Saturday, March 28, 2009

Rise Up!

Daughters of Zion – Rise up!! Awaken from your slumber. Your Prince has not forgotten you. Your promises to Him are not void – but alive! They beat within His heart.

Sometimes we can be carried away by the passion of a service and freely promise anything that is suggested. “Oh yes, Lord, pick me! I will do whatever You ask.” You can be truly sincere as the words leave your lips – BUT have they rooted in your heart? Did you really mean what you just said?

God takes His Words very seriously. He never speaks without purpose, or promises what He cannot keep. Shouldn’t we be the same? Especially in our commitments to Him?

You can say, “Sure. I will do this or that,” but then be distracted by something more interesting and cancel your commitment. There could be an urgent situation arise that takes a higher priority over your casual agreement, but more times than you may want to admit, you give your consent to things way too quickly, without thinking before you agree. Then it is hard to reverse it to say “no” so you make up an excuse, or even try to justify why it is OK to break your word.

God takes your “yes” seriously. In the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-31) One son said yes but didn’t do it and the other son said no but changed his mind and did it after all. Jesus commended the obedient son.

Your word should be as a promise – a commitment to fulfill what you have spoken. Think about this: If you were held to every word spoken – could you do it? Would you then think more carefully before you gave an answer, or made a commitment?

We live in such an impatient society. WAIT is a four letter word!! “How long is that line up?” “Why is this traffic light so long?” You want the parking space closest to the door – walking those five extra spaces just won’t do, and yet, how much longer does it really take for you to walk it?

You give promises to God, but if you don’t see any results today, or next week, will you persevere to see it through? You ask, “Why is it talking so long?” I ask you, “How long is too long?” Can you stay focused on the task at hand long enough to fulfill it?

In the Parable of the foolish virgins, The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. When He did arrive, they weren’t prepared to go out and meet Him. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:5,13) Jesus is coming back. He has promised that He would, and He keeps His word. Are you sleeping or watching?

Isaiah 40:29-31 tells us, He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Do not grow weary – persevere! Wait on the Lord and renew your strength in HIM. Stay on the path. Remember His promises to you, but also remember YOUR promises to Him. Have you left something unfinished? Have you fulfilled your commitments made in those times of intimacy with Him?

Yes, He sees your heart. Do you see His heart? We are His Bride and He loves us. Don’t break His heart with broken promises.

Rise up! He is coming. Are you ready to ride with Him?

Selah Y

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Be a Candle

I love the song "Go Light Your World" by Kathy Troccoli. Our friend Tammy is in the process of recording her first CD and we were treated to a sneak preview of her recording of this song on Sunday morning. I was impacted again by these wonderful lyrics. (For full lyrics click here)

A few years ago I wrote out my response to this song and I am posting it here today. I know it is rather long, but hopefully, it's worth the time to read it.

The first part is a chorus from the song "Thrown Away" by Ray Boltz. (For full lyrics click here) My prayer is that God will touch your heart today as He touched mine.

THROWN AWAY
CAN YOU BELIEVE THE THINGS THEY TOSS ASIDE
AND LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY LAY
OH BUT THEY CAN BE SAVED
IF YOU TAKE THE TIME
AND TRY TO FIND THE GOOD ALONG THE WAY
OH WHAT THIS WORLD THROWS AWAY
(Ray Boltz)

Thrown away, tossed aside, unwanted, unloved - abandoned!! Seen as useless. No value. Not worth the effort. Too hard!!! Takes too long!! When will she ever learn? When will she get it? Wasting our time!!

NO!!! It’s NOT wasting time. Can you BELIEVE the things they toss aside and leave them where they lay? SOULS. People needing love, needing direction. They ARE lost. Oh, but they CAN be saved. So many have gone astray. Even those who started off well - on the right road. BUT the enemy came when we weren’t guarding the little ones. They were damaged. They were used and abused. They were left devastated. Unable to pick themselves up. Instead of understanding.... instead of receiving and redeeming them, they were tossed aside!!!!

How God WEEPS when each little ones’ cries go unanswered. Can your heart hear them? Has it grown cold? Don’t turn from their cries. Who else will answer them? Who else can God send to them? IF you will take the time and try to find the good along the way - You will find what GOD sees in them. Precious ones who have been crushed by sins. There is still a treasure locked inside. It is waiting to be released. Waiting for it to be safe enough to finally come out. How much longer? How long can she hang on? How much longer can she fool everyone that everything is fine? Her strength is almost gone. Is there hope? Is there an answer to her questions? Is there a Deliverer for her? The world sees her as an Outcast. Oh what this world throws away!!!

Jesus is the answer. Always was. Always will be. Doesn’t matter what the situation is. HE has paid it ALL. He has provided for it. But He needs us to carry it out. We are HIS. Will you go for Him? He is the Light. We are HIS Candles. HIS Light burning in our soul. His Holy Spirit burns within us, speaks to us, consumes us, IF we will let Him. There IS a candle in every soul. God puts it there. Some ARE Brightly burning. They love God, love His Word, love His Presence, LOVE HIM!! They want ALL they can receive. Their hearts are open and obedient. Ready to respond.

Some are dark and cold. They let their flame go out. No oil. No passion, no time for God. Too busy with their own lives, their own interests, their own pleasures. Their hearts are growing colder. They can’t hear the cries of the lost or hurting. They are drowned out by other sounds.

BUT There is a Spirit - God’s precious Holy Spirit - Who brings a fire to rekindle that flame. He ignites our candle and makes His home in us. He is here to stay. Not just for a time, but every day!! LET Him REVIVE your heart. THEN carry your candle and RUN to the Darkness. It is Urgent!! Your light will dispel the darkness. It has to flee. Darkness cannot consume the light. JESUS always overcomes.

Seek out the HOPELESS, CONFUSED & TORN. So many have NO hope. Where can they look? Who has the answers? Who will ever take the time to talk with them? They ARE confused. Who will explain until they understand? Which way to turn? Many say, "Here!! We have the answer." They are torn between Doctrines and Religions, Hypocrites and Broken Promises. False Hopes. Empty Words. Giving up too soon. The job is not finished!! They ARE torn away by the enemy again!!!!

Hold out your candle for ALL to see it. Don’t hide the Truth. Don’t withhold the answers. Are you able to make a difference? Then DO it!! Put actions to your prayers. God can only use you when you are willing to walk out the path that HE has laid out for you. Take your candle. Pick it up and Go light YOUR world. Go where GOD is leading you to go. GO!!! Don’t delay. Don’t make excuses. Shine the light that HE has given to you.

Many have tried to light their candles in their own way. It won’t work. They will burn out - either by themselves or be put out by others. Only God’s Flame is eternal. In our own strength, we are nothing. Shallow Cures that last for the moment. FRUSTRATION. Our plans will fail. Our solutions don’t heal. Jesus does. Do it HIS Way.

See your sister - she’s been robbed and lied to. Robbed of what she cannot regain. Forever stolen. She was deceived, tricked, lied to, betrayed. She believed the lie. It SOUNDED like Truth. It had pleasure for a season, But it soon turned sour. Now it is bitter. No goodness left. Her candle has no flame - no hope, no escape, no relief. Never ending pain. Tears without end. She is sitting in darkness with no one to show her the way. RUN to her. She is LONELY, TIRED & WORN. No one to comfort her, no one to stay with her until she regains her strength. It is all gone. She is worn out. Weary from crying without end. Hold out your candle to her. She WILL see it. She’s not far away. God will show you where she is.

We ARE a family. We are adopted into God’s family. Sometimes closer than our own flesh and blood. When we stand together, our hearts WILL be Blazing. What a bonfire we could make if we joined together!!!! Raise your candle up high. Don’t be ashamed. Let it be seen.

PRAY. Our Father WILL hear your prayer. Use the weapons that Jesus gave us. Use His Name to send the enemy running. Shut him OUT!!! Be a Beacon in Darkest night. Be as a lighthouse on the point. Shining into the night. Shining into the storms. Don’t shut down the light and go to sleep in the storm. ARISE & Be Alert!!! Souls are at risk. CALL to them. WARN them when you see the signs of the storm coming. Don’t let the waves crush them again. Don’t let them be swept away and drown. RESCUE THEM!!!

They are HELPLESS to survive on their own. Jesus died to save them, to heal them, to redeem them. Call to them!! Many are DECEIVED. Many are headed for destruction and don’t even see it. Many are pulled back into the mire with no strength to resist. Seek them out. They are POOR. They have nothing to pay the price with. Never enough to buy their freedom. Forever slaves to bondage. Bondages that have been placed on them. Chains too heavy to be broken. Prisoners of the Accuser. No one to defend them. No one to plead their case. Only Jesus can liberate them!!!

FORGIVENESS. The key that opens the doors. YES, there is hope for the hopeless. Dispel the confusion. Bind up the torn. God can and will. Redeem and Restore. GO and find them. Seek them out and then DO your part that God has called you to do. Don’t let them be THROW AWAYS any longer. The world has given up on them. GOD HAS NOT!!!! How can we? WE CAN’T!!! TAKE THE TIME!!!!

Hear her cries and Answer with GOD’S Love and GOD’S Power to heal her Broken Heart. Hold out your candle. Bring Jesus to those who NEED Him. Minister as He has called you to do. Be ready. Keep your flame burning. Don’t let Satan blow it out!!! Hold it high. Keep HIS Fire burning in your heart.

Let Him burn away ALL that is not of Him, ALL that would pull you back to your old life. CLOSE THAT DOOR!!!! It is the PAST. Leave it behind. Don’t reopen what God has covered. Remember why God took you out of it. RUN from it. Run TO God. Into HIS Safety. Into HIS Protection. He has given you New Life. Live it as He has called you.

Selah Y
26 Sept 1999

Monday, March 23, 2009

Christian Women Take Root

Check out this fantastic site I have discovered. LOTS to explore.
A great place to connect with other Christian women!!

Then go over to their sister site especially for Writers.
There are great columns to read and a very cool Digital Magazine.
Let me know what you think.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Fun with Words

Wordle: Blogging
Want to have some fun with words?
Create a collage online?
Try it at WORDLE.
Have fun!!

Inkwell Greetings


I LOVE the artwork over at Inkwell Greetings. Check it out!!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Be Still and LISTEN for His Voice


What are you hearing Him say to YOU today?

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Still Amazing!!

Amazing Grace. How easily spoken - Do we still understand what is wrapped up in that simple phrase? Do you need to have it's impact renewed for you today?

Watch this video clip. (Il Divo singing Amazing Grace) All I can say is WOW! We are so BLESSED. Our God is truly amazing.

After watching this clip for a few times, I suddenly saw something deeper. They are singing "Amazing Grace" in the Coliseum - a place where so many Christians faced death because of their faith in God. They would rather die than deny Him - and they were martyred. It was a place that represented death and suffering, and displayed the depths of the evil men can imagine and carry out.

BUT GOD can redeem. He can bring beauty out of ashes. He can take the "ruins" of our lives and, through HIS GRACE, raise up hope and a future we could not imagine was possible. He did for John Newton (the author of the song) and He can for you.

Whether we have committed great evil or just ignored God, we are captured by His "Amazing Grace" towards each of us as He calls us home. He is our God and we are His Beloved. Amazing!!

Selah Y

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

More Giveaways


There are more giveaways on Pam's Blog. Check out the wonderful books in #4. Or the Cookbook on #2. Then check giveaway #1 for 6 Beth Moore products. She's really celebrating!!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Attention Coffee Lovers

Now that I have your attention - check out this coffee giveaway on Pam's blog. I'm sure all the Starbucks lovers will join, but even if you don't like coffee, you can sign up to win this awesome mug. Good Luck!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Six Word Challenge

I enjoy reading blog entries from a number of authors with various themes. This one was really cool from Beth Moore's blog. The post challenged readers to "Sum up YOUR LIFE in just SIX WORDS" - check it out. There's over 700 entries, but it's really worth a look. Maybe she will use them in an upcoming book!! It's harder than it sounds. Some are really creative. Do YOU want to give it a try? Let us know what your answer would be. Then share which ones were your personal favourites.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Who is like our God?

His Ways are HIGHER than our ways; His thoughts are ABOVE what we can comprehend. It IS a mystery. Countless millions have tried to “figure out” why He does what He does – only to abandon their logic and simply TRUST that HE is God – the Most High God, the One who is Holy and Sovereign.

Tired of trying to figure it all out? Surrender to Him. Lay down your doubts and your fears, your worries and your striving. Allow HIM to give you HIS answers and guide you on HIS path for you. There will be many things you will not understand this side of Heaven – that’s OK – HE is in control. He still reigns the universe, He can handle your situation as well. He is God – expect no less.

Selah Y