Yes, I'm still here and kicking..I'm just going to post what Ive been thinking about lately..
Almost a year ago I had a divine appointment with God one Friday afternoon.. I ran into 3 different people who so happened to need encouragement and in the same areas.. God spoke to me that afternoon, and planted His will.. It was two-fold.. The same two-fold message you hear in the gospels but Lauren style.. This message He spoke to me in only a way He knows how to fan my flames.. Only a way His Spirit could set me on a race to run.. To put me into action I call it.. That day I was so pumped I went directly to a friends to just lay it all out for her.. She is one of those friends that I have.. Well one of two friends that I have that no matter what I say or lay it out, they get super pumped with me.. They are like Yes!!! BTW you need those friends.. You need those 2-3 fellow lovers of Jesus to live life with..(yep its biblical too).. So that day, I dreamt and dreamed of what God told me, and I started my journey.. Over the next few months, God made connections for me to be able to start this race. He provided someone to lay down exactly how to start it, and the information I needed. He gave me sermons to listen to, and spoke to me through scripture.. Then I will say we took a leap and officially started what I thought was going to be the start, but after a few weeks, I knew I was off course, and He once again reminded me of exactly what He spoke to me in May.. So I turned my wheel a little to get back on course, and today was just amazing.. I'm so pumped up and fired up for what I now will call the start of this race..
A few months ago, I was asked to write a paper on what my spiritual gifts are and what does that mean.. I have watched people who are in the ministry.. Like literally watched, and have gathered information on each of them.. I don't know how God does it, but I feel like this is what God has shown me.. When God created you, He spoke words over your life.. Words of your destiny, words of your calling.. There will be a point in your life (hopefully) when you surrender your entire self and will to God.. At that moment, those words spoken over you are activated.. Then the spiritual gifts that spirit gives connect with your destiny and begin to manifest and are visibly amplified.. Even your personality starts to adapt to your calling.. God literally can change the entire person that you are FOR HIS GLORY!! I can tell you that the past two years of my life have been the best years of my life.. His amazing glory, I have been able to see, feel, and touch.. I get to share in His Glory.. I can also tell you that the past two years of my life I have shared in Christs suffering.. I remember last year at around the same time, I was in deep worship and I remember God basically asking have you counted the cost? I remember crying and telling Him I was willing to suffer for His sake.. I really think that is what scripture means about counting the cost.. Don't even think about starting if you haven't counted the cost of what it really takes, what you will have to endure, give up, and suffer for because you really have no idea what it will be, and I still have no idea what it will be in the future.. Over the past year I have seen God's Glory and been able to see glimpses of it but I have also been jacked up emotionally with things I haven't ever had to deal with before.. I have had to find all my hope and strength in Jesus, and rely on the word of God alone. I mean literally on God alone.. You think your church can help, you think friends or family can help but the only thing that stands is God. Sometimes I feel so dumb because each time I have encountered God, I encounter something that jacks me up or vice versa.. I get jacked up and then I encounter God.. And every time God, never pulls me out of those situations instantly, He just continues to say Lauren focus on me.. Endure it, but where is your focus?.. And when I smarten up, the suffering of whatever sort it is just fades away because God and His Glory is something that will never fade.. I will endure things that fade for things that will never fade..
And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with
Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we
must also share his suffering.
No matter where I am at I need to remember these 2 things.. 1. Focus on God all the time.. 2. Dont let anything ever distract you from God's destiny for you..
So I just want to encourage you to really think about your destiny... The destiny God has called me too, is nothing of what I thought it was for the almost 20 years of my Christian life.. God always has better for you, but are you willing to count the cost before you start.. Are you willing to surrender your destiny for Gods destiny? It will be amazing if you do, but there will be a cost..
Monday, March 24, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The day God filled your heart.. .
Maybe this revelation came because I am in the book of Acts and 2 Chronicles, but it really doesn't matter! Ill take it. :) I'm going to try to keep this short, but if it isn't love me anyways! I just want you to open your eyes spiritually when you are reading this..
2 Chronicles 5:12
They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words:
“He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!”
His faithful love endures forever!”
At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.
As I was reading this I was suddenly thinking about the 120 believers that were together, and how they were waiting for the the Holy Spirit to come. They were choosing someone to replace Judas. Then on the day of Pentecost, a sound from heaven like a mighty windstorm filled the house they were in
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.
Then Solomon prayed, “O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness. 2 Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever!” “O Lord,
God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You
keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you
in wholehearted devotion. May
you watch over this Temple day and night, this place where you have
said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make
toward this place. 21 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place.
When
Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up
the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the Temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying,
“He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!”
His faithful love endures forever!”
Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When
they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were
bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
You see the old in the new and the new in the old.. I just love that more and more that God reveals these things to me when I am reading. The old repeats itself because its prophetic and leads up the new.. But what is amazing is that the new will lead up to the return! The story of Solomon building the temple for God, was where God was going to live, and God blessed that and anointed it, but we are lucky enough to see the fulfillment of Gods plan. That God lives inside us. He live in our hearts, and we are His temple. I suggest you read 2 Chronicles 6:14-42
You see the old in the new and the new in the old.. I just love that more and more that God reveals these things to me when I am reading. The old repeats itself because its prophetic and leads up the new.. But what is amazing is that the new will lead up to the return! The story of Solomon building the temple for God, was where God was going to live, and God blessed that and anointed it, but we are lucky enough to see the fulfillment of Gods plan. That God lives inside us. He live in our hearts, and we are His temple. I suggest you read 2 Chronicles 6:14-42
40 “O my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to all the prayers made to you in this place. (heart)
41 “And now arise, O Lord God, and enter your resting place,
along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
May your priests, (us) O Lord God, be clothed with salvation;
may your loyal servants (us) rejoice in your goodness.
42 O Lord God, do not reject the king you have anointed.
Remember your unfailing love for your servant David.”
along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
May your priests, (us) O Lord God, be clothed with salvation;
may your loyal servants (us) rejoice in your goodness.
42 O Lord God, do not reject the king you have anointed.
Remember your unfailing love for your servant David.”
Monday, March 3, 2014
Why cant we be the kind of Jesus people, that people need..??
Why cant we be the kind of Jesus people, that people need..?? God has done a crazy work in me, over the past few years. I went from not caring about what people do, like at all, to having a holy anger, to wanting to love like Christ.. I know it is possible to love like Christ and still preach the truth because Jesus did it!..
The world just keeps getting worse, and worse.. And we try to fight for what is right, and what is true, and what is just, but it looks like its never going to be in our favor.. I know that Yes, we need to stand up for God's word, and stand true to faith, but how does that affect the people who don't give two craps about what we are standing up for.. What about those people? I think I came to realize why Christians, myself included have gotten into the place of holy anger.. Its because we see the defilement that comes from peoples hearts.. and we don't want it to keep spreading, and keep defiling the world we live in..
Are you afraid of the crazy, insane world defiling you and your children?..
Guess what you don't have to be afraid of that anymore..
Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
See Jesus said its not what comes from outside that defiles you, it comes from you! You defile yourself, not from someone elses choice.. The person making that choice, or living in sin is defiling themselves.. I'm not saying that the sin of one person doesn't affect someone else.. Our government is a good example of that.. I would compare it to earthquakes. We don't take the initial quake, we get the aftershock. We don't get the direct affect. We usually have to live with the aftermath..
What I am saying however is that if you see someone defile themselves.. Don't run away at first because you think that what they did, or who they are, or the choices they make are going to rub off on you, and somehow make you like them.. Instead show them the love of Christ. Be like Jesus! Share the message of Christ with them, pray for them, maybe even say to yourself.. "I know God loves that person, and what is God telling me to do to help them? I bet the answer would be to love them anyway"..
This is why it is so important to be in a relationship with God, and train your children up correctly. When you are gone, they will have to stand on their own, and if they don't have God in their life, then they will waver. That is why it also says too.. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Now how does our holy-anger earthquake affect those people who don't give to craps about the word of God.. Well it just keeps pushing them farther and farther away it.. It just keeps hardening their hearts, and turning them into ice..
I'm sick of living with the aftermath of the hypocritical church.. Church people say, come to church. Come as you are. Jesus loves you just as you are.. But then when hot topic issues hit the press every Christian out there, has to throw down holy anger all over the place!!
Jesus people have to try to clean up the mess of the hypocritical church people... and then we all wonder why no one is getting saved, and why no one in the church is on fire, and why everyone has their church faces on, and why people are living lies!. Its a big huge fat mess!
I say lets all preach the truth with love! Let people not only come to church as they are, but come to you as they are.. Accept them for who they are because Jesus accepted you just like you were, and with all your baggage too.. Then let Jesus do what He does best... Let Him change and transform them into something beautiful! Let God get the glory for the change of heart, and the renewing of their mind..
Seriously just let people meet Jesus!
The world just keeps getting worse, and worse.. And we try to fight for what is right, and what is true, and what is just, but it looks like its never going to be in our favor.. I know that Yes, we need to stand up for God's word, and stand true to faith, but how does that affect the people who don't give two craps about what we are standing up for.. What about those people? I think I came to realize why Christians, myself included have gotten into the place of holy anger.. Its because we see the defilement that comes from peoples hearts.. and we don't want it to keep spreading, and keep defiling the world we live in..
Are you afraid of the crazy, insane world defiling you and your children?..
Guess what you don't have to be afraid of that anymore..
Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”
See Jesus said its not what comes from outside that defiles you, it comes from you! You defile yourself, not from someone elses choice.. The person making that choice, or living in sin is defiling themselves.. I'm not saying that the sin of one person doesn't affect someone else.. Our government is a good example of that.. I would compare it to earthquakes. We don't take the initial quake, we get the aftershock. We don't get the direct affect. We usually have to live with the aftermath..
What I am saying however is that if you see someone defile themselves.. Don't run away at first because you think that what they did, or who they are, or the choices they make are going to rub off on you, and somehow make you like them.. Instead show them the love of Christ. Be like Jesus! Share the message of Christ with them, pray for them, maybe even say to yourself.. "I know God loves that person, and what is God telling me to do to help them? I bet the answer would be to love them anyway"..
This is why it is so important to be in a relationship with God, and train your children up correctly. When you are gone, they will have to stand on their own, and if they don't have God in their life, then they will waver. That is why it also says too.. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Now how does our holy-anger earthquake affect those people who don't give to craps about the word of God.. Well it just keeps pushing them farther and farther away it.. It just keeps hardening their hearts, and turning them into ice..
I'm sick of living with the aftermath of the hypocritical church.. Church people say, come to church. Come as you are. Jesus loves you just as you are.. But then when hot topic issues hit the press every Christian out there, has to throw down holy anger all over the place!!
Jesus people have to try to clean up the mess of the hypocritical church people... and then we all wonder why no one is getting saved, and why no one in the church is on fire, and why everyone has their church faces on, and why people are living lies!. Its a big huge fat mess!
I say lets all preach the truth with love! Let people not only come to church as they are, but come to you as they are.. Accept them for who they are because Jesus accepted you just like you were, and with all your baggage too.. Then let Jesus do what He does best... Let Him change and transform them into something beautiful! Let God get the glory for the change of heart, and the renewing of their mind..
Seriously just let people meet Jesus!
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Grace
I was thinking about a dream I had last night, and then I remembered when I woke up I said the word Grace.. This word I said, came from the Holy Spirit, not from myself and all of a sudden I was brought into this place where God is showing me how to deal with frustration and heartbreak..
Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.
God has lavished us with His grace.. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. God's grace is Jesus. Gods grace is His love. We don't deserve His grace but He smothers it on us still.
When I woke up this morning, His Spirit was telling me that even when you don't think people deserve something because they have caused you heartbreak, show them grace, better yet smother them with grace.. Because how can I not show and give someone grace when God gives me His grace. By giving grace, it brings you back to the place where you need to be with that person who hurt you, that hurt that caused that seperation.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
I could listen to a million messages on forgiveness, and a million messages on grace, but when God teaches me through His spirit, that is when I learn..
This place where we live, the place where our hearts beat, the place where are hearts become free is where grace lives . We are living, breathing, and walking in His grace..
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Marriage, love, and Jesus!
Why is it so hard to really love the person you are married too? (If you argue with this question, by saying it isn't hard, I say "cough" liar.. Lets get real!) Why is it is so hard to really forgive the people you love the most? God has brought to light something I have been asking myself lately? Shouldn't it be easier to love the person you are married to then any other person? Shouldn't it be easier to forgive people you love then any other person? It should, but its not.. Why does this seem like such a simple thing, but yet it is so hard?
I got a whole new view of how easy it should be, and yet we will continue to fail.
I was sitting in my car a few days ago staring at the clear blue sky with a few random clouds, and down the road where the earth met the sky I came to realize that everything on the earth is going to fail at some point. We are all just here for our moments, living in strife trying to be the best we can be, and above where the earth meets the sky, somewhere out there is a heaven where there is no strife, and frustration. Out there is my God who loves me for me, who will never fail me, who will always love me and forgive me easily. In that moment I didn't want to be here on this earth anymore, I wanted to be up there in the arms of Jesus.
If you noticed everything in heaven is duplicated on earth. God created creation, and here He uses us to create us. We are the bride, and Jesus is the groom, and here on earth there is a bride and groom. So if we are duplicating what there is in heaven, then in marriage to our spouse on earth we should be duplicating what is in our marriage to Christ. I love that God shows me the supernatural of His ways because it is beautiful but when I look at the ways on earth, it is ugly because it is natural.
This is why Paul says it is better to not marry if you have no problem with lust.
8 So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. 9 But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.
Because when you become married, you are now going to have to aim for the heavenly standard of marriage.. Do you know how hard it is to be married to a person who isn't Jesus? I'm sure you all know because most of us are married.. We are going to continue to fail our spouses, and fail Jesus..
32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
Being married twice is hard! It is much harder to be married to one of Gods creation's, then it is to be married to Jesus. Your interests are divided and you have to be devoted to God but also to your spouse, and your responsibilities of being a spouse. I think that is why so many marriages fail, because it is hard. That is why so many people are not devoted to God, because relationships take work. They pretty much take every ounce of energy you have.
6But ‘God made them male and female’from the beginning of creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, 8 and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, 9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
In my marriage to Christ, I need to remain in Him, and He will remain in me. We are united. It is supposed to look the same for your spouse. In my marriage to my spouse, I should remain in him, and he should remain in me. We should be united.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
Remaining and being the best disciple, spouse, and friend you can be, brings great glory to God. There are a ton of scriptures in the bible on how to be the best spouse you can be, and also how you can be the best bride of Christ too. I am just writing this all because I have been hit with a hard brick of the severity of what it takes in marriage, not only on earth but also in my relationship with Jesus.. And with my brothers and sisters in Christ. If I could sum up the bible in two words, it would be Love and Relationships. It is only truly available through Jesus.. Failing in relationships and love will happen, but Jesus is there saying remain! Remain in it all!
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
I got a whole new view of how easy it should be, and yet we will continue to fail.
I was sitting in my car a few days ago staring at the clear blue sky with a few random clouds, and down the road where the earth met the sky I came to realize that everything on the earth is going to fail at some point. We are all just here for our moments, living in strife trying to be the best we can be, and above where the earth meets the sky, somewhere out there is a heaven where there is no strife, and frustration. Out there is my God who loves me for me, who will never fail me, who will always love me and forgive me easily. In that moment I didn't want to be here on this earth anymore, I wanted to be up there in the arms of Jesus.
If you noticed everything in heaven is duplicated on earth. God created creation, and here He uses us to create us. We are the bride, and Jesus is the groom, and here on earth there is a bride and groom. So if we are duplicating what there is in heaven, then in marriage to our spouse on earth we should be duplicating what is in our marriage to Christ. I love that God shows me the supernatural of His ways because it is beautiful but when I look at the ways on earth, it is ugly because it is natural.
This is why Paul says it is better to not marry if you have no problem with lust.
8 So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. 9 But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.
Because when you become married, you are now going to have to aim for the heavenly standard of marriage.. Do you know how hard it is to be married to a person who isn't Jesus? I'm sure you all know because most of us are married.. We are going to continue to fail our spouses, and fail Jesus..
32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.
Being married twice is hard! It is much harder to be married to one of Gods creation's, then it is to be married to Jesus. Your interests are divided and you have to be devoted to God but also to your spouse, and your responsibilities of being a spouse. I think that is why so many marriages fail, because it is hard. That is why so many people are not devoted to God, because relationships take work. They pretty much take every ounce of energy you have.
6But ‘God made them male and female’from the beginning of creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, 8 and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, 9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
In my marriage to Christ, I need to remain in Him, and He will remain in me. We are united. It is supposed to look the same for your spouse. In my marriage to my spouse, I should remain in him, and he should remain in me. We should be united.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
Remaining and being the best disciple, spouse, and friend you can be, brings great glory to God. There are a ton of scriptures in the bible on how to be the best spouse you can be, and also how you can be the best bride of Christ too. I am just writing this all because I have been hit with a hard brick of the severity of what it takes in marriage, not only on earth but also in my relationship with Jesus.. And with my brothers and sisters in Christ. If I could sum up the bible in two words, it would be Love and Relationships. It is only truly available through Jesus.. Failing in relationships and love will happen, but Jesus is there saying remain! Remain in it all!
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Time to bring Him back the right way!
Don't ignore and neglect the presence of God. Be in communication with Him.. I see an uprising, and an army being built up. I can see God moving through this city, and around the globe. I even see it on my face book. People who never spoke of God before are now speaking of Him, and becoming apart of His church. Tonight as I was reading, I was seeing how alive the old testament is. It is beautiful and amazing. God speaks to me through the old just as much as He does the new. If you are apart of this army bring God back to the hearts the right way.. Always be in communication with Him, never ignoring His voice, or hardening your hearts. Listen for His will with everything you do, and don't ignore His presence around you.
“If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasture lands. Let us invite them to come and join us. 3 It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”
David wanted to bring the Presence of God back. They neglected Him during the reign of Saul. David consulted with the officials about bringing back the Presence of God back and if it was Gods will do to so, but David never actually talked to God about this..
But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon,[c] the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. 10 Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God
Whenever I have read this scripture I never really understood why Gods anger was aroused towards Uzzah because it was an accident, but now I see why.. The sin of David by not talking to God about bringing the Ark back caused Uzzah to die. If David would of have heard from God first, God would of shown David what He already spoke to Moses before. That the Levites must carry the Ark.
David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.
Notice how David is mad at God for this? How many of us blame God for the way things happen in life, but we never look to see if we had any part of the outcome. How many things fail that we try to do for God but we never consulted Him in the first place?
12 David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” 13 So David did not move the Ark into the City of David..
Then because you failed the first time you give up for awhile.. The nice spiral affect of not being in the presence of God, or listening to His voice.
When David finally decided to bring the Ark back..
Then he commanded, “No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord has chosen them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to serve him forever.” 3 Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
God told David how to move the Ark, and where to bring it.. He also told the levites they must purify themselves.
With my spiritual eyes and ears, I see God revealing the future to us through the old. The place God had prepared for His presence is in our hearts! If you want to carry Gods presence, purify yourselves! Not only that if you want to bring God to the lost, purify yourselves and always be in communication with God listening to how He wants you to do so. Otherwise you might just fail trying to move for God.
You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
We failed to ask God how to move it properly. (this is the key verse in this scripture)
“If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasture lands. Let us invite them to come and join us. 3 It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”
David wanted to bring the Presence of God back. They neglected Him during the reign of Saul. David consulted with the officials about bringing back the Presence of God back and if it was Gods will do to so, but David never actually talked to God about this..
But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon,[c] the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. 10 Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God
Whenever I have read this scripture I never really understood why Gods anger was aroused towards Uzzah because it was an accident, but now I see why.. The sin of David by not talking to God about bringing the Ark back caused Uzzah to die. If David would of have heard from God first, God would of shown David what He already spoke to Moses before. That the Levites must carry the Ark.
David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.
Notice how David is mad at God for this? How many of us blame God for the way things happen in life, but we never look to see if we had any part of the outcome. How many things fail that we try to do for God but we never consulted Him in the first place?
12 David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” 13 So David did not move the Ark into the City of David..
Then because you failed the first time you give up for awhile.. The nice spiral affect of not being in the presence of God, or listening to His voice.
When David finally decided to bring the Ark back..
Then he commanded, “No one except the Levites may carry the Ark of God. The Lord has chosen them to carry the Ark of the Lord and to serve him forever.” 3 Then David summoned all Israel to Jerusalem to bring the Ark of the Lord to the place he had prepared for it. Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly. You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
God told David how to move the Ark, and where to bring it.. He also told the levites they must purify themselves.
With my spiritual eyes and ears, I see God revealing the future to us through the old. The place God had prepared for His presence is in our hearts! If you want to carry Gods presence, purify yourselves! Not only that if you want to bring God to the lost, purify yourselves and always be in communication with God listening to how He wants you to do so. Otherwise you might just fail trying to move for God.
You must purify yourselves and all your fellow Levites, so you can bring the Ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
We failed to ask God how to move it properly. (this is the key verse in this scripture)
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Love
Feelings of inadequacy are lies...
Some of my deepest prayers is for my heart to be transformed into God's heart.. I desire for my heart to be just like Jesus's heart. Some of my deepest prayers are also for God to continue to reveal Himself to me through worship, prayers, and scripture.. The reason why is because I have seen, felt, and heard God's heart.. I have seen, felt, and heard Jesus's heart. It is seriously humbling.. God's love is something I wont fully understand, but He does reveal Himself to me constantly of His love and Grace. Through scripture Jesus is always talking about the Heart. He is always talking about Love. He says that if you want to prove yourself to the world that you are disciple of Him, then to love each other.. If you dont have love, you have nothing.
This hit me the other day.. I have been feeling inadequate.. I have been feeling like I am missing something, and that because I have "missed" it then there is something wrong with me, or I am doing something wrong. I have been feeling like I am blocking God's flow into me, to then to flow out of me..and then I start to question, and wonder.. What is wrong with you Lauren? I started to question if God loves me as much as someone else? This might be a shock, but this is the first time I have felt unworthy of God's love.. Yes, I know I am unworthy, but Jesus gave me the title of "child of God", and because Jesus is worthy, then I am worthy. So for me to feel unworthy after years of feeling worthy really has hit my heart, and I started to buy into Satan's lies..
But there is one thing that I know that has been shown to me through my walk with Christ, and that I will hold onto is that God loves me how I am, even if I feel like I am doing something wrong.. The lies of Satan can be powerful.. But my God is more powerful.. I prove myself by love, not by gift or effort.
God has shown me before in worship how He created me from Himself.. Something I remember back to and have cried over.. That God loved Me so much, that He not only created me from a part of Himself, but because He loved me that much, He sent a Shepherd to save a dumb ole sheep. Who does that? Who sends out a worthy Son, to save an unworthy animal? God does! That is how much God loves me, and you.. He sent out something so perfect to save something so imperfect. He didn't want to live without His imperfect sheep, that He had to figure out a way to save them and make them perfect.. Through this God really has shown me how much He loves His creation, all of it, not just the called but the uncalled too. He is heartbroken over His lost sheep.. This led to me realizing how much Jesus loves God, and us.. He loved His Father so much He was willing to lay down His life for Gods creation, so that one day they are and will be united. Jesus was willing to lay down His perfect life for imperfect animal, so that He can give me the title "child of God". There is nothing that can top that type of love.. I would never give my life up for an animal, so to realize this is what Jesus did, it should humble you completely..
So after all of this, God reminded me of the verse..
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Both on earth and in Heaven these are the things that will last forever.. The lies that Satan has been feeding me are nothing but lies.. And that I am on the right track.. I will continue to pursue love and revelation from God because that is what He says to do.. I am different, and I wont be able to minister to the world in the same ways as other people, I wont have the same gifts as other but that doesn't mean there is something wrong with me, it just means what it means. I am different but I have the same spirit, and receive the same love from God. It also shows me that where God is leading me, is somewhere that I will continue to not know, until I get there.. That makes me feel God's love.
I would rather have love flow out of me, then any other gift because that is the only thing that will last. Love, Hope, and Faith will not be shaken.. All the other gifts, talents, and efforts will be shaken and gone.
If you feel inadequent or unworthy, I want you to realize that you are loved by God. When God looks at you, He is in love! You are that beautiful ballerina, in a box that He carries around in His heart. God is memorized at watching you dance, and spin, and seeing the love flow out of you.. <3
Some of my deepest prayers is for my heart to be transformed into God's heart.. I desire for my heart to be just like Jesus's heart. Some of my deepest prayers are also for God to continue to reveal Himself to me through worship, prayers, and scripture.. The reason why is because I have seen, felt, and heard God's heart.. I have seen, felt, and heard Jesus's heart. It is seriously humbling.. God's love is something I wont fully understand, but He does reveal Himself to me constantly of His love and Grace. Through scripture Jesus is always talking about the Heart. He is always talking about Love. He says that if you want to prove yourself to the world that you are disciple of Him, then to love each other.. If you dont have love, you have nothing.
This hit me the other day.. I have been feeling inadequate.. I have been feeling like I am missing something, and that because I have "missed" it then there is something wrong with me, or I am doing something wrong. I have been feeling like I am blocking God's flow into me, to then to flow out of me..and then I start to question, and wonder.. What is wrong with you Lauren? I started to question if God loves me as much as someone else? This might be a shock, but this is the first time I have felt unworthy of God's love.. Yes, I know I am unworthy, but Jesus gave me the title of "child of God", and because Jesus is worthy, then I am worthy. So for me to feel unworthy after years of feeling worthy really has hit my heart, and I started to buy into Satan's lies..
But there is one thing that I know that has been shown to me through my walk with Christ, and that I will hold onto is that God loves me how I am, even if I feel like I am doing something wrong.. The lies of Satan can be powerful.. But my God is more powerful.. I prove myself by love, not by gift or effort.
God has shown me before in worship how He created me from Himself.. Something I remember back to and have cried over.. That God loved Me so much, that He not only created me from a part of Himself, but because He loved me that much, He sent a Shepherd to save a dumb ole sheep. Who does that? Who sends out a worthy Son, to save an unworthy animal? God does! That is how much God loves me, and you.. He sent out something so perfect to save something so imperfect. He didn't want to live without His imperfect sheep, that He had to figure out a way to save them and make them perfect.. Through this God really has shown me how much He loves His creation, all of it, not just the called but the uncalled too. He is heartbroken over His lost sheep.. This led to me realizing how much Jesus loves God, and us.. He loved His Father so much He was willing to lay down His life for Gods creation, so that one day they are and will be united. Jesus was willing to lay down His perfect life for imperfect animal, so that He can give me the title "child of God". There is nothing that can top that type of love.. I would never give my life up for an animal, so to realize this is what Jesus did, it should humble you completely..
So after all of this, God reminded me of the verse..
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Both on earth and in Heaven these are the things that will last forever.. The lies that Satan has been feeding me are nothing but lies.. And that I am on the right track.. I will continue to pursue love and revelation from God because that is what He says to do.. I am different, and I wont be able to minister to the world in the same ways as other people, I wont have the same gifts as other but that doesn't mean there is something wrong with me, it just means what it means. I am different but I have the same spirit, and receive the same love from God. It also shows me that where God is leading me, is somewhere that I will continue to not know, until I get there.. That makes me feel God's love.
I would rather have love flow out of me, then any other gift because that is the only thing that will last. Love, Hope, and Faith will not be shaken.. All the other gifts, talents, and efforts will be shaken and gone.
If you feel inadequent or unworthy, I want you to realize that you are loved by God. When God looks at you, He is in love! You are that beautiful ballerina, in a box that He carries around in His heart. God is memorized at watching you dance, and spin, and seeing the love flow out of you.. <3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)