A 2ND PARADIGM SHIFT

This week during my quiet time with God, I believe I had another paradigm shift.  

EUREKA!

1. You never have to summon God to come to your aid  

In actuality, God is ever present.  He is here within you and around you.  During the times that we feel distant from God, we should simply pray that the scales will be removed from our eyes so that we can better “see” Him.  

1. God’s Power is Never Stagnant

God Power is really God’s Will in Motion in our lives.  In order to access God Power you need only do one thing, move “self” out of the way.  God Power is free flowing when we abandon our will and allow God’s will to take precedent.  

How?  The only way I know to learn to embrace God’s Will as opposed to our own will is to learn to trust God.  If you trust God, you will trust Him to lead.  

But how can you trust God if you do not know Him?  

When you read the word of God, you learn about the character of God (His likes and His dislikes).  You learn about the behavior that is pleasing to God.  You learn how God delights in giving His children the desires of their hearts.  You learn that He will not abandon his people even when they make mistakes.  You learn how to identify the people of God in a fallen world.  You learn about the miracles of God that occur even now.  

And GUESS WHAT? Over time, you learn how good God is.  The more time you spend talking to God and learning of God, the more you realize that God only does good things.  And then you start gradually relying on God more and more.  First you assign God small tasks, e.g., assistance paying bills, healing for a friend, a path forward at work.  Soon you learn to pray more and more effectively and then you start to see God move on the things you have entrusted to Him (not always in the way you want but always in a good way). Now, you start to relax.  You are now eager to abandon your strategies for success opting to let this Awesome GOD take the lead.  

And darling, at that moment (the moment you move over to the passenger seat), you will be AMAZED at what God Power will do for you and for those you entrust to Him.

I am a witness, darling.

A PARADIGM SHIFT

Like most folks, I struggle to remain optimistic in the face of disappointment, heartbreak and challenges.  While I am learning to rely more on SPIRIT and less on my own ability, I notice with a sigh that the higher I get, the more trouble I see.  “Is this as good as it gets,” I wonder?  

The truth is that the Christian journey is fraught with difficulty.  The idea that life on this side of glory will be difficult is not make believe. IT IS A PROMISE.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

The good news is that if we commit ourselves to growing in the SPIRIT, we will face these challenges with POWER that will enable us to triumph: come what may.

Triumphing, though can take many forms.  Sometimes, triumphing does not mean an immediate removal of an obstacle.  Rather, to triumph can take the form of a paradigm shift.  

This week, I hit upon an interesting point that did wonders for my outlook.  

When challenges abound and prayers seem to go unanswered, don’t abandon your Spiritual practices.  Instead, turn your focus inward.  Why? When you switch your attention away from your problem and direct it towards improving yourself, you unlock Spirit Power.  Once this GOD Power is released miracles will happen.  I am a witness.

This concept of “an imprisoned GOD” represents a paradigm shift for me.  When I am confronted with financial difficulty, discord in my personal relationships or missed opportunities, I MUST NOT give up.  Instead, I should look within.  ALL REFORM BEGINS WITH SELF.  

Instead of simply asking for relief, ask God to show you the things within yourself that need to be righted.  Once you receive your marching orders, get busy working on these things with Joy and Rejoicing.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will remain--so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.  John 15:16

Help is on the way, darling.  It is a promise.

FAITH EVOLUTION CON'T

I do believe that right now, at this very moment, I am in a unique but precarious position.  Daily, I feel as though I were perched on the age of a very tall precipice: gilded airbrushed tip toes dangerously close to the edge.  I can see off in the distance, my Emerald City: all of those glittery goals and ridiculous time tables that I have set for myself.  The goals akin to bench marks represent what success looks like to me. 

If I could, I would jump up right now in my purple Betsey Johnson pajamas and run, full throttle toward my goals.   But, that would be FOLLY.  Who begins a journey without supplies, without a compass, without shoes?  

Thankfully the journey (my journey), from Northeast to the Emerald City is divinely orchestrated.   

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

My task: to put one foot in front of the other, sure that when I set aside time daily to commune with God, I will be guided, directed, protected and loved.

I am a witness that when you seek God daily, He will impart wisdom; the type of insight that can enable you to take a step forward even when it appears that you will walk right off the cliff.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  James 1:5

This week like the week before, I spent my quiet time with God seeking clarity on what constitutes faith.  The book of Luke provides some guidance.

According to Luke chapter 11, faith is evidenced by importunity.  It is persistence (without anxiety) in your ask.  

Remember the proverb about the man who had no bread to offer his houseguest.  Instead of fretting, he went to his friend’s house and repeatedly knocked on the friend’s door.  Eventually the friend answered and gave the man some bread.  

The obvious lesson is that we must be persistent when we ask God for assistance.   But the the more latent lesson is this: God’s very nature is such that He (like a good friend) delights in giving gifts to His beloved.  In fact, God’s gifts bear witness to His very character.  Consequently, we can approach God boldly knowing with certainty that He will answer.

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  Luke 11:5-13

God is ever present to provide us with “our daily bread,” all that we need to exceed our goals. We need only ask God for help in real time with laughter and no anxiety.

He will answer.  Be persistent.  Be prayerful.  Be patient. 

It is a promise, darling.

FAITH EVOLUTION

(dedicated to Dr. A. Petersen for her encouraging words)

The Christian journey is never stagnate.  Every day that you spend reading, dissecting and pondering the Word of God, is another day of growth.  

For example, while I know that it is impossible to please God without Faith, I am constantly refining my concept of what FAITH actually looks like in my day to day life.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

Accordingly, my definition for FAITH is based on core statements excerpted from the Bible and from sermons that I have heard over the years combined with my own personal experiences (of what works and what doesn’t.) 

To me, FAITH is: 

1. knowing with certainty that everything will work out for the best; 
2. knowing with certainty that God (Holy Spirit, Jesus, assembly of Angels) is ever present to come to my aid, even when I cannot perceive God with my senses;  
3. the absence of anxiety or worry in the face of difficulty; 
4. being able to rest during the appointed time; and
5. joy and laughter in the face of disappointment, betrayal, death (This joy is not manufactured but is gifted by God when you live in the Spirit).

Within the last month or so, I can now add a new point of clarification to my ever evolving definition of Faith.  

No. 6:

Faith is NOT taking matters into your own hands unless directed to do so.

This is BIG.

At my core, I am really a risk taker.  I may not mountain climb or parasail, but I take risks all the time with my career, with my finances, my projects.  For example, I will readily spend my last dollar on a pair of sparkly earrings if I needed them for a specific event, photoshoot or a present for a friend.  My reasoning would be, “surely God will send more resources for rent, car insurance, groceries.  Everything will work out for the good.  Right?”  Well…not always, darling. Read the fine print.

There really is a difference between FAITH and FOLLY.

Remember the God that we encounter in the Old Testament is the same God we encounter in the New Testament.  Our God is a God of order.  Every occurrence has its season.  There is a time and place for everything.

When it comes to giving, there is also an appointed time.

We are told to give to Caesar his due.  Meaning we must pay our debts.

14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 

Is it right to pay the imperial tax[b] to Caesar or not? 

15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 

16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”  And they were amazed at him.  Mark 12 14-17

We are told to pay our tithes to the church.

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.  Malachi 3:8-10

We are told to take care of the poor.

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.  Deuteronomy 15:11

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’ Leviticus 23:22

‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you.  Leviticus 25:35

….Back to those sparkly earrings….

Faith in God to provide all that we need or want necessitates that we will not deviate from God’s rules in order to have our own way.  In other words, even though I want/need the sparkly earrings, job promotion, car payment, food for the week, I may not take matters into my own hands outside of God’s laws to obtain them.  In fact, I am bound by the Laws of God.  Faith means that I must trust God to provide me with the desires of my heart in His own way and in His own time. 

We are told to ask God for whatever we want.  Then wait on Him for the victory.

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  John 14:14

If I want sparkly earrings, I should ask God for them.  I should then do my part to prepare for the blessing (learn about sparkly earrings, where to purchase, how much they are, what I will wear with them).  And finally, I must cultivate a lifestyle that will enable me to listen to God for direction as to how and when to obtain them (e.g., I must go to Him in prayer daily in order to develop a listening ear).

Taking matters into my own hands…deciding not to pay rent to afford sparkly earrings, orchestrating a plot to steal them, refraining from giving to the poor to justify them, or failing to take care of my family to obtain them is not FAITH.  This is FOLLY and it is not God’s way.

All we have to do for a VICTORY on Earth is to ask a benevolent GOD…wait in Faith…and do our part (pray and study the Word of God)!  

It is a promise, darling.

THE POWER OF A GOOD STORY

I love a good story: Agatha Christie who-done-its, Fairy Tales, Memoirs, Greek tragedies, C.S. Lewis epics…  To this day, I remain fascinated by the magic, mystery, and teaching moments of good fiction.  

There is an art to story telling.  If it is done correctly, it can serve as a mechanism to train, educate and entertain.

Jesus likewise understands the value of a good story.  The New Testament is full of wonderful Parables that elucidate God’s promises.

4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:  

5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;

    though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]  Luke 8:4-10

Admittedly, I have needed to read some Parables more than once to really understand them.  Thankfully, whenever Jesus presents a new Parable, He will take time to explain the meaning.

11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.  Luke 8:11-15

God’s WORD is given to all.  

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

We are tasked with reading the WORD and turning it over and over in our minds until we understand it.  It is up to us to incorporate the WORD into our lives.  

The Word of God can be dense, baffling and confusing.  But, we are not alone.  God has promised that if we seek after HIM, he will reveal his truths to us.

7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Mathew 7:7-8

When you read the WORD of God ask for guidance and for a right mind to receive, understand and correctly apply the WORD of God to your life.

Remember we are called to be a Perfect people.  

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.  Matthew 5:48

But perfection does not mean to live without sin.  It means to be spiritually trained.  And, you cannot be spiritually trained without a thorough knowledge of the WORD of God.

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.  Ephesians 6: 10-20

The Battle is the Lord’s.  But we must do our part to gear up for the challenges ahead.  

This is a promise, darling.

ANIMATED ON THIS SIDE

I never find much comfort in the grim reality of the daily grind.  If given the chance, I’d prefer to live in an animated tv series with a perfectly green lawn and butterflies to greet me every morning.

Alas, life on this side of glory is not always joyful.  It is not always fun.  I realize this.  But thanks be to God there are ways to navigate this world with joy and laughter.

Paul speaks about a Power that enables him to thrive despite a series of setbacks that would cripple just about anyone.

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[a] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.  2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Paul believes that it is the Christ in Him that makes all the difference. In other words, he is able to survive prison, betrayal, beatings, depression, illness not because of his mental prowess, intellectual reasoning, strong will, financial resources; but because of his partnership with Christ that actually completes and perfects him.

Where Paul is weak and flawed, Christ makes him strong and perfect. 

Likewise, if I develop a strong relationship with Christ, I will be strengthened in all the places where I am deficient.  I too will be made perfectly suited to handle the stresses, health crises, epidemics, terrorist threats, economic instabilities, and mean spirit-ness of this world.

Notice that the Power that Paul speaks of does not manifest itself as a sense of resignation.  Paul does not wallow in the fact that the world is evil.  Paul does not hunker down in isolation with an intent to bear the world’s trials without hope.  Instead Paul continues on his mission.  He continues to live his life in the face of tragedy.  He gets up every morning with a sense of Joy that he is not alone and that the victory is already his.  Why worry about the hardships that confront you when God has promised to provide the inner Power to deal with each and every tribulation come what may.  Not only can God work miracles but God can change your countenance so that the things that used to perplex and debilitate you no longer have any effect on you at all.

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.  Phillipeans 4:13

I admit that it is staggering to even consider that the obstacles that I face daily are already taken care of by a benevolent God.  It is amazing to know that even if I was placed in a pit by my enemies, the Christ in me would work it so that I would be ok.  The Christ in me would meet my needs and infuse me  with supernatural Power no matter what.  WOWEE!  

Just meditating on the impact of these statements is transformative and will enable you to skip through the tulips no matter the obstacles. 

It bears noting that the Power of which Paul speaks does not come by accident but develops naturally when we abide in Christ.  It is the resting in Christ that results in the Power of Christ.

And how do we abide in Christ?

It’s simple really- we must pray and meditate on Him daily. In other words, we must read about Christ’s methods, his life, his responses.  We must think about these things and apply the rules we extract from His life to our daily lives.

For example, if Jesus prayed all night for guidance before He selected his 12 disciples.  Then we must pray to God before we make major decisions. See Luke 6:12

We must ask Christ to manifest Himself in our lives.  Then we must leave the rest to Him.

The result of our action combined with Christ Power is unspeakable Joy even here on this side of glory.

It is a promise, darlings!

A PRAYER FOR MY FRIEND

A few months ago, I was struggling with an obstinate issue- despite my prayers and quiet time with God, I did not perceive a resolution.  In fact, I felt as if I was in a holding pattern.  

Folks who know me, know that my patience is…well…limited.  So being forced to stand still was beyond difficult for me.

I spoke with a prayer warrior, my mom, and she inquired about my prayers.  True to form, I was praying for resolution.  I was praying for a miracle.  I was praying for relief.  

"What about praying for yourself?," mom asked.

"Praying for myself?," I thought,  "What a strange idea."

I pray for so many things.  I pray for healing for others. I pray for my finances.  I pray for wisdom.  I pray for a change in the heart of others.  But I have never really prayed for Mariessa.  I mean I never really prayed in earnest for Mariessa as if she was a friend.

Here is a prayer for my friend, Mariessa.

Lord, God, I know who You are.  You are the maker and finisher of all things.  You created heaven and earth and created me.  You know all about me and love me anyway; even when I do wrong and make mistakes.  You love me and all mankind so much that you sacrificed your son Jesus just so that we can pray directly to you despite our flaws.   Oh, you are a Holy God.

I know who Jesus is.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Son of the Living God.  Jesus is the ultimate example of what we can become when we link our lives up with God.  Jesus is human and divine and so He knows all that we go through on this Earth.  Jesus is a healer with power to raise the dead.  Jesus is my advocate and regularly pleads my case before God.  Hallelujah.

I know who the Holy Spirit is.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Living God that entered into me at baptism.  The Sprit is a supernatural power that is activated when I spend time with God.  The Spirit enables me to access special gifts that God has given me: wisdom, discernment, love, intuition, telepathy, capacity, feeling, receptiveness, judgement.  The Spirit hears my groanings and relays this information to God on my behalf.  When I don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit steps in and speaks for me.  When I am striving to live in God’s Will, I am living in the Spirit.  When I am living in the Spirit, I am infused with supernatural Power.

I am not alone. I am surrounded by a crowd: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Therefore I am not afraid and I can approach God boldly knowing that all is well.

Today I am praying for my friend, Mariessa.  Help her to activate her gifts.  Give her the strength to withstand the tug of the world.

Remind her that disobedience is death.  Because, only God has a bird’s eye view.  When God reveals truth to her.  Give her the courage to listen and obey.

Teach her that she has capacity to do all things.  She can defeat the evil one - she can find resources to take care of her needs, she can meet evil intentions with love, she can withstand temptation, she can live alone and in joy.  She can be at peace and happy in the present.

Teach her that she already has the ability to receive and hear the Word of God.  She can decipher the Will of God, not because she is a Prophet, but because God promised to reveal His way to anyone who diligently seeks Him.

Teach her that she is wise.  She knows the right way.  And she can remain on the right path because she is not alone.  There is a crowd (Father, Son, Holy Ghost, angels, and the assembly) around her.

Unstop her ears and destroy her will, her sensitive nature and her earthly limitations.  Replace her Will with THINE.  Remind her that break throughs come when her will is synced up with God’s Will.  

Teach her that she must not crave the things (food, circumstances) that are bad for her.  These strongholds must be broken.

Teach her that she is not in bondage to the belief that feeling comes from matter.  And therefore she need not run after the pleasures that appeal to the senses.  This is bondage.  

Remind her that it is better to dilligently seek a Spirit filled existence - this brings euphoria and real happiness.

Father, I am praying in earnest for Mariessa to have a quickening of the Holy Spirit.  She needs help to break up the strongholds in her life.

Only YOU can do it. 

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

DEW DROPS

I believe that the Bible is an excellent guidebook. It provides so many wonderful examples of how we can best navigate through this life on Earth.  Over time, I have come to know and understand that the WORD of God is Powerful in and of itself.  The Word of God was present in the Beginning of Time and will be present at the End of Time.  To simply speak the WORDS of God can initiate a chain reaction that when combined with Prayer, Faith and Works can work miracles.

Understanding the Word of God and applying it properly to our specific conditions takes a willingness to study and an outpouring of super natural Power (Holy Ghost power).  It is only through our effort, coupled with God power that can make the WORDS of God clear to us.

I know this to be true.

When I was a child, my parents and grandparents required us to memorize a favorite scripture.  I chose Psalm 23, the Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  Psalm 23:2

When I first memorized Psalm 23, I did not understand the true meaning of the words.  But over time, as I grew up and began to face my own challenges, the words began to take on new meaning.  It was as if the words represents compressed layers of truth.  The longer I studied them, the more sense they made to me. 

About 2 years ago, I had a break through.  Finally the words of Psalm 23 resonated and I began to more fully understand the relationship between a Good Shepherd and His sheep.  

First of all, to be described as sheep is not a compliment.

Sheep are actually defenseless, stubborn, and quite frankly silly creatures.  They are not graceful or strong.

David Murray at Head Heart Hand ministries wrote a wonderful description of sheep that lists their 12 characteristics.  

Here are some of my fav excerpts: 

1. Sheep are foolish…They are so irrational. You watch them as they pause in front of a stream. They know they can’t jump it or swim it. So what do they do? They jump in anyway!
2. Sheep are slow to learn … A sheep may get caught in barbed wire trying to break through a fence. And the next day it will try it again, and again,…
3. Sheep are unattractive…so awkward, so lacking in agility and dignity. …to most outside observers sheep are dirty, smelly, and ugly.
4. Sheep are demanding …Almost as soon as it is born, it is violently sucking its mother’s udders. And that insatiable demand never leaves them. They demand grass, grass, and more grass; day after day, and night after night…
5. Sheep are stubborn Have you ever tried to move a sheep? It’s like trying to move an elephant. …
6. Sheep are strong I’ve watched the most macho of men beaten by sheep. You look at their skinny “arms” and “legs” and think “easy.” Next thing you are flat on your back or face down in the dirt…
7. Sheep are straying [and have a] ….well-deserved reputation for straying (Isa. 53:6) and getting lost (Lk. 15:3ff). So many times I was out in the middle of nowhere when I would come across a sheep – miles from anyone and anything – and totally unconcerned….
8. Sheep are unpredictable If you travel along the roads of the Scottish Highlands you will soon learn to expect the unexpected. ..
9. Sheep are copycats …When one sheep decides to start running, they all decide to start running….
10. Sheep are restless…I once heard that for sheep to lie down they need freedom from fear, freedom from friction with others, freedom from hunger, and freedom from pests and parasites. From what I’ve seen, that combination is very rare.
11. Sheep are dependent…[They can not] cope and thrive without… close supervision….They are very dependent on their shepherd.
12. Sheep are the same everywhere…The American sheep is the same as the African sheep (see 1-11 above), which is the same as the Asian sheep, which is the same as…

If we are like SHEEP, then Jesus is the GOOD SHEPHERD who will give His life to protect us, to care for us, to love us.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  Psalm 23:2

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

Forerunner Commentary provides another fun fact about sheep.  

Sheep are “excellent dry weather animals and they can go for months without taking a drink of water from a pool.”  How do they do it?  Sheep have a habit of getting up “early enough to eat the grass in the morning when the DEW is still on it.”  If the sheep eat the DEW in the morning they will survive.  

WOAH!

And so it is with us.  Even if we are best described as dependent,  defenseless, stubborn, silly creatures; we can still survive the harsh conditions that surround us; provided that we get up early to fortify ourselves with dew, or more precisely, the WORD OF GOD.  

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Mark 1:35

Do not neglect your time with God.  Get up early before the cares of the world invade your heart and mind.  Make it a habit to read, study and listen (quietly and diligently) to the Spirit that lives within YOU.  When you are in sync with the HOLY SPIRIT you can face any difficulty with love and laughter.  

This is a promise, darling.

31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

DREAMING OF MY FRIEND (REPOST)

When I was a child I could not wait to go to sleep. As soon as the lights went out I would begin weaving intricate tales of all kinds. Typically, the dream would start with me taking a long trip. Sometimes, I'd travel via the Orient Express through remote parts of India or I would ride a split level barge down the Nile River in Egypt. Very often, I would live in a rambling bungalow nestled at the top of a few towering trees. Or, I’d reside in an igloo with opulent fur rugs and secret underground passages carved out of ice. Regardless of where I lived, I was always the oldest daughter of the king and queen. I was the rebellious, beautiful, intelligent Princess with a killer wardrobe and hair like Pam Grier.

I am much older. But my dreams still represent a form of escape from the humdrum monotony of life. Through the past 30 years or so, I have learned the hard way that constantly seeking this world's thrills when confronted with tragedy, disappointment or sadness is NEVER the way. It inevitably leads to errors and mistakes.

God through his son Jesus has shown us that the only thing we should seek with regularity is HIS WAY. 

This is no easy task.

Who would choose to die on a cross if she could help it? (Remember, Jesus chose to die even though he was capable of avoiding this horrible death.  God had a divine Purpose.  And Jesus obeyed.)

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  Luke 22:39-44

Who would choose to watch his friends grieve heavily for a deceased brother when you knew you had power to resurrect him? (Notice, Jesus did not come to Lazarus' aid right away even though he knew Lazarus was sick sick unto death. In fact he delayed His trip. But when he arrived, he wept with his friends and raised Lazarus from the dead.  God had a divine Purpose and Jesus obeyed.)

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. John 11:33

The point is that if God has commanded us to do something, we MUST do it. We must not seek escape. We must not run away. The up side is that God will reward obedience.

Today, my favorite dream is always the same. I am climbing very steep and rocky terrain. The sky is gray and devoid of sunlight. I am bruised and exhausted. Yet, just when I feel I can not take one more step, suddenly a gift will appear. Once I received an ice cold bottle of Fiji water. Another time a hammock appeared in my favorite color. Or after a dull meal, I would discover, a bowl of juicy peaches that burst like drops of sunshine in my mouth.

Finally after what seems like 100 years I reach the summit. There I am greeted by a large silver gate. I touch it lightly and the gate swings open to reveal the most beautiful green grass I have ever seen. In the middle of the grass is a bubbling fountain that has my name on it.  As I touch the water, my entire body is revived. I am suddenly imbued with the energy of a child. All of my aches and pains from my journey have gone away. In fact, I can no longer even remember the hardships of the past. I am radiant and I can see everything around me with new clarity. I encounter butterflies everywhere and when I each time I spot one, I can immediately recall all the fun facts that I ever learned about these majestic creatures. I remember their scientific name, place of origin, etc. I am now as wise as Solomon.

Thus refreshed, I begin to look for my Friend. I know I will find him sitting under my favorite tree. Sure enough, I see Him there. And we sit and chat under the weeping willow about everything for ever.

Never forget that Jesus is your FRIEND and He is here to help you. 

He is the good shepherd.  The one that will protect HIs sheep come what may.  He serves as our High Priest or intercessory who will listen to our requests and will plead our case before a benevolent GOD.  Jesus, who once lived on this earth knows what we face on a daily basis.  He understands how mean folks around us can be.  He knows how difficult it is to resist temptation.  And, He too faced difficult choices.  Jesus stands as the ultimate example of what happens when you commit yourself to serving, obeying and loving GOD. When you do your part to remain in sync with God, you will receive supernaural Spirit power. Click here to read, "Spirit Life Has Its Privileges."

STOP now and decide to make it a practice to learn more about JESUS. Your efforts will enable you to build a friendship with HIM.  And this friendship will embolden you to not only ask JESUS for help, but to KNOW WITH CERTAINTY that HE can fix every bad situation. 

JESIS is the Son of GOD and HIS power is supernatural.  Trust Him, darlings.