For the Record

This morning, I received a text message from someone.

A message that filled my heart with dread, and yet my spirit held on tenaciously to my miracle working Father.

I do not know how my situation will be resolved - but I do believe in my Abba Father who holds the circumstances of my life in His hands.

A few minutes ago, I visited Patrina's Pencil, one of my favorite blogs. I was amazed by what I read.

I copied some of the words she had written on her latest post.

Just for the record...

God's Grace - Grace that is GREATER than all our sin

from Patrina's Pencil

June 23, 2013

Patrina writes:

I am trusting that someone

needs to hear this word 

from Kim Clement.

It brought the following song to mind.

I sing the refrain over and over

when it comes up in my spirit.

Grace, grace, God's grace,

grace that will pardon

and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God's grace,

grace that is greater

than all our sin!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary';s mount outpoured,

there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain:

Grace, grace, God's grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God's grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,

threaten the soul with infinite loss;

grace that is greater, yes grace untold,

points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

(Refrain)

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,

What can avail to wash it away?

Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,

brighter than snow you may be today.

(Refrain)

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see his face,

will you this moment his grace receive?

(Refrain)

Text: Julia H. Johnston

Music: Daniel B. Towner

GOD's GRACE!

The following is the Word that blessed my heart...

Do not treat prophecies with contempt.

Test everything. Hold on to the good.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

Follow the way of love

and eagerly desire spiritual gifts,

especially the gift of prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:1

For we know in part

and we prophesy in part.

1 Corinthians 13:9

But I would rather have you prophesy.

He who prophesies is greater

than one who speaks in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:3

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 19:10

  

The Lord can and does

use anything He needs to...

to accomplish His will.

He even uses the enemy!

If this word speaks to you...as it did to me

then receive it. Bathe it in prayer.

Ask the Holy Spirit what the Lord

wants to speak to you concerning this word.

I believe the Lord wants to lay

His 'healing hands'

on some specific soul...

as He did mine today.

I Give all Glory and Praise

to my ONE and ONLY ...

JESUS!

He who has ears to HEAR

Let him HEAR

May 25, 2013 - From The Den

Kim Clement

Please hear me.

I heard this word this morning, clearly,

"I will restore today that which has been taken illegally, 

and even if My people have made mistakes."

Listen to what the word is – hear it now, please.

Abraham lied about his wife;

said  she was his sister for his fear of death,

and so the king took Abraham's wife

and God visited the king

early that morning in a dream,

"Should you touch this woman, 

I will kill you. 

That man is a man of God."

The king came to Abraham

and the king said to him,

"Why did you lie to me? 

I could have died 

because I took into my hands your wife."

 And he came with offerings

to Abraham and said,

"Here is your wife back.

 It's your mistake, Abraham,

but along with your wife,

I'm giving you offerings 

of goats and bulls and sheep and stock 

for I want you to be totally restored" 

(see Genesis 20).

It was a mistake that Abraham made.

It wasn't the king's mistake,

but even though it was Abraham's mistake,

God restored that mistake;

God restored him, not only with his wife back,

but with much in blessing.

Even If It's Your Mistake

That Caused Your Loss

Today, this is what God tells me to tell you.

Even if it's your mistake;

even if you're the one

who made the mistake

and you've lost it,

God said, "I will restore it to you today

 but I will pay back twice the amount,

four times the amount,

five times the amount,

100-fold – if you would come to Me

in faith today,

I will do it," says the Lord.

 prayerfully submitted

patrina

An Offering

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;

they will never be silent day or night.

You who call on the LORD,

give yourselves no rest,

and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem

and makes her the praise of the earth.

- Isaiah 62:6, 7

Father, I never ever want to let my guard down, or become complacent, even presumptuous. 

Thank you for giving me another opportunity to be encouraged... to keep holding on... to remain steadfast and unwavering in my commitment.

I praise You for the time of breakthrough and healing during the time of ministry in this city... many opportunities to make new friends, and also to see You at work in the lives of the seminar participants.

My Father... I completely dedicate and offer my life to You in this new season of my life.

A Fortified City

Outside the fortified walls of Carcasonne Castle, France

photo source

For behold I have made you this day

a fortified city and an iron pillar,

and bronze walls against the whole land,

against the kings of Judah,

against its princes,

against its priests,

against the people of the land.

They will fight against you,

but they shall not prevail against you,

For I am with you, says the Lord,

to deliver you.

- Jeremiah 1:17-19

When I read these words this morning, I was speechless.

I badly needed this assurance, but didn't expect to read them as if they were being spoken directly to me.

What can I say?

Obviously heavenly Father wants to build strength inside of me and beef up my confidence in Him.

I can only say, "Thank You, Father. I believe You. I receive these words that you have spoken to me today."  

The State of My Heart

The Widow's Mite

by James Christensen

photo source

Jesus sat down opposite the place

where the offerings were put

and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.

Many rich people threw in large amounts.

But a poor widow came and put in

two very small copper coins,

worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said,

"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more

into the treasury than all the others.

They all gave out of their wealth;

but she, out of her poverty, put in everything --

all she had to live on."

- Mark 12: 41-44

The widow's giving did not depend on the state of her finances. Rather, her giving was a reflection of the state of her heart.

The widow gave all she had to live on but was not afraid to let go of it at that moment. 

She had absolute trust in the One who holds her life and is the ultimate source of provision for her needs.

She did not live with a sense of poverty and lack.

She lived with a sense of reckless abandon, which is what true faith is all about.

A wise farmer understands the importance of cooperating with the seasons.

Living with a sense of reckless abandon... this is really what I want. 

There is a place for exercising discretion and wisdom in spending. Saving for the rainy day, and staying out of debt are marks of Godly wisdom. 

But extreme frugality stifles me. It can be a curse and a manifestation of the spirit of poverty and fear of lack in one's heart.

I want to be able to enjoy spending what God graciously provides.

Like the widow in the story, I want to place my absolute trust in the One who holds my life, the ULTIMATE source of provision - for what I need and what I desire.

Not Just A New Season

photo source

Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent

in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

And Isaac dug again the wells of water

which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father,

for the Philistines had stopped them up

after the death of Abraham.

He called them by the names which his father had called them.

And Isaac's servants dug in the valley,

and found a well of running water there.

But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen saying,

"The water is ours."

So he called the name of the well Esek,

because they quarreled with him.

Then they dug another well,

and they quarreled over that one also.

So he called its name Sitnah.

And he moved from there and dug another well,

and they did not quarrel over it.

So he called its name Rehoboth,

because he said,

"For now the LORD has made room for us,

and we shall be fruitful in the land."

- Genesis 26:17-22

This beautiful Biblical account is one of my favorites. It speaks of being brought into a wide place. It particularly speaks to me of bringing faith to a higher level - from passive faith to active faith.

The enemy wants to keep us locked up in a tight place - whether in the matter of relationships, finances, health, a job, or a career.

A tight place which feels like all the doors are closed, or a dead end.

But Rehoboth which literally means "room enough," has spiritual implications. Isaac said it beautifully: 

... the Lord has made room

... we shall be fruitful in the land.

There are a number of passages in Scripture that relate to this idea.

Oh Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup

You maintain my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes I have a good inheritance.

- Psalm 16:5, 6

 The also brought me out into a broad place; 

He delivered me because He delighted in me.

-Psalm 18:19

You enlarged my path under me

So my feet did not slip.

- Psalm 18:36

I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy

For You have considered my trouble;

You have known my soul in adversities,

And have not shut me up

into the hand of the enemy;

You have set my feet in a wide place.

-Psalm 31:7

One thing I know: I cannot be held hostage by a poverty mentality of fear of lack and unending self provision. Somehow, my faith tells me that the God I believe in is a God of provision, abundance, and more than enough.

He is the God of glorious possibilities.

To him who believes, all things are possible.

This year I enter not just a new season... I am entering a new era.

It is My Rehoboth era... an era of abundance, or multiplication, of provision.