Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Let Freedom Reign!



"The Spirit we have been speaking of is the Lord; and where the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom."  2 Corinthians 3:17 KNOX

FREEDOM! Isn't that an amazing promise! What other god can say that? When I read this verse, my soul was just amazed at the mere thought that we have access to freedom. Freedom from our past. Freedom from our hang-ups. Freedom from our hurts, from addictions, from any and everything that would hold us back from being the son, the daughter that our Heavenly Father created us to be.

This is true freedom. Freedom IN Him. You can't buy it. You can't earn it. You can't even barter for it. God has it for you to just receive. And once you receive it, you can't lose it. Nothing will come between you and your God, nothing: "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39 NIV

It's there for the taking. All you have to do is ask. Go to your Heavenly Father and just have a heart to heart. Get all the distractions away--phone, cell phone, computer, T.V., family, friends, time restraints -everything and just give Him your undivided attention--your heart, soul, mind. And just pour out all you have in you. He will listen. He is a great receiver. And then when you are emptied of the things you need freedom from, stop. Stop and now listen to Him. He will fill you up with His Spirit that will give you the freedom you so yearn for. And then the last and most important step--PRAISE HIM!

Praise Him for being the Father that is above all other Fathers that have ever been and will ever be. Praise Him for loving you SO much that He will give--in fact He desires it so intently--the freedom you so badly need.

"It’s you, God! You who are my king,
    the one who orders salvation for Jacob.
We’ve pushed our foes away by your help;
    we’ve trampled our enemies by your name.
No, I won’t trust in my bow;
    my sword won’t save me
    because it’s you who saved us from our foes,
    you who put those who hate us to shame." Psalm 44:4-7 CEB











Monday, January 7, 2013

The Movie of the Century


"8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
'You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.'
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!'
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
'Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!'

14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever." Revelation 5:8-13 NKJV

Picture this--the scene opens with the main character--a Lamb--sitting on a throne. There is a few supporting characters circling around the Lamb. As they encircle the Lamb, they begin singing this beautiful song of love and worthiness. This new song. A song that came straight from their spirits. When they are through singing, the camera pans out a little further.

Now when the camera picks up the next scene, the lens is full of angels. Thousands upon thousands of angels. Still in the center of the stage is the Lamb and the supporting characters, but now the lens, as far as you can see, is full of angels. And then they start singing their song of praise. Can you imagine the sound? The wondrous sound of all those voices singing a love song to the Lamb. Can you feel the walls and floors shaking with the sound? Can you feel the pulse of the emotion striking you in the chest? It's like your heart beats in the rhythmic of the song. How is the Lamb receiving all of this? Does He look scared? At peace? 

Then the next scene is panned out even farther, the farthest a camera can pan. In this scene, not only are the billions of angels still there with the lamb in the middle, but now the earth, the creatures of the earth, in the earth and under the earth, the creatures in the sea and on the sea--all join in with their song of glory and wonder. Isn't that amazing!?

Then in the closing scene, the camera zooms back to the Lamb-- background is black, with a single light upon the Lamb and then the original supporting characters fall face down in front of the Lamb and praise Him! What a moment!

The Lord led me to this passage last night and WOW! I can't even begin to share what it has done to me. It just made me weep. I was so overwhelmed by the fact that the Lamb was worthy to open the seals because He was slain for me to be redeemed to my Father. My spirit cried out, but Lamb, you were already worthy to open those seals. But while He was, I wasn't. He had to for me. But not only for me, but for you and all the nations, all the languages, every tribe, every people--oh how our father loves us! He doesn't want to lose any of us! What faithfulness & grace!

How can we turn our noses at Him? How arrogant of us! How can we NOT receive Him into our hearts, souls, homes, marriages, lives, jobs? How DARE we? How can we go on, sinning and rejecting and not even consider what we are doing and whom we are doing it to?

People! This is the year that we need to turn from our ways and embrace His ways! We need to stop living on His grace and start giving back. Listen, even those in Hell know who He is and worship Him in the end.

So, please, pray for the Lord to show you where you need to ask Him to take over and then do it. Give Him your life--ALL of it! Not just the parts that make you feel good. He needs to be the Lord of ALL every single tiny part--there should be no closets with closed doors in your spirit. If you do this, what a year you will have! Praise Jesus!