Seek and Live

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.”

I was searching the book of Isaiah for a verse that has been ringing in my spirit all day.  Isaiah 55:8-9 ⁸“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

I was searching for these scriptures because the Lord had to remind me that He is so much bigger than I could ever imagine, yet He loves me enough to pay attention to what concerns, frightens or threatens me.

He reminded me also that He does not see me the way that I see myself.  I often pray and ask Him to allow me to see myself as He does.  That’s because I have high expectations and tend to beat up on myself when I make a mistake or don’t complete a task.  I have to remind myself that it is not the end of the world to make a mistake or tell someone no.

I don’t aspire to be the brightest, biggest or best at things of this world, and often think there is something wrong with me because I do not.  When I detour and take that side road, the Holy Spirit lovingly reminds me that my thinking isn’t lining up with God’s word or His plan for me.  Therefore, I must then choose to align my thoughts about myself with His word.  I must purposefully seek scriptures to rid my brain of stinking thinking.

There is no way I want to live my life thinking my thoughts and doing things my way apart from God.  I cannot allow a day to go by without getting on my knees and surrendering my will and ways to His.

I am one of those people incapable of shutting down my brain.  I live inside my head way too much, but I am so grateful that God’s thoughts are higher than mine are and I am thankful that His ways are superior to mine.

After reading, those verses and meditating on them I felt led to read several other chapters of Isaiah but 55:6-7 would not leave me, so I began to mediate on them.  The first portion of verse 6 captured my attention, “Seek the Lord while He may be found.”  Most of us know the word seek refers to locating or trying to discover something.  I believe the seeking God wants from us is the kind where we crave, thirst or hunger for Him so much we begin to pursue Him. We set aside time just for Him so that we may develop a close and personal relationship with Him in order to live as He purposes each of us to live. Jesus came to give us eternal life, but also an abundant life here.

The second part of that verse spooked me a little, “while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.”  I know there will come a day when the God will remove Holy Spirit from the earth.  All I could think of is what a dreadful time it will be for those still on the earth.

Our world is in a dangerous decline right now.  America has welcomed Apostasy with open arms and that has pierced the heart of God.  He is not going to allow wickedness to go on too much longer.  Consider what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah or the nations God drove from Canaan.

I’ve tried to imagine what our world would be like without God and it is too horrible to think about.

There are those who think they have won battles because they think they have booted God out of schools, places of employment, and off government grounds. Those same people who boast of atheism will get that for which they have worked so hard a world without God and I do not believe they will be as pleased as they think. I for one will not be around to see it because I plan to be with Jesus.

Autumn Woman

In the Springtime, my youth, I believed I knew everything.  I nearly drowned in the indulgence of sin…to hide the fears, the loneliness and endless nights of tears.  Gray days and lonely nights were constant companions for many years.

I had to do it all my way; I paid no attention to the night, I thrived in the day.  My steps were swift as I ran with the wind, my mind was sharp, and my energy knew no end.

When Summertime came I thrived on the bad, the fast, and the beauty of the ugly.  Foolish decisions…I drank like water day after day; a bitter and dead harvest would be my reward if I did not choose elixirs of wisdom.

In Summer’s mirror I saw the truth.  Pain, tears, fears, doubts and insecurity were the children of the bitter roots.

Suddenly, the nights grew longer, as Summer began to fade.  I was quick to speak, slow to hear, I had no idea that Autumn was drawing near.

As Autumn approached and the sun began to set I discovered that I didn’t know best.  The much that I knew became a mess of less.

Strong winds blew, storms in my soul raged and God began to call. I covered my ears surely it was a mistake. I ignored the call; this could not be God.  Who was I after all?

I ignored Him, so He called louder… removing dead end men, friends, the comforting and the security.

The pain birthed forth the gain; the Autumn woman now speaks words not of this world; words of wisdom.

I am the Autumn woman; My steps are no longer swift, but sure. My words are seasoned, not quick.  My eyes are not as strong, but I now see clearer than ever before.

Fitting in, becoming one with the crowd is no longer my daily goal.  The winds blow caressing my face and my hair. I am at peace with God’s creation, for He is the lover of my soul.  I know my worth is found only in Him.

The silence is no longer my enemy; the love of God is complete.  It whispers in the still of the night, all my needs He will meet.  The song He sings over me is music to my soul, loving and oh so sweet.

As I look in the mirror… Winter is on the horizon… soon it will be here. I have enjoyed much, yet as I wait with expectancy, the best is yet to come.  I have learned much, but not as much as I will.

In the winter, I shall laugh more, cry more, and truly have fun; in the Winter my season will end.

I can fold my arms, close my eyes and take my rest for the Victory has already been won.

Uninterrupted Peace

Psalms 91:1-4 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  ² This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust him. ³ For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”

Every January, I fast and give myself to the Lord as my first fruits offering.  I also ask Him to reveal what areas in my life I need to grow in so that I can study His word and direct my prayers in line with what He will be doing in me and for me in the coming year.  He has never failed me.  Sometimes I’m slow in hearing His answer, but I eventually get it.  This morning while sitting at a red light, trying to calm down it hit me.  The Lord wants me to focus on maturing in peace this year.

One year my lesson was love, another joy was the focus.  Two years ago He almost daily reminded me to live in the present and not stress about tomorrow.  I will never forget the very first time the Lord began to speak to me about an area I needed to be delivered from.  It was taking short cuts.  I wanted to take short cuts in everything.  He taught me that there are no spiritual shortcuts.  That was a hard and laborious few years.  That lesson took several years before I passed the test.

I sometimes joke about having driver’s Tourettes, not the kind where you swear and use ugly hand signs to people.  I sometimes find myself yelling, hitting the seat next to me or sighing and muttering, “Are you kidding me?”  All the while I am exhaling to prevent my blood pressure from rising, and from ramming my car into the back of the car in front of me.  I don’t feel like this every day or every time I get behind the wheel, but this morning, it hit me.

As I sat at the light praying that the Lord would keep me from running into the car in front of me, He reminded me that I took time to talk to Him this morning, but I did not wait for Him to talk to me.

My peace had been interrupted because I didn’t wait to hear from the Lord.  I took my eyes off the Most High and I allowed the noise what I needed to do today drown out His voice which calms me and draws me to the place of peace before I get in my car..

This past Monday, I was led to look up  these scriptures on peace;. Romans 8:6 – “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” (NLT)

So why did I want to run into the car in front of me?  A guy in front of me was kind enough to let a driver in front of him but then he decided to slow down, so we missed the green light.  I should not have gotten angry, but I did.  I allowed my peace to be interrupted.  As I sat there struggling with my emotions, the Lord brought Psalm 91:1 to my mind.  As I meditated on that verse, my peace returned.

Although I daily strive to walk in peace, this morning it briefly eluded me.  Before this month is over, I know my peace will be tested again.  In order to pass the next test, I will need to wrap myself in Romans 12:8 – “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” (NLT)

How do I know this you may be wondering?  It’s the way the Lord rolls.  See I asked the Father to mature me in the Fruit of His Holy Spirit so that I am able to be the woman He purposed for me to be.  Galatians 5:22 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (NLT)

The Father does not allow anything to sneak up on us.  He provides every believer with tools to overcome and win.

So the peace lesson – Father knows that I am easily distracted and that I must purposefully meditate on His word and keeps my eyes on Him so that my peace, the peace only Christ Jesus can give helps me to remain under His protection.

Living under the shadow of the Lord protects every believer from the traps and the snares, which are set before us and designed to prevent our growth.  Living under the Lord’s shadow allows the Holy Spirit to bring us back to earth when the old nature wants to rise up and behave ungodly.

I am happy to say that as quickly as my temper flared this morning, the peace of God covered me.  I prayed for forgiveness, plugged my phone in and listened to the bible for the duration of my drive to work.  I don’t like it when my peace is interrupted and I will do whatever it takes to get back under the Lord’s wings.

Living under the shadow of the Lord provides “uninterrupted peace.”

DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER

                 I’ve never made a fortune, and it’s probably too late now.

                  But I don’t worry about that much, I’m happy anyhow

                  And as I go along life’s way, I’m reaping better than I sowed.

                  I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.

                   Haven’t got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going’s tough

                  But I’ve got loving ones all around me and that makes me rich enough.

                   I thank God for his blessings, and the mercies He’s bestowed.

                  I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.

                   I remember times when things went wrong, my faith wore somewhat thin.

                  But all at once the dark clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again.

                   So Lord, help me not to gripe, about the tough rows I have hoed.

                  I’m drinking from my saucer ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.

                   If God gives me strength and courage when the way grows steep and rough.

                  I’ll not ask for other blessings, I’m already blessed enough.

                   And may I never be too busy to help others bear their loads.

                  Then I’ll keep drinking from my saucer ‘Cause my cup has overflowed.

                   When I think of how many people in this world have it worse than I do,

                   I realize just how BLESSED WE really are.

                   Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always

                  hopeful, and endures.  LOVE NEVER FAILS.

 Author – Unknown