As Hard As It Is

 From every prayer I pray to every note I write.

Every song I sing with all my might.

For there is but one who knows the words I pray and why.
Only one who knows the motive for each note I send to cheer the passer 

It is only He, the same, the only one, who knows what powers my praise.
So it is only He alone I will honor with faith in all I do, for all my days.
I have already counted the cost and paid the price, come what may.
So stand I will, strong in faith. Let it be the foundation of all I do and say.
To God be the glory great things He has done!

"....If you do not stand firm in your faith,
    you will not stand at all."
Isaiah 7:9

This is a picture of where it all began for me some

 48+ years ago.

What a surprise

David -  King of Israel.
Samuel - anointed David youngest son of Jesse KING.

A small, literally small in stature, very young man, or as the scripture tells us, "a young boy". 

He was not even a warrior at heart, nor was he trained as such. David, son of Jesse, was a musician.

Yet he was the one who stood up to the Philistines. In fact David had to practically beg King Saul to let him go before the armies and take on the challenge of the Philistines. 

Because there was not one Israelite soldier brave enough to take on Goliath.

Many of us know the story of David and Goliath form our childhood. 

How David was the youngest of Jesse's sons and the only one who was not a soldier. How David stayed back to tend to his father's sheep while his brothers went off to battle. Then Samuel, the High Priest/prophet of God, came to Jesse's house at direction of God to anoint the next king of Israel. To take the throne after Saul. Jesse was well pleased to hear this news. (as one can only imagine!) Jesse introduced all of his sons but David. When he was through,  Samuel asked him if he had any other sons, because he "knew" the sons that Jesse had brought forth were not the ones God had intended to be King.  Jesse sent for David and Samuel anointed him to be the next King.

Well, you will notice when you read in vrs.6 of ch. 16 of 1 Samuel. Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse. Even Samuel (at first) saw the outward appearance of Davids brothers and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 
However the Lord rebuked him in vrs 7  saying, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at, people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

My point?

I want to encourage those of you out there who don't feel like you are "good enough" or "have what it takes" to accomplish what your heart is telling you God has called you to do.

*key phrase - "God has called you to do"

We as humans are flawed. Generally speaking we naturally have a tendency to judge by outward appearance: be hypocritical: love with condition;   *as humans.

God on the other hand - is entirely the opposite.

God does not judge by outward appearance - He looks at a mans heart.

God is not  hypocritical - he lives what He teaches.

God's love is unconditional - he loved us before the beginning of time. Even knowing all our sins and shortcomings.
And
God is the one who is CALLING you.

God is the one who is placing the
desire in your heart "as you delight in Him".
So
Do Not Be Afraid.
Do Not Fear.
We are living in perilous times. The enemy knows his time is running short and he is doing everything he can think of to try and distract and discourage the called of God.
Keep focused on the Lord.
Stand firm and when you have done everything to stand firm - continue to stand firm!
God is with you! 

So, as difficult as it may be sometimes....(and it does get easier) don't let other peoples opinion of you get you down or discourage you! The Lord, the creator of the universe, Holy Father, God of all, believes in you! Loves you with His life! Every waking moment He thinks about YOU!!! and HE NEVER SLEEPS! Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you right now! (Psalm 121:4)

Oh how He loves you!
YOU are the apple of HIS eye! (Zechariah 2:8) 

And remember - if anyone - even a believer - says anything  that brings discouragement your way - toss it away - it is NOT from God and it does not belong to YOU!

Shalom!
******************     ********************     *********************

Samuel Anoints David

16The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembledwhen they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but theLord looks at the heart.”

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lordchosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “TheLord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

What the World needs Most

       Is Love Sweet Love

               (View blog in web version - link below for song)

           

You may be a skeptic. 

I wouldn't blame you. 

Let me just share with you if I may 😊

Someone asked me the other day,

"Why do we love, love - even when love seems to hate us?"

I thought about it for a moment and then this came to me.

We love, love - even when love seems to hate us ~ because 

We don't really understand what love is. 

If we did then we would realize that contrary to popular opinion, 

love does not hate us. 

No. Rather it is our own selfish nature that is guilty of hating. Harsh as that sounds.

(Websters dictionary defines "hate" as an extreme dislike or aversion for something.)

In this case it is we, ourselves, after we have been hurt, let down, disappointed, devastated and  betrayed  who have an extreme aversion towards love.

I could write on this subject for a long time.

Bottom line here is that we get hurt.

When we get hurt the natural instinctive process is to put up walls.

Walls around our heart and life. Some more than others.

We all handle hurt differently and in varying degrees.

 Once the walls go up that's when the vicious cycle of unsuccessful interpersonal relationships begins.

Be they, our family, friends, romantic partners or even work related relationships.

When we place those walls up, it affects every one of those relational areas of our lives.

How we respond in trust and our ability to commit and be accountable.

The fundamental character traits of any substantial, 
worth while relationship based on love.

Although we as humans have grown accustom to, even dependent in some cases, on love being a two way road.

The truth of the matter is - love in perfection is a one way road.

 Our most glorious and ever loving creator, Lord, Holy Father and God of all,

 made that perfectly clear in His exemplary model of love which He gave us through the gift of His only begotten Son 

Jesus our Messiah.

Not to say that we should not have anyone love us back. 

That is not what I am saying at all. 

In fact the Word of God tells us,  He (God) saw Adam was alone, and saw it was not good so He gave him a partner.

What I am saying is that if we were to gain a true, more perfect understanding of the definition of the "one way love" that is spoken of in the letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Exercised it, expecting nothing in return with everyone in our family, our partners, our neighbors, co-workers, etc.

I truly believe we would not be disappointed.

Even more, we would be blessed beyond that which we could even imagine.

You see, God created us to love.  

That is why we love - love.

So naturally, we all desire love. 

Love doesn't hate us.

In fact love - loves us, and loves us all equally. 

 That is why we can't live without love.

If we take a moment to really look and meditate on what true love is 

(a perfect definition is found in the word of God 1 Cor ch 13 below ) 

When the epiphany - the revelation *hits* - it will rock your world.

Love

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Are you a Bow and Arrow or Machine Gun Warrior?

Prayer Warrior that is!

Let's find out, shall we?

Have you ever wondered why some prayers seem to get answered and some do not?

Even when those praying the prayer are praying  truthfully  in line with the Word of God?

No, this is not a trick question. Well, maybe.

Okay, okay, I will get to the point. 

You will need to use your visuals.
You know, your imagination? 

I am going to use some examples, so get those spirit eyes open and your Bible ready too. I will be using some of that as well.

I would like to share what I believe the Lord has shown me are the 2 key components to answered prayer.

For the purpose of this revelation, this word I have received from the Holy Spirt, I would like to start with Ephesians ch 6:10-12.

 "Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! Use all the armor and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm." 

Any intercessor will agree with this much. 

When we pray we need to be able to see in the spirit and discern who our true adversary is as well as where  or what is causing the issue at hand.

But where and how do we get this discernment?

Is it  "just dropped into our spirits"  or do we "learn it" when we become believers? 

And

Why do some believers seem to be able to discern spot on every time and other believers  miss it every time?

Ahhhhh....the age old question.

I have heard so many answers to that question over the years and I have never been completely satisfied with any of them.

Until now.

During my prayer time, when I asked the Lord about this subject, this is what He said to me, 

"Amy, It's not just about discernment. It's also about direction."

"Imagine the first the second and the third heavens.

1. The first heaven, consists of the the earth and the atmosphere where the clouds and the birds of the air are. The second heaven,  where the sun, stars, and moon are. ALSO, where the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing the darkness and spiritual forces of evil dwell.  The third heaven is the dwelling place of the Most High G-d. This is my dwelling place.. The highest heaven."

Now imagine two believers of the same tribe. Both have been tried and tested and have been found faithful.
I have given one of them a high powered automatic machine gun.
I have given the other a bow and a quiver full of arrows and taken them up to the third heaven to sit at my feet and await my instruction.

Which one of these intercessors  do you believe most effective AmyColleen?

The one praying from the first heaven shooting with great power, might, passion and  much love for me?

Or

The one who is sitting at my feet, awaiting my direction before shooting her bow?

Also, with great power, might, passion and much love for me?"

Well,  the answer is the believer with the bow and arrow who is sitting at the feet of the Lord.

There is much to be said for righteous indignation. However, the key is knowing when it's "righteous" indignation and not just "us" being angry on account of righteousness sake.

Think about this situation. 

The believer shooting "up towards" the second heaven would be shooting blindly INTO the battlefield. They may or may not hit the key target. Also, they may also have unnecessary casualties. 

(Cause and effect of prayers that have been prayed) "For we know that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective."James5:16 

"For although we do live in the world, we do not wage war in a worldly way; because the weapons we use to wage war are not worldly. On the contrary, they have God’s power for demolishing strongholds". 2Cor 10:3,4)

Point?

Both of these intercessors loved the Lord passionately and had a heart to pray and further Gods kingdom. 
Both had a zeal to move on behalf of the Lord in HIS work.
What was missing, the point the Lord was making here with me was, that the believer that was sitting at the Lords feet in the third heaven clearly had the one thing that the other believer was missing.

Direction from the Lord.

This with something that is available to everyone with out prejudice.

For the LORD loves all the same. 

In fact Gods word tells us that ..."We are now seated  with Yeshua our Messiah at the right of the Father in the heavenly realm.  (Ephesians 2:6)  Also Galatians 2:20, "For we have been crucified with Messiah and in so we now are alive in Him....He having ascended into the third heaven and remains seated at the right hand of the Father.

(Ephesians 1:21) "far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in this present age but also in the one to come." 

So the  question remains, how do we turn our machine guns in for a bow and arrow?

The answer is quite simple.

Come away with the LORD. Sit at his feet. Be quite and listen.

"Be still (desist from your activities) and know I AM GOD." Psalm 46:10

Just desist from everything. Take time to sit down with your creator and just be with Him. 

Learn to listen.

💙

Shalom out - AmyColleen