Thursday, February 26, 2009

Led by the Father - “THIS THING HE IS DOING!”

Led by the Father - “THIS THING HE IS DOING!”
by Mary Lindow

ALL OF US ARE INDIVIDUALLY SOMEHOW BEING LED BY THE FATHER...

...INTO OPERATIONS OF THE HEART.


He is testing us deeply to see if we long for any power from the pull of glory, revelation, or any spiritual insights.

I TRULY SEE HIM TESTING US ALL IN DEEPER REGIONS OF OUR SOULS THAN WE EVER DREAMED EXISTED.

THIS THING HE IS DOING!
It is a precision operation that "lasers" away everything fraudulent, empty, and embellished! He is driving us lovingly to simplicity, loyalty, and Divine purposes. None of which we can achieve or fathom with our talents, educations, skills, or wit!

The Lord longs to show you His favor.
He wants to give you His tender love.
The Lord is a God who is always fair.
Blessed are all those who wait for Him to act.
Isaiah 30:18 (NIRV)

DETERMINED TO PURSUE IN OBEDIENCE
When we are determined to pursue in obedience a true faith in Christ, we will encounter those things of the soul that can so easily get us off of the track that we are attempting to run on in order to collect the crown of victory! The things that so easily overwhelm us are those we tend to be affected by. Usually it is something that we have struggles with or have been exposed to, from habits, age, or upbringing.

THIS IS A MOST IMPORTANT WARNING ABOUT DEALING WITH THOSE "PAINFUL WOUNDS" AND "DEEP LOSSES"!
They will attempt to take from us every motive for moving forward, and gives power and energy to every discouragement. When we are weary and faint in our minds, let us remember that Jesus suffered, to save us from eternal misery.

BY INTENTIONALLY LOOKING TO JESUS,
Our thoughts will be strengthened by holy affections, and keep our self loving desires in a place of intensified focus on the Presence of the Lord. We need to habitually think about Him! What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others?

THERE IS A TENDENCY IN US AS BELIEVERS TO GROW WEARY,
and to collapse under trials and afflictions. This is because we still need to understand the mercy and full power of that thing called "grace." We are not built for a filthy world and the pressures of hellish spewing. We were created for adoration, worship and resting in the Presence of God and then, with Godly strength, to subdue the earth. But Hell is roaring it's ugly breath and venom on the earth, attempting to paralyze the believer, robbing him of Faith, Hope and Love!

Psalm 25:21
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
Because my hope is in you.

WE AS FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD OF GRACE
must come to understand that trials and yes…even accusations from enemies and persecutors may be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divinely Allowed! Our heavenly Father has His hand in all of this and His wisdom will give a final answer to all of this "sifting of out souls!"


THE OPPOSITE OF BRAVERY IS NOT COWARDICE…
…BUT CONFORMITY. ~Robert Anthony


WE MUST NOT JUST GIVE IN TO A FATALISTIC GLOOM!
That horrid oppressiveness where we feel that no help or hope is coming to free us! God may let others remain alone in their sins, but He WILL correct wrongdoing in his own children. This is what a Father would do to a stubborn or gloomy child, who mopes around in a moodiness accompanied by a big black rain cloud! Perhaps your earthly parents corrected you to indulge their anger, rather than to change your manners. But the Father of our souls never eagerly hurts or brings down His children. It is always for our benefit.

OUR WHOLE LIFE HERE IS A POSITION OF CHILDHOOD,
and we are imperfect when it comes to fully understanding spiritual things.
That is why we must we must yield- and in a real sense, "give in" to this place of loving care and preparation.

GOD'S CORRECTION IS NOT DISAPPROVAL!
When we are willing to let God walk the secret hallways of our soul and humbly allow Him to shine the light of purity and truth on all of our opinions about how things should be done in His Kingdom, this brokenness and self-exposure greatly increases personal purity!

THE CALLOUSNESS AND MEANNESS OF MEN
May we learn to trust that the pain brought on us by the callousness and meanness of men, is actually an instrument the Lord allows to show us that no one can be depended upon fully in this world. He is the Ultimate Source of Hope. This is so important for our weariness and is sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good and maturing.

THOSE WHO HAVE NOT WALKED WHERE YOU HAVE WALKED
will have heaps of suggestions and tidbits suggesting as to what you need to do. Imagine dear Jesus, having been stripped of heavenly riches, coming here to earth, and then to be spat upon, beaten laughed at and murdered. The advice of many was to have Him rise up and prove himself right and righteous.

He did.

He suffered in the Garden, wrestling with the trauma he knew that would only get worse. And He then suffered the loss of even the last final physical bit of ownership He had by having even his clothing gambled away by his murderers.

OH YES DEAR CHILD OF GOD! HE DOES KNOW OUR SORROWS-
and pains and He will not flippantly give you an intolerant glance when you need comfort. His Mercy is one that endures with us, forever.

THE CLAMOR AND ROAR OF NOISE THAT MAN MAKES
when he needs to make a point, often exposes his weaknesses as well. All the more reason we need to be certain that we are listening to the calm, sure, still, small Voice of God. He will give us safety and direction in the most terrifying of times and in each business decision, each child's life in your care, and in each destiny point you are facing.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.

“He who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it.
Because He never lost sight of where He was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God.
He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever.
And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”
Hebrews 12:2 (The Message)


Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright © 2009 "
THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Monday, February 16, 2009

“TO BE LED BY MY INTERNAL FORCE

“TO BE LED BY MY INTERNAL FORCE”
by the Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow

To hear as a free Podcast go to:
http://www.gcast.com/u/MaryLindow/main.xml


When I rain down My blessings on My people, there is a
sweet fragrance that is released! Just like the smell of a
field of fresh grass when it is freshly cut! It is a clean
life-giving scent, wonderful to inhale, and it brings a
sense of vitality and freshness to the soul!

He will be like rain falling
on a freshly mowed field.
Psalm 72:6

MY BLESSINGS AND MY PRESENCE COMBINED
ARE VERY HEADY "FRAGRANCES" FROM HEAVEN!

As you share My love and mercy with those in pain,
those in sin, you too are a fragrance to those who are
living and to those who are dying in their sin!
The statement; "like a breath of fresh air" is certainly
applied when you do acts of love in My name!

I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR LONGING TO KNOW ME
MORE!

It was built into you when you came to know Me as Lord
and Master! It is a Divine DNA that drives you to press
on until you encounter Me face to face!

"Oh that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know Him
and surely He will respond to us!"
Hosea 6:3

MOSES WAS ALSO DRIVEN BY THIS INTERNAL FORCE
David, Deborah, Elijah as well! All of them had a homing
device inside of their spirit beings that cried out for more
of the relationship from heaven!

Never stop searching out My ways! You will see Me
Move all of creation in order for you to know just how
I long to bless you, to encourage you and to perfect you!
Press On! Press In ! I will respond!

WISDOM IS NOT FOUND IN THE COMMON PLACES
OF MAN'S EVERY DAY STATE OF AFFAIRS.

Experience is. Wisdom can teach you more in a day,
than a lifetime of experience can.

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding.
Proverbs 3:13

HOW DO YOU DISCOVER WISDOM?
HOW DO YOU INCREASE UNDERSTANDING?
First, by learning to listen to those who have gone
ahead of you to pave the way for you to thrive in your
calling. They were the ones who laid the stones and
walkways for your smoother road to full purpose in Me!

When you look deeply into their eyes and hear the price
that they have paid for Me, you will then gain the
understanding you need to not slip and fall as you
move ahead as a continuing pioneer in the business
of Kingdom service.

Many are great at listening to others as if it was
story-telling time. Few are wise enough to learn from
the ones who have paid the price and have lived
the story. Which will you be?

What is it that you have my child that I might use
for my purposes in this time that you have been
granted on earth?

“The words of a man's mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”
Proverbs 18:4

My child. Let us move together, pouring out hope,
promise, comfort, and Truth while you still have time.
In doing this, it is as if you have done it all for me.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup
of water in my name because you belong to Christ
will certainly not lose his reward.”
Mark 9:41

Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed
provided that complete message and website
information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You! Copyright © 2008 " THE MESSENGER "
~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com

Prayer

"Lord, help me to glorify you;
I am poor, help me to glorify you by contentment;
I am sick, help me to give thee honor by patience;
I have talents, help me to worship you by spending
them for you.

I have time, Lord, help me to redeem it,
that I may serve you;
I have a heart to feel, Lord, let that heart feel no love but
you, and glow with no flame but affection for you;

I have a head to think, Lord, help me to think of you and
for you; you have put me in this world for something,
Lord, show me what that is, and help me to work out my
life-purpose:

I cannot do much, but as the widow put in her
two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I cast
my time and eternity too into your treasury;

I am all yours, take me, and enable me to glorify
you now, in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that
I have. "

In the loving name of Jesus.
Amen.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

LIVING IN THE “IN-BETWEEN” “THE STILL POINT” A PERSPECTIVE ON WAITING

Dear Child of a Loving God,

As the news media and political voices (vices?) pump out fear, failure, loss, and dooming perspectives, there are also those who have a "heavenly view" of all that is occurring globally. Although small and brief, these " long-termed wilderness voices" have
insights that speak hope, grace, and the one thing that the Lord said would endure and last forever alongside of love. Mercy.

None of us need the voices of the "friend's of Job" during distressing times, whether it be emotional,vocational, relational, financial, or in grief. Even upon enduring the open and raw nakedness, the excruciating pain of the loss of all losses, Jesus reached out to the thief next to Him and offered Him comfort, and a share in all He had upon entering into Paradise.

Many voices will arise with religious damnation, platitudes, and finger pointing, while the difficult times and global devastations occur. No matter how well spoken or educated, if they have not Mercy and an honest sense of their own need for cautious speaking, the words will be lost in the roar of the clamoring voices and opinions of the day.

And yet...

... There are those who simply walk, often with a limp or slower pace than once had, who speak a dear truth.

It brings perspective.
It brings a momentary calm to the storm.
It lifts the head and eyes to the vast and glorious hope of the Power of the Comforter.

I now share with you such a dear truth, written by a cherished friend, a comrade,
a partner in accountability - an Imitator of Christ.

I know you will be touched and encouraged by it .

In His Shadow,
Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com


LIVING IN THE “IN-BETWEEN” “THE STILL POINT” A PERSPECTIVE ON WAITING
Greg Austin


"At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless; 
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement 
from nor towards,
Neither ascent or decline. Except for the point,
the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance."
-T.S.Eliot, "Burnt Norton"


Tom Hank’s recent film The Terminal tells the story of a man who is stranded at New York’s Kennedy Airport when his home country becomes embroiled in a coup attempt. The man finds himself with a worthless passport and isn’t authorized to enter the United States. He finds himself existing in the terminal’s international transit lounge waiting for
the war to end at home.

I spend more time than I’d like in airport transit lounges, and I can only imagine the depressing prospect of spending days, weeks or months in such a place.
Hanks’ character finds himself living, literally in the “In-Between;” at the “Still Point.” I relate with that sense of being neither at my place of departure with friends or family or familiar surroundings, nor at my place of arrival. I am so often “In-Between.”


The Church of the “In-Between”

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, there is a consciousness that with regard to “the church” – we are living in the “In-Between.” We have left the “home” we knew but we have yet to arrive at our destination. We find ourselves waiting, hoping, anticipating; living in the “In-Between.”

I’ve learned to occupy my time while waiting for flights. Instead of browsing the cookie-cutter shops of airport concourses, I spend the time getting organized before my flight. I eat if I’m hungry and drink if I’m thirsty. I check phone messages. I’ve found that in the “In-Between,” in the seemingly endless waiting, I can accomplish something positive and valuable with the time allotted; that I can redeem the time.

So as we await the emergence of a church that produces more of what we’ve prayed for and what Jesus promised, try doing what I do as I await the call for my next flight: Instead of simply existing in the “transit lounge” with Hanks’ fictional character, eat if you’re hungry – He “stands at the door and knocks.” Drink if you’re thirsty, “Ho every one who thirsts, Come to the waters....” Check with heaven, talk to God; redeem the time “In-Between.”

There’s also the “In-Between” of prayers prayed and prayers answered. There’s the “In-Between” of waiting for healing from sickness and disease, or the “In-Between” of waiting for a son, daughter, husband or wife to surrender their lives to Jesus.
There is the “In-Between” of a thousand problems and innumerable tragedies and impossible situations that strain our lives in so many ways.

If you find yourself living in the “not yet” of God’s timing and intervention – Redeem the time. Make use of what you have. Do what you can do. Use the talents God has given you. Invest, believe, pray, hope, prepare, grow: Prosper in the “in-between.” Moses did: He was a better leader for the years of “in-between” in the barren desert. David did: He would have been a lesser king if not for the years spent fleeing from Saul. John the Baptist did: He came out of a time of desert loneliness, subsisting on locusts and wild honey, filled with the Spirit of God.

Use the time of waiting, the time of frustration, the time of silence from heaven – whatever shape your “in-between” might take to become ready for what, though it tarry, will inevitably will come.

greg
www.gregaustin.org