"Too many people pray like little boys who knock at doors, then run away." - War Cry
Oh how guilty I am. Too often I've failed to see the beauty in the throne room of God. So distraught by my situations, my vision was distorted. I ran to God with the knowledge He could help me, but sat restlessly as if He were just a mere counselor sitting there listening with nothing to add. Why? Knowing He is my provider, knowing He has never failed me, why do I enter His gates like a child who is afraid and alone. Why do I fail to remember that inside those gates I've danced for joy, liberated and free to worship. Why do I fail to see that He reigns in my heart. I have no need to fear. I have no time for anxiety. I am His child and with that seat, I'm blessed and highly favored. I don't have to hang my head in shame, but I can come boldly before the throne of God and speak freely with my Father.
Today, I see myself for who I really am. All the filth and shattered pieces of my life have been beautifully changed and I'm a new creation. I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. He loves me! He delights Himself in me. Today, I see Him for who he really is. Though I can not wrap my mind around Him, in my own simple way I see His beauty, His majesty and I lay here, prostrate before Him, in awe of His infinite wisdom. He knows all things and nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows my weaknesses, my faults and failures and sees beyond them to that beautiful girl He predestined to live with Him forever. I see the nail-pierced hands that reach out to hold me. I feel His warmth embrace as He wraps His arms around me. I'm lifted as my burdens fall from me. How could I ever race away from such an experience? How could I ever miss this?
He's calling you to come. He's longing to be with you today. Don't run away like you have better things to do. Go now and realize what you've been missing.
by: Kimberly Waters
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Trust in the Lord
With a heavy heart, I began reading God's Word today with an "I need to do this" mentality. Quickly this changed to "Oh how I needed this!" Isn't if funny how we can read the same passage over and over, but somehow in His timing, He can cause the words to pierce our heart and captivate our attention?
In Matthew 8, we find a leper coming to Jesus wanting to be healed. He says, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” His question was not if Jesus could heal him, but rather was it His will to heal Him?
Next when Jesus arrives in Capernaum, he’s greeted by a centurion with even more faith saying, ““Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” Jesus said* to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. “For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel…And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.”
Whether you’re praying concerning God’s will regarding your situation or if you’re praying for a dear friend or loved one, God knows your need and is more than capable of intervening in your situation. Continue to trust God and watch Him move on your behalf!
Psalm 115:11-12 NASB
"You who £fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us;"
In Matthew 8, we find a leper coming to Jesus wanting to be healed. He says, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” His question was not if Jesus could heal him, but rather was it His will to heal Him?
Next when Jesus arrives in Capernaum, he’s greeted by a centurion with even more faith saying, ““Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” Jesus said* to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. “For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel…And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment.”
Whether you’re praying concerning God’s will regarding your situation or if you’re praying for a dear friend or loved one, God knows your need and is more than capable of intervening in your situation. Continue to trust God and watch Him move on your behalf!
Psalm 115:11-12 NASB
"You who £fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us;"
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Trust
It was once said, "Trust is a very precious gift. Once earned or acquired, it can unlock the door of the heart and allow the creation of a beautiful, lasting relationship. If ever that trust is destroyed, however, the door will lock forever as one hides safely and securely behind it's walls of security forever."
As sad as this quote sounds, how true it rings for so many. Trust is a very precious gift. Some give it freely, risking everything. Some respectfully reserve the right to ask others to earn it. Either way the moment trust is given, the risk of getting hurt begins. The decision is to whom will we deem worth it.
As sad as this quote sounds, how true it rings for so many. Trust is a very precious gift. Some give it freely, risking everything. Some respectfully reserve the right to ask others to earn it. Either way the moment trust is given, the risk of getting hurt begins. The decision is to whom will we deem worth it.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Merry Christmas
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” This timeless treasure, written by Eddie Pola and George Wyle, describe my feelings perfectly. I love Christmas! Though we don’t usually see much snow in Eastern North Carolina, we do have our fair share of ice, but somehow even without the snow Christmas day is the most beautiful day of the year. There’s nothing quite as special as gathering everyone you love all in one place, reciting the story of Jesus birth, laughing till you can barely breathe as you share memories of Christmas’ past and making new memories that you will laugh about next year. Yes, Christmas is truly the most wonderful, beautiful and magnificent time of the year. Merry Christmas from our home to yours.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Overwhelming Sense of Urgency
For several weeks now, I've felt an overwhelming sense of urgency. I can't explain it, but it's taken over my mind and my heart. There's a passion burning inside of me that can't be easily put out. I've cried and prayed more in the last few weeks than I have in a while. Why? Because the world around me is lost, searching for answers, searching for security and peace and while we have the answer we're too busy fussing and complaining about how loud the sound is, "I don't like that song," or "the day the church gets a projector, I'm leaving." Oh it sounds funny, but don't laugh. It's the truth. These things are taking place across our spoiled nation. We've made this thing about us and that's where we've gone wrong. We've shifted our focus from God to self while our families, friends and neighbors die lost.
Lately, I have been overcome with grief. My heart has been heavy even to the point where you could see the effects of this stress on my heart through my clothes with every beat. I've written it off as anxiety, but it's deeper than that. I do not cry for myself, but for those who can't seem to see their own condition. I've wept and repented for my laziness, carelessness and for keeping my silence when I should speak out, but now I weep for those who are in trouble. They've seared their hearts and closed their ears. They've rolled their eyes and with their actions rejected God. How can God speak and those who call Him Lord just walk away as if He never spoke a word?
Yesterday, I drove down to the beach a little after 4pm. With my Bible and journal in hand, I found a secluded spot and began to pray. I'm so hungry for God, for a move of God. Nothing else will satisfy. Nothing else can compare to His glory. I stayed there for hours, just me and God. I read His Word, meditated on every word, but my heart was arrested by the words found in Matthew 23:13, "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." Today across America, we have churches and those who are religious standing between people and God. Notice what Barnes Notes has to say regarding this passage of scripture.
"MATTHEW 23:13
Woe unto you—You are guilty, and punishment will come upon you. Jesus proceeds to state wherein they were guilty. This most eloquent, most appalling, and most terrible of all discourses ever delivered to mortals was pronounced in the temple, in the presence of multitudes. Never was there more faithful dealing, more terrible reproof, more profound knowledge of the workings of hypocrisy, or more skill in detecting the concealments of sin. This was the last of the Saviour’s public discourses; and it is a most impressive summary of all that he had ever said, or that he had to say, of a wicked and hypocritical generation.
You shut up the kingdom of heaven—Note, Matt. 3:2. They shut it up by teaching false doctrines respecting the Messiah; by binding the people to an observance of their traditions; by opposing Jesus, and attempting to convince the people that he was an impostor, thus preventing many from becoming his followers. Many were ready to embrace him as the Messiah, and were about entering into the kingdom of heaven—that is, the church—but they prevented it. Luke says Luke 11:52 they had taken away the key of knowledge, and thus prevented their entering in—that is, they had taken away the right interpretation of the ancient prophecies respecting the Messiah, and thus had done all that they could to prevent the people from receiving Jesus as their Redeemer.
We have an awesome responsibility. We're called and commissioned by God to go into the world and make disciples. We're called to deny ourselves, told to pick up our cross and follow Him. Jesus did not seek to be served, but instead chose to serve others. He left His throne in Heaven to done the robe of flesh, become like you and me and give His life on the cross. He didn't seek attention, but chose to bring attention to God. When and why did this whole thing become about us and what we want? Who are we without God? NOTHING!
God says in Job 38:4-14 NLT, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know how its dimensions were determined and who did the surveying? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels£ shouted for joy?
“Who defined the boundaries of the sea as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘thus far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness? For the features of the earth take shape as the light approaches, and the dawn is robed in red...."
The LORD, your Redeemer and Creator, says: “I am the LORD, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. By myself I made the earth and everything in it. Isaiah 44:24
We must remember our place in the grand scheme of things and return to our creator. We must repent and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and become His servants once again. Time is running out and there's no time for playing games, being stubborn, hardheaded, stiff necked and selfish. There's no time for fussing and complaining. It's time to return to our first love and put away childish behavior. Let us open our eyes once again and see God in all His glory. Let us open our ears once again to hear His voice. Let us open our hearts once again and be moved with compassion for the lost. If not, we will be as the scribes and pharisees found in Mathew 23:13, rebuked by God. The world needs to see Jesus! This world needs to hear Jesus!
Pray with me. God forgive me! I see myself through Your eyes today. I see the filth that has corrupted and distorted my vision. I've been blinded by the god of this world, molded by this world's design and have compared myself to those around me instead of You. Please forgive me. Teach me, instruct me. Create in me a clean heart, God. Renew a right spirit in me. Don't remove Your presence from me, but allow me to be Your servant once again. Use me for Your glory. Revive me! Set my feet straight and I'll follow You, Lord. I am Yours! I need You, God! I love You, God! I denounce all other gods for You are the one true God. I surrender all -- ALL -- of me right now. I am Yours! Take me, use me, saturate me with Your anointing. Give me the words to speak and shine through me so that all may know You. In Jesus name I humbly pray, Amen.
Lately, I have been overcome with grief. My heart has been heavy even to the point where you could see the effects of this stress on my heart through my clothes with every beat. I've written it off as anxiety, but it's deeper than that. I do not cry for myself, but for those who can't seem to see their own condition. I've wept and repented for my laziness, carelessness and for keeping my silence when I should speak out, but now I weep for those who are in trouble. They've seared their hearts and closed their ears. They've rolled their eyes and with their actions rejected God. How can God speak and those who call Him Lord just walk away as if He never spoke a word?
Yesterday, I drove down to the beach a little after 4pm. With my Bible and journal in hand, I found a secluded spot and began to pray. I'm so hungry for God, for a move of God. Nothing else will satisfy. Nothing else can compare to His glory. I stayed there for hours, just me and God. I read His Word, meditated on every word, but my heart was arrested by the words found in Matthew 23:13, "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." Today across America, we have churches and those who are religious standing between people and God. Notice what Barnes Notes has to say regarding this passage of scripture.
"MATTHEW 23:13
Woe unto you—You are guilty, and punishment will come upon you. Jesus proceeds to state wherein they were guilty. This most eloquent, most appalling, and most terrible of all discourses ever delivered to mortals was pronounced in the temple, in the presence of multitudes. Never was there more faithful dealing, more terrible reproof, more profound knowledge of the workings of hypocrisy, or more skill in detecting the concealments of sin. This was the last of the Saviour’s public discourses; and it is a most impressive summary of all that he had ever said, or that he had to say, of a wicked and hypocritical generation.
You shut up the kingdom of heaven—Note, Matt. 3:2. They shut it up by teaching false doctrines respecting the Messiah; by binding the people to an observance of their traditions; by opposing Jesus, and attempting to convince the people that he was an impostor, thus preventing many from becoming his followers. Many were ready to embrace him as the Messiah, and were about entering into the kingdom of heaven—that is, the church—but they prevented it. Luke says Luke 11:52 they had taken away the key of knowledge, and thus prevented their entering in—that is, they had taken away the right interpretation of the ancient prophecies respecting the Messiah, and thus had done all that they could to prevent the people from receiving Jesus as their Redeemer.
We have an awesome responsibility. We're called and commissioned by God to go into the world and make disciples. We're called to deny ourselves, told to pick up our cross and follow Him. Jesus did not seek to be served, but instead chose to serve others. He left His throne in Heaven to done the robe of flesh, become like you and me and give His life on the cross. He didn't seek attention, but chose to bring attention to God. When and why did this whole thing become about us and what we want? Who are we without God? NOTHING!
God says in Job 38:4-14 NLT, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know how its dimensions were determined and who did the surveying? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels£ shouted for joy?
“Who defined the boundaries of the sea as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘thus far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness? For the features of the earth take shape as the light approaches, and the dawn is robed in red...."
The LORD, your Redeemer and Creator, says: “I am the LORD, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. By myself I made the earth and everything in it. Isaiah 44:24
We must remember our place in the grand scheme of things and return to our creator. We must repent and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and become His servants once again. Time is running out and there's no time for playing games, being stubborn, hardheaded, stiff necked and selfish. There's no time for fussing and complaining. It's time to return to our first love and put away childish behavior. Let us open our eyes once again and see God in all His glory. Let us open our ears once again to hear His voice. Let us open our hearts once again and be moved with compassion for the lost. If not, we will be as the scribes and pharisees found in Mathew 23:13, rebuked by God. The world needs to see Jesus! This world needs to hear Jesus!
Pray with me. God forgive me! I see myself through Your eyes today. I see the filth that has corrupted and distorted my vision. I've been blinded by the god of this world, molded by this world's design and have compared myself to those around me instead of You. Please forgive me. Teach me, instruct me. Create in me a clean heart, God. Renew a right spirit in me. Don't remove Your presence from me, but allow me to be Your servant once again. Use me for Your glory. Revive me! Set my feet straight and I'll follow You, Lord. I am Yours! I need You, God! I love You, God! I denounce all other gods for You are the one true God. I surrender all -- ALL -- of me right now. I am Yours! Take me, use me, saturate me with Your anointing. Give me the words to speak and shine through me so that all may know You. In Jesus name I humbly pray, Amen.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Decision is Yours
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
—John 1:12
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
—John 3:16-17
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
—John 14:6
Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
—Acts 13:38-39
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
—Romans 1:16
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
—Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 6:23
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
—Romans 10:9-13
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
—2 Corinthians 5:17
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
—Ephesians 1:13-14
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep (meaning death) we might live with him.
—1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
—Titus 2:11-14
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
—1 Peter 1:8-9
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Knowing this you can choose to walk away, but you can't say you didn't know." - William Wilberforce
—John 1:12
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
—John 3:16-17
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
—John 14:6
Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
—Acts 13:38-39
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
—Romans 1:16
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
—Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 6:23
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
—Romans 10:9-13
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
—2 Corinthians 5:17
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
—Ephesians 1:13-14
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep (meaning death) we might live with him.
—1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
—Titus 2:11-14
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
—1 Peter 1:8-9
"Knowing this you can choose to walk away, but you can't say you didn't know." - William Wilberforce
Challenge of the Heart
Tonight my heart is heavy.
There's so much to be done.
I hear the cries of a hurting world
They need to be won.
There's a void they can not fill
Though they've seemingly tried everything
Money, drugs, the list goes on
But still something is missing
We hold the key
that unlocks the door
We have the hope
they're searching for
His name is Jesus,
the risen King,
If we can but go to where they are
We can help them see their need.
See right now they can't see past religion
to see that relationship is what it's all about
They can't see past our list of do's and don'ts
Because too often we fuss and pout.
When will we wake up and stop ignoring
the real issues that bind our hands and feet
While we're selfish, self-centered, with mouths running wild
We're setting ourselves up for defeat.
The mission is simple
but the fight is draining
The message is repent
but we keep refraining
from dealing with the issues in our hearts
How can we reach others
If we're torn apart?
Unity, unity,
Gather the called
United we stand
Divided we fall.
God is calling
A world is dying
Wake up, sleeper
Start crying.
The altar is empty
The pews are not filled
Hell is enlarging
Because we're not in the field
Wake up, Wake up
Sound the alarm
The enemy is attacking
and we are not armed.
Our weapons are not carnal
but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strongholds
So wake up, put your armor on.
Stop fussing and griping
Stand up and move on
There's too much at stake
For you to think of yourself alone.
God is calling, a world is dying
Friend, what will your choice be
if we'll unite and work together
So many bound can be made free.
Written by: Kimberly Waters
Sept 27, 2009
There's so much to be done.
I hear the cries of a hurting world
They need to be won.
There's a void they can not fill
Though they've seemingly tried everything
Money, drugs, the list goes on
But still something is missing
We hold the key
that unlocks the door
We have the hope
they're searching for
His name is Jesus,
the risen King,
If we can but go to where they are
We can help them see their need.
See right now they can't see past religion
to see that relationship is what it's all about
They can't see past our list of do's and don'ts
Because too often we fuss and pout.
When will we wake up and stop ignoring
the real issues that bind our hands and feet
While we're selfish, self-centered, with mouths running wild
We're setting ourselves up for defeat.
The mission is simple
but the fight is draining
The message is repent
but we keep refraining
from dealing with the issues in our hearts
How can we reach others
If we're torn apart?
Unity, unity,
Gather the called
United we stand
Divided we fall.
God is calling
A world is dying
Wake up, sleeper
Start crying.
The altar is empty
The pews are not filled
Hell is enlarging
Because we're not in the field
Wake up, Wake up
Sound the alarm
The enemy is attacking
and we are not armed.
Our weapons are not carnal
but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strongholds
So wake up, put your armor on.
Stop fussing and griping
Stand up and move on
There's too much at stake
For you to think of yourself alone.
God is calling, a world is dying
Friend, what will your choice be
if we'll unite and work together
So many bound can be made free.
Written by: Kimberly Waters
Sept 27, 2009
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