Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The NOTICE of God!

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (1 Chron. 16:29)

I saw some red flowers once while prayer walking on a residential street. I was the guest speaker that Sunday morning and was taking some time to quiet my spirit. Those red flowers screamed their crimson from the borders around the residence. I stared at that extraordinary red in those blooms until I noticed my reflection in one of the windows. It dawned on me that it might be unsettling to look out and see a stranger staring at your home.
I walked on and as I did the Spirit of the Lord spoke in my spirit, “you brought those flowers into their destiny.” “Really?” I asked in amazement. “You noticed them, took in their splendor and gave me the honor of gratitude for the experience of their beauty. That is why I made them.”
Since then I’ve realized that if God can do that with a flower, what might He do with a life that is consecrated to Him? NOTICE Up!
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PRAYER: Oh Father, thank You for all the beauty You created and prepared for our lives even before You created us to enjoy it. Such an awesome reminder of Your own beauty. Forgive us for making holiness about what clothes we put on or the style of haircut we require or anything of our own standard. Restore us to the Holiness that You gave to us in Your Son's complete obedience, and radiate His beauty through our own lives that men might have more opportunities to see You again. Amen.

Monday, February 21, 2011

COMPETITION STOPPED by a Tree!

COMPETITION Stopped by a Tree!

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3)

There is obviously room for more than one tree when the supply for growth includes ‘rivers of water’. The character of a tree includes diverse roots and branches. I mean diverse in the sense of size and length and their position in the tree. None of the roots compete against each other for water or nutrients in the soil. It is the same with the branches in their quest for the sun and air. The individual tree grows through the provision supplied in the place it is planted.

Since, in the LORD, our planting includes rivers of water there is also no need for competition between disciples who are the *trees of righteousness. The only way a believer could succumb to competition in the Spiritual walk is to NOT walk in the Spirit but to be deluded into walking in the old poison *tree. Delight in the LORD and our planting is lavish with provisions and our growth is an expression of God’s glorious design. RIVER Up! (*Isa. 61:3; Gen. 2:17)
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PRAYER: Father, thank You for planting us in Your Kingdom. Thank You for gardening the roots of our faith and bringing forth the fruit of Your character. Forgive us when we default to old nature poison patterns of competition driven by fear and pride. Help our hearts to break out of the soil patterns of human limits and breathe again the Son lit air of Your heavens. Amen.