One Thing Necessary

Distractions were meant to keep you from recognizing and doing the necessary thing.  We see evidence of this statement in Luke 10:38-42.

Martha had welcomed Jesus into her home and immediately upon His arrival, she begins to make preparations as Mary sits at His feet to commune and hear the Lord’s word.  “But Martha was distracted with all her preparations:” (verse 40).

Seeing that she was left to do all the work while her sister did nothing ruffled Mary’s feathers.  She became indignant and walked up to Jesus saying “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone?  Tell her to help me!”  Jesus responded “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things: but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”(verse 4-42)

Examine Yourself: Are you a Christian or Follower of Christ?

How do you know you're saved? by Paul Washer

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves..." 2 Corinthians 13:5a

Are you a Christian or a Follower of Christ?  You may be asking, "Aren't they the same thing"?  Let me answer that for you - NO they are NOT the same.  

How do you distinguish one from the other?  How do you know whether you are a Christian or a Follower of Christ?  

This video will answer your questions. Please watch! I came across it on Facebook and I was ready to scroll past it because I was confident of my answer:  YES, I'm sure that I'm saved!

However, I felt a pressing to listen to this message by Paul Washer.  As I listen his words pierced through me - dividing my soul and spirit.

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." ~ Hebrews 4:12 NIV

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

Nothing Holding Me Back......

"Now nothing is holding me back from You, Redeemer of my soul..."

Nothing held Jesus back from the cross.  He shed His precious blood as a living sacrifice so that we may be reconciled to the Father because sin had separated us. Nothing holds Him back from loving, forgiving and sustaining us! NOTHING!

Now, nothing should hold us back from Him who redeemed our soul.   The enemy no longer enslaves us because the veil has been torn and we now have full access to our Father.  However, are we utilizing this privilege.

Unfortunately, distractions, passivity. busyness and matters of the heart has kept us astray.  Yes, we do the "churchy" things, have bumper stickers declaring our religion, shiny crosses hanging from our necks and speak "christianeeze".  We even do ministry!!  However.......

Hidden In the Cleft.....

Hidden In the Cleft
by Magdalena Rodriguez

During my morning time with the LORD, I closed my eyes and heard "hidden in the cleft" and saw the vision that I sketched. I immediately searched out these words and came across Exodus 33:22

"When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by."

And just as I was sketching the vision, the song "Show Me Your Glory" began to play from my playlist. I was in awe and couldn't help but cry because I can sense His Presence and what He desired to release.

"Cry Out for My People" ~ Abba

Earlier this morning I set out to post part three of the message the LORD has given to me. The first was "Slaves in the Promised Land", second was "Subdued by the Spirit of Delilah" and the third was to be released today.  But instead I got distracted in the midst of posting and headed out to run an errand that quite frankly could have waited.

As I was on the road I began to sing a worship song and pray. All of a sudden, I heard "there is an urgency in the spirit".  The words were repeated again "there is an urgency in the spirit"!  What happened next totally broke me.  As I opened my mouth I began to cry out in tongues.  But these tongues were different and as they came forth, I can understand what was being said.  It was a  heart cry, an urgent plea from Abba for His children.  His words were piercing as I heard His voice tremble with compassion and anguish.  I can best liken it to a mother whose child has been kidnapped and pleas for their return.

Tangled?

Photo by Maggie Rodriguez

"He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” ~ Jeremiah 17:8

Jeremiah 17:8 describes a blessed man(woman) whose trust is in Adonai.  Adonai is his(her) security.  In the bible there are numerous references to trees and analogies that depict us as a tree that stands firm or branch that bears fruit.

As I was walking this morning, I came across the tree in the photo above.  My first thought when I saw it was "mess" and kept walking.  BUT Holy Spirit caused me to go back and take a photo.  He began to show me some things concerning its roots.  Not only were they tangled but they sprouted upward strangling the tree.  Its roost grew out of the ground in different directions - all except downward.   It look like a big ole mess!  

I took notice that these roots were not only growing upward but inward.  You couldn't see the trunk besides the dried up palms that hung over it.  

This served as an analogy of what a man (woman) looks like whose trust is in of themselves, or others rather than Adonai.