This is a journal entry from February 2, 2007:
[I awoke this morning with the phrase "The Valley of Achor is a door of hope". It kept repeating in my mind. I looked up the passage in Hosea where it speaks about this.
"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her, there I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt." Hosea 2:14, 15 (NIV)
What stood out to me from reading this passage is that God restores her vineyards while she is in the desert. The word achor means trouble. The Valley of Achor is turned into a place of hope. I was a person without hope. I had lost many vineyards. I was led into a time or season of trouble. Yet in the midst of that trouble God has been speaking tenderly to me. ]
It is interesting to look back over the past two years of my life in light of this passage in Hosea. I found myself in a Valley of Achor that appeared to be a desert. Many of the activities that I had been involved in on a regular basis were no longer a part of my life. It felt as if all was stripped away and there was no hope to be seen. Yet that is the place that has become the haven of healing and wholeness where God began to restore my vineyards.
When I came to faith in Jesus as a young teenager I had a life of promise ahead of me. I was in a young peoples' choir that put on Gilbert & Sullivan operettas and I was a cast member in "The Mikado". I had been taking dance lessons and I even took part in a Messianic-style liturgical dance group. I did well in school and I was contemplating going on to university. I had spent a summer in France on an immersion course and I was proficient in French. I took a Creative Writing Course in my last year of high school. I also took an active role in my school's ISCF group. For all intents and purposes my life did look promising. My life plans got derailed and I even began sacrificing my individuality and adopted a life of conformity to an imposed norm of Christian behavior that was legalistic in nature.
A door is something that one goes through to get from one place to the next. Faith has been described as a quality that goes through something in order to receive the promise on the other side of the trouble. God led me to various doors of opportunity to walk through; and in the process of walking through God has given me back my vineyards. It is never too late to rekindle lost dreams. They may not be revived in their original forms, but the seed is still present. As I have walked through those doors I have flourished and I have been given a hope that will not be deferred.
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
A Passionate Love
God is jealous for my love and He won't tolerate any rivals for my affection, trust or devotion. God is passionate about me. He wants me for Himself. My hope, confidence and trust must be in Him and not in myself; or in any other person. God is the Lover of my soul. He knows me intimately and He loves me ardently. He has been pursuing me; blocking me from finding true satisfaction in others.
The reason I love to worship God is because that is a way I tell God I love Him. As I was singing "I Love You, Lord" the thought came to me that it was like spiritual lovemaking. I am yielding myself to God because I love Him. I will allow God to demonstrate His love for me in whatever way He desires because I can trust that God is not going to harm me. Just as I can give myself to my husband and not be ashamed or worry about the flaws of my physical body, so too I can give myself to God and not be ashamed or worry about the spiritual flaws of my spirit or soul. I am being open and vulnerable just as I am in the conjugal lovemaking. Now I understand why the old High Anglican marriage vows says "with my body I thee worship". I understand now why it is said "that to worship is to kiss". It is the intimacy involved in expressing love for God just as we express intimate love for our mates by kissing them on the lips.
God spoke to my heart that He loves me and He brought me to that place of brokenness for me to know that I cannot earn God's love. Nothing I can do can make God love me more; nor can it make God love me less. I am secure in God's love for me.
The reason I love to worship God is because that is a way I tell God I love Him. As I was singing "I Love You, Lord" the thought came to me that it was like spiritual lovemaking. I am yielding myself to God because I love Him. I will allow God to demonstrate His love for me in whatever way He desires because I can trust that God is not going to harm me. Just as I can give myself to my husband and not be ashamed or worry about the flaws of my physical body, so too I can give myself to God and not be ashamed or worry about the spiritual flaws of my spirit or soul. I am being open and vulnerable just as I am in the conjugal lovemaking. Now I understand why the old High Anglican marriage vows says "with my body I thee worship". I understand now why it is said "that to worship is to kiss". It is the intimacy involved in expressing love for God just as we express intimate love for our mates by kissing them on the lips.
God spoke to my heart that He loves me and He brought me to that place of brokenness for me to know that I cannot earn God's love. Nothing I can do can make God love me more; nor can it make God love me less. I am secure in God's love for me.
Saturday, 7 April 2007
God Wants To Reveal Himself
I am seeing that God places His servants in situations where only God can save; help; restore; preserve. God wants to show His power; to reveal His glory through His people. God is searching for those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. He is longing to show His power, strength, and might through their lives. God places people in extraordinary circumstances where their own resources cannot save them in order to show Himself strong on their behalf.
I had a picture of me in the hot sun in a desert place. I thought I was all alone yet God had sent me to that place so I could know Him as my shelter; my fortress; my refuge; my strength; my comfort; my protector; all the ways that He has revealed Himself to me over these past months. I wouldn't have known God in the same way, or as intimately, had I not been in that place. I then saw a giant hand shelter me from the sun, creating a shadow. I saw the hand shielding me from predators. I also sensed that I laid back into the hand to rest and to sleep.
"The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121: 5- 8 (NIV)
I had a picture of me in the hot sun in a desert place. I thought I was all alone yet God had sent me to that place so I could know Him as my shelter; my fortress; my refuge; my strength; my comfort; my protector; all the ways that He has revealed Himself to me over these past months. I wouldn't have known God in the same way, or as intimately, had I not been in that place. I then saw a giant hand shelter me from the sun, creating a shadow. I saw the hand shielding me from predators. I also sensed that I laid back into the hand to rest and to sleep.
"The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121: 5- 8 (NIV)
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
Pondering "Philippians" - III
Philippians 2: 1,2
"If you have any encouragement ..., any comfort ..., any fellowship ..., any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." Phil. 2: 1,2 (NIV)
It is easy to gloss over verse one and read it as if we need to have these qualities in ourselves; something that we somehow attain through our own efforts. When we stop and take a closer look at verse one we see the source and means of obtaining these qualities. When we know our position in Christ, that we are united with Him, we can partake of the "comfort from his love ... tenderness and compassion". It is only as we receive God's love for us that we can then share that love with others. When we are secure in our position as a child of God we will be united with others who are also secure in their relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is the uniting force and not our own efforts. It is His mind, love, spirit and purpose that we want to have in common with other believers.
"If you have any encouragement ..., any comfort ..., any fellowship ..., any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." Phil. 2: 1,2 (NIV)
It is easy to gloss over verse one and read it as if we need to have these qualities in ourselves; something that we somehow attain through our own efforts. When we stop and take a closer look at verse one we see the source and means of obtaining these qualities. When we know our position in Christ, that we are united with Him, we can partake of the "comfort from his love ... tenderness and compassion". It is only as we receive God's love for us that we can then share that love with others. When we are secure in our position as a child of God we will be united with others who are also secure in their relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is the uniting force and not our own efforts. It is His mind, love, spirit and purpose that we want to have in common with other believers.
Friday, 30 March 2007
Spiritual Makeover
The following is what I had written in my journal in September of 2005. I am posting it now because it is still true today. As God leads I will post other entries. It is my desire that they will bring hope to others and bring glory to God:
"What came to me was - I am having a spiritual and emotional makeover. The Holy Spirit is my "life coach". I have had attitudes, actions and thoughts transformed. I have had, and am having, new interests introduced into my life, or former interests restored in a new way. I cannot change myself in my own power, strength and ability. I can only lean on God; submit myself to God; trust in God and obey God. Then God will change me; God has been changing me. This work is in areas that had deep-rooted strongholds; areas that were holdouts - not submitted or surrendered to God, but rather under my control. In reality these areas had control of me or direct influence. The major area that God has been working on is self-reliance. I cannot rely on myself any longer. I am totally dependent upon God. I know that I am also reaping the benefits - a closer walk with God; better relationships with others; a deeper satisfaction in who I am."
"Some things God impressed upon me:
"What came to me was - I am having a spiritual and emotional makeover. The Holy Spirit is my "life coach". I have had attitudes, actions and thoughts transformed. I have had, and am having, new interests introduced into my life, or former interests restored in a new way. I cannot change myself in my own power, strength and ability. I can only lean on God; submit myself to God; trust in God and obey God. Then God will change me; God has been changing me. This work is in areas that had deep-rooted strongholds; areas that were holdouts - not submitted or surrendered to God, but rather under my control. In reality these areas had control of me or direct influence. The major area that God has been working on is self-reliance. I cannot rely on myself any longer. I am totally dependent upon God. I know that I am also reaping the benefits - a closer walk with God; better relationships with others; a deeper satisfaction in who I am."
"Some things God impressed upon me:
- I am not to identify my life by negatives; who I am not, but rather who I am in Christ.
- I am not to look at external, temporary placements, but rather where I am already eternally - seated with Christ in the heavenlies.
- I am content because I am found in Jesus, not having my own righteousness, but having the righteousness of Christ.
- I am not to look to others for their approval, but rather I am to look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith."
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
Pondering "Philippians" - II
Philippians 1: 7-11
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God."(Phil. 1: 9-11 NIV)
Agape love is not something we can work up. It is not a "feel good" type of love that is dependent on the one receiving the love, or the one expressing the love. Agape love is a fruit of the Spirit, which can only be expressed when we are abiding in Jesus. When we spend time with God in prayer - both speaking and listening - we are able to tap into the source of this love. We gain insight and understanding in how to better serve one another. We desire to serve others for God's glory and not our own. This agape love is overflowing and we need to share it with others. We cannot contain it, we want to give it away. When we are secure in Christ we don't need to worry about others' reactions, for God is the One who will reward us.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God."(Phil. 1: 9-11 NIV)
Agape love is not something we can work up. It is not a "feel good" type of love that is dependent on the one receiving the love, or the one expressing the love. Agape love is a fruit of the Spirit, which can only be expressed when we are abiding in Jesus. When we spend time with God in prayer - both speaking and listening - we are able to tap into the source of this love. We gain insight and understanding in how to better serve one another. We desire to serve others for God's glory and not our own. This agape love is overflowing and we need to share it with others. We cannot contain it, we want to give it away. When we are secure in Christ we don't need to worry about others' reactions, for God is the One who will reward us.
Monday, 19 March 2007
Pondering "Philippians" - I
Philippians 1: 1-6
"And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." (Phil. 1:6 NLT)
Sometimes it is easy to become discouraged and think that nothing is happening; that God has given up on us. Not that He would forsake us, but that we have blown it and now He will no longer use us. Philippians 1:6 gives us the assurance that God will continue the work that He has begun in us. The fact that we cry out to Him and seek to obey Him is evidence of His work. The ability to continue on, doing the things that God has called us to do - reading His Word; praying; fellowshipping with other believers; dying to self; loving others- are a result of God's Spirit working in us. God gives us the desire to obey Him in these areas and He gives us the ability to follow through.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." (Phil. 2: 13 NLT)
Father,
Thank you that You do not give up on me. Thank you for Your Word which gives me confidence to continue.
In Jesus' name.
"And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." (Phil. 1:6 NLT)
Sometimes it is easy to become discouraged and think that nothing is happening; that God has given up on us. Not that He would forsake us, but that we have blown it and now He will no longer use us. Philippians 1:6 gives us the assurance that God will continue the work that He has begun in us. The fact that we cry out to Him and seek to obey Him is evidence of His work. The ability to continue on, doing the things that God has called us to do - reading His Word; praying; fellowshipping with other believers; dying to self; loving others- are a result of God's Spirit working in us. God gives us the desire to obey Him in these areas and He gives us the ability to follow through.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him." (Phil. 2: 13 NLT)
Father,
Thank you that You do not give up on me. Thank you for Your Word which gives me confidence to continue.
In Jesus' name.
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