"PLUMBLINES AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THEIR PAINFUL OPPOSITES"

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By Mary Lindow

I am by far not an expert on the subject of plumb lines and righteousness, so take what I say in the light of one who at time gropes like a child in the dark, ever reaching for
the hand of the ONE to lead me into a safe place filled with His Hope, His Mercy, His Light and Life. 


WE LIVE IN A CORRUPT WORLD

And therefore, have the effects and affects of that corruption ever influencing, ever tainting and ever wooing the flesh. 



Plumb line (Definition): a tool that consists of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope and that is used especially to see if something (such as a wall) is
perfectly vertical or in alignment) A plumb line is a simple but accurate tool used for determining whether or not something is perfectly vertical i.e. upright

The Lord also used, and uses, a “plumbline,” His Word, to determine how upright His people truly are in His sight. How upright they think they are, or how upright they
proclaim themselves to be, means nothing to God.

“Behold, I WILL set a plumbline in the midst of My people”Amos 7:7

A Plumb line set out by the Hand of God is one that we can anchor our hearts to. It will always, always, ALWAYS, direct us to the truth in a matter; even if it requires pain,
loss, persecution and perhaps death in areas we feel we may well have rights to. It will also be a shield, a balm, a comfort and a teacher to those who will yield to the
directive positioning of the Master.

“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line;” Isaiah 28:17


LIFE – DISTRESS - AND PERSECUTION

I have found that in my life, distress and persecution do not feel like God’s care being poured out on me. My heart is not immediately drawn to thanksgiving and
gratefulness for the faithfulness of God on display as I cling to the battered pieces that look like potential “rafts” of hope, only to find out that many of them have gaping
holes or slow leaks in them. Rather, it feels like yet another hurt is being permanently woven into my tattered and war-torn soul. It seems as if another mound of questions
are piling up and just waiting for an answer and a true solid REAL anchor of hope.


I CAN REALLY CONNECT TO THE WRITER OF PSALM 42

He said “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” It’s at those very times that the words of the Savior are so important. When we are
down and in turmoil. But, how do we connect the dots between what we know is true about God’s faithfulness and what our hearts feel? When flipped and flung around by
the waves, weary from crying and when no answer seems at hand, what is the answer? When my circumstances show many foes and tyrants rising up against me and my
heart is prone to wander and fear, what hope is there of peace? When my feelings start controlling my thoughts, how can I rest in God’s promises?

AT THIS POINT… I HEAR THE “GASPS” …
…And perhaps shocked comments of a few who are amazed that someone who appears to walk so fervently and intimately with the Lord would have such difficulties!
Well! Guess what?

I do struggle, I do hurt, and yes I do doubt when I have been side swiped or “rammed” by skilled cons and those who, although may have the
appearance of godliness and offered friendship or fellowship, end up having private and evil agendas behind their well placed and planned schemes. And boy oh boy! Those
skilled players know the wicked art of wounding the heart and causing people to reel in pain!


BUT…. THERE IS ONE WHO FULLY SEES IT ALL

The main skill in the issue of dealing with life as a spiritual person, is to know how to handle yourself when things not only crush and grind your heart, but what to do with the
anguish and toll of their aftermath.

We have to get ourselves into a place where we hear clearly again. We need have to address ourselves, preach to ourselves, and ask questions about ourselves. We must
say to our soul: ‘Why art thou cast down’–Why are you so anxious and lacking in peace? We must urge ourselves, and say ‘Hope thou in God’–instead of remaining in this
paralyzed, aching state!”


AND THEN WE MUST TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER.

We must go on to remind ourselves just “Who “God is, and what God is and what God has done, and what God has promised that he Himself said that He would do. Having
done that we can stand up and sing out strongly, defying the torment of the soul, and resist other people’s wicked tongues and arrogance, and refuse to go along with the
devil and the whole world, and say: ‘Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

The hope and promise of the fairness of God’s justice when dealing with the hurtful things and presumptions of others gives me the confidence to know that God will never
turn away from me in my need.

No matter how they seem to prosper in the short term, wicked men and women will ultimately pay for their sins, in this life or the next. Jesus died to meet my greatest
hardships and sorrows for me, and I need to preach this to myself every day. His power is greater than my weariness and suffering. The comforting and instruction that
comes from simply running to feed upon His word instead of the toxic poison of the replaying of trauma reminds me that what Jesus has done is strong enough for my soul
to rejoice in and to be set into a place where it can rest and regroup, gaining a healthy perspective about what to give out to others and what is simply…

…. To be enjoyed by the Lord Himself.


THE NATURAL IMPULSES OF MANKIND ARE SINFUL AND DECEITFUL,

And human willpower alone will never be able to change this. We need God’s help to truly change our hearts. REMEMBER. You cannot change the heart of
anyone else either. If you try to…. …you will feel the bite of stinging venom or be laughed out of a room. Only the power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit can permeate
and get around the jam-packed hardhearted egos of the self sufficient and bitter.

Jeremiah 17:9 says that the human heart is deceitful in all things and is even beyond cure.

We must be cautious and wise in reproving and warning such types of people about their bad behaviors and wicked actions where there seems to be no appearance or hope
of change and where there is danger of experiencing great and heart wrecking retaliation and slander. These types trample the warnings and urging for repentance and
humbling of the heart under their feet, and turn again and slash at you, despising the warnings that are “tearfully and fearfully” given, and often hurt the persons who give
them, either by words or deeds.

“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.
Don’t throw your pearls to pigs!
They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.”
Matthew 7:6


GIVE ME THE FACTS MA’AM JUST THE FACTS”

I remember that phrase from a TV show called “Dragnet”. The detective would not allow the details of the case to be skewed by any assumptions or pontificating from those
he interviewed. He stoically and firmly demanded only the facts.

And so, Here are the “facts” about the heart of a good man or woman

1.) The good man or woman: Brings good things out of the good stored up in his/her heart.

And the facts about an evil man or woman.

2.) The evil man/woman brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his/her heart.
For out of the overflow of his or her heart his or her mouth speaks. Luke 6:45


THE FRAILTY, BRIEFNESS, AND INSECURITY OF LIFE

The frailty, briefness, and insecurity of life, should hold down the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all of our projects and boasting about future greatness and
bragging rights!

We are always to depend on the will and leading of God. Our times are not in our own hands, but are instead in the timing of God. Our heads may be filled with cares and
plans for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Divine intervention often throws our plans into bewilderment.

All we have in mind, and all we do, should be with a humble and deep dependence on God. It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of trendy “latest happening” things and
prospective projects, and it will bring great disappointment and will prove destructive to relationships and meaningful help to others in the end.

1 John 2:16 “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure,
a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.
These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”


LISTEN KINDLY - BEFORE SPEAKING YOUR THOUGHTS

People don’t need a lecture on the meaning of suffering or to have a barrage of scriptures “machine-gunned” at them as a reprimand for sharing their moment of grief or
struggle! Especially when their hearts are breaking, weary of the battle and if they are fatigued. Job could have done without some of the self-righteous answers that came
from his “well-meaning” friends. All of the answers could have even been true, but Job didn’t need to hear any of them. He needed their love, not their value judgments. In
fact, it appears as if God judged THEM for trying to offer simple solutions to things that were beyond their comprehension. They had never walked in the loss he was in
anguish over.



WHEN WE SUFFER UNJUSTLY WE HAVE A MAJOR CHOICE TO MAKE.

How will we respond? We can feel sorry for ourselves (and understandably so, for a while), become bitter and cynical, get drawn into a war of words, or even become mixed
up in a major conflict. On the other hand, we can take our suffering to the cross and allow our pain to draw us into a deeper place of understanding of what Jesus went
though in his sufferings. This does not remove the pain, but does help us to know what to do with our hurt. This is the ‘fellowship of his sufferings’ (Philippians 3:10), one of
the gateways to closeness with God and the release of his power in our lives.

The weight of heartbreak shared with a loving friend cuts it in half. When the burden is shared with many friends, we can cope with almost anything. We never feel more
revitalized than when a friend loves us enough to walk with us in our pain. Not lecture us. The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with the comfort we ourselves have received from God”
(1 Corinthians 1.3-4).



SOMETIMES GOD GETS INVOLVED WITH DIRECT MIRACLES,

…Giving supernatural strength to those in need. But for the most part, he depends on us, his people, to do his work in the world.
We love each other, work for healing, and suffer with those who suffer.

The next time you see a friend who is suffering, Jesus may just invite you to be the warm embrace! We comfort each other with the comfort we have received in Christ. And
when we do, we become the Body of Christ and he receives the glory!


THE BIBLE IS CLEAR

We are to bear one another’s burdens.
We are to comfort others as Christ has given comfort to us.
Your hard time becomes my hard time. We join hands in the journey.

When you succeed, I succeed.
When you suffer, I suffer.
But we do it together. We share it together.
And we do it, not so much in our wisdom or our words, but in our availability, our understanding, and through our presence.



THAT’S WHAT FELLOWSHIP IS ALL ABOUT,

But not “bland” fellowship. It is CHRISTIAN fellowship. It is the business of burden bearing. Authentic CHRISTIAN fellowship says that when you need me . . . I’ll be there.
Support in suffering is at the core of what it means to share life together in Christ.

The word for “comfort” is the same root word as the name Jesus used to describe one of the functions of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Paraclete). “I will be a comforter, one
who comes alongside to give help.” And so as God comes alongside you, now you are able to come alongside another. As the Comforter is at work within you, so you also
can be of comfort to those around you.



WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS.

To mourn with those who mourn. To be a follower of Jesus means to come alongside people who are hurting and find ways to help them walk even through the valley of the
shadow of death.

We are called…

… To do this.

As the word of God and care of God is shared with the intention of stirring, plowing up hardened hearts, creating a place for repentance and challenging saints to hope again,
I know and believe that as we learn again as believers, to care, to truly listen and to hope fully again, that the sweet and heavy weight of HIS Glory will be made known and
will manifest in unfettered and uncontrolled waves of worship and spontaneous adoration of the King of Heaven. 



He really does know what He wants. 

Let’s focus on bowing low and seeking His heart, and plans in what matters to Him.

Indeed… HE is the Plumb line. 



Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed as long as the complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You. Copyright © 2011 ” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com

“THE UPSWING OF THE MASTER CONDUCTOR’S BATON”

By the Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow


Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things;
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
~ Psalm 98:1



“THE MASTER CONDUCTOR”

In the Spirit, I was allowed to see Jesus standing on a conductor’s podium.

He is about to direct a New Symphony that He has been writing the score for all instruments of His choosing for ages.

With the Upswing of His arm, with the Conductor’s Baton, the instruments of His choice will all be riveted and poised for the unified sound that this Divine Musical Score will radiate and release. It is the Upswing of the Conductor's arm that begins the concert, not the downbeat. All are in position and ready to engage with His directorship.



“NO AGE OR GENERATIONAL BARRIERS”

Some of the instrumentalists in the coming “Master’s” Symphony have been “fine tuning” for decades. These are mighty warriors who have practiced their assignments on abandoned hillsides and in prisons of man’s making which caused raw and painful heartache, yet still they sang and played on, in defiance against the odds thrown at them by the enemy of dashed dreams and hope deferred.



“THE LORD HAS FOUND A PEOPLE…”

The Lord spoke saying that He has found a people that He can direct with the slightest of command and instruction. They have been in the long rehearsal periods of their lives, memorizing the Sound of His Voice, Practicing His Presence. They have been eliminating their own “improvisations” and “false notes” of self-expression.



“My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,
That they may dwell with me;
He whose walk is blameless will minister to me.”
~ Psalm 101:6



“THE SOLOIST’S OF HEAVEN’S CHOOSING”

Out of this spiritual symphony will often be heard, the sound of “Divine Soloists.” They will rise up as the Master Conductor creates a score for them to yield to. This will be heard and expressed through the voice of prophecy, evangelism, and Divinely inspired teaching.

A marvelous rolling and welling up of Glory and praise to God will be the result of these specific Heavenly Orchestrated Moments.



“IN THE PRACTICE ROOMS OF GOD”

Unseen by men, these vessels have been receiving “Private Lessons” and instructions from the Holy Spirit. He has consistently convicted them of personal greed for the desire to be singularly important and “vogue.” And so – they “practiced” humility and deferred to others, in order that they would be equally honored and valued as well.

This formed a pleasing atmosphere to the Father and He has created a spiritual sensitivity in the hearts of those who choose to lay down personal messages, personal moments, and personal greatness.



“SOME HAVE RUN AWAY AND HAVE RESISTED”

Some, ran from the practice rooms of God and found a “band” of others who would march to their drum, but soon…

…Will be exposed lovingly as insecure and impatient with the fine turning of the Artisan that is created and trained by God. The symphony is being assembled and is in it’s final tuning before the Master Conductor lifts His Baton to all attention to a singular opening Moment.



“THE OPENING MOMENT”

All will be focused on that first Upswing of the Arm or God.

The Sounds of Power, Purity, and Clarity will be such a contrast to the sounds of religious piety and self-proclaimed revelation, that even the darkest of hearts will have to acknowledge that this “grouping” of well trained and focused “instruments” have a “something” that sounds differently, that is clear, clean, and arrestingly solemn.

“Your arm is endued with power;
Your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.”

~ Psalm 89:13



"A NEW SOUND - A NEW BEGINNING"

The Melodies of God speak louder through vessels of brokenness and humility than any other voice or man-made nuance could even perform.



"ALL BRAVOS’ TO THE KING!"

The audiences of apathy and wariness who have “soft-pedaled” the freedoms of God’s movements among their own worship time as well as gathered worship times, will have the spectacles of “Blindness to Glory” removed from their eyes as they once again taste and see of the pure sounds of the Heavenly Kingdom, and will themselves remember the days of humble teaching, loving-kindness, and mercy… which they once walked in.



"THE VISITATION OF GLORY"

Those in training and fine-tuning have a keen awareness that the time of preparation that they have been in is coming to a climax.

The demonic resistance has been the most intense that they have ever experienced and yet, they have been made stronger and battle-ready through the onslaught.


“It was not by their sword that they won the land,
Nor did their arm bring them victory;
It was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face,
For you loved them.”
~ Psalm 44:3


"A CONCERT OF EPIC VALUE"

The Baton Of God is about to begin the start of a concert of Epic Value.

It will awaken the souls of men and women, boys and girls.

All of those who ache for an Answer.

Heaven’s reply will be a powerful exposing and cleansing visitation of Glory that will descend and fall upon those voices and instruments who have been refined in the fire and in testing of compliance to God’s will. These will joyfully perform exploits in humility and in the honoring of others.



"THE LORD HAS DECLARED - SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED"

His Glory is about to Rise Among the Faithful. Get into your assigned places in the Spirit and be at ready to watch the Master Conductor lift the baton of a new Sound, a fresh fire, and a release of His power through Grace.


“After that comes the sound of his roar;
He thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.”
~ Job 37:4

Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed as long as the complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You.

Copyright © 2011 THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

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"THE GREAT OVERHAUL OF THE CHURCH"

THE GREAT OVERHAUL OF THE CHURCH
A prophetic teaching from the Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory
in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself
restore (overhaul) you and make you strong, firm and
committed." ~ 1 Peter 5:10

We have all heard about the re-possessing of an automobile or a
home, and understand that this occurs when something is being
taken back, re- possessed - because the terms of payment were
not met.

So in a similar way, the church at large is being "re-po-ed"...in
the sense of repossession or re-po-sition!

REPOSITIONED FOR WHAT?

We have been hearing the words shifting, shaking, re-aligning,
reformation, and so on… for over three to four years now. God
is sending a clear warning shot across the bow of the "church
ship" which is now finding itself in uncharted waters. I think
that if we were all totally honest about it, we could even say that
we feel like there have been times we have all been one of the
members of the famous Gilligan's Island tour group, simply
looking for a pleasant experience on the USS Minnow, only to
find ourselves on a strange island rather than returning from a
three hour tour!

THE WEATHER IS GETTING ROUGH!

Amazingly, the theme song for Gilligan's Island had a verse in
it that goes like this:

“The weather started getting rough, The tiny ship was tossed, If
not for the courage of the fearless crew, The Minnow would be
lost!”

IS THE CHURCH LOST AT SEA?

It might appear that we are in a place of great turbulence and
with all of the earthly calamities that are roaring in unrelenting
waves, we might feel that the place we used to run to for
security is also in a major crisis of sorts! The storms are raging
literally with hurricanes termed as, "biblical in proportion" by
many media reporters!

Local church establishments are inundated with traumatized
people from not just hurricanes! Utility bills are predicted to rise
anywhere from 70 to 90% due to the "Oil"shortage. Major
corporations are laying people off from long-
term jobs.
Inflation is on the rise, but cost of living salary adjustments
are...disappearing! The Swine Flu is being dramatized and
claimed as potentially "pandemic!" And we haven't even
touched the issues of homicides, child kidnapping, and the rise
in pornography and abuse issues!

THE AMAZING SHRINKING CHURCH WALLET

As people of church affiliations of all expression feel the pinch
in their wallets begin to irritate and hamper their lifestyles, the
church is going to experience a major tremor. YES. TREMOR!
What was once applauded as an " Ambitious visionary
advancement" into greater influence, will soon become a
burdensome weight to those who presumed that God was into
the "Marketing and Merchandising" wave of luxuriously
pampering the bride of Christ! Sort of like the story of the
Princess and the Pea. No matter how many mattresses were
stacked one upon the other, the pouting and over indulged
princess could still feel the irritating little pea resting underneath
all of them.

THE COMFORTER VERSES THE CONVICTOR

Somehow. The Holy Spirit has been diluted into some esoteric,
floaty, glitter duster who simply drops heaps of goodies on fat
little sheep, never warning them about over indulgence,
sluggishness or sloth! Let's look at what the Lord himself said
to us about the Holy Spirit….and the roles He plays.

COMFORTER
”But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Holy Spirit) comes, He
will guide you into the whole, full Truth. For He will not speak
His own message on His own endorsement; but He will tell
whatever He hears from the Father. He will give the message
that has been given to Him, and He will make known and
declare to you the things that will happen in the future.”
John 16:13

CONVICTOR
“And when He comes, He will convict and prove to the human
race and bring demonstration to it, about sin and about
truthfulness of heart and right standing with God and about
judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in Me, trust in
Me, rely on Me, and hold on to Me.”
John 16:8 & 9

WHEN THE BENEVOLENT GET TIRED OF GENEROSITY

Already, the coffers of Bail-out Aid, Earthquake Aid, Hurricane
Aid, Tsunami Aid, 9/11 Aid have been fed into the enormous
gaping black hole of need. And... for a while people will pull
together to make heroic attempts to bring a fix to the problems
all of these catastrophic events churn up.

But! Ask folks to give sacrificially and then…you will see a real
reason for the need of the laser cutting conviction of the Holy
Spirit!

If we who call ourselves believers and followers of Jesus lean
upon either our own personal wealth and blessings as a place of
safety or…if we lean upon the wealth of others if we have little
ourselves…thinking that either of these things are
acceptable…we will continue to have the shaking and
convicting of the Holy Spirit "ROCK OUR WORLDS!" YES!
Both in a planetary way and in our own little "spheres of
influence" until we awaken to the reality that we are to see our
lack of trusting, leaning, relying, and holding on to Jesus as
SIN!

IN GOD WE TRUST?

When we trust in self implied or planned securities and rely on
them, or when we hold on to a hope that the wealthy among us
might be our source and answer to needs unmet…we have
wandered very far away from the shores of safety in Christ!

Human beings and yes… "CHRISTIAN" human beings can
become very protective of their "assets" if they are not in a place
of brokenness and listening to God's plan for them to share
"honestly" with others, without contempt for their lowly place
and genuine neediness. One needs to only look at the story of
Lazarus and the rich man to know how cruel the worldly and
corrupt folks of wealth treat their fellow brethren. But also…let
us not forget Annanias and Sapphirah whom were supposed
believers… who lied to their brothers and sisters, the Apostles
and above all, the Holy Spirit about their self-protecting and
devious plan!

THIS FULLY ADDRESSED THE SETTING THEN AND
ALSO RIGHT NOW IN THE ERA THAT THE CHURCH
IS IN!

When those who have substantial blessing and abundance start
turning to "selective" blindness when they see another family
member in the Body needing assistance to be sent into mission
locations to care for the devastated or to train a new emerging
generation into truth and instructed direction, and simply
continue to say things like; "God bless you, I will pray for you,
Be at peace!" …God does not Himself…turn a blind eye to
their darkened eye of soul.

HE SEES THE WICKED HEART OF THE LOVERS OF
"SELF PRESERVATION AND GRATIFICATION"

And

HE SEES AND HEARS THE HEART- CRY OF A
GENERATION AGONIZING TO BE RELEASED
AND SENT.

John 16:20
“I assure you, most seriously I tell you, that you shall weep and
grieve, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but
your sorrow will be turned into joy.”

TO BE CONCLUDED IN PART II

_________________________
Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed
provided that complete source and website information for Mary
Lindow is included. Thank You Copyright © 2009 " THE
MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com

“WHEN ONLY GOD IS LOOKING- DO WHAT IS RIGHT”

by Mary Lindow

Are you in a place where you risk laying down what might cost you your past history and which will create a new and fresh beginning in the walk of the
saint on earth?

ARE YOU LONGING FOR REFRESHING FROM THE HEART OF GOD THE FATHER?

Sadly, many choose to return to the safe place of familiarity and control
to gain perspective, and lose the joy set before them.

THE FATHER IS WATCHING THOSE WHO ARE NOT CREATING AGENDAS
AND PROGRAMS TO ATTEMPT TO HAVE AN "EDGE" DURING THIS LONG
SEASON OF TRANSITION FROM SOWING TO HARVESTING.

He is allowing the breaking and "coming to the end of ones' self" to
continue. Few have stepped over the line into the abandonment He desires
from those who claim that their lives are for His use.

IN THIS CRUCIAL HOUR
Yes… Right now even as you read and contemplate, the Lord is not
requiring acts of greatness and profound gatherings to bring glory to His
plans.The Lord Jesus says these words to those who will choose hear:
"THE SACRIFICE I WANT IS A BROKEN SPIRIT.
A BROKEN AND REPENTANT HEART,
THIS MY BRIDE, I WILL NOT DESPISE.
(PSALM 51:17)

WHAT IS IT THAT JESUS THAT JESUS WANTS FROM US-REALLY?
The obedience to do the simple, and often at times, mundane acts of
“silencing our fleshly need for action and comfort."

JESUS REQUIRES THOSE WHO WOULD BE HIS FOLLOWERS TO A RADICAL
DEVOTION AND AN EVEN MORE RADICAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD.

His followers must be meek,(this does not mean weak)
Must not retaliate,
Must go beyond the Word of God’s “rules and regulations”
And instead, understand its spirit.
They must do what is right when only God is looking,
Must depend on God for their needs,
And pursue His interests rather than their own.

HIS DEVOTED FOLLOWERS MUST LEAVE SPIRITUAL MEASUREMENTS
OF OTHERS' HEARTS AND ACTIONS, “SEEMINGLY GOOD OR BAD”
- TO GOD.

In short, true people of the kingdom live for God, not for themselves.

"ARE YOU IN AN “UNCOMFORTABLE” SEASON BECAUSE
YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO WALK THE NARROW PATH?

But small is the gate
and narrow the path that leads to life,
And only a few find it.
Matthew 7:14

THIS IS THE AGONY THAT TURNS INTO A GODLY DELIGHT!
When we fully realize that only God the Father can be the full and well
trusted Redeemer and Rescuer in all of our life situations right now!

So Fear not!
He is dealing with the hearts of those who still cling to hidden control over
their brothers and sisters.

HE IS SEARCHING EACH HEART WHO CALLS HIM LORD!
He is allowing a spiritual discontentment and a holy frustration to stir up
all unsatisfied and unfulfilled hearts until they begin to wail out loud,
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
Psalm 13:1

THE LORD IS TRAINING US!
And if you wonder why there is such a limited level of joy and rest in your
heart, it is because until you have a heart that is broken and repentant for
assuming you are allowed to call the shots in your decision making in this
life He will not expose you to His full measure of Glory!

Psalm 19:13 (CEV)
Don't let me do wrong on purpose, Lord,
Or let sin have control over my life.
Then I will be innocent, and not guilty of some terrible fault.

IT IS TRUE THAT THE KINGDOM IS AVAILABLE TO US ONLY
BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

But! Genuine faith means genuinely embracing and yielding to God's reign
not simply acknowledging it and then passing it by as if it did not exist.

The kingdom is a treasure, and those who really believe it
will sacrifice everything else in their lives for its agendas.

Professed Christians who crave worldly wealth and position but are not
nearly as excited and consumed with the advancing of God's kingdom,
really need to take a brutal and laser piercing look at the true state of their
souls.

When we preach that people who simply “pray a prayer” will automatically
be saved from hell regardless of whether they truly commit their lives to
Christ and commit to trust that He is saving them from sin (from
selfishness, from going their way instead of his), we preach a message
other than the one our Lord has taught us.

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this
inscription:"The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who
confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

Romans 10:9 (CEV
So you will be saved, if you honestly say,
"Jesus is Lord," and if you believe with all your heart
that God raised him from death.

ONCE WE OBEY…HE WILL RETURN WITH HIS FRESH AND SWEET JOY!

Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—
Now let me rejoice.
Psalm 51:8

IT IS AN INTENSE STRUGGLE TO CHOOSE TO BE EXPOSED BEFORE GOD!
But the delight of allowing nothing of the soul to influence your decisions
when the Lord speaks and gives command far outweighs this present
suffering between spirit and flesh!

If you put yourself above others, you will be put down.
But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.
Matthew 23:12 (CEV)

MANY WHO ARE NOW HIDDEN AND YES, BEAT DOWN, TESTED, RIDICULED
AND SEEMINGLY FORGOTTEN, WILL SHORTLY PASS THROUGH THE OPEN DOORSOF FRESH OPPORTUNITIES…

…AND PATHWAYS OF TRUTH WILL LEAD THEM.

He makes me strong again.
He leads me in the way of living right with Himself
Which brings honor to His name.
Psalm 23:3 (NLV)

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SLOWLY ARISING FROM THE HIDDEN PLACE
WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO GROW IN WISDOM,
UNDERSTANDING, AND DYING TO SELF-LOVE…
…STAY THE COURSE!

”We are pressed on every side by troubles,
But we are not crushed and broken.
We are perplexed,
But we don't give up and quit.”
(2 Corinthians) 4:8

HE HIMSELF WILL BIND UP EVERYTHING BROKEN IN YOUR HEART,
YOUR DREAMS,AND YOUR REPUTATION, WITH HIS OWN HAND,
AND HE WILL RESTORE YOUR JOY!

He heals the brokenhearted,
Binding up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3

**********************

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

“THE SAFE VOICE OF THE FATHER IS CALLING TO US”

~ By Mary Lindow

“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God.”
Psalm 69:1-3


THERE ARE MANY THINGS GOING ON
IN THE MIDST OF GOD'S PEOPLE…

So many believers have gone through pain and devastation because of betrayal and disappointment in those with whom they have at one time “walked with” in the Lord.

“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one that hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.

But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.
We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God among the people.”
Psalm 55:12-14


DEGREES OF SEPARATION AND DECEPTION

Church leaders and members or friends separate. Their unresolved issues and wounds infect others around them. With their tongue and pen, (and emails)!.. their resentment and bitterness spread in uncontrollable proportions.

Christians in other ministries and relationships receive the bad report and often, they don't even know the people involved but - because they have inclined their ears to hear the suggested and well-placed evil reports, the conversation poisons them like toxic waste in their soul. If unchecked, this becomes a hideous, malignant cancer-like cell eventually damaging their mind and above all, their spiritual discernment.


“Who is wise? He will realize these things.
Who is discerning? He will understand them.”

“The ways of the LORD are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But the rebellious stumble in them.”
Hosea 14:9


The age-old serpent, the ultimate enemy of our souls, has not lost the art of deception even after centuries! He, even now, can cause God's people, including the sincere ones, to miss the mark if they are willing to only hear one side of a story!


A MURDEROUS STAMPED AT WAL-MART?

The frenzied consumer culture we are seeing as a result of selfishness and feeding upon fear has begun to reach a newly fevered pitch.

People getting trampled to death while others are “herding” their way to the discounted Hi-Definition Televisions reflects the hardness of heart and disrespect for the needs and lives of those around us.

This type of behavior is a prime example of even how believers have become “selectively “ hard of hearing when it comes to serving one another, or encouraging one another, or having patience with one another!

One moment we are asking for forgiveness and prayer, and in nearly the next breath, slanderous retorts are spoken out in anger.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
Fighting and slander, along with every form of nastiness.
Ephesians 4:31

Once bitter words are spoken or written, they cannot be retracted.
Sadly, those who often shout the loudest about being maligned are often the perpetrators of assassinating the characters of those whom have been in disagreement with them or who have possibly warned them about a need for a course correction.

“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.”
Proverbs 10:18


TODAY MANY THINGS HAVE DEGENERATED INTO BLURRED INSIGNIFICANCE AND UNCERTAINTY.

The beauty of what God's purpose in His people really is meant to passionately reflect is missing. Things that are now being said and done do not mean what they did mean originally in His Word.
Twisting of truth to fits one’s own idea of God’s will has become acceptable and is often left unchallenged.

So many spiritual and scriptural terms are put into motion, but they are not in the same dimension and point of view, which are in the Divine plan!


THE TRAGEDY IS THAT SO MANY WELL-MEANING BELIEVERS HAVE GONE ON WITH THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF SEARCHING FOR THE WILL OF THE LORD AND THEY FAIL TO SEE THAT THE POWER OF HIS RADIANT LIFE IS MISSING!

The Apostle Paul warned us in his letter to Timothy about this….

" This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come…Having the form of godliness (true religion) but denying the power there of. "

MY HEART IS BROKEN TO SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE HAPPENING ALL AROUND US.

So much is falling short of its original design. There is so much labor and "rallying" being pumped out there and it is being poured into the Self Promotion Machine" more than any time in the history of God's people! Yet the toil is ending in heartbreaking disappointment!


SAINTS, ONLY THOSE DEVOTED TO HUMILITY AND HONOR
can be saved from this deadly poison that lulls those longing to be entertained and pampered into apathy and spiritual paralysis!

God's faithful ones in this hour should seek him and that which is upon his heart. What the Lord is doing in this era is so different …
…and we should be sensitive to Him!

He is looking for His People of the “Secret Place” in which the power of resurrection may freely function.

The Apostle Paul said "according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20b).

These People will have to be men and women who have “seen”!
They shall be like "a voice in the wilderness".


IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR
THAT GOD MUST DO A FRESH THING WITH HIS REMNANT.

And the actual “thing” is that He is drawing them to seek the Lord Himself and His recognizable presence! Away from the throng,
nearer to the Word, bowed in repentance and prayer.

The Psalmist said,
"When You said oh Lord, Seek My face;
My heart said unto You, Your face, Lord will I seek."


WILL YOU SET YOUR HEART TO SEEK HIM?

Oh that God may find His Davids in this crucial hour that will set their faces towards Him at the command of His voice!
Without it, Humankind will continue its fall and decline into further confusion, tragedy, and self-preservation.


LET US RUN IMMEDIATELY…
… TO THE THRONE OF GRACE AND MERCY!

Now! While our hearts are freshly tenderized and troubled over the recent events in the earth!

There is the safe voice of the Father calling us. Let us respond with ears to Hear and hearts that obey.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16

Duplication and sharing of this writing is permitted provided that complete article and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank you.
2008
www.marylindow.com