RIVERSIDE PRAYER

Fruit Production

2011-09-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Borrowed from "The Rabbit Room"....Great Piece.
Sonia

Commandments and Our New Identity: Fruit Production

by Ron Block on September 6, 2011

I walked down our gravel drive along the fence and saw a little fruit-pod on a vine. God started me to thinking about it.

A tree grows in good soil. It produces fruit. The fruit carries the seeds. The fruit hangs over other ground. It falls, and bursts open. If the ground is receptive, another tree begins to come up. The fruit, the flesh of it, is the thing that carries and eventually nourishes the seeds as the fruit falls and time goes on.
What if in the church we were often rejecting real, full-on spiritual fruit production and trading it for a little fruit mixed with a lot of self-effort and busy-work? What if we were so infected by the way the world thinks and operates in its “Just Do It” attitude that we are missing out on the miracle of being branches dropping love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, humility, and faith into the lives of those around us – effortlessly, easily, freely?
What if our thinking is so permeated by the world’s performance-based thought system that we are afraid of actual Reality, of real Love, of real Joy? In place of depending on the Vine, we think we are the Vine and even the Gardener, and that we have to keep ourselves, manage ourselves, and cause ourselves to bear fruit, asking God for a little help now and then. We think we are independent selves who must be good, so we build Law-fences and sin-boundaries to help keep ourselves on course.
What if the plan of God was so much freer than that? What if his plan is to so bind us to himself in spirit, soul, and body that we no longer need to have Law-fences? What if his intention is to make us his total, complete bond-slaves so that we can be ultimately and finally free, not someday with Heavenly pie-in-the-sky, but here, now, productive in endless love, effortless joy, here and now? What if we were unequivocally free from having to worry about sin because we are so taken up with the love and joy and power of the Lord Jesus Christ living in us and through us?
If we put ourselves under Law, under self-effort, trying to produce righteousness by our own striving human will (even “with God’s help”), we make Christ ineffectual in us. Romans 7 says this is the attitude which causes us to sin. We hinder or completely stop fruit production when we rely on our own strength, on rules, law-fences, and refuse to put our full-hearted reliance into the One who lives in us. Galatians says that by trying to do a single thing in our own strength, we make Christ of no effect to us, of no real-time use, saved from Hell ultimately, but living in it here and now. God “works all things after the counsel of his own will,” and “works all things together for good.” He will let legalism stir up sin in us, because that is what independent self-effort does. It cuts us off from the effectual expression of Christ-life through us. Eventually, we begin to see the truth: none of us can live the Christian life by any measure of our own steam.
Until we “bet the farm” on God’s ability to keep us, use us, and bear fruit through us, we live sub-Christian lives. “My yoke is easy, my burden light.” Are we pulling a hard yoke? Is our burden heavy? If so, we’d better check to see whose yoke we're pulling, whose burden we're carrying.

Connected to God's www?

2011-08-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

Translation: God's world-wide Word?

Ever wondered why you often hear the "Wake up!" message, when you thought you were already awake?

We can be alive and awake in our flesh, but unaware we're dead asleep and still "going through the motions" in our trespasses.

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:14-16

Any areas in our life "not" fully submitted to God, leads to the death of our spirit.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (New King James Version)

Without life in our spirit...we cannot connect to God. The disconnect in cultural terms, is like, "internet down," where no communication travels back and forth. When we don't have that connection, we may not even know we're asleep; living a life on autopilot. We just think the internet isn't working.

But there is always a reason.
In order to fix the problem, we have to know which end the problem is on. In this case, it isn't likely the problem is on the Server's end, so we must search our end for loose connections.
For in order to "know"(discern things spiritual, receive revelation from the Living Word) if we're really awake, there first has to be a secure connection.

Sin, the areas in our life not fully submitted to God, breaks that connection...but it can always be restored through repentance.

Maybe you feel you have no sin to speak of.
You don't lie, cheat or steal, worship another or covet.
So then, "How's your faith?"
Are you believing and trusting? Or in doubt about some things?
Or frustrated? Anxious? Worried? Confused? Afflicted without peace?

Jesus tells us loving the LORD is a commandment:

Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’Matthew 22:37-39 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

When we are unable to love God completely, we don't take Him at His Word and there's a break in the relationship on our part we must restore.

For we can't have faith with doubt, with"out" trust, while confused and without peace - for He has given us all things.

If we love Him -- we believe Him, and if we believe Him -- we cannot "not" have faith.

Repentance and believing faith restores us to right relationship...and right relationship is a secure connection.

Now you have been freed from sin and have become God’s slaves. This results in a holy life and, finally, in everlasting life. Romans 6:22 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

Thank you Father, that in "right relationship," our spirit is "alive in Christ," fully "awake" and the divine internet is working.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Jesus summed it all up when he cried out, "Whoever believes in me, believes not just in me but in the One who sent me. Whoever looks at me is looking, in fact, at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won't have to stay any longer in the dark.

"If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you." John 12: 44-50 (The Message)

This is why the fulfillment of God's promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God's promise arrives as pure gift. That's the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that's reading the story backward. He is our faith father.Romans 4:16 (The Message)

AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins

In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. Ephesians 2:1-2 (Amplified Bible)

Your dead shall live [O Lord]; the bodies of our dead [saints] shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For Your dew [O Lord] is a dew of [sparkling] light [heavenly, supernatural dew]; and the earth shall cast forth the dead [to life again; for on the land of the shades of the dead You will let Your dew fall]. Isaiah 26:19 (Amplified Bible)

Gina Higgins

If the Caterpillar Knew...

2011-08-06T00:41:00.000-07:00

5 Realities of Sifting:

1. You will be sifted.

2. It will come in the area of your confidence during the sifting.

3. You will fail. Everyone does.

4. You will be shocked by your own behavior but God won't be.

5. You will be better for it and more useful for the Kingdom.

Sifting is Predicted by God. It is Planned. It is Protected. It Comes with a Promise.

(It) literally separates out what is from God and what is not from God.

*Taken from Dave Edwards' Article, "Find Value in the Tough Stuff"

Heavenly Father,

Sifting is not altogether pleasant nor are we very attractive during the process. However, in spite of our thrashings about and our discontent - You are patient, gentle and kind. You are firm... but only for our own good.

The angst and the stress of this uncomfortable place can be emotionally charged LORD, so help us to surrender what we cling to and know to be faith; looking again to Your Word to find it's new and deeper relevance and meaning.

Prompt us to be prayerful during these "but for a moment" times, and remind us that You are praying for us too.

Thank You Father for the deeper roots You give us during times of sifting and the love of those willing to endure the "re-ordering storm inside" during the process.

You call us to Yourself, We hear Your voice...and We Come.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Heaven's View is Supernatural

2011-07-14T16:24:00.000-07:00

A florist can look at a yard and see glistening blooms.
A gardner can look at the same yard and see weeds.
A busy single mom, coming home from a ten hour day, will overlook the yard, and see that she left the porch light on all day.

Each a glimpse of truth based on the same picture. Each true - yet incomplete. The world's truth sees from a limited perspective but heaven's view is "supernatural." It is "limitless" and see's beyond appearances to the heart of the matter.

To see in the supernatural we must look for "God's heart revealed" and the small treasure contained in the big picture. As we open up to see beyond the natural into the supernatural (in the picture above) our hearts are drawn to the 7-year-old sitting in the window. The precious face which is illuminated by the "left on" porch light, is the one of a child who spent the last hour watering the blooms (and the weeds), so that her mother would have time to read her a story before bed.

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18

Allowing truth to be defined by man's finite knowledge - however brilliant - limits God.
When we no longer allow truth to be defined by what we know and instead let it remain "undefined" by what we've "yet to discover"... then we can walk by faith.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29

With Jesus as the author and finisher of this faith we walk in, there is now room for "infinite knowledge" and "limitless power" to be released.

At the moment surrender meets possibility and believing faith...the supernatural is birthed into the natural and the miraculous is born.

The power contained in it's innocence, wonder, magnificence and promise, is so great...it rocks the world, twinkles the stars and orders the universe.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father,

Help us to be open to what Heaven desires to open to us.

Thank you for the magnificent and beautiful things that come in small packages; the eyes to behold them and the faith walk into the supernatural with You.
The view from Heaven is always the best!

In Jesus' Name We Pray,

Amen

Gina Higgins

Mercy and Truth Have Met. Righteousness and Peace have kissed. (Psalm 85:10)

2011-07-03T22:47:00.000-07:00

Tel Aviv

St. Augustine, FL

"Let Freedom Ring"

A song by David for going up to worship.

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing inside your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built to be a city
where the people are united.
All of the Lord’s tribes go to that city
because it is a law in Israel
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
The court of justice sits there.
It consists of princes who are David’s descendants.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you prosper.
May there be peace inside your walls
and prosperity in your palaces.”
For the sake of my relatives and friends, let me say,
“May it go well for you!”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek what is good for you.

Psalm 122 (GW)

In the Stillness

2011-06-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life can feel like a battleground. There are times when it feels like we're in the heat of a battle and suddenly, in the spiritual sense,we can't tell the good from the bad, or the bad from the good.

"How then do we fight, when it's hard to determine who the enemy is?" I asked the LORD.

"You don't," came the reply.

"Say what???"

As I listened further, I felt like God was saying:

You don't, because Jesus already did. Remember the battle is not against flesh and blood but against those things that enslave, capture, oppress and allure My people into captivity and away from the freedom My Son's death already bought. You see a battle with people on two sides, but I show You now, the greater truth: There is only One side. Whilst you see two-sided opposition, I see what becomes the betrayal of one ...it all comes down to that. Turning on one another. It doesn't matter what the reason...only that what you've done to them, you've done to Me. Brother against brother, Mother against sister, Father against son, neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend ....in such a civil war, the only way to peace is to look to Peace itself; surrendering each his own will in favor of unity and harmony amongst brethren.

In battle mode, each man is an island fighting to stay afloat on a sea of discord. In unity, each man is the strength of a hundred men, for the foundation of one is connected to and supported by 99 others; with each subsequent person a strengthening and a bracing of a unity not easily broken and an advancement of the Kingdom that moves across the face of the earth."

“Let us trust God, and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.” ~ Patrick Henry, 1799

"So do we never fight?"

"Oh no, You don't fight. You war. You war with the weapons that aren't carnal but are mighty through Me for pulling down strongholds...the beliefs that are more important than love, the ideologies that are more important than one another. You stand and you resist that which would ever "lead you astray to betray," and in that stillness, where you've triumphed through the wisdom, power and revelation of My Word, know that I am God.

Gina Higgins

Carrying the Weight of Glory

2011-06-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

We all fall short of the glory of God.

Yet He has created and entrusted us to be vessels of honor and carriers of His glory.

As walking epistles, ambassadors and defenders of Spirit, Life and Truth -- we all carry a particular "zeal" for His glory that He has uniquely placed within us.

Some of us have a particular zeal for Christ and His bride; others for purity, freedom or presence. All worthy, noble and needed - as long as submitted to the Giver of good and perfect gifts, who rightfully determines each person's measure of zeal and it's proper applications. Un-submitted, zeal can look like friendly fire from a loose canon - and that is never God's heart.

The precision needed to carry zeal can only be carried out in perfect submission. Carried in our own strength, it easily over targets and becomes it's twisted forms: fanatical extremism or it's lukewarm counterpart: apathy.

However, the weight of it's passion released to the LORD, it becomes a magnificent, "on the mark" spark; a catalyst for change, the heart of the Father and the Word revealed in power.

Father God,

Teach us how to be wholly and fully submitted unto you that we might carry our measure of zeal in Your righteousness and by the power of Your spirit. You bring all things into order LORD, and as a body we submit to Your perfect order as You have ordained and established it. May we recognize the wisdom that comes from heaven for what it is: first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ~ James 3:17

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Gina Higgins

Ordained Seasons of Growth

2011-06-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

There are certain times when we may feel like God has "shut us in"...asked us to disconnect from the outside world for a while and spend time in His presence.

These particular times are not avoidance, hiding, rejecting community or preferring isolation.

They are a time set aside by God for His purposes.

A time where He has purposed to bind all of our brokenness after a season of wrestling and unrest...A final step to an ordained "season of growth" where God could be saying, "Come up here. There's so much I want to show you."

If you're here...don't despise the time...He will redeem it. Before long, you may find the mountain has become a plain... for the One who loves you has shouted grace to it on your behalf.

Father God,

Thank You for the power of Your Spirit that contains a river of fresh oil for Your people. Thank you that we are Sons and Daughters of fresh oil. Anoint us with the oil of joy, gladness and unity.

In Your Son's Name, Yeshua Ha-Mashiach,

Amen

Gina Higgins

Got Faith All Figured Out Yet?

2011-06-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

Yeah.
Sure.
Absolutely.
Without a doubt.
Totally
And Completely.
Have no clue.

God,

We think You hide Yourself and that our acquired knowledge "uncovers" Your presence.
Yet it is the pure in heart; those with a child-like faith that "enter in" and see You.
Out of the mouths of those so fresh from heaven, You have ordained praise.
Do You just wish we'd turn and recognize You?
And approach You...
And be healed?
Forgive us for getting caught up what in what we know, versus sitting at the feet of who we know.
May we never get it "all figured out," but instead "trust more completely" in the One whose life "laid it all out."
In His Name,
Amen

Gina Higgins

How Shall We Guard Our Hearts?

2011-06-20T22:28:00.000-07:00

How great is the goodness
you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
far from accusing tongues.

Praise the Lord,
for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
~ Psalm 31:19-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

How we guard our hearts is important.

It becomes either the place we seek His refuge or the defensive stronghold where we self-protect. One offers healing through inferior vulnerability and surrender. The other offers power through superior strategy and an elevated vantage point. One bears the fruit of righteousness and the other of battle scars. The fruit of righteousness is love. The fruit of battle scars is callousness.

Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the LORD,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
~ Hosea 10:12 NIV

A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers. ~James 3:18 God's WORD Translation

For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
~ Matthew 13:15 NIV

He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
~ Psalm 147:3 NLT

Heavenly Father,

May we go to you when our hearts need guarding, for only Your love can cast out the fear that makes us afraid to trust. Thank you for the balm of Gilead You place on our wounded hearts that softens and protects at the very same time. Thank you for a love that never fails. Give us hearts that always heal.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Gina Higgins

With What Eyes Are You Seeing Today?

2011-06-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

The lamp of the body is the eye, if, therefore, thine eye may be perfect, all thy body shall be enlightened

Matthew 6:22

Are they the "eyes of offense" from yesterday's painful slight?
Are they the "eyes of control" that can only see to criticize?
Are they the "eyes of pride" that can only see their own way?
Are they the "eyes of envy" that find reason to judge and covet?
or
Are they the "eyes of grace" that see the hope and not the wreckage?
Are they the "eyes of love" that cover sin so that there be no shame?
Are they the "eyes of boldness" seeing in faith?
Are they the "eyes of wonder" that smile?
Are they the "eyes of compassion" that heal?
Are they the "eyes of a servant" gentle and lowly in heart?

The Kingdom of Heaven we see in ourselves and others depends greatly on the
eyes with which we see.

Heavenly Father,
Give us Your eyes LORD so that we might have true sight and heavenly vision.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Gina Higgins

Father, What Do You See When You Look At Our Hearts?

2011-06-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

I see the hopes and dreams I placed there... and all the things that you believe.
I see the thoughts you think, the things you meditate upon.
I see your joys and your sorrows.
I see the capacity it can "hold" and the potential it has to "be."
I see the depth of your devotion, the height of your strength, the width of your love and the breadth
of your sacrifice.
I see where you need to receive...and where you need to give.
But most of all, I see the pure and undefiled you, the beautiful "un-jaded" and "fearless" you.
That is where, I see -- Me.
Sometimes I'm in the outer chamber just waiting to be let in.
Sometimes I'm buried, pushed down under all your cares.
Sometimes I'm free, like a dove, to soar ...and comfort... and lavish My love upon you.
Sometimes I just want you to look in the mirror and "take to heart," that I am with You.
For if you believe I am for you, who can be against you?
And if you believe that...how can you ever fail?
For with Me, even the impossible...
Is possible.
If you believe.

Gina Higgins

"Father, Forgive Us..."

2011-06-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

Forgive us when we turn toward the source of our fear rather than toward the substance of things hoped for.

We are not to live in reaction to the devil. We are to live in response to God.

~ Bill Johnson

Forgive us for thinking we are ever righteous enough to judge "righteously."

Forgive us for thinking our Christianity entitles us to judge, when all you've asked us to do is follow.

God never violates His word. But He’s quite comfortable violating our understanding of His word.

~ Bill Johnson

Forgive us when we are frustrated and experience unrest because we think we deserve answers.

If you want the peace that passes understanding, you have to give up your right to understand.

~ Bill Johnson

Forgive us when our own issues deflate the little risings of hope, that others may have had.

Forgive us for thinking, and still thinking, we know what's best when only You possibly could.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Gina Higgins

God Can Handle Our Brokenness, Can We Receive His Healing?

2011-06-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Search out the matter.
Seeking humbles and stills us before God.

The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands;
~ Deuteronomy 28:12

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
~ Jeremiah 29:13

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
~ Matthew 21:22

Discern God's voice.
It is kind.
It sounds like a melody and feels like love.
If we could see it's sound, we might see dancing sparkles and colorfully illuminating light.
If it were a fragrance it would linger and delight.
If it were a taste, it would be the flavor that woos us to the point of "Ahhhhh."

Believe His heart is good. Remember He first loved us.
He wants to lay heaven at our feet as we lay the world at His.

Believe grace is a gift He wants you to have.
It's heaven's love poured out to cover us.
We can hold out our hand to prevent it's release...
or we can stand under the fountain and let it pour.

Imagine we're in the desert and our water ran out 3 days ago. Suddenly we come upon a stranger that offers us their water. Are we really going to say,

"No, that's okay. We should've brought more. It's our own fault. We deserve to dehydrate and die out here because we made a mistake."

Or are we going to fall on the dry ground, our tears landing in the dust covering their feet, drink like we've never drank before, and say,

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We would've died if it wasn't for you!"

Our self-sacrifice of "not receiving" doesn't "hol-i-fy" us.
Our inability to receive the gift, "rejects" the Giver.

Eternal life is not something that just happens after when we die.
It's living "now" in the everlasting...eternally.

Ready for healing?
Position yourself to receive.

For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
~ 1 Kings 17:16

Heavenly Father,
Oh how You must want to just scoop us up like children and say,

"My little darling, I understand why you feel you must stay in the corner, but shall we let this delicious ice cream I've prepared just for you, melt? Come! Eat! Be filled with My goodness." Lifting our head and looking into our eyes, You say, "I forgive you My child and I have already forgotten. Now, let me kiss your cheeks and see your eyes fill with wonder, once again. You have my blessing...now off you go!"

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

We Honor You

2011-06-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

Be responsive to your pastoral leaders.

Listen to their counsel.

They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God.

Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery.

Why would you want to make things harder for them?

Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon.

Hebrews 13:17-19 The MSG

Heavenly Father,

I ask for forgiveness on behalf of the body for the times we have not walked in honor, respect, affirmation, appreciation, love and encouragement specifically towards our pastors and leaders.

Forgive us for the times we have felt entitled to think or say anything but that which would be an encouragement and for their edification.

Forgive us when our thoughts, words and actions opened the doors to doubt, discouragement, insecurity, fear, anxiety or self-condemnation.

This day we release them from expectations, the burden of any discontent, disapproval, judgement and performance-based love.

This day we release and pour out in the name of Jesus our gratefulness for the daily sacrifices of their calling, the grace they so freely give, the compassion and love they so freely extend.

Father, heal each and every pastor and leader's heart where we have wounded it. Restore them to the full stature of their identity in You. Where situations have pressed them down, hindered their growth or affected their confidence, ground them deeply in Your love and shelter them securely in the shadow of Your wing; free and renew.

We break off and cancel out any words "not" of blessing. We close every door that opened as a result of our words or actions not in harmony with Your heart.

We BLESS, BLESS, BLESS our pastors and leaders with confidence, security, love, affirmation, trust, and respect and vow to honor them as they deserve to be honored.

We BLESS, BLESS, BLESS them in Your name with increase, strength, courage, boldness, precision vision, acute hearing, abundance, power, love and the desires of their heart and the visions of Heaven for themselves, for their families and for the church.

It is in Jesus’ Name We Humbly Pray,

Amen

True Heights

2011-06-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?

Psalm 24:3

True heights...

Isn't about rising...but about going out.

Isn't about climbing...but about getting low.

Isn't about running...but about resting.

Isn't about pacing...but about praying.

Isn't about perfection...but about trying.

Isn't about our living from our sorrows...but about dancing from our joys.

Isn't about "our way"....but about Yahweh.

Ascending the heights isn't about standing in our own strength and operating from our own power ...but about leaning on and moving in His.

True heights is the peace we have with God... that we can play in the sand without a care in the world.

Heavenly Father,
Make us childlike again. Help us throw off everything that ever caused us to lose the beautiful, innocent and free spirit You placed within us. Give us sweet moments with you that nurture and heal the places in our heart that need softened again. Fill us with so much of Your love...that uncontainable joy is the overflow. The truest height is You, Jesus...You came down that our lives might be touched and the flame of our destinies re-ignited. How can we ever thank you? We love you so much, Amen

All for Love

2011-05-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

Oh, the things we do...

to seek love; to prove we are worthy of love.

Oh, the things we never do....

because we're afraid it won't be enough or that rejection might come in love's stead.

Heavenly Father,

You made us to love and be loved.

Nothing feels as wonderful as being loved.

We want to feel Your love through people and we want people to love as perfectly as you.

We'll do anything to earn that love and we'll do nothing when we fear that love won't be returned.

We want love to be a "sure" thing.

We want love to affirm us and fill us. We want to be able to trust that it will not hurt us, never leave us, nor reject us.

We want love to be a "safe" thing.

But the only sure, safe thing is love "itself."

The only sure, safe thing, is: You.

Help us LORD to not seek, look for and expect heaven's perfected love in the earth below.

Rather inspire us to be vessels that hold such a glimpse of Your glory that it pours out and overflows to all the people around us...that they might know You.

For Your love is better than wine.

Your love saved the world.

Your love never fails.

Your love is all there is....

and all there is ...

is Your love.

Thank you that we don't have to earn Your love...You loved us first and while we were still sinners.

Thank you that Your love - that never fails - accepts us in the beloved and endures forever.

Your love Oh Lord

Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness stretches to the sky
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows like the ocean's tide
I will lift my voice
To worship You, my King
I will find my strength

In the shadow of your wings

Third Day, "Your Love Oh LORD"

In Your Son's Name We Pray,

Amen

Gina Higgins

A time to keep silence, And a time to speak Ecclesiastes 3:7

2011-05-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

Which is it time for... in those moments a decision needs to be made?

Time to be silent?
Or time to speak?

At the wrong time, each can be costly.

Words sent forth from places unfamiliar with truth and love....can wound, hurt and hinder.

Words held back never reveal, never shed light, never give birth nor have a chance to alter circumstances.

Ironically we rush to fill silence with that which serves no one but ourselves; never giving utterance to the words that might change the course of lives. How easily we wield the weapon of our tongue to assert ourselves and our opinions yet we shrink back in giving voice to words that might speak to something "not our problem, not our business," and so we're "not gonna get involved."

Heavenly Father,
Give us Your heart, so that with our mouth we can speak a word in season to the weary. May our speech be profitable to the hearer...and when it is not, may we remain silent. Put a guard over our lips LORD that serves to remind us that only one kind of water comes forth from Your well....Living; life-giving. We ask forgiveness, LORD, for the times when from our hearts our mouths have spoken that which dishonored others and You. Please help us to meditate on the things that are "pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy," so that out of this overflow of our hearts, our mouths can speak. May we "wait" before we say things difficult to take back and may we not hesitate to speak when it will encourage, lift, reveal to heal, justify, testify and give glory to You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

TESTIMONY Abby Jack: "Medical Miracle"

2011-05-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

My granddaughter Abby Jack received devastating injuries from a car wreck when she was 6 months old. May 5, 2011 she was the “Medical Miracle” honoree at University Hospital’s annual dinner of the same name. Many people at Oak Hills and across the world lifted her up constantly over a long period. She healed, body and mind.

The link is the video they played at the dinner. Grab a Kleenex and prepare to thank God for his faithfulness and grace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGouqjOW4B0

Thanks for your prayers and your unflagging faith in Jesus Christ.
I hope you will share this testimony to God’s goodness with our prayer ministers, your friends and family.

Jim Toombs

San Antonio

When Holidays Are Hard

2011-05-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

For so many, Mother's Day and other holidays are hard.

Some are really tough for tragic reasons, some are trying due to relational difficulties and
some disappointing because of idealistic expectations.

What if instead of man's instituted and set holidays, we chose to celebrate as we were led by the Spirit and remembered our mother's, fathers, the new year, Jesus' birth, death and resurrection and all things praise worthy, all the time; each and every day?

Might that somehow alleviate the pressure, the sadness, the stress and the envy that are often associated with holidays?

What if the standard was raised to the place, where instead of just on one day out of the year, each and every day we chose to love one another, "where we were at?" And whether in grief, remembrance, repentance or celebration, in everything, we gave thanks, honored one another and our Savior?

Might it put the focus back on God and His greatest commandment?

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31

Instead of a need for awkward apologies, a bumbling of inappropriate responses, or the pressure to be where we're "not," and the envy that others seem to "have" what we wish we had and and "be"where we wish we were...is it possible we might could actually:

REST in God knowing each tomorrow is: A day where He is at the center of the universe, His tender mercies are new and His promise remains: Never will I leave you nor forsake you.

Heavenly Father,
We bless those that struggle with holidays. We bless those that are grieving. We bless those having relational difficulties or any current circumstance that makes celebrating a holiday particularly hard.
We ask that You surround them with an extra amount of comfort and love, and that Your presence be with all those who need You most.
Give us an awareness and an extra sensitivity that will make us mindful that we are not all on the same page nor all running the same race.
What we celebrate most of all, LORD, is the holiness of You. For You alone know the times, seasons and how to minister to our spirit, each and every day.
We thank you that like a mother, Your Holy Spirit knows how to kindly, lovingly and tender-heartedly nurture and comfort us.
We honor all mothers this Mother's Day and pray that each and every child and mother in need of comfort, love, affirmation, validation, affection, understanding, forgiveness, guidance, healing, redemption restoration, resurrection and power will know, that whether they have these things in their earthly relationships or not -- they can always be found in You.
In Sorrow and in Joy - We PRAISE You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Gina Higgins

"Behold, I am Coming Quickly and My Reward is With Me..." Rev. 22:12

2011-05-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

It has stood out to me lately that I have heard sirens, the cries of children and felt the wind.
I had a dream last night where my house turned around three times and slid down the hill -
while one slept peacefully. When I asked the LORD what it meant, I heard "I am moving your house."

Today, I felt the presence of an Angel behind me and experienced a breakthrough in my home that felt like it could only be God. And, literally and figuratively, I found what was lost and twice a door opened on it's own.

I share this because I feel so much of my small circumstances relate to all of our circumstances -- and our larger circumstance as a whole, in the body of Christ.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you hear before we ask and that the alarms in heaven sound way before the need arise.
Attune our ears to be increasingly sensitive to the cries of Your children so that we may intercede on their behalf that the power of Your Holy Spirit may be present, active, alive in their lives and comfort them.
As Your Spirit moves, though we don't always understand or know where it is going, increase our faith and our ability to trust that You have heard our every prayer and in the fullness of time will move us and our house, for Your glory.
A great and effective door You have opened to us -- let us be mindful of opportunities as they present.
Thank you for angels that guard, guide and give messages from heaven.
May our hearts not be troubled, for in Your house is many mansions, room enough for all, a place prepared for all -- that You may receive all. For when we believe, You do come and take us to where You are...so that we can see what You see.
Thank you that there is no end to Your mercy. As receivers of such a gift, may our own be as infinite.

May Your Glory Arise.
In Your Son's Blessed, Precious and Redeeming Name We Pray,
Amen

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD
And the praises of the LORD,
According to all that the LORD has bestowed on us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies,
According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.
Isaiah 63:7

Thus says the LORD:

“ As the new wine is found in the cluster,
And one says, ‘Do not destroy it,
For a blessing is in it,’
So will I do for My servants’ sake,
That I may not destroy them all.
I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
And from Judah an heir of My mountains;
My elect shall inherit it,
And My servants shall dwell there.
Sharon shall be a fold of flocks,
And the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down,
For My people who have sought Me.

Isaiah 65:8-10

“ Before she was in labor, she gave birth;
Before her pain came,
She delivered a male child.
Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion was in labor,
She gave birth to her children.
Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD.

“ Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.
“ Rejoice with Jerusalem,
And be glad with her, all you who love her;
Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;
That you may feed and be satisfied
With the consolation of her bosom,
That you may drink deeply and be delighted
With the abundance of her glory.”

For thus says the LORD:

“ Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
Then you shall feed;
On her sides shall you be carried,
And be dandled on her knees.
As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 66:7-13

Gina Higgins

When We Go Through the Rivers

2011-03-10T18:32:00.000-08:00

The Lord created Jacob and formed Israel. Now, this is what the Lord says:

Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through the sea, I am with you.
When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away.
When you walk through fire, you will not be burned,
and the flames will not harm you.
I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you.
Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you.
Since you are precious to me, you are honored and I love you.
I will exchange others for you.
Nations will be the price I pay for your life.

Isaiah 43:1-4

Heavenly Father,
When we find ourselves in uncomfortable places and feeling unsettled, unsure, shaken or overwhelmed...lead us to the Rock that is higher than us...and keep leading.

Lead us because we need to follow.
Lead us because we need to know You love us.
Lead us because we need to know You're in control.
Lead us because we need to know You're with us.
Lead us because we need to know You're real.
Lead usbecause we need to know You will.

We need to know You desire to not leave us where we are, but to take us from there to where You are...moving us to a place you've prepared for us...a place above our daily insecurities, ahead of the things that seem to always be at our heels, away from the things that burden, bind and oppress us, and over and beyond the present difficulties of circumstance.

Lead us to the place of healing You have for each one of us.

At Your feet...
Safe in You're Arms...
Where we hear the Word of encouragement...
Where a strong assuring arm is around our shoulder...
Where we feel the covering of our hand with You're hand...
Where You shelter us from the storm...
Where You carry us when we can't walk...
And steer when we can't see...

Where You Sing over us as we rest...
...Imparting joy and laughter to our spirit.
Shining light in the darkness...
...Lifting us out of the pit.
Revealing truth in the rising of Your Son...
Resurrecting in us new hope, new life and new dreams.

May we trust in You and lean not on our own understanding and may we taste and see the goodness of You in the land of the living...and find peace and rest for our souls.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Gina Higgins

He Holds Your Heart

2011-03-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

In the Potter's hands,
The clay of the earth shaped the Living Temple.
The breath of God; the cry of pure innocence...brought it to life.
The blood of a Savior "taken in,"
imparted a "lasting" communion,
And the lifeblood flowed through,
And covered the Temple in grace.

Gone is the evidence

Of this earthly life,
But for eternity...in our hearts.
Freed from earthly garments

And the grave,
This earthen vessel
Once lifeless and without form,
Now contains a treasure
a heart and Spirit,
A light...
Shining out of darkness.
Full of power, not of us
But of Heaven and the Kingdom.
Giving knowledge of the glory
Of the One who gave His life...
So that we too, might have it.

"Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
'He did not make me'?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
'He has no understanding'? "
Isaiah 29:16

But now, O LORD,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

Heavenly Father,
Only You could be so well aware of our heart condition...
Over-stressed, wearied, wounded, hard or broken...out of rhythm, overworked or struggling to keep the pace. You have held each and every heart in Your hands and designed it to flow with love and beat to the chorus of heaven.
How easily we take ownership over our hearts; Your creation -- thinking we somehow know best.
If only we might quit guarding our hearts and "let go," we just might see You never have. We just might see the Potter's hands still gently wrapped around the clay, reshaping, remolding, healing and holding...the object of His love, the apple of His eye...for in it He holds the world He so loved that He gave His only Son. Thank You Father, for loving us in a way we will never fully understand until we see You face to face.
In Your Son's Glorious Name,
Amen

Cause to Celebrate

2011-03-02T16:31:00.000-08:00

We are familiar with the old phrase from Daniel about "the writing on the wall."

In the spirit of God's extravagant love, redeeming grace and resurrection power...I want to suggest we profess and acclaim the "new!"

That God has put a "new" kind of writing on the wall.

I saw it yesterday... and I saw it again, today.

As I looked over at three signs on the wall - with the words HOPE, FAITH and INSPIRE written on them - I saw a celebration! Light from the window was shining through a prism and there were about 35 to 40 different dots showering the wall in a moving, colorful "rainbow" confetti of light! It was as though God was saying:

Rejoice! My "light" and My "words of life" are great cause to celebrate!

Heavenly Father,

Though the Son often arrives unexpected...when we look for Him we will find Him... and when we invite Him in... He will fill the walls of our hearts with the promises of hope. And just like the prism, as we brilliantly reflect Him, our mourning will turn into dancing and joy will spring up in our heart. We will see the words of life and the promises "to give us a hope and a future" swirling around us, delighting to get our attention.

Sweetly, You ask us for this dance...a dance of trust...and of comfort and assurance. As our steps follow Yours, we have that kind of "knowing" feeling inside that says to our hearts, "Truly, You have us," if ever we were to fall.

And so, I can almost see You smiling and hear You saying, right after our twirl, "I think you just might be ready for the dip."

Lead on...Awesome Savior...lead on.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Gina Higgins

More grace...and more grace...and more grace.

2011-02-22T21:53:00.000-08:00

But God's not finished.

He's waiting around to be gracious to you.

He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.

God takes the time to do everything right—everything.

Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over.

Cry for help and you'll find it's grace and more grace.

The moment he hears, he'll answer.

Isaiah 30:18-19 (The Message)

It's rather amazing how much grace God gives.

A short story...

I had run out of grace; my reserves severely limited and lacking, due to what my own humanity could never supply.
However, in my weakness, He was strong.
He not only whispered to me I was to go and give, "more grace...and more grace...and more grace," He also poured it over me in the process -- so that I could give, so that I would understand why I must give.
And so there I sat. Stunned, blessed, surrounded and filled by what I felt so "undeserving of," and had withheld, for that very same reason.

Grace is divine.

We don't deserve it and we "cannot," of ourselves, produce it; but we can cry out to a God, who by nature, is "grace divine."
And when we do...we just might find grace comes like the rain, too bountiful to catch or contain, pouring down on us more...and more...and more.

"Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me,

Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away."

Todd Agnew, "Grace Like Rain"

He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:7 (Amplified Bible)

Gina Higgins

Lifted Out of Broken-heartedness

2011-02-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.

Psalm 34:18

Heavenly Father,

Great is the strength to be found in You. Though we go through the fire and the waters rise...they will not burn nor overtake us.

We will praise You in affliction and in storm; with honor we will seek You and claim the promises of Your Word... and You will hear and deliver us.

Though our hearts may be heavy and our dreams feel shattered within us.... we will set our faces like flint; we will put our trust in You and we will plant our feet upon the rock of Your salvation and we will STAND.

We will open the eyes of our heart to taste and see the good You have intended.... and we will, as so much as it depends on us, do good unto others and seek out what makes for our peace.

We will cling to and know, without a doubt, that we are not alone. And with enlightened hearts, we will see You in all the ways You are our Savior.

As the parent who tenderly cradles, rocks and holds us...

As the brother who took upon himself the punishment we deserved....

As the one we know "all to well" and the one "we hardly know"...the friend and the stranger...the one we pass by on the road or see in the mirror....the one who is kind and merciful, who bandages our wounds and heals our hurts.

You are the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Advocate...who lives within us, that never leaves us nor forsakes us, that pleads our case before the courts of heaven and with the balm of Gilead, redeems all that was broken.

With grateful, renewed, and ever-stronger hearts,

We thank you for Salvation.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Gina Higgins

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

2011-02-19T08:17:00.000-08:00

Created in the womb...

Formed in utter seclusion.

Our first breath,God's ruach.

We are not bound to the dreams of another,

Nor are we simply a "portion" of the light.

We are born into freedom.

We carry our own complete measure...

The full intention of who we are to become,

Present in us from the very beginning.

God's seed births the full miracle...

Just waiting to be "lived into."

My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

Ephesians 3:18-20 (The Message)

Heavenly Father,
You are glorious! Your entire living being - in us - is glorious!
Glory, Glory, Glory...the whole world is filled with Your glory.
The angels sing "Glory!" and "Halleluia!" and You smile as You see Your
own glory reflected back to You...the world aglow...the world
consumed by the fire of Your love, a love that fuels and ignites a
passion; a fire and flame that rises and ascends in a holy offering...

My chains are gone I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love, amazing grace.
Chris Tomlin's Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

In Jesus' Most Glorious Name,
Amen

Gina Higgins

Turtledoves

2011-02-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

      My beloved spoke, and said to me:

      “ Rise up, my love, my fair one,
      And come away.
      For lo, the winter is past,
      The rain is over and gone.
      The flowers appear on the earth;
      The time of singing has come,
      And the voice of the turtledove
      Is heard in our land.

Song of Solomon 2:10-12

Did you hear Him? Did you feel Him?

He has visited and left us a love note:

Spring is coming early this year.

No longer will you remain in winter.

No longer will you remain bound in the cold of the ground.

The Word has gone out and returned with it's hope.

Promise has arrived.

Heavenly Father,

You break us through from the winter of our purification into the spring of Your anointing and purpose.

You surround us with heavenly encouragement that tells us it is safe to emerge and go forth.

With our own tears, outward signs of growth through pain, You tenderly soften the ground so the bud can push through.

Once the light has touched our face and warmed us, we are strengthened and yearn for more...so we sink our roots deep down into the soil of Your righteous planting and we push and stretch... and all the things we've held close to our breast begin to unfurl, unfold, open up and "become."

Thank you for your Word that goes forth in power, never to return void. Thank for it's light that melts the snow and allows the rivers of Living Water to flow...reaching it's destiny...prospering all in it's path.

May we abide in the Vine of Your love forever...our voices of praise and songs of deliverance, a sweet melody to Your ears.

In Your Son's beauty and rebirth, we find hope for today...and love for all eternity.

In His Precious Name We Pray,

Amen

     “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
      And do not return there,
      But water the earth,
      And make it bring forth and bud,
      That it may give seed to the sower
      And bread to the eater,
      So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
      It shall not return to Me void,
      But it shall accomplish what I please,
      And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
       “ For you shall go out with joy,
      And be led out with peace;
      The mountains and the hills
      Shall break forth into singing before you,
      And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
       Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
      And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
      And it shall be to the LORD for a name,
      For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Isaiah 55:10-13

Dedicated to Pastor Linda Marceau.

A vessel of gold, filled with His words of life.

Gina Higgins

Love Rushes In...

2011-02-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

God's love is meteoric,

his loyalty astronomic,

His purpose titanic,

his verdicts oceanic.

Yet in his largeness

nothing gets lost;

Not a man, not a mouse,

slips through the cracks.

How exquisite your love, O God!

How eager we are to run under your wings,

To eat our fill at the banquet you spread

as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water.

You're a fountain of cascading light,

and you open our eyes to light.

Psalm 36:5-9

During Monday's community prayer time, LOVE was a big theme. One woman shared the word, "a flood" of love and another shared, "a tidal wave" of love.

Heavenly Father,

We delight that Your love is immense; that it knocks us off our feet and satiates our souls with the Living Water of "plenty."

We invite this love "beyond measure."

We are undone and overwhelmed in the most awesome of ways as it crashes over us in power and strength -- invigorating us with renewed vitality.

And yet we also find ourselves cradled by the gentle lull of it's swells as it rocks us into a place of Your peace.

And so we drink deeply.

We stand under Your waterfalls and immerse ourselves fully.

We soak in Your love as it floods our hearts.

And LORD, we thank You for a continued outpouring of Your love that is so great, we cannot help but be changed.

Fill us with Your kind of love...the overflowing, never-ending kind.

May we both "carry it with us" and "leave it behind."

Changing the surface of the world, one heart at a time.

In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name,

Amen

Gina Higgins

GRAHAM COOKE CHURCH BUILDING DEDICATION – A CORPORATE PROPHETIC WORD

2010-12-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.impactkerr.com/Impact%20Combined%20Prophetic%20Word.pdf

Advent and Christmas Reflections

2010-12-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

Joy is the True Gift of Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pope Benedict XVI(12/18/05)

Pope Benedict XVI (12/18/05) commenting on the scene of the Annunciation as recounted in today’s Gospel (4th Sunday of Advent). "With the angel’s greeting to Mary —‘kaire’ in the Greek, which means ‘be joyful’—the New Testament begins," he said. "We could say that the first word of the New Testament is ‘be joyful,’ ‘be happy,’ in other words, ‘joy.’ This is the true meaning of Christmas: God is near us, so near that He became a child."

The Holy Father then highlighted how "we realize that today’s world, where God is absent, is dominated by fear, by uncertainty." Nonetheless, "the words ‘be joyful because God is with you and with us,’ truly open a new time."

"Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not the expensive gifts that call for time and money. We can communicate this joy simply: with a smile, a kind gesture, a little help, forgiveness. And the joy we give will certainly come back to us.…Let us pray that this presence of the liberating joy of God shines forth in our lives."Let Me Not

Keep Christmas . . . . . . . . Linda Felver
A Book of Christmas, Nashville: Upper Rooms, 1988, p. 48

"Let me not wrap, stack, box, bag, tie, tag, bundle, seal, keep Christmas.

Christmas kept is liable to mold.

Let me give Christmas away, unwrapped, by exuberant armfuls. Let me share, dance, live Christmas unpretentiously, merrily, responsibly with overflowing hands, tireless steps and sparkling eyes.

Christmas given away will stay fresh—even until it comes again."

Christmas Eve Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank Borman, Apollo 8 space mission, 1968

"Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure.
Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness.
Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts.
And show us what each one of us can do to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace."

Some Special Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Source Unknown

Here are a few suggestions for special gifts:

a firm handshake to a shaky soul,

a kind word to a lonely person,

a warm smile to the disheartened,

a sincere concern for someone troubled,

a feeling of compassion for the neglected,

a comforting thought for the bereaved,

a respect for the dignity of others,

a defense of the rights of individuals,

a word of witness to help a seeking soul,

a Merry Christmas to all.

Keeping Christmas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Van Dyke

There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day,
and that is, keeping Christmas.

Are you willing…
to forget what you have done for other people,
and to remember what other people have done for you;

to ignore what the world owes you,
and to think what you owe the world;

to put your rights in the background,
and your duties in the middle distance,
and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground;

to see that men and women are just as real as you are,
and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy;

to own up to the fact that probably the only good reason
for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life,
but what you are going to give to life;

to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe,
and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds
of happiness—

Are you willing to do these things even for a day?
Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to stoop down and consider
the needs and desires of little children;

to remember the weakness and loneliness of people growing old;

to stop asking how much your friends love you,
and ask yourself whether you love them enough;

to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts;

to try to understand what those who live in the same home with you
really want, without waiting for them to tell you;

to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke,
and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you;

to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings
with the gate open—

Are you willing to do these things, even for a day?
Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world—
stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death—
and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago
is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?

Then you can keep Christmas.

And if you can keep it for a day, why not always? But you can never keep it alone.

Six Days of the Week,
NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1924 and 1952.

*All above material borrowed for your reading (and "not for profit") pleasure, from the link: http://www.appleseeds.org/christmas-quotes.htm

Apple Seeds ® provides inspirational and motivational quotes and short stories from eclectic sources that promote positive attitudes, and development of holistic human dignity–from tiny seeds to ripened fruit. This quoteletter is published nine times during the school year–September to May–by Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR (Third Order Franciscan) as one of the outreach programs of Franciscan University. For more information click on Admissions Office. These pages are updated the beginning of each month.

Purposefully Unique

2010-12-02T21:38:00.000-08:00

We are not powerless specks of dust drifting around in the wind, blown by random destiny. We are, each of us, like beautiful snowflakes--unique, and born for a specific reason and purpose.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

An Unusual Football Game

2010-11-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

You may remember hearing about this story a while back...it's a story worth re-telling and it's just as good reading it the second time around.

Some stories are "timeless" -- especially testimonies to the goodness of God played out through the hearts of His people.

Enjoy this story of courage, radical love and blessing all for the sake of "kindness."

Hoping it's more Jesus than our heart can take and that the realization of what a glimpse of His love looks like, leaves us changed.

In the fall of 2008, there was an unusual high school football game played in Grapevine, Texas. The game was between GrapevineFaith Academy and the Gainesville State School. Faith is a Christian school and Gainesville State School is located within a maximum security correction facility.

Gainesville State School has 14 players. They play every game on the road. Their record was 0-8. They've only scored twice. Their 14 players are
teenagers who have been convicted of crimes ranging from drugs to assault to robbery. Most had families who had disowned them. They wore outdated, used shoulder pads and helmets. Faith Academy was 7-2. They had 70 players, 11 coaches, and the latest equipment.

Chris Hogan, the head coach at Faith Academy, knew the Gainesville team would have no fans and it would be no contest, so he thought, “What if half of our fans and half of our cheerleaders, for one night only, cheered for the other team?” He sent out an email to the faithful asking them to do just
that. “Here’s the message I want you to send,” Hogan wrote. “You’re just as valuable as any other person on the planet.”

Some folks were confused and thought he was nuts. One player said, “Coach, why are we doing this?” Hogan said, “Imagine you don’t have a home life, no one to love you, no one pulling for you. Imagine that everyone pretty much had given up on you. Now, imagine what it would feel like and mean to you for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you.”

The idea took root. On the night of the game, imagine the surprise of those 14 players when they took the field and there was a banner the cheerleaders had made for them to crash through. The visitors’ stands were full. The cheerleaders were leading cheers for them. The fans were calling them by their names. Isaiah, the quarterback-middle linebacker said, “I never in my life thought I would hear parents cheering to tackle and hit their kid. Most of the time, when we come out, people are afraid of us. You can see it in their eyes, but these people are yelling for us. They knew our names.”

Faith won the game, and after the game the teams gathered at the 50-yard line to pray. That’s when Isaiah, the teenage convict-quarterback surprised
everybody and asked if he could pray and he prayed, “Lord, I don’t know what just happened so I don’t know how or who to say thank you to, but I never knew there were so many people in the world who cared about us.” On the way back to the bus, under guard, each one of the players was handed a burger, fries, a coke, candy, a Bible, and an encouraging letter from the players fromFaith Academy.

What an incredible act of Christian witness and kindness and goodness that was. Proverbs 11:17 says, “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind.” Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good when it is in your power to act.”

Be kind to someone this week. Be kind to every person you meet. You might be amazed at what God will do with a simple act of kindness.

Dr. Tim Thompson

http://www.frazerumc.org/email/enews/thisweekatfrazer_100310

For more information on this story visit the following links:

Wixon: Grapevine Faith's good will vs. Gainesville State School almost too good to be true | High School Sports: Top Stories | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas

http://www.sportsfeelgoodstories.com/2010/01/07/a-football-game-about-hope-2008/

Questions

2010-10-21T22:13:00.000-07:00

How can we understand grace in an apathetic world?

Or mercy, when it's not our only chance?

Do we truly get the forgiveness thing...
If we never ache to be forgiven?

How much faith is required for healing?
If we've never felt powerless to get well.

What does it mean to trust without sacrifice or risk?
Is it still trust -- if we fail to believe or hope "beyond" ourselves?

Will wholeness ever come if we remain content in our brokenness?

What good is salvation if we don't really need God?

In an apathetic world, our only chance is to ache to be forgiven; knowing we are powerless to get well unless we believe or hope beyond ourselves...discontent in our brokenness, admitting we need God.

Thank you Father that Your answers are often part of the question. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear the Truth contained in Your life-giving Word. Bless us with more of You in every way and thank you that Your love is not contingent or conditional. Forgive us, for all of You we take for granted... and consume us with the power of Your love. May we care to be "holy" and accept and receive Your free gifts. Only You will ever satisfy our restless hearts and heal our wounded souls. We love You, LORD. We love You. Amen

Faith Moves

2010-10-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

What love is this...

That you would die for me?

(Let's start this over)

What love is this?

This is redemption, that you would die for me. And this is salvation,

that you would live in me...That you would live in me.

This is rejection, that they would all hate me.

And this is submission, that I would live holy...

That I would live holy.

(Lyrics "Redemption, Passion, Glory, " The Dizmas)

Maybe I'm amazed at the way You love me all the time...maybe I'm amazed at the way I love You. (Lyrics, "Maybe I'm Amazed," Jem)

So, what's with the lyrics?
Music moves us.
So does faith.
Faith moves us into greater belief.

In Mark 11:24, it says to believe we will receive and we will have.

The first set of song lyrics is considered Contemporary Christian Rock and the second is set is what many think of as Secular Pop. Just as what matters are the things "we cannot see" with our natural eyes, what also matters is "what we are able to hear," with our spiritual ears.

And what we hear is based on what our heart and mind are focused on.

Someone in a state of holy adoration will hear the secular verse with capitalized Y's for the "You's" because their thoughts are on Him; their hearts meditating upon Him so much that, all things are Him...and He is all things.

Faith moves us to receive the day as:

"A little grey here and there with a small chance of showers and a 100% chance of full Son shining through at any given moment."

Faith moves us to receive our health as:

"A little discomfort and frustration, here and there.... but a whole lot of love and forgiveness flowing absolutely everywhere."

Faith moves us to receive our circumstances as:

"I affect the world but the world doesn't have to affect me. I will respond as "who I am called to be," whether acknowledged or whether anyone affirms that in me."

"I choose love, life, goodness and blessing because it first chose me...I choose to believe and walk in the power of knowing Jesus has secured this victory!"

By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence, Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God's hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him]. And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,

(1 John 3:19-21 AMP)

Gina Higgins

Fill the Temple with Praise!

2010-09-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

One voice may echo through the hills...

But many voices just might echo praises up to Heaven.

Let your voice ring out over the valleys and the hills;

And let your praises fill the temple.

Please send your contributions for the Riverside Community Prayer blog to: prayer@connect2riverside.com

Healing for the Heartsick

2010-09-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it feels as though we are a people crying to the LORD:

"This is my lot? This is my lot???"

It's as though we are so tired and consumed by the continual battle that we forget "what" and "who" our lot really is, along with where our hope should be, because it has become so "deferred."

We are heartsick.

The Israelites in the wilderness were also heartsick. They were tired; thirsty; hungry. And as a result, they complained "continually" and contended with Moses; and they tempted the LORD by saying:

"Is the LORD among us or not?" (Exodus 17:7.)

Does that sound like ostentatious rebellion or what?

Not all hope deferred leads to complaining and contending, but during these times of "hope deferred," we must resist what is easy to do and "fall into," lest we find ourselves tested and our waters bitter; our own poor attitudes and rebellious hearts limiting the very God whose power we desire to be at work in our lives (Psalm 78:41.) We must also remember the extra pressure our continual despair and absence of praise places on those in leadership. Our own attitudes can adversely affect our leaders causing them to miss the new ways in which the LORD is trying to move.

The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,
But who can bear a broken spirit?
Proverbs 18:14 NKJV

And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock;

and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”

Numbers 20:10 NKJV

It's interesting that after the people complained about the bitter water (Exodus 15:26,) the LORD promised not to put diseases upon them if they heeded His words. So He tested them there, but in the midst of it all, He also revealed Himself as Yahweh-Ropheka, I am the LORD who heals you.

Why?

Perhaps because He wants us to know He is our "every" answer. Perhaps because He loves us and wanted us to know Him for who He really is....our healer. Maybe because being healed is one of the blessings we can enjoy when we're in right relationship with Him. Sometimes it feels like God is saying what He says similarly in Micah: I've shown you what is good...now walk in it!

Perhaps our prayer should be:

With your very own hands you formed me;

now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.

When they see me waiting, expecting your Word,

those who fear you will take heart and be glad.

I can see now, God, that your decisions are right;

your testing has taught me what's true and right.

Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight!

just the way you promised.

Now comfort me so I can live, really live;

your revelation is the tune I dance to.

Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds;

they tried to sell me a bill of goods,

but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel.

Let those who fear you turn to me

for evidence of your wise guidance.

And let me live whole and holy, soul and body,

so I can always walk with my head held high.

Psalm 119:73-80 The MSG

We must choose to trust Him. We must find solace and our strength in Him and the promises contained in His Word.

In Psalm 16, "The Hope of the Faithful and the Messiah's Victory," we see that though we sometimes despair, when our eyes are fixed on the LORD, He is always healing our cry.

The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup;

You hold and maintain my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage.

Psalm 16:5-6 NKJV

May you be blessed with the truths and treasures hidden - yet just waiting to be found - in His glorious Word.

Gina Higgins

Crowding Him Out

2010-08-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

"We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are."

~ Anais Nin

Making assumptions can put us on a slippery slope - and it's not just because in doing so we tend to make a fool of ourselves. It's because assumptions really aren't God's heart at all.
According to the Oxford American dictionary, an assumption is:
a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
Nowhere in the definition does it say: it is truth.

Stepping Out Before God

An assumption forces us to take leaps God hasn't asked us to make. It's like acting on what we "think" to be true about situations or people, versus acting on what God's "heart" reveals as truth.

When we assume, we're likely walking in the sin of pride. We think we know what we really do not know. We mar the visage of God when we label or judge people in their innocence, ignorance, brokenness or misfortune. We leave no room for God to work and our assumptions say we're essentially lacking faith that He can or will. Like it or not, assuming unwittingly places ourselves in His shoes, crowds Him out and takes liberty with the future...of situations and the lives of people.
It may be dark to the north of us but to assume it's going to rain may only later find us having missed out on a beautiful opportunity for a family picnic when God's command of the weather pushed those those storm clouds due east.
God's perspective changes things.
We could assume someone doesn't come around much because they don't have a heart for community or a heart to serve, but seen from God's perspective, we might realize they just never felt welcome.
We could assume that someone doesn't like us by their delayed or lack of response to an e-mail, but seen from God's perspective, we might realize that we we're the sixty-third incoming communication they received that day and for the sake of their own family life and sanity, our e-mail had to go unanswered.
We could assume that someone is a negligent parent by the actions of their child, but seen from God's perspective, we might realize they have incredible faith and know there comes a time when only God and His grace, not their own strength can draw a child's heart to change and turn a situation around.
We could assume that people who don't forthrightly come up, look us in the eye, and say hello are "rude" and must not like us, but seen from God's perspective, we might realize that in their own nervous avoidance they didn't see us trying to make eye contact or our mouths softly forming the words "hello."
The list goes on and on...

So, why is this even important?
Because our assumptions inhibit others and belittle God.
But truth is always seen from God's vantage point. And truth... brings the Light that "illuminates" others and "glorifies" God.

So what difference does it make who's a Jew and who isn't, who has been trained in God's ways and who hasn't? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed. First, there's the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation, these Holy Scriptures. So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same:

Your words stand fast and true;
Rejection doesn't faze you.

But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God's rightdoing, shouldn't we be commended for helping out? Since our bad words don't even make a dent in his good words, isn't it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn't do the straightening?
Romans 3:1-6 The MSG

Gina Higgins

2010-07-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

A mother is standing by her son’s grave, tears are streaming down her cheeks.

He was only nineteen.

All she has left now, is her faith in You oh Lord.

Though that same questions haunts her every dream, why? Why!?

I cannot tell her, and she cannot find reason in herself.

For the only explanation that can be found in this world is:

“The Lord works in mysterious ways, He has reasons for all that He does”.

This true, but completely unhelpful response is not what she, or anyone is seeking.

It is the obvious, so obvious that it does nothing but anger those who are told this.

So I beg you, pastor, father, mother, brother, sister, DO NOT try to answer the question: why?

For unless the Lord comes upon you and shares His wisdom with you for a specific occasion.

It is NOT our job to find reason and purpose in the Lord’s actions, especially the painful ones.

It is NOT our job to explain His movement unless He has specifically called us to do so.

Because, though logical and scripturally backed, our own response to what has happened,

Is not what the Lord intends. Though his plan will succeed no matter what we do,

I beg you to be cautious with your insight and only speak when you are led to do so.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you pray, kneel behind a dark curtain.

When you do an act of kindness, let it be when eyes are closed.

When your hand opens and silver falls into the lap of a beggar, may he be turned the other way so you are not seen.

For the Lord delights in a private love and service of His people.

Do not announce your good works with trumpets and banners, do them in a hooded cloak.

When you are asked, “was it you that give this to the church”?

Answer “only at the command of the Almighty, for it was not I that did it, it was the Lord”.

Wear the mark of the Lord Jesus Christ on your forehead and hands, in declaration of your faith,

But do not act in goodness for the eyes of the public, for if your love and works are genuine,

The favor of the Lord will be reward enough.

Seek the curious smile of the people as they wonder who has done this for them,

Know that you have done the Lord’s work and be proud to be of service.

If you are meant to be seen by the eyes of the people, the Lord will shed His light upon you.

If you are meant to remain hidden, the shadows of His light will cloak your face.

Smile and rejoice, whether it be in light or shadow,

For you have served the Kingdom by the hand of the Lord.

By Justin Silcox

2010-07-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

Give me a blank stare and I will fill your eyes with excitement.
Give a drooping smile that proves so many reassuring lies,

And I will make it shine as bright and as clear as the stars above.
Give me a clenched fist and I will open it to give and receive.
Give me words that are full of pain and laced with brokenness and I will turn them into a song of joyful praise.
Rejoice says the Lord, for all is in His hands.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pray that you have a sharp ear among all the distractions of this world,

So that you may hear the Lord’s voice clearly and not take your eyes off of Him,

For He is what is important. He is what matters. He is everything.

He is more than you petty wants of worldly things.

More than you could ever imagine.

So do well in giving Him proper focus and heeding his every word.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Compassion is kneeling by a fallen brother or sister, holding them close, and bringing them back to their feet.

Compassion is being loving, even to those you don’t think deserve it.

Compassion is seeing brokenness, pain, agony, in the hearts of those around you,

And sharing the truth of an everlasting love with those hearts.

How can we expect people to believe in the Lord when we,

His servants cannot even share a kind word to the downtrodden.

Believe me when I say, the Lord looks upon those with compassion and kindness in their heart with great favor,

In comparison to those who hold only bitterness and anger.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now you know that you are not perfect,

And you know that she is not perfect.

The question is, are you perfect for each other?

Now the only way you will find that one out is by asking questions, listening closely,

Having faith in Me, and honestly, just giving the chances that I provide, the best that you’ve got.

Hold nothing back.

Be patient.

Do not speak until I say speak.

Do not walk until I say walk.

Do not reach until I say reach.

Patience. For when you are on My time, you cannot fail.

By Justin Silcox

2010-07-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

May we be men of the Lord.

Let us rise up and stand with the cross at our backs,

Forever growing taller, surrounding us as we surround our community.

Let the light and the love that You provide Lord,

Flow through our clean hands onto the women and children that we have sworn in Your great name to protect.

Let us be the faithful and strong men You have called us to be.

To Lead.

To Protect.

To serve.

To fight in Your name.

And to love.

Bless us and strengthen us, so that You may rise up from Your throne and call us Your good and faithful servants.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your anger is fire spewing from your lips,

It burns and causes pain to your brother and sister, making them fearful and sad.

Your anger is a poison that will, and spread, and devour your very community.

It numbs your ears, clouds your eyes, and laces your lips with venom.

As you hold anger deep inside your heart,

The Lord will keep you from His alter,

Flames of holy fire will push you back until your words turn from death to life.

Repent for your wrong doing, seek reconciliation with your brother,

Pursue the light and the love of the Lord so that He may tame your tongue.

For it is much to evil got you to handle alone.

May he bless you with a family, a community of forgiving, heart healing followers of God.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smile and let live, turn and walk from the face of rage.

Be the noble man that walks in righteousness,

Rather than the foolish man that lets his tongue run untamed.

Blessed is the man that remains strong in the discipline of the Lord and

Places the very poison of his tongue and the sin of his heart in the hands of God.

For the Lord can take every piece of anger, bitterness, venom, guilt, and resentment

That we hold inside and make it pure.

Though it may be a painful road of many tears,

The light that you will stand in will be a reward that makes up 10 times over.

For when you lie in obedience, the Lord is pleased and has great favor upon your soul.

Be brave my brothers, have the courage to know when you have done wrong,

And the wisdom to make it right with your neighbor and the Lord.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When it comes down to the wire, who will you be?
The face of nobility, righteousness, courage, wisdom.
Or will you fear the end of this short life and turn and run.
I beg you, think clearly and stand tall, you have nothing to fear.
The sting of death has been dulled into nothing.
The victory of hell has been pushed into submission.
All that is before us as we stand in the light,
is the everlasting freedom of true life.
True life in Jesus Christ.

By Justin Silcox

2010-07-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

Judgmental eyes. Persecuting hearts. Scathing tongues.

Who are you, you people that claim to be mine?

You lie and speak death over those who do not believe your deceit.

You cast them out of what you call My house, but I do not dwell there.

You mark them as outcasts when they are the ones that truly shine in My light.

These chosen people, the ones you call exiled will be My children and live in My blessing.

Their hearts will burn with Holy fire and it will spread over these lush fields and vineyards that you call My blessing,

And they will be no more.

These flames of My pure light will rise high above your plain four walls and convict and burn

The false prophets, murderers, liars, and guilty that you shelter.

The pure and righteous will stand and dance in my flames,

No longer restrained by the treacherous ones around them.

Chains broken. Blood cleaned. Scars wiped away with a flash of My light.

Nothing is beyond My power and grace.

Believe and live in My mercy, you follower of Christ.

But do not doubt the impending death that lies just beyond the thorns along your path.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Flames burn, waters rush, winds blow, I stand upon a strong foundation,

The strongest known. Lord it is You.

I look around and I see You everywhere, as Holy Fire burning my heart and igniting others around me.

As Living Water quenching my spirit and sustaining me along my path.

As a Whisper in a soft breeze forever leading me.

As the Holy Ground on which I stand.

You are in everything Lord.

Even though I may hide from You in the darkness, wishing that You not look upon my filth,

Your light will always find me.

Whether I sit, cloaked in sin.

Stand in rebellion.

Turn with shame.

You will always find me Lord and You will always seek me.

For I may be unclean, unfaithful, unhealed, unsure, or unknown.

I know that I am not unloved.

For Your love for me and Your people is never ending.

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her,

That her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for”.

-Isaiah 40:1-2

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Though we may hide in the shadows, cloaked in darkness, wallowing in sin.

The Lord is there.

No matter how far we push Him,

How far we run from Him,

Or how hard we fight Him, He will never leave our side.

He is desperately reaching out, pulling us towards Him, wishing that we would accept His embrace.

He will stand at our backs keeping the darkness at bay, shielding us from all that attacks and wished to devour.

Keep your faith in the Lord and your spirit held high,

For as long as our eyes are kept on His face, we are unbound by the chains of the world.

We stand before Him freed by grace, viewing the chaos at His back,

Knowing that He is what has delivered us.

Lord, we cry out to You, Thank You! Thank You my Merciful Lord!

May You be proud of what we do and will do in You.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take a look around and tell me what matters.

You see people and people, a crowd is gathering all around you.

You make one action to please them and make another to please Me.

But I am not pleased because you are sharing what should be Mine with them.

Do you care so much about what the people around you say and think that you change yourself,

Make decisions, take steps, and walk a path based on what they want?

Do you?

I am enraged when you do one thing in the dark and do another in the light.

Your heart is pure, clean, and white but your hands are covered in blood and your feet are black with filth.

Walk in My light, do as I do, follow My every step.

Do not stray, remember where your heart lies because it is with Me.

As the crowd roars and yells, turn your head and face Me.

They will pull the chains that hold your arms and legs, causing you to stumble and fall.

Rise up! Run towards Me! My arms are open in embrace.

They will pull you down again, and again, and again.

But as the chains cut into your wrists and blood trickles down your fingertips, not a single drop will hit the floor.

I will reach My hand out and catch any that fall. I have bled in your place so that you would not have a debt to pay.

Look into My eyes, I love you. I want all of you.

So tear the chains apart, shatter and destroy them. They have no place on your body.

Follow My every step, walk as I walk, speak as I speak, soar in My radiance,

For I have died and risen just to set you free.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

-Isaiah 40:31

By Justin Silcox

2010-07-05T09:32:00.000-07:00

My beautiful sisters, how you radiate the Lord’s light.

You are examples of His ever present love and nurture.

The things you do, the things you say, the things that you suffer through are so incredible.

May the Lord lift you up in all His glory.

Each and every one of you mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.

I admire your resolve and strength.

To nurture when we need nurturing. To fight when we need protecting.

You build us up when we are down and leave a red imprint of your hand on our cheek,

When we need reality returned to our lives.

How I love all that you do.

May the Lord bless your every movement, your every step, your every word.

Because I know that I am blessed by you.

By your beauty, by your sweet words, by your strength,

and by your wonderful grace in the face of the world.

“Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun,

majestic as the stars in procession?”

-Song of Songs 7:10

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Running hard, breathing heavily, I stumble through the brush,

thorns tearing at my legs and arms.

Blood drips down my hand and falls from my fingertips.

I see Your white robes wave slightly as You disappear through the bushes ahead of me.

The things that pull and cut and hold me back are pushed aside by Your glory,

not coming near You.

I inhale sharply and return to my pursuit of You.

Still I run, sprinting, being sustained by the glimpses of You that I see.

I run past scenes of an orphaned child being held tightly by a crying woman.

Your love flowing from her, blessing the now smiling child.

To the left I see a man in dirty clothes, sitting on the road begging people as they pass for coins, food, and even work.

A man walking, shining in Your radiance, kneels by his side, lifts the beggar to his feet and takes him to your house.

Your love is shared as he is cared for by Your people.

Still running, I break through the brush and now I stand in a desert, the wind blowing at my face.

I see the back of Your head disappear over the next hill.

I smile and wipe the sweat from my brow and take off running after you,

For just because I wander through the wilderness, does not mean I am lost.

To the right I see a preacher leaning against a wall in a tight hallway, sobbing,

Completely unsure of what to tell the people that await him.

You’ve brought his wife home to be with You in Your palace.

He is broken and beginning to doubt.

A young girl stumbles into the hallway, seeing her father crying.

She hugs his side tightly telling him that she trusts in both of her fathers.

Your everlasting love is shining in her eyes and shared with her father.

Your glory reigns as he steps out of the hallway, facing the people.

He speaks of your word and your message with confidence and trust.

Still I run, seeking Your heart and face.

I am thirsty as I follow You through the desert.

As I come over the next hill, I see You sitting, waiting for me.

I kneel by Your side and You share Your living water with me and I am refreshed and sustained.

You stand and smile at me as You turn and continue walking swiftly deeper into the desert.

I breathe in and praise Your glorious name as I start running once more.

Before me I see a woman, sitting limply in a chair, the room dimly lit.

A needle lies on the table by her side.

She stares blankly into space, her breathing light.

A young man walks into the small house, late from work.

He sees his mother strung out, yet another broken promise.

Your power and might comes upon him, he is filled with a righteous anger,

The mark of Christ burning brightly on his forehead.

He knocks the needle and other objects from the small table with a swing of his hand.

He throws the table aside and picks up the half empty bottle of liquor by her leg,

He throws it against the wall, making it shatter, its contents spraying all over the floor.

His mother’s eyes are wide with shock as she stares at him.

He wipes the blood from her arm with a rag and he lays his hand upon her head and prays.

The filth inside her is burned away by Your might.

Her soul is cleansed and shrouded in Your light.

She looks up to you with pleading eyes, begging for forgiveness.

Her son turns as he sees shadows moving upon him and his mother.

He yells with power, Your great voice enveloping his and the demons are banished from his home.

Your love and glory flow through him into his mother, saving her from the darkness inside her own heart.

Forever will I pursue Your face and seek Your heart Lord.

I may stand, clothed in rags, hungry, thirsty, and without shelter, but I am happy and content.

Protected and sustained by Your everlasting light.

I see You turn and face me, Your voice so full of love rings in my ears.

“what’re you standing around for? Come on and follow me”. You walk swiftly away.

I smile and sing praise as I run after You, forever running after You.

Karov Adonai le’nishberei lev v’et dakkei ruach yoshia

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

-The Kingdom of Heaven reigns throughout the world.

Justin Silcox

2010-07-03T20:42:00.000-07:00

You will come to a point in your walk when you will reach the end of yourself,

And must rely entirely on Me.

You may not have food, or water, or shelter.

But you will remain healthy.

You will not be hungry, for My word will be what sustains you.

You will not be thirsty, for My living water will quench your thirst.

You will not suffer the elements, for My love and My grace will be your foundation, your home.

Your worries will be nothing.

Your strengths will be nothing.

Your weaknesses will be nothing.

All that will matter is Me.

All the comfort that surrounds you will disappear before your very eyes.

At this time, your strength will fail you.

You will feel the weakest you have ever felt but also the strongest.

When this time comes, I will come upon you and my strength will keep you going.

My power will give you life, My breath will be the wind under your wings.

So fear not my son, this time will be a time of marvelous growth in Me.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Though proud of our strength and faith in the Lord,

Humility must come upon us.

For each and every one of us that hears the Lord, sees the Lord, and stands in His Grace,

Once stood seemingly alone in a desert with nowhere to turn.

Before we were brought to His throne, we wandered searching for water to quench us,

And now when we have been blessed with Living Water,

Pride comes upon us and our sight is weakened and our hearing dulled.

So believe me my brothers and sisters,

I have known utter silence and sheer blindness,

It is not a place you wish to go.

So hear me, I say repent for your pride in yourself.

Give the glory to the Lord Almighty who delivered you from your darkest places.

When someone praises you for your works, shout It was not I! It was the Lord who has done this through me!

Praise Adonai, for He is good and gracious.
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

-Proverbs 11:2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let your flame burn brightly for all the world to see.

Share the light of the Lord with all who will see.

Take your fire and let it shine in the places where only darkness dwells.

Let the eyes of the people be opened to see His wonderful grace.

For we are the Lord’s tools.

Let His power and might flow through our hands and onto those who need to be lifted up.

Take your brothers and sisters and walk along the dark broken road.

Do not walk past the wounded and down trodden.

But kneel at their side and speak the Lord’s words of life into them.

Bring them to their feet and share the Lord’s love and light with them,

So that they too may go along the road and do the Lord’s great work.

Prepare the hearts of the people so that when the Lord sees fit,

He will make His flame burn deep within them.

May the eyes and ears of the people be turned up to the heavens.

May the Lord’s work be done.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lord, I can feel Your all consuming fire burning all around me.

The air is hot and thick with Your might.

Before me is a raging inferno, Your sparks and flames dance before my shielded eyes.

I stand in Your midst, terrified but confident. Trembling but firm.

Lord I fear You, You are the only one that I fear.

The storm that is your flaming light rises into the sky, higher than I could possibly see.

You tower above me and I kneel, prostrate to Your glory.

Just when I think You will finally take me to your kingdom,

The air cools and a cold blue fire envelopes me and I am not burned,

But reassured of Your love and beautiful grace.

This once charred valley is now overflowing with Your beautiful creations, Your perfect artwork.

Flowers of every color, calm and crystalline streams, utter peace in this chaotic world.

A Dove flies above me as I lay my sword upon the soft, lush grass.

There you stand before me, burning in blue fire, too bright to see.

Your white robes flow gently in the wind.

I hear a whisper of a song float through the air, “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty”.

I turn and look around me and I see Your people,

Your warriors, healers, prophets, preachers, musicians, artists, and writers.

All kneeling before Your majesty.

Lord I love you, let us serve Your kingdom for as long as You wish it.

“For I am the Lord your God, who churns up the sea so that it’s waves roar-

The Lord Almighty is His name.

I have put My words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand-

I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth,

And who say to Zion ‘you are My people’”.

-Isaiah 51:15-16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I understand that I am broken. I am shattered.

I am a sheet of glass constantly breaking and rebuilding itself.

Trying to shield itself from the stones being throne.

Lord I am torn down by the smallest pebble when I walk alone, straying from Your path.

But when I lie in discipline and keep my eyes upon your face,

I am empowered. I am shielded. I cannot break, no matter what may bounce against me.

For You oh Lord are the strength I hold inside.

You are what gets me through each day. Whether it be painful or joyous.

Lord forgive me for all that I do, I strive to be better but I cannot without You.

I cannot heal alone. I cannot be strong alone. I cannot. I cannot without You.

Lord may my eyes forever be upon Your sweet grace.

May Your flame rise up inside me and burn for all eternity Lord.

May the deceit that lies on my lips, my own blood that coats my fingertips,

The darkness that surrounds me every step be wiped away with Your marvelous light.

For it is You Lord. It is all You.

The air I breathe and the water I drink.

It is all You.
“When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.”

-Genesis 8:11

Justin Silcox

2010-07-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am wandering through the desert, aimlessly searching.
I call out and I hear nothing but my own voice.
As I walk through the dwellings of demons,
I am torn down, oppressed, broken, scarred, and wounded.
I am defenseless for my eyes have left You.
I have taken it upon myself to face this enemy, this terrible enemy completely and utterly alone.
I will lose this fight. I will be tainted and ravaged for my faith is no longer in You.
And as I lie bleeding on the road, darkness surrounding me, the Evil One steps forward
To devour my very being.
I breathe in. I breathe out. I breathe in. I breathe out.
And he, the destroyer stops for Your name is being said aloud.
I take my eyes off the dirty road, off the blood that my wounds have left there.
And I gaze up at You. I feel your light surround me, the darkness shudders.
I bring myself to my knees and I stare up at You, I cry out Your sweet name.
Forgive me oh Lord! Deliver me from this place of evil so that I may have another chance to live in You!
Lord save me! I was wrong, I have no power or strength without You oh Ancient of Days !
And there, in the midst of the evil and darkness, I see Your face. My eyes stare into yours and I know
That I have been saved.
I see You walk towards me, a blinding light, only your outline is distinguishable.
Your powerful arm reaches out and casts the demons aside effortlessly.
The Evil One hides his face from your light, for its very presence burns him.
He runs away, terrified of Your might. My Father has saved me.
You place Your warm hand atop my head and I am healed and cleansed,
Your fire has sparked and burns within me again.
Forgive me Savior, may my eyes never leave Your face again.
You turn and beckon me to follow and I do, I stand by your side as we walk through the
Illuminated darkness and back into Your Kingdom.
“Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.”

Psalm 31:2

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As the days of end approach, the Christ will be seen in the hearts of the people once more.
For though they have strayed, the Lord Almighty will redeem his children,
And bring them back into His magnificent light.
The final revival before His long awaited return is upon us now!
An awakening of the people of God.
Our Lord’s Bride will be the heart and the soul of His people once again.
She is and always will be our nurturing mother, feeding us milk until we are ready for meat.
The people of God will step out of their square buildings, homes, and places of comfort.
They will travel the Earth in great numbers speaking the very words of God.
His light will shine through them, His words will be heard from their mouths,
And His work will be done by their hands.
Churches will rise in the slums, in the middle of the darkest corners of our world,
And they will shine for the Light of God is within them.
Where demons walk, the ground will be purified by believers and turned Holy.
The dead will be brought to life, the blind will be given sight, and the diseased will be cured,
All in the name of The Almighty I Am.
I say again, the revival our fathers spoke of is here, it is now.
We will live in it and our children will live in it.
Countless believers will be made, the Kingdom of Heaven will reach out across the world.
All will stand up and cry out Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"”
John 12:13

Justin Silcox

2010-06-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

We will cast our gaze to the afflicted and they will be healed.

We will lay our hands on the possessed and they will be freed.

We will walk and the Kingdom of Heaven will rise around us.

Though chains will pull and whispers will beckon us to the darkness.

The Lord and His light will free us, guide us down the path surrounded in his righteousness.

For a revival is upon us.

-The Heart of The Community

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the brokenhearted, for the aimlessly searching,

For those that run endlessly in the desert with no shade or water in sight.

Turn to Him.

He will be your guiding light through the pain and hopelessness
if you give Him the chance to be.

His light will never cease.

It can illuminate the darkest of situations,

The darkest of corridors where you find yourself to be utterly defenseless,

And even the darkest corners of your heart.

For in everything, Jesus reigns.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The road to purification is one of tears and desperation.

Tempted we fall. Tempted again we fall. Tempted a third time and we still fall.

But the Lord Almighty brings us to our knees and then to our feet
and he shows us how to walk again.

Because no matter how many times we stumble, fall, and run away.

He will find us and redeem us in His heart and in the eyes of our neighbor.

“Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”

-Job 5:17

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arise oh people of the world,

The time has come for your eyes to be opened,

Your ears turned to His voice,

And your wings spread to fly in His countenance for only He can make us soar.

I say arise for the Lord your God is calling to you!

He is standing among us as I speak to you, wishing that your ears would be opened,

To hear His magnificent voice for He speaks of life for all.

Though darkness may claw, and claim, and pull it’s chains,

The Lord’s voice will cleanse the heart of the people and shatter the chains that hold them.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

-Isaiah 60:1-3

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For every soft breeze that blows across our faces,

The Lord breathes out.

For every gentle rain that falls,

The Lord’s tears roll down his cheek.

For every sunrise and sunset that paint the skies in wonderful color,

The Lord is smiling down on us.

His love is a never ending downpour of Holy water,

It falls from every inch of the beautiful sky he crafted,

For no matter our mistakes, His love for us will endure.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

-1 Chronicles 16:34

Justin Silcox

Entrusted to Uphold Her Glory

2010-06-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

With every heart that experiences hurt