A Word for Today

“You are My ministers of the new covenant.   The enemy has brought many obstacles and hindrances against you.  Do you see the very thing I have called you to, the enemy opposes, but I tell you now you shall leap over them and what was once an obstacle will take you to the next level.  I am bringing you strength to overcome.  I have placed in you My words of truth and life to overcome.  By My Grace you shall prevail over the enemy of your soul.”

2 Corinthians 3:4-6  And we have such trust through Christ toward God.   Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,  who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Ps. 144:1  Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—  

2 Samuel 22:30  For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall.

Joel 3:9-10  Proclaim this among the nations:  “ Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war draw near, Let them come up.  Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”   

Joel 2:11a  The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word.
      

2 Corinthians 12:9  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.    

     

Eph 6:10-13  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

PATTY KERST
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

http://ft111.com/ 

This resonated with me today!     

May it be a blessing to you!!

Pastor Phylis

OVER-CONTROL

1 Samuel 15:23 (The Message)

 ^22-23 Then Samuel said,
    Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—
      empty rituals just for show?
   He wants you to listen to him!
   Plain listening is the thing,
      not staging a lavish religious production.
   Not doing what God tells you
      is far worse than fooling around in the occult.
   Getting self-important around God
      is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors.
   Because you said No to God's command,
      he says No to your kingship. 

This scripture is not one that I would have associated with "over-control" or even "not listening" as it reads in the KJV or NIV, but here, the connection is clear.    

An article from Os Hillman started off with a quote from a pilot who said that whenever a jet goes out of control and begins to spin, the only thing to do is totally take your hands off the controls and the plane will right itself.   That's a little like steering INTO the skid on an icy road--not an easy thing to do and completely counter-intuitive.

I also remember hearing a reporter talking to a man after the 2004 Tsunami in Asia.   The man ran an orphanage located on the beach.   There was no where for them to flee except INTO the wave.  He loaded all the children onto his little boat and headed out to sea to FACE the storm.    He said he just had to keep the boat straight, facing the wave and it rode atop the waves.  Everyone on board was safe.

Intuition tells him to run from the immense wave; intuition tells the pilot to steer to counter the roll; intuition tells the driver to steer away from the skid.  Intuition is wrong.  

God says listen to Him.  Just listen, no self-importance, no fancy strategies, no lavish production.   Listen and obey.

I hear you Lord, but can I really listen?

MERCY AND GRACE

Sister Sandra Susan Shantay Stout

Could not take the garbage out!
She'd go to church to pray and sing
She's gladly do most anything
Although most days she would not pout
She would not take the garbage out.
Within her heart old things piled high
She'd close her eyes as she passed by
Scars from wounds creating ridges
Right beside old bandages
She nursed her wounds however small
Each slight, each insult standing tall
"You can't", "You won't" the voices echoed
In the corner sat a truckload
Memos old, but not forgotten
Those were memories most rotten
Accusations, false or true
Within her heart, resentment grew
Bitter, acrid deep regrets
She fed them daily just like pets
Of course she hid them carefully,
Trying hard, to live joyfully.
Bit by bit her heart filled up
Stuff inside she can't cleanup
Unforgiveness, fits of rage
She felt trapped, in a cage
The Master came and offered free
to cast it all out in the sea
"I like this stuff," she said with glee
"Looks good on me. Don't you agree."
"It's who I am. I cannot change."
"No attitude would seem so strange."
And so He left her, let her be.
Nearby He waited patiently.
Each day she added to her mess,
Gossip, lies, small-mindedness.
Increasing in intensity,
Anger exponentially,
Addictions, strife, and rivalries
Casual immoralities
Fornication, lust and merriment
In her own way, she was very set.
And then one day it seemed too much
She realized she was out of touch
The Master seemed so far away
Her life in total disarray
Things are rough, life is tough
To call on Him, is it enough?
Suddenly at the door
He appeared, just like before
Grace and Mercy came through
This time, she knew what to do
"Come on in, I must confess,"
"I've made a life of one mess."
In no time at all,
He had cleaned up the hall
The secrets things of night
He brought to the light
The scars, the memories: away to the sea
The sin and addiction just so much debris
Gone are the remnants of hell
When Grace and Mercy come to dwell.
So remember Sister Sandy Stout
Who could not take the garbage out
Ask the Master. You won't lose face.
It's never too late for Mercy and Grace!