What We Give Over
A farmer we know had a new Doberman puppy. One morning the puppy was in the barn with the horse. The farmer’s wife heard the horse stomping around and then heard a desperate yelp from the puppy! She ran into the barn and found the tiny puppy limp and lifeless. She could see no wound, but the small pet lay in the puddle of released bowels she knew to be a sign of sudden death. She rushed the unresponsive puppy to 
the vet. The vet took one look at the dog and said, “The dog is dead. There is nothing I can do.”
When the farmer returned, his wife broke the news that his new puppy was on the back porch dead. The farmer knelt beside the stiff little body and studied the once shiny eyes now glazed in a dead stare. He called her name, “Princess.” He watched the motionless pup intently. Moments later, she moved her tail slightly. He called her name again, “Princess,” and began to stroke her. The tiny tail broke into a full swing, lifting her rear off the ground into a full wag! When he called her name, she suddenly agreed with her identity and purpose and future instead of what might have been. We will never know if the horse actually kicked her or just came close. Either way, the dog who thought she was dead overcame the trauma of the giant in the barn and lived to fulfill her purpose, becoming the best watch dog the farmer ever had.
Sometimes all our enemy has to do is show up. We give up because of OPPOSITION. Sometimes all he has to do is be taller. We give up because of INTIMIDATION. Sometimes all he has to do is cast a shadow over us. We give up because of DOUBTS. Sometimes all he has to do is be louder than hope. We give up because of IMPOSSIBILITIES. Sometimes all he has to do is out last us. We give up because of LACK of PERSEVERANCE. Sometimes all our enemy has to do is scare us with what might have been. If in shock we AGREE, he is successful. It is not what the enemy takes, it is what we give over! Some things were given over in past generations, but we can even take those things back through agreeing with our Redeemer!
(This is the first excerpt from the article “Threshold Wars” by Kathy Gabler.)
Last One Standing
Perhaps we could paraphrase Joel 2:25 like this: “I will restore the years swallowed up because you did not realize the significance of MY purpose and destiny in your life. The circumstances were forces that 
I used to change you, to build character, to build strength, to complete a work within you and to bring about the right timing and conditions for My purpose in you.”
Of course, when you are eating locusts without the honey, pulling crispy, creepy locusts shells out of your hair and swatting them away from your nose, eyes and ears, you wonder if you will be naked and half eaten or even be able to see the Redeemer who is coming. If you dared open your mouth you would ask for His ETA. However, that is the time to let the last line of Job 19:25, echo through you, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. He will have the last word and He will be the last one standing in our behalf. So, let’s dare to trust Him to keep our accounts and wait for Him to show up as our Redeemer.
(This is the last excerpt from “Wait For It,” an article by Kathy Gabler in the August/September 2013 issue of SEEC Magazine.)
To read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine * August/September 2013, click on this link: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Outliving A Siege
The last sentence in Joel 2:25 says, My great army which I sent among you. That tells us that God sent the army of locusts, the swarm of circumstance. Did He send them to ultimately rob, kill and destroy His people? 
No. Interestingly, through those times that it feels like we are helpless and chaos is king, our Redeemer is watching and working behind the scenes and at every intersection. Even during a siege there is a redemptive factor at work and, whether we realize it or not, the conflict is working something out of us and into us. Overcoming a locust season is an opportunity for sons to build muscle and maturity. Coming out with both is a redeeming result of difficulty. Outliving a siege positions us for redemption of our purpose. Matured and muscled, we are then equipped to embrace every opportunity restored, every resource restored, every potential restored, every strength restored, every harvest restored, every energy restored and the years lost in the difficult, building process.
(This is the second excerpt from “Wait For It,” an article by Kathy Gabler in the August/September 2013 issue of SEEC Magazine.)
Melissa Gabler and the Grace Worship Band
Worship songs from Concerning The Kingdom Conference 2013
Click here for “Our Father” worship music: http://martygabler.podomatic.com/entry/2013-03-21T10_26_44-07_00
Click here for spontaneous worship music: http://martygabler.podomatic.com/entry/2013-03-21T10_33_09-07_00
Your Redeemer
A redeemer is one who delivers, avenges or ransoms as needed, one who buys back what was lost. Think about all that can be lost to us, like lost opportunities, lost resources, lost potential, lost strength, lost harvest and lost energy (to list a few). Our Redeemer can even buy back time, He said so in Joel 2:25, “And I will restore to you the years (I will make up to you for the years) the swarming locust has eaten, the locust larvae, and the stripping locust, and the cutting locust. . .” This scripture does not only say He can restore the years, it says He will. He will make up for those times that no matter how many bugs you killed, they kept coming. He will restore those years it took to fight and endure the swarming circumstances. He will make up for the time it took for circumstances to consistently strip away your strength and hope. He will make up for all those mornings when the sunrise woke up the dread in your soul again and circumstances continued to devour your day and your future. He will make up for the months and years that opposition smothered you and circumstances robbed you through changelessness. He is, indeed, your Redeemer!
(This is the first excerpt from “Wait For It”, an article by Kathy Gabler in the August/September 2013 issue of SEEC Magazine.)
Click on this link to read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine * August/September 2013: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Out Of The Ashes
The only place your gift (or hope or dream God has put in you) will do no good is under the ashes of hurts, self indulgence and neglected vows. If there is anyone not 
wanting that gift stirred, it is not God. God enables (1Tim.1:12) and motivates (Rom.15:13;Heb.12:2-3). No pleasure nor morbid sense of humor can make Him call someone, give gifts to them and then turn around and pummel their dreams into powder.
I doubt Joseph’s dream had been completely forgotten or buried under the ashes of unfulfilled years. He had a dream from God and it kept him alive and kept him going in the pit, in prison and in pressed service in a foreign land. The vision did not die but actually came to greater dimension than he had originally imagined!
Nothing is birthed and the flames of gifting fade away when we take our focus off “God said” and place it on our inner doubts and struggles. Those doubts are fed by the detractor and those he enlists. What God promises, He also performs. The “how” of it is not our concern. It is God’s and it is no problem (cf.Heb.11:3). Cf.”Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps.37:3-4).”
(This is the last excerpt in a series about “Yearn To Burn” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs.”)
Speak Into Our Lives
You, O Mighty God, are not subject to political schemes, monetary declines or medical limitations. You are above all those limited strictures. Father, by your awesome Spirit, speak into our lives where we have 
forgotten your desires and purposes and have concluded, like Abraham in Gen.15:3, that we will not have an heir, and certain things will be and other things will not be. Holy Spirit, come and breathe upon the Word of God in our hearts that we may call upon Him so that He may show us great and mighty things. Come and witness to us today what shall be and what you shall grant by your power from your throne. We must know what we do not now know that the glory may be to Your Name.
“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).” (Jer.33:3, Amp)
Click on this link to read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine * August/September 2013: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
Featured article: Apostle Jim Hodges, “The Corporate Anointing”
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Yearn To Burn
The air was bone-chilling cold. The fire had gone out and it seemed useless to pick up the stick and stir the ashes which looked so lifeless. Yet, when I began to stir around in the ashes, sparks began to fly, 
embers were exposed to the air and they began to flame into life. The embers that came to life had not been apparent before I stirred up the ashes. I added some small twigs and in a short period of time, after feeding the fire with some larger pieces, I had a full-grown fire to warm myself.
Paul urged Timothy, “Stir up the gift of God within you (2Tim.1:6 KJV).” There was no impassioned plea for Timothy to sit quietly by until a holy stick-bearing angel came and stirred up the fire. Actually, the imperative is to do just the opposite: “[You] Fan into flame the gift of God.” This phrase was used in the common vernacular of the time to describe the rekindling of a fire that had been allowed to die down through neglect (W.E. Vine).
(This is the first excerpt in a series about “Yearn To Burn” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs.”)
Melissa Gabler and the Grace Worship Band
Worship songs from Concerning The Kingdom Conference 2013
Click here for “Our Father” worship music: http://martygabler.podomatic.com/entry/2013-03-21T10_26_44-07_00
Click here for spontaneous worship music: http://martygabler.podomatic.com/entry/2013-03-21T10_33_09-07_00
God As Witness To Promise
There are blessings, signs, wonders and miracles about to happen in our lives, our families, our churches and our nation because God was witnessing of it before you and I were ever born—for His Name’s sake. We will not fall backward from promise in our confession. We will not say as Abraham, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” (Gen.15:3). Because He who is Witness responds “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” (v.4) We will not see promise from afar or second-hand. We will see it with our own eyes and give Almighty God praise.
Click on this link to read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine * August/September 2013: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Be Not Bedraggled
That depreciating disparager is a thief and has come “only to steal and kill and destroy (Jn.10:10).” His goal is to steal away a word, a hope, a dream or a vision that God has given. He would love for you to think it has been canceled or, at the very least, that you will have to settle for something less. You end up 
bedraggled, talking like, “It’s not going to be what I originally expected it would be but ‘many are the trials of the righteous’ and I’m just glad to know the Lord.” The detractor spirit finds many an ear willing to listen, willing to believe and willing to act on the altered information.
The thief will get us preoccupied with other people’s views of our relationship with God or their opinion of the likelihood of God’s promise coming to pass in us. He wants us totally dismayed with the time period between promise and fulfillment. Such a spirit readily points out failed relationships and failed attempts “to be a part of” so it appears that there is now a “blemish” on our calling. His memory works overtime reminding us of failed or unheeded opportunities. Hence, the implication of our being unworthy or unreliable as participants in any divine purpose.
If the detractor cannot knock you completely out of the race, he wants the wind and confidence knocked out of you so that your performance is hindered. It would be somewhat like a high performance racecar driver pulling in for a pit stop and saying, “Don’t put much gas in the tank and don’t put on any new tires because I don’t deserve it the way I’ve been driving.” Cf.”For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ (2Co.1:20).” Never stop saying “Amen” to what God has said.
(This is the third excerpt in a series about “Don’t Settle For Anything Less” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs.”)
Beware The Detractor
The enemy of your promise does not have to completely destroy that promise. If he can’t get it all he’ll be satisfied with stealing a vital piece of it. That is the job of the detractor spirit. A detractor is 
something that takes away. It steals away pieces and takes away value from the whole making it incomplete, not fully functional, not fully serving its purpose. It is like a motor not running on all cylinders.
A detractor takes a spray can and paints smudges on a beautiful statue and vulgarities on a clean wall. A detractor draws a mustache on an exquisite painting. If someone notices a lady and says, “Isn’t she beautiful?” the detractor responds, “Yes, but her nose is too big.”
That spirit has a way of making things or people look and sound unattractive, unworthy or unuseful even though they may have legitimately been at one time. It devastates or, at the least, depreciates. It loves to make the promise of God appear difficult or unattainable. We just need to realize though, that if God promises, He is the One who brings it to pass. Beware all detractors that get in the way of God’s moving toward fulfillment. He performs that which He promises (Rom.4:21).
“and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (Rom.4:21)
(This is the second excerpt in a series about “Don’t Settle For Anything Less” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs.”)
Click on this link to read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine * August/September 2013: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Don’t Ignore Tired
If we are tired and ignore tired and do not resolve tired, we can slide into weariness. Then our attitude is affected. Like in an airplane, the wrong attitude will change the final outcome. Attitude that is off a few degrees will influence our decisions and choices, causing them to miss the mark by a 
few degrees. That can lead to disappointment, despair and even desperateness.
Recognize the first signs of tiredness and take a break for rest. It is during those times the Holy Spirit can redefine “well doing” if necessary.
If you get to the “weary” phase you can miss the harvest, you can miss the good results simply because you have lost focus and are not looking.
“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.” (Gal.6:9, Amp)
(Kathy’s “Thought For Today #3”)
Click on this link to read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine * August/September 2013: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Don’t Settle For Anything Less
Would you buy a bird without a song or a dog without a bark? Then don’t “buy” anything from the devil or this world system that is less than what God has promised. If you went to a hospital to have a baby 
and they brought out a large doll and said, “This is your baby,” would you just simply accept it “because that’s the way things are, that’s just the way things worked out this time?” Would you accept just a picture of your paycheck because your boss talked you into believing that it is a reasonable facsimile thereof? No you wouldn’t because you know very well that it would not be the real thing and you could not spend it. Therefore, don’t settle for anything less than the full promise of God which you know full well (cf.Rom.4:18).
(This is the first excerpt in a series about “Don’t Settle For Anything Less” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs,” Chapter Two.)
Click on this link to read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine * August/September 2013: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Be Not Weary
Be not weary in well doing. Sometimes we need to rest and let God redefine “well doing.” We may be doing things that were only for a past season but are now an expired obedience. A one-time obedience that reaches fulfillment can become no more than a religious obligation if we embrace it beyond its season.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matt.11:28-30, Msg)
(Kathy Gabler’s “Thought For Today #2”)
Click on this link to read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine * August/September 2013: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Modification By God
God will faithfully modify our thinking with reference to philosophy of life, convictions and basic views of Himself. He is ALWAYS bigger than the “box” we 
put Him in. God is both capable and courageous enough to modify the expression of one’s personality. (Now that’s the untouchable one.)
Moses was supposed to lead Israel out of Egypt, not choke all the Egyptians one by one. He was supposed to speak to the rock, not strike it. The end result is not the only thing important to God. If we yield, God will modify everything necessary so that we will speak and not strike when He says, “Speak.” Cf.”Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive…(Js.1:12).”
(This is the fifth excerpt in a series about “Promise” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs,” Chapter Two.)
Click on this link to read the latest issue of SEEC Magazine–August/September 2013: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Promise Moving Into Place
When we are willing to be MOVED where God deems best and when we are willing to be MODIFIED even though it means we must change our mind about some inaccurate views we were formerly willing to die for, then the promise begins to come into place. It is then that the position of the promise changes from potential to actualization (cf.Lev.26:3-13; Deut.28:1-14;Rom. 12:1-2;Js.1:3-4,12;4:7-10;Phil.1:6).
Considering scriptural examples, I know I must be willing for God to move me if He sees such a necessity. Sometimes God moves us geographically or with reference to a career or status among our peers. Positioning and timing are high up on God’s list of imperatives (cf.Eph.1:9-10;Gal.4:4-5). There will, no doubt, be need for modifications in our point of reference and our understanding of God’s timing in order to bring the fulfillment of promise. God does not give gifts to be squandered but to bring the fruit forth from our lives that He desires to minister to others.
(This is the fourth excerpt in a series about “Promise” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs,” Chapter Two.)
Click on this link to read SEEC Magazine: https://martygabler.com/magazine/
We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,
Marty & Kathy Gabler
Like Wings On An Airplane
There are promises of provision, of enabling for tasks and callings, of persons whom I will bless and persons who will bless me and of doors opening that will bring the actualization of those promises. Promises are those solid stones we step on when moving in the direction of purpose. They are like wings on an airplane that hold the engines and give the fuselage lift.
He is a God who loves us in such a way that He wants the very best for us – the best with reference to His character and His understanding of what will make us into the image of His Son. If we yield to Him and are willing to be moved and modified in the process, He will do whatever is necessary, moving mountains and men to bring about what is best.
(This is the third excerpt in a series about “Promise” from Marty Gabler’s book “Why Sheep Have Short Legs,” Chapter Two.)
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