives...That's it; take a deep cleansing breath...
See, aren't we feeling better already!

My heart, Whose Home?

There's a song by Lanny Wolfe that says "if you're not Lord of everything, then You're not Lord at all."
One throne room. One throne. Who sits there today? Was it my desire? Was it my husband's or children's? Did I put something else on the throne today? Was it my need to be right, my need to be loved, or my need to be left alone? What does it mean to be Lord? What does the world think the church means to be Lord? What does the world see as how the church behaves? Does it see her as the virginal bride-to-be, waiting her beloved groom? Does it see her as the town party girl - staining her dress, her vows, her bed, only to be scrubbing them quickly as dawn approaches. Is the dust of the night blown off? Is the smell of the burning earth been 'febreezed' off? How did my life impact my world today? Did it make any difference, to anyone , that I say "Jesus lives in me?" If my Jesus is LORD and I'm His handmaiden in service, really, please tell me, how does that look to you?
"From the inside out, God's looking at me. From the inside out, I hope He likes what He sees. From the outside, I might not look so good, but you might change your mind, if only you could, see me from the inside out." Or...
would you?
Make me like you, please, make me like You. You are a servant, make me one too. O Lord I am willing, do what You must do, to make me like You, Lord. Make me like You.

under dressed

Ever feel like you invited to a costume party, only when you got to the party, you were the only one wearing a costume and the only one with egg all over you? Or that you'd had a bad dream, been sleep walking only you find yourself really awake after all and you've stumbled into a party room and everyone stares and snickers...It's then you remember you sleep au naturelle and you have no where to hide?
This is where I feel I am... Always longing to be an insider, never quite making it anyway, then saying or doing the proverbial wrong thing... If I ever had to do another college paper and it was a descriptive one, I think mine might be entitled "My life as a prune".
Facing facts that you are doing no one any favors is pretty tough. To be able to just shut up and become an introvert, when all you've ever been is an extrovert is like asking a frog to never move from his lily pad. Yet it's what I want. To fit in, to fill in the background. The one always smiling and being smiled at. The one whose motives are never questioned.
Yeah, that is it. Utopia...
Now where did I leave my address book... I was just about up to the "U"s...

Tired and oh, so weary

Today has been a long week. What started to be a quiet explanation of a request for prayer and why, by entering a wrong address has now turned a lot of internet worlds upside down. Intent misinterpreted, twisted and skewed to mean hate and judgment. Do I go or do I do I stay? Do I add a group apology or keep it to the ones I privately conferred. The things I am being castigated for are the things that are being skewered at me. Funny how that works. Yet, I opened this can, so I must take responsibility for the results. Some of it, though hurtful, I'm ok with. Hurting innocent people who truly care for all, was the hardest part. I made someone else cry. It bites hard.
What can I learn? Keep out of discussions, keep mouth shut, just keep things light. It suits me fine. It's cold and drafty and harsh up here on the outer walls. The armor has holes in it and the feet are o so pained. The chest aches and the mind blurs.
It's time for the infirmary; stoke back into the word...that's been too far and few between lately. Good thing I had reserves. Will it be time for retreat? Is there ever a time for retreat?
Does the pain ever go away? Will I always be more apt to do the wrong thing at the wrong time or will there ever be a word 'aptly' given?
I feel so like a sponge, absorbing so much anger, hostility, frustration around me. I'm not sure who or what I am...what is my calling?
I'm just weary Lord...

Well, Im tired and so weary but I must go along,
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh, yes,
And the mornins so bright and the lamb is the light,
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh, yes.

Chorus

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day,
There will be peace in the valley for me, dear Lord, I pray.
Therell be no sadness, no sorrow, no trouble I see,
There will be peace in the valley for me.

The bear will be gentle and the wolf will be tame,
And the lion shall lie down with the lamb, thats what it
Says, and the beasts from the wild will be led by a child,
And I will be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh, yes.

transition...

Only to be what He wants me to be,
Every moment of every day.
Yielded completely to Jesus alone
Every step of the pilgrim way.
Just to be clay in the Potter's hand
Ready to do what His Word commands.
Only to be what He wants me to be
Every moment of every day.

Truly that is what transition of any type in the life of believer is. Right now so many are in times of transition. Some into other areas of ministry. Some into other areas of education. Some are transitioning with their children. Some are beginning to transition withOUT children. Some are letting go of people. Some are letting go of things that might tangle them...Some are seeing new things...
Change.
Metamorphosis.
Old passing;
new beginning...

May I be willing to be obedient; to be attentive to the call. May I truly be able to rise to HIS occasion.
Amen.

On the fence

Words the Lord wants me to share with one in particular, just not sure when...
On the fence....
I sent out a word from a list, that was part of this...
Something I must share with YOU alone...
The Lord says you've been on the fence too long... You yearn to be close to Him and follow His ways, but there are things of/in this world you have not been willing to let go.
How long will you expect His patience? How long do you think you can play 'halve-sies'?
Choose you THIS day whom you will serve. The WORD says to whom much is given, __________, much is required...you have been saved long enough to be a meat eater, not just a milk drinker. When you eat meat, you don't go back to bottle feeding. Stepping up means just that. The Lord knows you have a tough situation at home, but He would remind you that those He calls, He equips. He asks you to set aside YOUR expectations of what YOU want and ONLY pick up HIS Cross for you. There are things He's asked you time and time again to set aside; you do for a time, then like a dog digging for a bone, you seek out old patterns again. He reminds us that OLD things are passed away and all things become new. If we go back to old ways, we re-crucify Him and bring Him to an open shame. We must then come back to repentance and renounce old patterns and then walk away. We must not look back.
Sin IS fun for a season, but the long term repercussions will be felt. Remember, the books will be open and all will come to light. Let our words, works and every thought be brought under HIS captivity.

OK __________ I'm not sure what all this is about - trying to second guess will only get me in trouble, so take it - read it, check with the WORD and in prayer. I leave it with God and you.
He loves you so!
Mrs. Lorenz

Personal note: These words are always timely. Some are intrinsically "mine", others received , "well I know xxx and yyy are going through zzz, this might help them." Some just hit us all universally...This is one of those. It brought me to tears. One I'm printing it out and re-reading a few times! Be encouraged, be convicted, pass it on, work it out...whatever the Lord works in you, be open, be challenged! To top it off, read the devotional...think it is co-incidence I got these BOTH?
Humbly,
Kimery

Walk In Holiness Before Me


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Walk In Holiness Before Me

Dear child, don't you realize that there is a difference between having
been purified and walking in purity? It is true that the blood of My Son
cleanses you from all unrighteousness, and that blood cannot lose it's
power--No matter how badly you fail or how low you fall, the forgiveness
and restoration that My Son purchased for you is yours when you put your
faith in Him.

But, dear one, I do not expect you to continue in sin and rebellion and
disobedience after you have been redeemed. I have placed My Holy Spirit
within you to transform you. I am at work in you to change your nature,
so that you might be more like Myself. I want you to think like Me, to
begin to desire the things that I desire, and to distain the things that
I distain. I will make these changes in you if you let Me, but you have
to choose to cooperate with Me in this process.

Dear one, once you have been redeemed and cleansed, you are not supposed
to return to the mud and filth of this world and continue to wallow in
it. You have been transformed from death to life--don't run back to death.
If you embrace the ways of this world, then you will also embrace the
sorrows and troubles of this world. That is not a good choice for you,
dear one, since the riches of Heaven are available to you here in this
life. But you cannot access them in this life unless you choose to walk
in holiness and purity before Me.

Don't you realize, little one, that if you give yourself to sin and
uncleanness, that you nullify and void My promises of protection and
provision over your life? I have so many blessings that I want to pour
out on you, but you must learn to walk in holiness and purity before Me
in order to receive them. I am a Good Father, and as such, I cannot
reward shameful behavior and misconduct. But when My children choose
to obey Me, and to honor Me, and to walk in My ways; then I begin to
pour out all of My promises and blessings on their lives.

Dear child, you need to choose to walk in holiness and righteousness if
you want Me to pour out My blessings upon you. If someone has told you
that you can do whatever you want and sin and rebel, and yet still
receive My blessing and favor; they have lied to you. It is true that,
as you repent, the blood of My Son is applied to your account and you
are forgiven. Your walk with Me on this earth can be a failure the
majority of the time, but your sins are still forgiven because you
believe in My Son; because you put your faith in Him.

But if you live in the sins of this world, you will not walk in My
blessings and you will not be an overcoming one.

I am looking for a Holy people, who obey Me because they love Me. I am
looking for those who will lay aside their own will for Mine. I am
looking for those who will turn aside from the shallow pleasures of the
world that are in disobedience to My word. I am looking for those who
will honor Me and choose to walk in My ways. I am looking for those who
will forgive others because I have forgiven them. I am looking for those
who lay aside bitterness and desires for revenge to embrace My ways. I
am looking for those who will choose to set themselves aside as My own;
who will obey Me without question; who will love Me with all of their
heart.

Those are the ones who will see My goodness and My blessings in this
life. Those are the ones for whom I will supply their needs in miraculous
ways. Those who honor Me in this life--I will honor them. I will take
care of them and I will bless them. They will have peace when others do
not. I will provide for them when there is much lack, and I will release
My angelic resources to watch over them and keep them safe.

I am a holy God and I desire a holy people, set apart from the ways of
this word for My purposes. Choose to be Holy before Me, dear one.

If you want to walk in the fullness of My blessings and abundance in
this life, then learn to walk in holiness before Me. Learn to obey Me
because you love Me. Give yourself to Me, set yourself apart for My
purposes--and I will pour back of My glory, My riches, My protection
and My blessings upon your life.

__________________________________________________________________________

Secret Places June 30, 2008 Secret Places By Lisa Whittle, She Speaks! Graduate "He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light." Job 28:11 Devotion: Have you ever noticed how often Satan uses secret things to trip us up on our journey…those secret places that reside deep within our soul that we keep hidden from others and even try to hide from God? Think about it… pornography is usually done in secret. Excessive shopping can be done over the Internet, with no one watching. Eating disorders develop in isolation when we binge by ourselves, then purge with no one around. Or when we publicly pretend to eat, but privately starve ourselves. The things we watch, what we think and how we spend our time are the "secret places" Satan can and will use against us. Yet often we continue in our secrecy, afraid to reach for Truth. Why? Secret places seem safe. Secret places are familiar. Secret places feel comfortable to us. So we cling to them. It's not that we don't want to be honest and get real about the secret places in our soul. It's just sometimes easier to keep the truth hidden than it is to get real about things from the inside-out. Though most of us crave authenticity, our fears of being "found out" are what keep us living in secret, exactly where Satan wants us to stay. The crafty, conniving one knows that if he can get us to continue to bury our secret places deep within our heart, we can't be effective for God. He knows that thoughts of our private sins will eventually eat away at us, causing us to feel fraudulent and unworthy of the love and acceptance of others, and most of all, our Heavenly Father. But the truth is, we are the ones who don't love and accept ourselves. Not God. Friends, the message of Jesus Christ is one of hope and restoration. It is one of freedom. It is one of unconditional love and acceptance. And it is one of Truth and spiritual exposure. What He is after from all of us is greater authenticity, greater genuineness, and the Truth, found in Him. In His sovereignty, He knows it is what we truly crave. "What you're after is truth, from the inside-out" Psalm 51:6 (MSG). So, how do we combat those secret keeping habits we've developed over time? 1) Practice telling the truth. Telling the truth is a choice and needs to be a conviction. Healthy habits can and will be formed when practiced repeatedly, and truth telling is an important habit to get into. 2) Develop a genuinely authentic faith. Recognize the importance of authenticity, and begin making it of utmost priority. Do things to strengthen your walk (prayer, Bible study, etc.) and guard your mind. 3) Recognize that no one has it all together. See Satan's lie for what it is and determine not to get into the comparison trap with others. You cannot know what a person is all about by what they look like on the outside. 4) Stop trying to be perfect, act confident, appear happy, and seem super spiritual. These are some of the most common ways we, as women, pretend. It is only when we operate in a spirit of truth and openness that we will be able to live without pretense. 5) Determine to live your life with a genuineness that others will cling to and want to emulate. Honesty facilitates honesty. When you begin to get real and honest, hiding nothing in your relationship with God and others, people will begin to take notice and follow suit. This will strengthen all of your relationships and build up your self-esteem! When we no longer hide in our "secret places," we can venture down a different path of greater authenticity and truth, bringing us to a place of ultimate and lasting freedom. And it is in freedom that we find no value in being a secret keeper any more. Lord Jesus, thank You for knowing me completely, and loving me just the same. Help me to seek Your Truth and deny my natural tendency to hide from You and others. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Related Resources: The Seven Hardest Things God Asks a Woman to Do by Kathie Reimer and Lisa Whittle Do You Know Him? For more on this topic, visit Rachel Olsen's blog as she discusses the new book "Behind Those Eyes: What's Really Going on Inside the Souls of Women" by Lisa Whittle Application Steps: Submit yourself to the scrutiny of the Lord and ask Him to show you the areas of your life that you are trying to keep hidden. Write them down and pray over each one, claiming the victory in your life by the power of God over each and every area. Reflections: How does keeping secrets affect my relationship with others, God and even, myself? Power Verses: John 8:32, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NIV) Job 28:11, "He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light." (NIV) Proverbs 31 Ministries 616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road Matthews, NC 28105 www.Proverbs31.org