The Promise of Spring

Sometimes like Mr. Tumnus in "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe", we feel as if it will be "always Winter; never Spring".  But let the Holy Spirit bring refreshment and encouragement to your heart this day.  For I don't know the circumstances you're going through, but He does.  And He loves you so much that He wants you to know that He's never left you, that He has you in the palm of His hand and you are under the shadow of His wing.  He is here to speak tenderly to you in your winter season.  And as a child of God, an heir of His salvation, He takes the time to send you an "Heir mail" message during your time of tribulation and trials. 

I found myself pondering the upcoming Winter season here in Michigan and how Winter has always been a very dark place for me emotionally.  In short, it's not my favorite season of the year.  Difficult driving, cold and gloomy days just don't create a happy place in my heart.

Yet, as I continued to ponder, a thought occurred that with Winter comes the promise of Spring; to look beyond Winter this year and focus on our upcoming Springtime.  I just love Spring!  As soon as the crocuses start popping their multi-colored heads through the snow and the mourning dove begins to coo, I know that Spring is almost ready to display her fresh, new, lush displays of colors from every color spectrum as flowers bloom, grasses green and trees bud.

One of my favorite verses is found in Song of Solomon, Chap. 2:10-13 "My beloved spoke, and said to me: 'Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land." 

And then we turn back to Ps. 23:1-2 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters, He restores my soul...."

The writer of Ecclesiastes puts it this way in Chap. 3:1, "To everything there is a season, a time for every matter or purpose under heaven;...."

After years and years of one trial after another, and much weariness, we are in a new season of our lives.  My oldest son is about to be married in March...in the Spring.  We are overjoyed for them!  My youngest son is attending culinary school and seems to have never been happier.  After years of physical ailments and surgeries one after the other, I am finally pain free and off all narcotics!  The Lord seems to be ushering in a new season of life for our family, and I've been searching His heart in deeper measure.

I can't tell you that I prayed everyday during these many trials.  For four years I turned my back on the Lord, but by His grace and mercy, He restored me to Himself, and since that time, have continued to look to Him for His grace during my life.  I would pray, but my prayers seemed very weak and pitiful.  I thank God for the people in my life who prayed faithfully for me and my family over the past two decades during the dry, desert times...which were many and seemed unending.

But what I also learned through these times is how the Lord remembers that He made us out of dust. Jesus lived in an earthly body, so He knows how it feels to "go through life" on this earth.  He experienced much more than we ever have...unto the shedding of His blood...which we have not had to suffer.  But in understanding our human frailties, He now sits at the right hand of God, The Father, ever making intercession for the saints.  This means that no matter your circumstances, Jesus is praying for you before God, The Father.  I've also learned that "Jesus, Help!" is a prayer.  And I learned that when I was too weary, the Lord in His goodness, mercy and compassion, gave me scriptures to encourage my heart along the way.

But now, there is a shift.  Not just a change in events, but I sense a newness and a shift in my heart; that the Lord is doing a "new thing" in our lives.  Is. 43:18-19 states, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing.  Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."     

So as I reflected on our many, many years of trial, I thought of others who are experiencing tribulations and how sometimes, hope of emerging at all, let alone intact, seems less than a fading glimmer.  But He's here to encourage your heart.

I posted the following on Facebook yesterday:
"Sensing someone needs encouragement this day....For those of you whom God is taking you through a season of trials (months - years...getting through one trial only to surface as the next tidal wave hits), the Valley of Achor, the Valley of the Shadow of Death, "always Winter; never Spring", where there seems as if there will be no end....know that there will be a day coming of rich fulfillment. Our task is to stay obedient and...faithful to the Lord and not turn away as the devil would have us to do.

We have a choice in the Valley....we can choose to turn our back on God, or we can look to Him as one who sticks closer than a brother. For there WILL BE a day when He brings you OUT OF THE FIRE to rich fulfillment as is His promise in Ps. 66:10-13 (Amp.) "For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us as silver is tried, refined, and purified. You brought us into the net (the prison fortress, the dungeon); You laid a heavy burden upon our loins. You caused men to ride over our heads [when we were prostrate]; we went through fire and through water, but You brought us out into a broad, moist place [to abundance and refreshment and the open air]." The NKJV describes this as a "place of fulfillment".

Rejoice and be glad for He has not forgotten you. You are in the palm of His hand, and as He takes you through His plan, no weapon formed against you shall prosper!"

Praise God and Praise God!  He alone is taking you through His plan for your life for His Kingdom Glory.  And while He takes you through, nothing, absolutely nothing separates you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

Isaiah 60:20 gives us hope in the midst of winter: "Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light and the days of your mourning shall be ended."

Rejoice and be glad dear child of the living God for He SHALL bring you into rich fulfillment and He gives you the promise of Spring in Jesus' Name.  Hallelujah!  Praise God!

Ever yours in Christ,
Crista
CMSimmons52@aol.com

New Life After Brokenness

Dear Reader,
This morning the Lord was encouraging my heart after a year of heartbreak and personal issues.  I had grown weary, feeling broken and empty.  I asked the Lord to renew and refresh my spirit.

This morning, He said, "It is I who use your brokenness for My Glory.  As the woman who poured pure nard over my feet and washed them with her tears; she first broke the container.  Then the aroma filled the room.  So will I use your brokennes as a sweet smelling savor for My Glory.  Be of good cheer.  Stay the course.  I shall renew the places in your heart which feel void; for I am The One who takes nothing and makes something out of it for My good."

It was then that I read this current posting by my friend, Becky Porter.   I just love it when God confirms His prophetic word.  Read it and be encouraged.  God knows our brokenness and out of it, He will give new life.

Blessings and love always,
Crista
CMSimmons52@aol.com

September 16, 2012

Healing, Brokenness and Transformation

By Becky Porter

I hear the Lord saying: You are in a season of healing, brokenness and transformation. You need to go through this refining process before I release you into the new places I have prepared for you. I know at times it has been very painful, but it is a necessary part of the process you must go through. If you realized all that has already been accomplished you would rejoice! Be encouraged, for you have made great progress and are much further along than you realize!

Excerpt from a prophetic Word the Lord gave me in 2004:

I see a vision of us in the spin cycle of a washing machine. As we spin around, the things of the flesh are being spun off (wrung out) of us, just as water is wrung out of clothes in a washing machine. This is nothing to fear, it just simply means that God is going to be setting us free from some things. The more quickly we submit and surrender to the Lord’s “surgery”, the more quickly we will pass the test and be able to move on to the next level that He has for us. Some people wrestle with God their entire lives and fight this embracing of the cross (the process of dying to the flesh), and because of this, God can never FULLY use these people, and they never truly fulfill all of the call and destiny that God has for them.

In John 12:24, the Lord says, “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Life is in the grain. However, there is a shell outside of the grain, a very powerful shell. As long as this shell does not break open, the grain cannot grow. “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies.” What is this death? It is the action of the temperature and moisture of the earth upon the grain, which results in the breaking of the shell. When the shell breaks, the grain grows. Therefore, it is not a matter of whether or not the grain has life, but whether the outer shell is broken. Just as with the alabaster flask that had to be broken open before the costly perfume could be poured forth, so it is with us. God has to break the hard and rigid shell of flesh off of us before His life can truly spring forth and be poured forth from our lives in purity. How does this breaking occur? God uses many various ways to get rid of our flesh, (our self-life) – He has a way of making the environment just right – He sets the flames to the exact right temperature as He “bakes” our clay vessels, and just when we feel it is too hot and we can’t take anymore, He lowers the temperature and lets us cool off and rest awhile before He takes the flames yet even higher. Is it painful? Yes, VERY painful! But the end result is that we become a pure vessel of honor that God can use for His glory! After God has removed the dross and impurities from our lives, His reflection, His glory, His goodness, His mercy, His compassion, His love, His authority and His power can now be seen, and the precious, costly, sweet fragrance of Christ is now able to pour forth freely from us - unhindered!

Becky Porter

lovetoencourage@yahoo.com

BREAKTHROUGH PRAYER!

Dear Reader,
After the past two postings and the comments received and my own personal prayers that I've been praying, I sense in the Spirit that MANY in the Body of Christ have been praying prayers for years and have still not seen the long awaited breakthrough.  Many of you are holding God's promises in your hearts of what you have heard from the Lord and seen in visions which He has given you....and still you wait.  You KNOW that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD....and you wait.  I wait for answers to prayers too, just like you....some have been prayed for 15 years or more....


Well today...we're praying for BREAKTHROUGH!  Through Christ, we are His children and by the Blood of Christ, we may come boldly before His Throne in time of need.  Within many of us, He's put the yearning and the longing for expansion....for more than where we are right now....We know we are to be content in Christ; but there exists this passion within us to expand....to bless others in far greater measure than where we are right now.  As Jabez prayed, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!", you want this with your whole heart.  Jabez's name meant: "Pain".  His mother born him in pain, and named him pain.  Some of us feel as if all we've ever had to deal with is the pain of not being what we would have liked, the pain of our past staring us full in the heart, the pain of unanswered prayer....for hope deferred makes the heart sick.


God has given you a promise for expansion and even told you to enlarge the place of your tent, but you have YET to experience His promise that He gives us in Isaiah 54:1-4 "Sing, O barren, You who have not borne!  Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child!  For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman, says the Lord.  Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strenthen your stakes, for you shall expand to the right and to the left, ......" 


No longer are we content to hear.....we want to EXPERIENCE THE BLESSINGS OF GOD TO BLESS OTHERS IN GREATER MEASURE....IN OVERFLOW.   We are praying for breakthrough in that as the Song of Solomon states in Chapter 2:11-12...."For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.".....You want to hear the voice of the Lord afresh....You want to KNOW that the winter of your prayer time is over and now there will come forth A BURST OF NEW LIFE into the winter of your prayers!  You long to hear the voice of the turtledove announcing Springtime to the situation for which you have labored and travailed.  "GOD!  HEAR MY PRAYER!", you have cried.


As Psalm 123:1-3 declares, your heart cries out, "Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.  Behold, as the eyes of the servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us.  Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us."


This morning, the Lord took me to the following verses from the Amplified:
Ps. 34:4 "I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
Ps. 33: 18-22 "Behold, the Lord's eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and lovingkindness.  To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.  For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.  Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You." 


We have prayed....We have hoped....and now, we are going to go boldly before His Throne of grace this day, to pray for His breakthrough anointing in your life by the power of the Holy Spirit, because His Word in Zech. 4:4 declares, "Not by might nor power, but by My Spirit....says the Lord of hosts."


Let us pray:
"Father, I come boldly before Your Throne of Grace in time of need through the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ whose Blood redeemed us and paid for our sins. 
I come Father on behalf of Your Sons and Daughters and myself who have been praying long and travailing prayers for years.  Lord, we know that You are sovereign and we do not attempt to know Your plans, but Lord, You have given us promises....year after year...and we have yet to see the fulfillment of Your promises.  Lord, we have been faithful to ask, seek and knock....and to pray in the Spirit with groans that we cannot understand...but Lord, it has still remained winter to our prayers and we long to hear the turtledove once more in the land.  Lord, we long for Spring to come to our prayers for which we have labored.  Lord, You have told us to ask.  So Lord, we are asking.
As Moses stretched out his rod over the Red Sea and it parted, so do I, right now in the Spirit realm, by the Person and Power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, stretch out the Rod of Righteousness, Who IS JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, over each and every unanswered prayer of your saints, myself included, to declare BREAKTHROUGH IN THE HEAVENLY REALM FOR YOUR ANSWERS TO COME TO THE EARTH TO PART THE WATERS FOR LONG AWAITED BARREN ANSWERS TO PRAYERS TO BE MANIFESTED ON THE EARTH - FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINICPALITIES AND POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS AGE, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.  THEREFORE, I LIFT THE SHIELD OF FAITH ABOVE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO QUENCH ALL THE FIREY DARTS OF THE EVIL ONE AND I TAKE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT TO SEVER ALL PLANS OF THE ENEMY AGAINST YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS AND PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS OVER EACH AND EVERY PRAYER PRAYED THAT LORD, YOU YOURSELF WILL INTERVENE AND MANIFEST YOUR ANSWER ON THE EARTH AS IT IS DONE IN HEAVEN.  LORD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, I DECLARE THAT HEAVEN SHALL INVADE EARTH WITH THE MIGHT AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SPLIT THE RED SEAS AND THAT OUR ENEMIES WHOM WE SEE THIS DAY, WE SHALL SEE NO MORE, FOREVER IN JESUS NAME!

In completion, as the priests raised the trumpets to their mouths and blew at the Lord's command through Joshua, so do I life the trumpet to my mouth to blow the wind of the Holy Spirit into your situation....I sound the trumpet to announce in the heavenly realm to our enemies that they ARE DEFEATED IN JESUS' NAME...THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES WHO HUMILIATED THEM AT THE CROSS IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM!  HALLELUJAH!  I BLOW THE TRUMPET - THE SHOFOR OVER YOU AND YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!

Father, I pray You loving-kindness and mercy be displayed to each and every person reading this prayer, this day, in Jesus' Name, so be it.  Amen and Amen, Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Amen.  To God be the Glory, both now and forevermore.  Amen!'


God bless you, dear one.  God bless you.
Ever yours in Christ,
Crista
CMSimmons52@aol.com

Out of Your Belly Shall Flow Rivers of Living Water!

Sometimes we're just sailing along in life....and whoosh....the skies are blue, the breeze is gentle and the waters calm....and then something comes along to change all that....Now, I'm not talking about the turbulent, tornadic water spouts that spring up out of nowhere.....It's not that we find our boat capsized and we're choking on life's onslaught.....No, it is just those times in life that we take a time out and ask for God's clarification for His further direction. "Lord, am I on course?"

I'm talking about those nagging rubs which happen along the way in life where we stop to ask, "God? Am I really doing what You have intended for my life? Is this it?" Added to all of this is the fact that I'll be entering my next "mile marker decade" this year, and it has given me pause to consider the time the Lord will allow me to fullfill on this earth and what He wants from me....What do I do with today? Lord, am I fulfilling what YOU want....or just what pleases me?

For those who've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I am not an "expository" writer.  I don't take scripture and dissect it into little teeny, tiny pieces parts to examine every jot and tittle.  That is just NOT my calling....and I will leave that to the experts!  (Whew!  Thank you very much!)

I'm just not one of those persons who delights in diagramming a sentence.  Oh my goodness!  Poor Mrs. Hufnagle - our seventh grade English teacher.....Having to teach dissection of the written human language to teenagers!  I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!  I'm sure I would cause heart palpitations to the the most precise writers of the English language!  But, please pardon me while my participles dangle and my adverbs jump the proverbial grammatical curbs!  (I think this is why I enjoy blogging....No editorial red lines!)

In fact, I'm reminded of Erma Bombeck's writings.  I cut my teeth as a mother on the humor of "Erm".  She was THE reason I subscribed to our local newspaper....What did Erma have to tell me today that would help me to laugh my way through diapers, teething and toddling?  There was a quality to Erma's writing that I thorougly enjoyed...and so did her multitudes of readers....We KNEW her, because she was us!  She wrote in a way that shared the pithiness and poignancy of life with "Bombeckian humor" that was uniquely hers.  She came "into her own".

Whether it be literature or film, music or canvas...we know there are those "artists" who are uniquely their own.  When we see or hear their particular style, there is something that lights up within us that goes "Aha....that's ___________" and a smile eases its way into our hearts as a soothing, warm, gently scented oil or with a grandiose fortissimo!

Well back to my opening thought...I think we can find comfort in those times of self-introspection and evaluation.  I think the Lord causes these "rubs" as I call them, to help us to know more fully our calling and sense of direction to which He's called us....for if we don't know....Well, as they say, "If you don't know where you're going....You'll never get there."  And it is the desire of my heart to one day hear the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of your Lord."  And this has been one of those times....that I wanted to know that I know that I know that I know that I was "on track" and not missing the mark.

So it is that it has been just such a time....searching...asking....waiting for His answer.  Not agonizing...but waiting....And just as a summer breeze sweeps through the window to refresh our soul....sometimes almost unperceptible....the Lord brought His answer.
I was writing to a friend from church who'd prayed for me this past Sunday at the altar.  She specifically asked the Lord to reveal His answer within one week, and wrote yesterday to ask how I was doing....I replied that I was writing again after having not feeling well for about a month, and wrote that writing for me is as a composer would put to paper that which has been formulating in his mind and heart....perhaps not totally distinguishable, but in skeleton form, until the work begins...and that which seems elusive begins to evolve....melody and harmony in synch with one another....at times in a minor key...at times up an octave....dipping and curving....intertwining....until that which the composer had only at one point known needed to be expressed....even though perhaps not seeing the finished product at the time....took the step of faith to put pencil to paper and begin....one note at a time....until the piece slowed for its final ritardando....and final notes - whether sung as a solo....or in harmony with its musical companions.

I guess I realized in greater depth what a creative outlet writing really is for me...and what gives me the greatest sense of fulfillment is "writing from the gut"....coloring "outside the lines"....where the rawness of life meets the Glory of God...That place where God blows His Spirit into the dust of the earth and gives life and meaning the ashes of our lives....the miracles that are birthed out of the grit of a seeming void....that place where God creates....that place where we become His hands and His heart....His encouragement....His hope to someone who needs what He wants to give to them through us this day....because He knows they need a lifeline and He wants to use us to do it! 

I finished my email and clicked "send"....not fully realizing what the Lord had revealed to me...It wasn't until this morning that He brought His Word of confirmation...to make sure I really "got it".  (Oh...the long-suffering of the Lord!  His mercies are new every morning!)....And this morning it was that He wakened my sleep with this scripture from John 7:38 "....out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water."  Some versions use the word belly to describe...the gut....the core of our innermost being.
There was the completion to His answer!  It was as if the Lord said, "Now, just in case you missed it (which I had!), I'm going to give you My Word to confirm what I revealed to you yesterday." 

Maybe you're content in life....and you're doing just fine.  But maybe you've found yourself asking the same question of late.  And so I encourage you today....What is it that flows out of your innermost being?  What is it that you love to do?  What is it that gives you joy when you do that particular task?  What is it that "describes" you?  That is what the Lord has given you to do at this particular time in your life. 

So often, I believe especially as women....we compare ourselves to others....But may I encourage your heart to just be you....just you?  Maybe you love to clean (which is TOTALLY beyond my comprehension!)....and you would be able to help someone who has special needs....Maybe the Lord has called you to pray and love on your grandchildren in a special way for this time in their life....Perhaps you could be a helper to a single mother....or a mother who has no family members to call upon to give her some "time off".....

Whatever this may be for you....even if you don't know....perhaps you want to start by just listing a couple items....and title it: "Things I Like to Do".  Ask God to take those gifts that He's given just to you and to multiply them for His glory.
You know, Jabez prayed a prayer like that in I Chronicles 4:10 "And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"  So God granted him what he requested."

So whatever your point in life, let's close in prayer together shall we.....trusting that as we come humbly before Him that He will hear and He will answer.

"Father, we come to You in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  And Lord, You see the gifts You have put within each one of us to bring glory to Your Name.  Lord, maybe we don't even see them right now, but You do.  Help us to know what You know fully well about who you made us to be.  As one snowflake is different from another, so have you made us.  Lord, our desire is to serve You.  We ask You Father to take these gifts and cause Your living water to flow out of us to others as You so desire.  Bless us indeed that You may bless others through us, that we may not cause anyone harm, but ever live to bring Glory to Your Name.  Amen."

Someone needs Him today...and He wants to use you to touch their lives and hearts for His Glory....You are the vessel He has chosen for such a time as this....for out of your belly shall flow rivers of His Living water.....
God bless you always~ 
Ever yours in Christ,
Crista
Numbers 6:24-26
CMSimmons52@aol.com

The Reverential Fear of the Lord

Dear Blog Readers~

So great to be with you again after a long lapse! For about a month now, the Lord has been speaking to me about "The Reverential Fear of the Lord" and the necessity of the Church to understand the absolute wisdom of God contained within Proverbs 1:7. It is vital to our walk with the Lord to understand that there is a holy, reverential and healthy fear of the Lord which is foundational to our Christian lives.

While watching "The Last Samurai" last night (and I like war movies and how they relate to our Christian commitment), one line stood out...in that, Capt. Algren remarked how the Samurai village contained a separateness and a spiritual quality about it that was unequaled to anything he'd ever previously encountered...He wanted to know more about them.

And so, we must come back to some foundational truths in Christ in that a reverential fear of the Lord is a priority for living a righteous and holy life. Our Christian walk is to be more than punching a button on Facebook or forwarding an email that says, "If you're not ashamed of Me, you will send this on." Really? Is that what our Christianity has now been reduced to? Pushing "Like" buttons and forwarding emails? Because if this is all it takes, anyone can do that.....Church, we are called to mature in Christ.

The following are my notes from the Sunday School class I led this week. Feel free to copy & paste into a format that works better for you.  You are invited to partake of the meal He has provided and we examine our own lives and hearts before Him.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive study, but as we purpose in our hearts to live rightly and holy before the Lord, He will show us The Way; for He is the way, the truth and the life.  

I look forward to meeting with you on a more regular basis.

Blessings always~ Crista

Righteous Living Begins with The Reverential Fear of the Lord

Second only to our salvation is the understanding that our righteous living….walking it out in our day to day life, begins with the reverential fear of the Lord.  Our behavior, both privately and publicly, always reveals what we have truly internalized re: God’s Word and how we are to live our lives before Him. Heb. 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

God’s Word says that His People are destroyed for lack of knowledge….Hosea 4:6

Knowledge:
Strong’s #1847 - Knowing, Understanding, Intelligence, Wisdom, Discernment, Skill
Prov. 1:7 NKJV : “For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and knowledge.”
Amplified: “The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.” (Amp. Version)

The Fear of God:Strong’s Concordance #4172, morah as: “Fear, reverence, terror, awe; an object of fear, respect, or reverence. Morah is derived from yare’, “to be afraid of, to fear, to reverence.” (Reverence, semnos: Strong’s #4586: Behavior that is dignified, honorable, decent, august, worthy of respect.)

Our trust in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior is more than a “collect $200/pass Go/get out of jail free” card as the lives of too many professing Christians today demonstrate little difference from unbelievers in word, deed and action; showing little/if any regard for the consequences of our behavior or the realization that God holds us accountable for every thought, word, deed and motive.
There are those in Christian leadership today who are not preaching holiness and making it sound as if we are all friends of God through professing Christ as our Savior. This is called apostasy. Jesus says that we are His friends IF we do whatever He commands us. (John 14:15) This is a conditional statement which demands our attention.
Beware of teachings which put emphasis upon relationship with the Lord without accountability/responsibility on our part.

Scriptural Truths: 1. We will all have to give an account before God. 2 Cor. 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
2. We are all naked before God. Heb. 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give and account.“ What we do, say in private is just as open to God as what we do in public. A good question to ask ourselves: “If Jesus were standing/sitting next to me right now, would I do what I am doing?” Well, He is anyway.
3. We will all be judged.
4. We are to live sanctified, holy lives - To be holy as the Lord, Himself is holy; to come out and be separate. To be sanctified (separated from the world) in thought, deed, action, motive, character, speech and habits.Scriptures:

1) Examine our fruit: Matt. 7:15-21, Gal. 5:22-25
2) Realize that what comes out of a mouth/heart defiles a person. Matt. 15:11, Eph. 4:29-32
3) Our lips may say, “Yes, Lord.”…but our heart is far from Him. (Matt. 15:8)
4) We all have choices in how we shall live; this day/today. Joshua 24:15
5) We are only His friend, IF we do His will. John 14:15
6) Avoid those who preach that it is not necessary to live holy and righteously! Eph. 5:7, Ephesians 5:1-7, 8-14, 15-21, Jude 3-4, 16-25

Reverential Fear of the Lord --->Leads to Holy and Right Living which is pleasing to the Lord
Where do I go from here?
1) Ask the Lord to examine my heart that we may live a holy, sanctified life out of our reverence, love and awe for Him.  (Ps. 139:23-24)
2) Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and body. (Deut. 6:5)
3) Love our neighbor as ourselves. (Lev. 19:18)
4) Be obedient to His Will and Word
     *Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22b)

     *Rebellion is as witchcraft (1 Sam. 15:23a)

     *To him who knows to do good, but doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

5) Purpose in my heart to be Holy as He is Holy (1 Pet. 1:16)

6) Determine/purpose to live a sanctified life - as Jesus prayed for us in the Garden of Gethsemane. (John 17)

7) Minister and serve unto the least of these (Matt. 25:40)

8) Live at peace with all men. (Rom. 12:18)

9) Guard my mouth. (Eph. 4:29-32)

10) Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, but be filled with the Spirit. Be baptized in the Holy Ghost Who empowers us from on high with His Strength and Power to live holy and righteous on this earth to the Glory of God!  Hallelujah!  (Eph. 4:1-3, Gal. 5:16-25)  

11) Imitate God. (Eph. 5:1)

12)Develop the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-24)

Life Application:All of us could make a list of things to change…..We look into the mirror of God’s Word so that we know what He desires of us….and we purpose/commit to living a holy, righteous life out of our reverence/fear/awe/respect/worship for Him Who Is The Only Wise God.

Prayer:“Lord, I commit this day, right now, to walk in righteousness before You. Forgive me for the way in which I have strayed from You and Your Word. I ask You to search me and know me and see if there be any wicked or hurtful way in me and lead me in the way everlasting…on Your path of righteousness for Your Name sake. God, I ask that You put such reverence and love in my heart for You, that I purpose in my heart to live holy before You. Show me. Lead me. Send Your Holy Spirit to do what I am unable to do for myself…for I know that I can’t, but You can. Therefore I move my pieces. I choose this day to live in obedience to Your Word that Your Glory may be known among the nations. Amen and Hallelujah!”

Be blessed,
Crista
(CMSimmons52@aol.com)

In a Spirit of Gentleness~

Yesterday, I had the blessed opportunity to officiate a funeral…and I say “blessed”…because the Lord opened the door to share His love and His Word….We never know the condition of the hearts that are listening to the funeral service, but He does…And one thing I believe with all my heart is that His love reaches down to the worst of us sinners to bring us to the saving knowledge of His salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior….

And yes, I say “worst of us”, because I know who I was before Christ, and I also know what it is to backslide and to be given a second chance to be redeemed from the clutch of hell. And I can honestly tell you that I truly don’t know how I “got back”, other than His grace, mercy, love and compassion which drew me out of the pit of hell. But there was a “turning point”….My pastor (in 1999) had preached a sermon which convicted my heart - deeply…and I had to talk with him afterwards and confess my sin. I was living two lives…one in the Praise Team and presenting myself as a “good Christian woman”….the other - a fornicator….the ravages of an emotionally painful marriage that ended in divorce…my own wounds and vulnerabilities…and I had succumbed to the temptation of the world…But on that day, the Lord gave me an opportunity to repent and turn….

Blind, beaten, dirty and broken….That is our condition before Christ….and that is our condition when we fall back into the world….How do we approach the one who is blind, beaten, dirty and broken….How do we approach the backslidden? With a stick…or with gentleness and compassion; knowing that we too, are also subject to temptation….(Gal. 6:1)…Please understand that at this point, I am not condoning sin. When we are sinning…we are to stop. And I do not support using scripture to justify sinning. The Gospel is never to be used to justify sinning. (Romans 6:15)

What do we see when we as Believers now look to those who are steeped in the things of the world? ~My friend, Clo Lent DiPilato posted this scripture on Facebook this morning from Luke 18...of which I will quote verses 10-14 from the Amplified version:

“Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men - extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers - or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain. But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am! I tell you, this man went down to his home justified (forgiven and made upright with God), rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Lord through the Apostle Paul , Colossians 3:12-15 from the Amplified Bible wrote:

v. 12 “Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].

v. 13 Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].

v. 14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together in ideal harmony].

v. 15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].”

And from Chapter 4: 5-6 “Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity. Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].”

I love the word winsome! For it means charming, in a child-like way. Oh…how a child will respond to the loving accepting arms of the one who says, “Come to me…and you will find rest and comfort….love and acceptance…”

Jesus left the ninety-nine to go find the one….Will we do the same?….He gave His life to bring us into His fold….

He came not to be served, but to serve….What will we do with the life He’s given us?

“Lord Jesus, make me an instrument of Your mercy and grace this day…to those who are in need of You….Amen and Amen….”

Be Blessed of the Lord~

Ever yours in Christ Jesus~

Crista Simmons (CMSimmons52@aol.com)

http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com

LifeCare Ministries http://www.LifeCareMin.org

Rock and Roll - Be Still and Know

This morning while reading Psalm 46, the Lord gave me an image of an Ocean Wave/Tilt-a-Whirl…those dastardly mechanical mechanisms of gastronomical torture placed strategically on our playgrounds in the 50’s and 60’s…Go have lunch…then go “play” on the puke machines! Now THAT makes sense! NOT!

Oh…I digress…But isn’t that how our lives “feel” at times?????

Ps. 46:1-3.…”God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas. Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that!].”….

….Selah…Breathe in…pause…breathe out….

Back to the Ocean Waves of our lives….Up and over…over and up…pulsating to the thrusts of its riders…low to high…high to low…swirling and sashaying…up and around….the higher the rise, the faster the rush to the bottom…centrifugal force casting us once again up and over and around and plunging…spinning ever faster and more furiously….until it was time to head back into school….For some, it was total ecstasy…for others, we were as green as grass within five seconds flat!

Isn’t that how life feels sometimes? There are the time’s in life that give us that rush of ecstasy…but there are others that leave us with little more than an overwhelming, nauseous condition which only stopping will cure….and then when we dismount, we’re still not sure if we’re going to stand…tottering…faltering…flopping on the ground….staggering…But we’re not left alone….He is with us. The Lord, Our God, never changes. He is our Rock…Our firm foundation….Our Strong Tower….

Let’s continue to read….v. 4-7 “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early [at the dawn of the morning]. The nations raged, the kingdoms tottered and were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our Fortress and High Tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!”

….Selah…Breathe in…pause….breathe out….

v. 8-9 “Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations and wonders in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two; He burns the chariots in the fire.”

v. 10-11 “Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold), Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!”

….Ahhhhh….deep breath….

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest, [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good - not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Selah…pause and calmly think of that….”Come, Lord Jesus, Come….”

May your load be lifted today by the Only One Who is able to carry our burdens….

Ever yours in Christ,

Crista

http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com

Knock! Knock! Knock!!!

Yesterday on Facebook, I shared what the Lord had told me at the end of my time of pouring out my heart to Him....But I want to share what ensued prior to His word to me...and many of us...because sometimes it is very easy to think that we are alone in our struggles...and the one writing does not struggle or does not share in the agony of heart like we do. So, for those of you who feel alone in your struggle...let me encourage your heart....The Lord walks with you and me...and He's not left you nor forsaken you.

Yesterday, as I sat w/ coffee in hand....I mentally pictured the Lord on the other side of my living room...kind of a Gestalt...And my position was just open and honest...even though it was a "You stay on Your side, and I'll stay on mine, and we'll get along just fine." (I hadn't healed from the salt in my wounds yet....) So...I just sat and talked...You see, I'd been feeling personally threatened by a certain situation about which I cannot publicly write. (Hubby and I are fine!)

And this is what I wrote as He responded...

"I've been waiting for this time (together), Crista. SLOW DOWN!!! SLOW DOWN!!!! Be still and know that I AM God. In the face of adversity, you run, but I tell you to stop and stand. I know you have conflict that you didn't create (or are not responsible for the creation of it), but do you honestly think I will allow that? NO!! You are under the shadow of My wing - and I say that there, no evil shall befall you. (Psalm 91)

STAND STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD! (Exodus 14:13) For the Lord is Mighty in Battle! It is I Who Do The WORK, so that the Only One in Whom you may boast is Me. I delight to give good gifts to My children and bring victory to your situation; for My Glory is one of those good gifts. You ARE more than a conqueror through Christ, or I would not have told you so. O ye of little faith, lift up a shout, for your day of victory is about to come about."

And by the end of our time together....He was sitting next to me on the couch....

Rev. 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me."

Thank You, Lord for Your long-suffering and patience and compassion and love....Please reveal Yourself even more to our hearts today...as we invite You in....

Love to all,

Crista

http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com

CMSimmons52@aol.com

TIME'S UP!

Dear Blog Readers,

This is a long entry today. It is so serious, and you may want to print it out. It has to do with how the Lord has been warning His Church about His impending judgment and being right with Him. Please know that this message is not written to one person(s) or group, but to The Body of Christ; for we all have a responsibility and an accountability to walk rightly and holy before the Lord. We will stand, individually, before the Judgment Seat of Christ. We are all called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling - not trusting in our flesh to do the work, but walking in His Truth and His Spirit.

Before we go on however, let me say this, I truly believe that for those who are truly in Christ, this is the Church’s finest hour…for the Lord promises in Isaiah 60 that when great darkness increases, then shall His light also increase. Also, be encouraged by Ps. 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid.”

Many in the Body of Christ have either gone through the fire, been going through it or will go through it.

Why? It is preparation for what is to come. It is purging us of what is not of Him so that we will walk in the fullness of Christ. But with that comes also the tearing down of the Towers of Babel…places built by men to serve their own selfish purposes while all the time purporting to be from God. God has much to say about leaders who should be feeding the flock and instead feed themselves. We continue to see and hear this lust for earthly goods perpetrated in the “prosperity doctrine“. The prosperity doctrine in all of it’s various interpretations is the modern day Pied Piper of deceit leading God‘s people to the abyss. (See Ezek. 34) (We heard a pastor once say, “Wouldn’t you love to have so much money in the bank that you had to transfer it from one bank to the other?”….And I ask you, “Is this what God says our Christianity is all about?????!!!!!” GOD HAVE MERCY!….BUT HE’S SAYING: “Time’s Up!”

It was on Monday, Jan. 3, that I awoke at 5 AM to the following dream:

I “heard” my husband violently shaking the front door...because it was locked…

RATTLE! RATTLE! RATTLE!!!!...And then I "heard" Steve shout to me, "Crista! Crista! Crista!"

When I awoke, I really thought he was in the room with me and hadn't gone to work....It took me a little while to get oriented to the fact that he was not home....

Then, three days later on Jan. 6, ...I had another dream:

Steve and I were together and it was told to us that in 5 weeks (Feb. 10th) my retirement benefits would expire....I panicked...and Steve said, "We will have to trust in the Lord to provide."

Both of these dreams indicate His grace (5 AM and 5 wks)...and He's been earnestly trying to get His wife's attention, but she's been asleep. At first, the door was locked so He had to violently shake it open to get our attention...and then once in, He will be shouting to wake up His Bride....

The “5 wks and your retirement benefits are over” have to do, I believe, with the fact that He's saying His time of grace (number 5) is done....He's given The Church time to acknowledge her sins, repent and turn from their wicked ways (2 Chron. 7:14-16)...but now He's saying, "TIME‘S UP!".…

And in the following dream the Lord through my friend, Connie, He is speaking directly to leaders in the Church, because He holds leaders more accountable. See posting:

http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/2010/12/warning-dream-and-interpretation.html

We have seen and will continue to see the Lord’s exposure of dirt and filth within leadership.

It is His Word which states that that which is done in darkness will be brought to light. (John 3:20-21)

We know that God is merciful. He gives us time and time and time again to repent and walk rightly before Him. But when His mercy is continuously met with a rebellious heart, then there comes a time for His firm line in the sand to be drawn…And His firm line is termed “Judgment”….

2 Peter 4:17-18 “For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God? And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked? [Prov. 11:31]

Now where is our Hope in all of this? It is in His righteousness…His holiness….allowing His Spirit to live and move and having His fullness in and through us; His vessels. Do we stand before Him in confidence; that our hearts do not condemn us? Or do we stand before Him knowing that we have been walking in rebellion? Are we seeking to justify our sin? Or are we asking Him to purge us of our sin? Do we want to be seen as holy and righteous before Him….or do we want to go out and partake of the filth and seek my own justification? Do we want to walk in the fruit of the Spirit….or the lusts of the flesh? Do we pray, “Lord, THY will be done, no matter what!”….Or do we pray, “Lord, this is what’s right for me…I know what’s best…Now, You do it.”

Beloved, hear the Word of the Lord:

Romans 13:11-14 “Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah). The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the (full) armor of light. Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy, but clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).”

Determine this day….As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! (Joshua 24:15)….For we are the house/the temple of the Living God.

I’ve included another dream and word received from the Lord from 2007 and 2008 that are appropriate to this message.

12/6/07
DREAM: House About to Be Brought Down:
Walking through this huge house which had the appearance of being very expensive, but in looking at the high ceiling I noticed that it appeared almost like a hard jell (one would think initially that it was glass), because it began to sag. Through the "jell" one could see all this crud crushing down upon the ceiling. Over to the left, one area gave way and a black trash bag emptied its contents of filthy clothes (rags) onto the floor. I watched as the high ceiling began to bulge even more from the weight of the junk piled high between the roof and the ceiling (that which was not visible to the eye). ~I was thankful that I was not in the market to purchase this home...but just going through it and looking....and I saw all that was about to "fall". ~Then I was in the basement of this same house (I think).....and I saw this older man (60-ish) doing something like working w/ tools....and then he made a comment about eating these white, fat snake-like things; kind of like "well, they're not to bad once you get used to them"....and not realizing that they were gross and NOT to eat them! And the basement was dark and slimy with bugs and snake things running around.

This is the condition of many churches today, and a soon coming "cave in" to the present "system"; people eating things that they have been programmed to believe are "good" for them when in reality they're harmful. The condition of this "house" was that the whole structure was about to collapse upon itself, because of what it had laid upon itself. It was its own "stuff" that was about to create the collapse. All the "stuff" is man's creation and the yokes put upon the sheep. They are the "programs" created by man in the name of the Lord to give the appearance of elegance and that all is right with the church, but in the end, they are responsible for its demise.

1/2/08 "Great Change Is Coming"
"Life as you know it is going to change. You are very comfortable right now, but I tell you the truth, Great Change Is Coming. I AM shaking all that can be shook. I AM shaking men's hearts. Who will trust Me to carry them through? Have I not said that judgment shall begin in the House of God first? Do not be surprised by what you shall see before you. I AM God! And men shall once again revere and fear My Name! Men shall fall on their faces before me. Yes, I am full of grace, mercy and compassion. BUT I AM ALSO THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE! My wrath have I reserved for those whom I have warned and yet have not heeded My warning! My wrath have I reserved for those shepherds who've abused My flock for their own gain; for greed in My Church is an abomination before Me. My compassion do I pour out on the unbeliever. Have I not said it is better to have a millstone hung around your neck and be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble? When those who are called by My Name cause the unbeliever, the little ones, the one whose faith is miniscule, to stumble because of their selfish greed, then My wrath is stirred!!
Then, I must take action where there is no repentance. I AM long-suffering, but enough is enough. I have seen the suffering of My People and the greed of the shepherds - the very ones who've been called to lay down their lives for My Sheep, and it causes Me to vomit! It is an abomination before Me! Think not that I do not see for My eyes roam to and fro throughout the earth to see if there is one righteous man/woman. Oh yes, there are many in My sight who are righteous, but it is not the ones who've been flaunted and do now flaunt themselves across the TV screen. Have I not said that I exalt the humble, but bring low the proud?
The proud are about to be brought low - in one sweep of My Mighty Right Hand. (In my spirit, I see God's hand sweep from left to right over America - from the southernmost tip of CA to the southernmost tip of FL.)
There are those who commit adultery with the world. My Church leaders have committed fornication with the political systems of the world! Take heed lest you fall! The time of My warnings have ended. Now, I shall bring vengeance upon those who have raped My Sheep for their own selfish gain and called it of Me."
(Ezek. 34:1-22, 1 Peter 3:12, 4:17-18, 5:2-3, 5-6, 2 Chron. 16:9, Matt. 18:6, Ps. 33:18, 34:15, Is. 65:11-15.

Over the month of December (2008) I have been receiving multiples of 7's in groups of 3's (Gifts of 21 candles total in Dec., Dinner bill of $17.77 and car odometer 166,777) I continue to seek the Lord for His message to me about this.

Be blessed in all ways as our hearts turn to Him.

Ever yours in Christ,

Crista

http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com

Walking in the Light of His Glory

As the world grows increasingly darker, may we ever walk in the fullness of the Light of Christ. The greater the darkness, the brighter even a little spark will shine. Yes, darkness shall increase on the earth before the coming of the Lord. But Beloved, take heart, when we are in Christ, we are His and His Light shall shine forth as the sun. His Glory! For "In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]." John 1:4-5

It truly matters not what is going on around us...even though we are faced with issues...that is part of living on this earth...but we do not need to allow the issues to consume us. May we allow Christ, through His Holy Spirit, to consume us, for He is an all consuming fire. And when He removes something/someone out of our life, it is for His Glory. He will fill that place with more of Himself when we allow Him to do His work in and through us.

May we ever live in humble servitude before Our King. "Thy will, O Lord...Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Not my will, because I have no comprehension of what is the best for this situation....Only You do...and I yield to Thy Will; whatever the outcome. For I know that whatever the enemy intends for evil, You will use for good. May You and You Alone be praised, glorified and magnified through this yielded vessel."

Our prayer for today is so appropriate in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Colossians: Col. 1:10-11 "That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. [We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints of God (God's holy people) in the Light."

Blessings always in Christ,

Crista

http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com

Standing the Test

I hope this photo brings a smile to your face...Been there done that...again...and will probably go through it again....(I'm talking about the cat....)...Don't know about you...but this is what testing looks like at times to me....Not real happy about the whole thing....In fact, we'd prefer watching paint dry!

Yet here we are about to see what the Apostle Paul has to say about His Brother and friend, Timothy, who is like a son to him...."But Timothy's tested worth you know...." Phil. 2:22

~Wow! What does that say about Timothy? He's been through "the stuff"...time and time again...and through all of his testing...there is now a worthiness about him that is evident to others. God has been glorified through his testing...and there is a quality about Timothy that has stood the test.

~I suspect that we would use the following adjectives to describe Timothy: Trustworthy. Faithful. Righteous and holy. A true man of God.

~This reminds me of the chemistry lab experiments in high school...The flame test...What does it smell like? What does it look like when the flame is applied? For certain elements have specific qualities that identify them only when the hot, blue flame burns deep to the core.

~So when the flame is applied to our lives...Who is seen? Self or Christ? Flesh or Christ? Yet not that I live, but Christ who lives in me. Gal. 2:20

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature)…” Gal. 5:24

“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

For those of us going through testing right now….REJOICE! LIFE UP YOUR HEADS AND REJOICE!

For Christ is being formed in and through us….The greater the darkness…the brighter the light shines….

Take heart, Beloved….take heart.

Blessings always,

Crista Simmons - http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com

~In Quietness and Confidence~

Actually, this is a photo from a postcard that my friend in Germany sent me...It's a birthday card!
But as I was writing today, isn't this what we feel like we've been handed in life at times...Something that was supposed to be all good and wonderful, and instead, we get a mouthful of gravel...or a surprise plate of glop straight from the pit of hell itself. As we can tell, this poor little woman isn't too happy about her "Happy Birthday" cake....Life went terribly wrong!

And that's what happens to us. There are just those times in life that we're just plain knocked sideways into the next dimension or slam dunked in our now; whether it be a circumstance in which we find ourselves (an accident, death of a loved one, job situation)....or in dealing with people (misunderstandings or an all out frontal assault by the enemy of our soul). It happened then....It happens now....It will happen again....for we know that when the enemy came against Jesus, he left Him (Matt. 4:11), but then we know that the enemy returned at later times - especially when he thought he'd won by crucifying the Lord.

We know from Job 1:6 that Satan came before the Lord to present himself among the sons of God. And we read that the Lord asked Satan, v. 7 "From where do you come?" Then reading further in v. 8 the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

It is from then on that Satan takes Job's property and his children, but we also know that God told him (Satan) that he could not take Job's life. (v. 12)

Trouble....It's a reality of living on this earth. It is a reality of our lives as Christians. One such event for me personally, was the receipt of an item that was totally unexpected. A slew of accusations fired hailstones into my heart...WHAM!...And momentarily I found myself spinning sideways...feeling off balance...threatened....Where to go from here?

These are the times we've all experienced...but what do we do with them?

The Lord gives us His Word for these times of trouble which pursue us, but do not overtake us.

Let me share with you what He's shown me so often, that your heart will be encouraged as well. He knows that we need His tender reminders. He knows our situation....He understands....He sees it all....and He will take care of it. And all we need to do is our part...to nestle under the shadow of His wing. (Ps. 91:1)

Be Comforted Beloved with His Word:

Isaiah 30:15 "For thus said the Lord God...In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.."

Psalm 46:10-11 "Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold). Selah [pause and calmly think of that].

Psalm 58:11 "Men will say, Surely there is a reward for the [uncompromisingly] righteous; surely there is a God Who judges on the earth."

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation - whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration, but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted!] For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Romans 8:37 "Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us."

In closing, precious ones....if you've been going through a trial....rest in Him right now....He has you covered....He will take care of your situation. Rest...Abide...Snuggle in....Be at peace....

God wastes none of our experiences in life or our trials~ And as Job, may we be able to say that our spiritual eye sees Him through this even more than we did before. (Job 42:5 "I had heard of You [only] by the hering of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You.") The Apostle Paul wrote it this way in Ephesians 1:17 "[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him."

Love always - in Him Who gave His life as a ransom for our salvation and our peace~

Crista
http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/

Sticks and Stones....And God's Loving Faithfulness to Heal

Today's post is extra long...You may want to copy & paste...or just sit with your cup of coffee...because this has to do with something we all face from time to time...The agony of words or actions of someone else which has caused us great pain....for ultimately we have to decide what we will do with it...As Christians, we are to be obedient to God's Word to bless our enemies and to forgive our debtors as we ask Him to forgive us. And by the power of His Blood, we do this in faith and obedience to His Word and out of our love for Him. Yet there are those times that we feel so shattered, that there seems to be no way to heal from it all. We're left reeling and feel like an egg which someone threw against the wall...just a blob at the bottom....Let me encourage you, that His healing is available and He will console those of us who mourn from the pain, and give us His beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Is. 61:3)...for He knows our frame and that He made us from dust. (Ps. 103:14)...For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:15-16) These ARE His promises and He is not a man that He should lie.

I have been seeking the Lord earnestly for the past month about these heart hurdles that just were not healing within...and wrote in my journal yesterday morning: "The greatest battles in life come not from without, but from within. My greatest battles are personal. they come from the self-doubt and anxiety over personal issues. They are those experiences that feel like rusty nails driven into my heart...grinding, twisting themselves into gnawing, festering sores that just don't go away. My issue is that I accept them as the truth about who I am; allowing the words and behavior of others to define who I am before God and myself....ultimately, I allow the enemy full reign in defining who I am, rather than trusting and believing who I am in Christ.

And then a few hours later, my niece had posted the following on Facebook: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words....well, words will hurt me deeply, causing great emotional, mental, and psychological damage leading to a lowered self-esteem and a severe decrease in overall efficiency."....Proverbs 12:18 says it this way: "There is one who speaks like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health."....And I am going to say that it is not only words, but actions...or lack thereof...which also cause a piercing of the heart....We're left with a pile of ashes...dust caked in our mouth...and emotional blood spurting out of every orifice.

I tried as best I could to cope...telling myself that I was OK...continuing to push; much like the Little Engine that Could..."I think I can. I think I can. I think I can."....Until just this past week, the Lord revealed to me the house of cards that I'd constructed to keep myself going...how I'd really turned away from Him...and He lovingly and gently blew my "house down"...whoosh....
For unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. (Ps. 127:1)...and I was laboring in vain. I had discussed it in confidence with a couple friends...but my agony continued.
I had resorted to familiar coping mechanisms which were "comfortable" in time of anguish of soul.

It's easier now to look at this and to understand how I got so far down this road. It's easier now to identify the lies of the enemy, but at the time, the blur seemed to be the reality....For in my heart of hearts, which God just revealed to me a couple of days ago, I had thought that God had passed me by and that I just wasn't good enough for Him....WHAM! Satan whispered in my ear. "See, you're not even good enough for God....".....The piercings from this situation led to my internalizing that even God had rejected me, and that I'd never be emotionally healed enough to minister to others. I had unconsciously determined that God Himself wanted to hurt me and I pulled away from Him - which is a natural, neurological response to pain, but it was not the truth of Who He Is and what was happening.

It is not unusual for traumatic events in the present to still crash headlong into events which happened in our past...thus "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" (PTSD)....It's easier now, today, to identify the lies of the enemy, but at the time, the blur seemed to be the reality. It is much like mixing paint in a gallon sized can...At first we are able to recognize two separate colors, but the more the paint is stirred and mixed, the less we can differentiate the two...until finally, the two become one. This is the desired result for a can of paint, but not for us!....It occurs when our trauma triggers a neurological response for our body, mind and emotions to come back into balance after it receives the "tilt" signal...and it is an unconscious response to regain a sense of safety and balance, and we do that by reverting to our old ways of coping. The problem is that these "coping" mechanisms oftentimes keep us in bondage and vulnerable to the lies of the enemy, and then they become strongholds in our life.

Many years ago while still in counseling and the Lord revealing deep wounds from my past and then healing them, He helped me to understand that the emotional wounding of our past is in many ways like having been in a severe car accident. We go to the hospital for repair to the body for the damage done to it. The major, visible repairs are done. But it is not uncommon for particles of glass to come to the surface after being embedded for many years due their depth, location and size. Some of the remnants just had to "work themselves out"....And this is what happens over time in our emotional recovery from the past...bit by bit the Lord reveals and heals. So it is that at times...past and present smoosh into one. And even when the don't, current events can just leave us tottering at best to hang onto some semblance of emotional stability.

But as we return to the Lord in faith, He will reveal the pain and strongholds within our hearts which hold us captive - to be set free...for he whom the Son sets free is free indeed. His Word says that we shall know the Truth and the Truth (Jesus) shall set us free; for Jesus is the way, THE TRUTH, and the life. For it is only when we allow the Holy Spirit to help us face the truth about what is really in our heart, and the pigpen of the enemy's lies and where we've been feasting...are we then able to come out and come back to the Father; allowing His Love to heal us and make us whole. (Luke 15:16-24) In essence, we return to feast at His table; to dine and sup with Him (Rev. 3:20), instead of returning as a dog returns to its own vomit. (Prov. 26:11)

For it is Satan's goal to have us doubt God and to turn from Him. The enemy comes to pound us deeper into despair with lies from the pit of hell..."You know, you're never going to be able to minister...You're a loser...You know the scriptures, but you're not applying them...God doesn't love you...He loves (-----) more than you, because see what they're doing and you're not? They are a better Christian than you...In fact, you're so stupid, you're believing my lies about you."...We could go on and on with the fears and doubts that Satan hurls at us to stop us at the door of His greatest plans for us....And I truly believe this is why....Satan knows the Lord's plans to defeat him through us! So, when he comes against us...he's actually showing us God's plans for our life...plans for good and not for evil - plans to give us a future and a hope....plans to defeat the enemy who fights against the Kingdom of God.

We are able to walk with Jesus...on His path of righteousness...on His path of emotional well-being...toward the brighter tomorrow that He has for us. (Ps. 23:3b, Jer. 29:11-14) He will bring to light that which is in darkness to lift us out of the miry clay, because he who promised is faithful and true. A bruised reed He will not break. His mercies are new every morning. His compassions, they fail not. And there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1) We are more than conquerors through Christ and nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. God is love and there is no fear in love....for if God be for us, who can be against us. (These are all scriptures that I trust you are able to find...if not, please contact me.)

Let me share a personal experience with you from my piano studio....As a piano instructor, it is my responsibility to lovingly correct and disciple my students....There is a great vulnerability in playing piano...What will others think of me?...What does my teacher think about me?...What do I think about me?...I don't play as good as so and so....And one little girl sadly lamented about two years ago, "I'm not very good."....By the way, you should hear her now!
What do they really want? Loving acceptance...even when they need correction...They want to hear "Well done! Bravo!...just like we want to hear "Well done good and faithful servant", when we go Home. We want to know from our Heavenly Father, that no matter what, He loves us and we are special in His sight...and that He's there for us...even when we stumble and fall.....So, I decided to "take a break" from teaching so to speak...to just sit back and listen. I've asked my students to play their favorite piece of the week for me...and then I've said, "You know, I so enjoyed listening to you play this piece. Would you please play it for me once more...just so I can enjoy hearing you play it again...because you did such an outstanding job!"....Their faces beam with pride.

So come with me now, to the place where we hear Jesus speak lovingly and tenderly to our hearts with all compassion, mercy, long-suffering and gentleness of heart...."My precious little lamb, I've been looking for you...for you were lost for a little while in your wanderings. But know this for sure, I have not passed you by. I have wonderful things in store for you that you cannot see at this moment. I am calling you back to My heart...I know you've been deeply wounded. But I want you to know that everything you experience on this earth, I've felt and experienced, too. They pierced my head with thorns; they spit on Me; they ripped My beard off My face; they left Me in the Garden of Gethsemane alone to pray while they slept and I asked them to watch with me for only an hour. Was that too much to ask? They called me crazy and said I had a demon; My own fleshly family was ashamed of Me; they gave me a kiss and sent Me to My death...I understand. In this, I was wounded for your healing. I understand. My child, I love you with an everlasting love. I have never left you nor forsaken you; even in your darkest hour. I am by your side always; more than you realize. I promised to never leave you as an orphan, but to comfort you in your affliction and deliver you. Come to Me, My child, with your heart's heavy burden and I will give you rest for you soul." (Matt. 11:28-30)

In closing, may I pray with you as we come before Him together...."Oh Lord, I am so very sorry that I turned from You all this time during my pain and anguish. Forgive me, Lord, for how I ultimately blamed Your for my hurt. Forgive me for how I turned my back on You. Lord, by Your Blood, by faith, I forgive those who have hurt me, and I ask You to bless them, Lord. Help me, Lord. I can't get over this heart hurdle by myself, but You can get me there. I lay my heart at the foot of Your Cross for Your healing. I am willing to give You my bitterness and my pain. I ask You to reveal and heal those areas of my heart that await Your healing as only You can do. I look to You, Jesus, the Glory and Lifter of my head...My Redeemer...My Friend...the Lover of my soul. And Lord, I thank You that You will bring Your Glory to this situation. Amen."

~Back with Him....He will do the rest....

Tenderly and lovingly yours,
Crista
CMSimmons52@aol.com
http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/

His Grace and Beyond Our Beyond

In seeking the Lord about His direction for some issues that have surfaced over that past couple weeks, I have been drawn to this verse from Psalm 123:2 "Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us." (Amplified Version)

So it was that this morning while entering the date in my journal, I began to ponder 10/5/10....Well, 5 is the number of grace...and 10 is a double of 5....So I wrote: Double Grace/Grace/Double Grace....

Then the Lord began to speak with all tenderness and gentleness.....

"My Child, have I not said that My Garce is sufficient for thee? In that what is impossible for you to accomplish on your own, I will do in My Time, My Way, My Power. Just look to Me, My Love; The Author and Finisher of your faith; the Glory and Lifter of your head; the Bright and Morningstar; The Way, The Truth, The Life. I AM.

For I tell you the truth, what you do not yet see, I do. And I will take you there as you continue steadfastly...to persevere and trust Me.

O how I love you with an everlasting love. You are Mine and I AM yours. You have Me with you at all times; for I never leave you nor forsake you. You have nothing to fear. I care for My own - yes, even when the winds blow.

Have I not said that I shelter thee under the shadow of My wing? My wing is full of My love, tenderness, mercy and grace.

Come to Me all ye who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest for your soul for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

For trust Me in this: I see beyond your beyond. When you look out - you see an end point, but there is no end point with Me....only eternity; for I see beyond your beyond.

May your heart and soul be encouraged. This is the day which the Lord has made; I shall rejoice and be glad in it.
Ever yours in His love, mercy and grace~
Crista Simmons
http://www.dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/