Do You Remember THESE Expandable Balls?
I do.
I used to think they were so cool. They were relatively small to begin with and then you could just grab hold of them with your hands, fingers....and well...you would need the strength of your arms then you would pull them open in this HUGE ball that was large enough to contain a small pet.
My kids loved them so much it was sometimes one of the first things they would run to play with we went into the specialty toy store at the mall.
They came in many different colors! They were awesome!
Well, this morning as I was getting ready for work as I was chatting with my Lord about a great many things in life. I became a but over whelmed. As I sometimes can. (uhhh - no kiddin'!)
I mean, come on, let's be real here....time's are a changin' and fast....am I wrong on that one?
Now I realize we all have our own issues to deal with....our own crosses to bear....but add that to the fact that the world is sinking lower and lower into a deeper state of depravity.......AND the fact the our very own U.S. of A. is starring in it's very own sequel of the movie "Speed" only instead of a poor unwilling, victim for a bus driver - we have crazzed, power hungry, eccentric for a leader.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the movie "Speed" is. It's an action/thriller film where a bus becomes the focus of a bomber and extortionist. The only way to keep the bus from crashing and exploding and killing everyone is to keep it driving at 50 mph.
So as I was talking with my Lord this morning and feeling the burden of not only my own issues but the issues and burdens of those closest to me, my family, my co-workers and neighbors and those of the country I grew up in and the rest of the entire world.
I began to feel some what over whelmed.....yet again.
However, once again....my precious, Holy, Lord and master Yeshua HaMashiach graced me with His presence and once again filled me with the peace of G-d that passes all understanding that guards my heart and mind!
He shared a word or two (or three)---with a visual that was to me quite powerful and I thought I would pass it along! I truly hope you are just as blessed!
My convo with the Master went something like this.
"Oh my Lord, my precious, Holy Lord---Yeshua---Holy Father! Lord G_d! ALMIGHTY! Please! Help! How?---I mean---What? ---Where? - You have laid all these things upon my heart – All these people - I thank you Lord for your love - I see all your grace in my life - Thank you, thank you. Lord, thank you. But HOW? - My prayers - There is just sooooo much - Where do I start? I mean I know I have started - but there is just so much - I thank you so much Lord - Sometimes I just don't see how - I pray and pray - but I thank you - Lord - I am babbling - Oh Yeshua –I just love you....."
(tears running down my newly painted[make-up just put on] face)
Then the Lord broke in. Clear as if you were sitting here with me now talking to me.
I saw the picture you see on the top of this post, Only difference is that the sphere was multi colored.
The Lord spoke to my heart in my head and said to me,
"Oh Amy....I love you."
Then I smiled and answered back, "I am so glad you know my thoughts Lord better than I. Thank you Lord."
He continued, "Amy you aren't required to change the world. Nor are you expected to. You can't. That's my job.
You ask me how. Well, come to me my Amy Colleen - that is how. Everything you need is in me.
You ask what. To do the will of our Father - But then you already know that.
You ask where. Where you are now, my precious Amy Colleen. Right where you are.
Let go of the past for it will give the enemy power to paralyze you.
It will make you ineffective in the work the Father has for you to do.
now and in the future.
Amy - do not worry and do not fear. Do not concern yourself with how much there is to do. I am the Lord of the harvest and until I return there will always be tasks at hand. More than there are laborers to accomplish."
At these words I was so awestruck and filled with a certain Holy Fear and (believe it or not) still feeling a wee bit over whelmed and answered back - my response:
"Oh Lord, thank you, thank you, thank you my glorious Lord for knowing my heart and listening to my heart and not giving ear to my grumblings - But still Lord - I feel as though all I do is pray and pray and pray and still there are so many things that I can't even see the slightest movement on - Lord? Why? - Others come to me as well with this same question - wanting to know why? I don't know what to tell them. Please Lord - what's going on?"
"Amy Colleen. You see the Sphere?"
"Yes, Lord. I do. I was wondering about that...why I saw it so vividly in my mind."
"Yes....It starts out very small and tight....and you need to take both hands and use your fingers and grab hold of it and pull it with your arms and it opens up into a huge open sphere."
"What does that have to do with my prayers?"
"My Amy...it is not your prayers that are getting in the way or are not effective. Your prayers are powerful and effective. As long as my children abide in me I will abide in them . If I abide in them they have all the power resident within them that I have resident within me. So you see your prayers are not in question."
(I actually *heard* the Lord smile - that was pretty cool in and of itself actually)
"My precious Amy, you are getting in the way. Not intentionally, but as you are running about to and fro trying to accomplish many different tasks all on your own strength with your own love and good will. I never intended for you to carry all these burdens. I took upon myself the burdens of the world, carried them down the road to Calvary and still to this day my heart is broken for many who have not yet come home. Again...this is my job."
I still wasn't fully understanding what the Lord was saying to me just yet - but in my minds eye I was beginning to see what the Lord was going to say next - (this was awesome!)
"Sooooo - Lord? What AM I supposed to be doing with all this burden I am feeling and what does it have to do with the sphere?"
"The sphere is the world....your world.....family, friends, those closest to you as well as the world in general. Amy, you are so faithful to run around from place to place, trying to make it better, little bit here ......little bit there.....think about it Amy."
I did. I imagined as the Lord spoke. I saw myself running to and from one side of the world (the sphere) pulling it out and then as soon as I got one side out and ran to the other to pull it out the side that I previously pulled out collapsed. This happened over and over and over again. I was so aggravated and exhausted just even "thinking " about it !
"Wow." was all I could say.
"See, it makes you tired and that is thinking about it doesn't it? "
(Amazing how the Lord knows our thoughts)
"Amy, precious Amy, at best you can run around with good intentions and bring a smile to peoples hearts. But to see change - to see the sphere grow - I need to grab hold of it and pull it with MY HANDS until it opens up. That's when you will SEE the CHANGE you desire to see.
Your part in all this?
To abide in me - to trust and obey.
In this alone will you will be able to fulfill the will of the Father.
Then will find great favor in His sight.
Amy, I do not drive my sheep, it is the butcher that drives the sheep to the slaughter house. I am the great shepherd. My sheep know me and hear my voice.
I lead my sheep besides still water and give them green pastures to where they can rest their soul.
Do not fear. I am with you always and I hear your every prayer.
