Category: Blog Article

Here I stand, the foolish one

For all the world to see

Here I stand in your plan

People making fun of me

And still I stand

I stood before the Lord Jesus and clearly I was guilty of my sins.

Before I ever came here to stand in front of my King, I had been attacked by words of my accuser. Every one of his accusations was correct and I could not dodge the blame of his charges. His stones pelted at my emotions, my thoughts and my confidence. The repeated blows made me a weakened vessel and I could feel myself wanting to crumple under the barrage.

A song came to lift me up and its answer reminded me why I could stand strong. “What does love look like?”

And then I saw Him there, hanging on a tree, looking at me
I saw Him there, hanging on a tree, looking at me
He was looking at me, looking at Him, staring through me
I could not escape those beautiful eyes
And I began to weep and weep

He had arms wide open, a heart exposed
Arms wide open; He was bleeding, bleeding

Love’s definition, love’s definition was looking at me
Looking at Him, hanging on a tree
I began to weep and weep and weep and weep

This is how I know what love is, this is how I know what love is

I could feel the stones being deflected and no longer could they hurt me. All the accusations, however true, could no longer condemn me. Hope and salvation were hung upon that cross and I embraced its truth.

*Lyrics Arms Wide Open by Misty Edwards

She offered prayer

He said he didn’t need any

She spoke of praying for healing

He said healing was only a spiritual thought

 

Both believe in God

 

We stand before the great divide

The Word as truth and reality

The Word as just abstract thought

 

1 Cor 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

I have seen God in the flesh!

I get to see Him every time I enjoy the love of another. He looks back at me with eyes of love. He hugs me with arms of strength. He laughs without reservation. He shares secrets with me. He speaks to me with teaching. He is patient to wait for me. He understands my tears. He appreciates my questions. He rejoices at my victories. He sorrows in my pain.

1 John 4:12 (CEV) No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God abides in us, and his love is truly in our hearts.

As I sleep I enter my awakened state. Class is beginning and it’s time to listen with discretion. Some who talk are distracting my attention, trying to intimidate me with deception. Others speak little but are clearly teachers helping me learn quickly. In this dream state I am drawn to pray, I cannot be silenced. When I awake from these lessons, either truthful or deceptive, I bring them before the Lord to clarify. One word rings aloud, ‘watchmen’ and a song plays in my mind…”so let us not talk falsely, the hour is getting late”. A scripture comes upon my heart…I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord.

* From Scripture Isa 65:6 and lyric from All Along the Watchtower, Bob Dylan

“What do you think?”

When I offer this question I have given myself away in a few simple words. I have opened myself up to the influence and opinions of others around me. In the book of Proverbs there are three verses that speak of how in the multitude of counselors there will be safety. But who am I seeking for counsel? The answer is obvious on the surface; seek the Lord Jesus Christ for our ultimate counsel always!

It’s when we understand that we are to be the body of His counsel where the tangibles of this thought comes into play. Who I allow to counsel me matters. Am I asking my family, my friends, my neighbors? All may be good candidates up until we have to understand that it’s only God’s Word which can accurately guide our steps. If our family, friends and neighbors are not familiar with God’s Word than we open ourselves up for error.

If I wanted to bake a really good cake, sew a great sweater or build a gazebo, I know I’d have to seek help and advice from others who specialized in these gifts. We should take just as much care when it comes to our spiritual walk.

Scriptures for reference Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 24:6, 1Cor 12:8

The man desired to be made well. Hearing a slave woman speak of hope, he decided to travel toward the possibility. This first step was just that, a step in the right direction. Within himself he carried preconceived notions of what his journey would look like. These notions brought him anger when he was given the answer for how to be cured. He nearly walked away from his healing because it didn’t agree with his idea of what it should look like. Wisdom in a servant’s voice brought him perspective to be obedient to his hope.

2 Kings 5:9-14 Naaman left with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent someone outside to say to him, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then you’ll be completely cured.” But Naaman stormed off, grumbling, “Why couldn’t he come out and talk to me? I thought for sure he would stand in front of me and pray to the Lord his God, then wave his hand over my skin and cure me. What about the Abana River or the Pharpar River? Those rivers in Damascus are just as good as any river in Israel. I could have washed in them and been cured.” His servants went over to him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. So why don’t you do what he said? Go wash and be cured.” Naaman walked down to the Jordan; he waded out into the water and stooped down in it seven times, just as Elisha had told him. Right away, he was cured, and his skin became as smooth as a child’s.

My Father’s voice is everywhere, outward and inward. I hear it when awake and in my sleep. It engulfs me. I hear Him in movies, songs and from the mouths of those around me. He gives me wisdom to sift out the noise trying to drown His words. Only His voice can wrap me up in truth to comfort and watch over me. My desire is to talk only with my Father’s voice. Anything else is just sharing words of empty air.

My feet walked about two major cities of our culture these past couple of weeks. In all the outward beauty, I sorrowed in the emptiness. Artists, craftsmen, teachers, judges and rulers had combined their precious gifts to build a world devoid of truth. They encouraged the people to soar without wings of worth. Persons were encouraged to extend their hands to clap in praise of their own accomplishments. Where self-flattery failed, in its place were fear and terror for the false gods of old; fables and tales driving them to give away their very inheritance; truth.

2 Thes 2:4 (CEV) He will brag and oppose everything that is holy or sacred. He will even sit in God’s temple and claim to be God

Sitting at my table I drank my water. I had been out alone and feeling thirsty, and I stopped to refresh myself. I had never been to this inviting place but its alluring music drew me inside.  The décor was easy with palm trees and wisteria vines making it feel like a hidden oasis. I didn’t know the songs playing and each of them echoed in my head with fascination.

Across the patio I noticed a man staring at me intensely. He was incredibly handsome and our eyes met momentarily. He smiled to acknowledge he’d seen me. Quickly turning away, I felt my face cheeks grow hot at his gaze. I looked down at the ice in my glass and tried to ignore this glimpse.

Within minutes the man came to stand at my table. I felt awkward and inexperienced by such attention. He smiled down at me and I couldn’t remember seeing such perfection in a smile. Up close he was even more handsome, and I could feel my heart race wondering why he’d notice me. Introducing himself, he shared his name to be Armi. In my curiosity I asked if it was a nickname to which he shared it to be from Armers. He invited himself to sit down at my table.

For the next few hours I listened to Armi speak to me. My head began to swim just hearing his voice. I swooned to hear his words of flattery, feeling intoxicated by his talk. The music in the background added to the enticement of his words. While my head felt as if I was inside of a fog bank, my chest began to hurt. With each passing minute the pain increased. Soon I could no longer hear Armi speaking; I could only feel the agony in my chest.

Closing my eyes, I reached to put my fingers in my ears, not caring what I looked like. I could feel a wind come into this seeming oasis, shifting the very atmosphere where I sat. Minutes passed and Armi’s fading voice hollered at me to come with him. Keeping my eyes closed, I spoke aloud, “You would entice me with flattery, temptations of beauty, influence and every kind of attraction to my soul. I must close my eyes to you because you are uninvited and simply not allowed.”

Gen 6:2…the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose