Melissa — If God cloaks something for a time, it is not only to hide it from the devil and his destructive minions, but it is also to hide it from our own self-sabotage. Yes, the devil and self-sabotage are two different things. However, the devil LOVES stoking the flames of self-sabotage! All we have to do is let our fears and concerns fall out of our mouths like kindling for the enemy’s threatening bonfire. So many times we make the devil’s job so easy.
Kathy — Matt.5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Let’s read it like this: Blessed are they who stay positioned in God-purpose even through contrary winds. Blessed are they who align with God’s character when they are ridiculed for it. Blessed are they who tirelessly remain faithful when compromise would be such a relief.
We are part of a great plan of God that has been intricately designed from before the foundation of the world. Added to the dimension of personal issues and concerns is the dimension that each of us has a part to play out in that great design. Eph.2:10, TPT — “We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!.” Those who stay the course AND those who do not will both have an effect. (2Tim.4:10)
Kathy — Seems the norm is to run into another battle on the way to battle. Jesus had to deal with His own disciples’ betrayal on His way to the cross. David dealt with his brother Eliab’s disdain before Goliath. I don’t doubt that first skirmish turns out to be prep for the second. Think of it as building a battle momentum so you can show up with an already bloody, intimidating sword! Jer.12:5, The Message — “So, Jeremiah, if you’re worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can’t keep your wits during times of calm, what’s going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?”
Chipmunks and birds gather up provisions in preparation for the coming season, so there is built into each season an opportunity to prepare for the coming season. Part of staying the course includes preparation for the next season. The enemy of our destiny is hoping that we will become so focused on the factors that have put us in the present strain that we will not prepare for the season to come. Prov.24:27, Amplified — “Prepare your work outside And get it ready for yourself in the field; Afterward build your house and establish a home.”
Kathy — Battle heats up by reason of the needed outcome. Heat determines the strength of a weld, so does the intensity of battle establish the strength and longevity of the victory. The vehemence of battle welds the outcome in undeniable purpose rather than just leaving us with fragmented memories of war. Heat is one of the components of long-term victory and intense battle yields intensely awesome results! Ps.18:39, Amplified Version — “For You have encircled me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”
As the people of God assemble today may they experience the elation and joy of realizing that, in the moment of praise and hearing the Word of God, they have won battles over satan. May they experience the lifting of burdens and lifting of the weightiness of despair. Ps.68:19-20, The Passion Translation — “What a glorious God! He gives us salvation over and over, then daily he carries our burdens! Pause in his presence. 20 Our God is a mighty God who saves us over and over! For the Lord, Yahweh, rescues us from the ways of death many times.”
Melissa — Let’s look at “Call to me and I will answer you” through a modern American paradigm: I call on the Lord and He will answer – I will tell Him what I need and He will give it to me because He is a loving God. You know, kind of like curbside grocery delivery. I took the time to get my list together and I took the time to call about this list. Now, it’s on Him to deliver! I’m afraid we North Americans operate out of an entitled mindset not only in our relationship with earthlings, but also in our relationship with God. If I call on Him then ________ (insert pre-determined answer here). The problem with an entitled relationship with God is where the entitlement is rooted. If it is rooted in the Spirit, according to the covenant, then it will put you in a posture of dominion. If, however, it is rooted in the soul then it will hold you in a victimized defensive posture. The soul will keep you chained out of reach of God’s original intent which is indeed dominion. Or said another way, the soul will keep you from being heaven on earth.
Kathy — We can choose to get over painful blows and hurt feelings and refuse to allow them to become offense and self-pity. One way to overcome them is to use anger rather than lie down in it. Ephesians 4:26 – ”Be angry and do not sin…”. It doesn’t tell us NOT to get angry. It tells us when we get angry, 1) resolve it rightly, 2) resolve it quickly, and 3) don’t do anything in the process that gives up ground you’ll have to win back later.
When walking through a season, wouldn’t it be best if we got all we could out of it so that we don’t have to go through another one just like it? It may not be possible for some of us to get through the experiences that course will take us through while maintaining our same old paradigms about who God is and how God works. One purpose of seasons is likely to open up a wider revelation of who God is and what His ways are and how we are to participate with Him. Ps.25:4, TPT — “Lord, direct me throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you.”
Kathy — The Holy Spirit has been emphasizing a two-sided weapon, discernment and wisdom. We must have discernment so that we can cut through the fog of emotions and opinions that arise during change and growth. Discernment will keep us from standing against the changes that God is bringing to His church and our lives. We need discernment to choose righteously and then we need wisdom to know how to walk out our choices. Js.1:5, TPT — “And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.”
The month of December is for recommitting ourselves to prayer for one another and matters that matter. It seems to be easy to fall out of the habit of regular prayer when the stuff of life happens and pulls on us and disappoints us and distracts us. But we can refocus and return to (or begin) the all-important discipline of regular prayer in December. Eph.6:18, Amp — “With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.” 1Tim.2:8, Amp — “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing or quarreling or doubt [in their mind].”
Kathy — Wisdom is working to equip us to prevail in days ahead over key forces like offense, self-pity, anger and fear. The power of those forces is that they condition us to defeat ourselves. Offense is stumbling and it causes us to cripple ourselves. Offense causes us to become distrustful and desert our post. We do not have to take in offense even when it comes banging on our door with every logic. Ps.119:165, TPT — “There is such a great peace and well-being that comes to the lovers of your word, and they will never be offended.”
As the people of God assemble today may they all give acknowledgement and give assent that Yahweh is due “Amens” and “Hallelujahs” from everyone — from the ancient ones all the way to us today and to the ones who are yet to be born. Ps.106:48, TPT — “Blessed be our Lord God forever and ever. And let everyone everywhere say, “Hallelujah!” Amen! Faithful is our King!” Let them all say, “Be it so, certainly, truly” for merciful, Almighty God is faithful and true to His Word and to His character. Though people had sinned, though the sins were listed in this Psalm as a witness against them, yet the Lord was merciful to them so that there was reason for thanksgiving, for “Amens” and “Hallelujahs”. Amen, Oh, King of Kings!
No matter what catastrophe is making headlines, we are already obligated to the purposes of Almighty God. We have already made a decision for the God of heaven. Bad things that happen may make it a bit more difficult to get certain things done and may knock wind out of us but they must not become insurmountable walls; they must only be obstacles which we overcome to fulfill purpose. (Rom.8:39)
Kathy — When we refuse to listen we never learn to think and decide as God does. A hardened heart can mean we’ll never get where we were born to go. Why would we choose to waste our lifetime, our opportunity to accomplish what we were born to do? Jer.29:11 tells us that God has good plans for us with an expected end. An expected end: the hoped for outcome, the longed for outcome and that which we’ve waited for.
Our hearts are turned to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in thanksgiving for His sacrificial and redemptive acts of love in our behalf. We receive them and what He has procured through them that we may gratefully bring glory to His Wonderful Name. “And let the peace from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” (Col.3:15, Amp)
A while back I walked into the kitchen and I said to Kathy, “That smells like Thanksgiving!”. As I walked in, I experienced a wide range of sensory connections with Thanksgiving. The smell of spices and basting meat and the odors of baking coming out of the oven filled my senses. But I also began to hear things. As memories of Thanksgivings-come-and-gone stirred in my mind, I could hear the sounds of those gatherings, those loved ones, those children, those songs, that worship—in my memory. Kathy couldn’t hear any of it but I could hear many things all at once. I had to just stand there for a minute or two, not focusing on anything in the room but looking with my memory into those sights and sounds that had been cherished and stored away in valuable files of my heart. Then, even as I write now, hot tears filled my eyes and my heart raced up at the peace and joy and delight all those sounds and people in my memory brought to me. I didn’t even realize that I had tucked those precious memories away so many years ago. But the loving atmosphere, the loving people, the lovely ambiance and delicious foods all impacted my senses then for a delightful, sensory and welcome release now. No camera could have accomplished what those pleasant experiences wrought, for they were drawn up out of the well of cherished ones and cherished things in my heart. And for a brief time they were all there, all real and all so lovely once again. I am so thankful for a rich heritage, deeply meaningful relationships and for cherished memories that still impact me today. May this Thanksgiving bring to you sights and sounds and smells that pleasantly soothe you and heal you, and may they all bring you to a fresh place of rest in our Lord. (Prov.10:7a, Amp) ”The memory of the righteous [person] is a blessing,”.
And our thankfulness goes on and on…. We are thankful that all things have been given us through our relationship with Jesus for a life of living godly in this present world. 2Pe.1:2 — “Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 according as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue,”
martygabler 