Write My Answer On A Billboard Large And Clear

~ I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon.
I'll wait to see what God says ~ Habakkuk 2:1-2
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Jun 28, 2013

OBEDIENCE Releases a JOYFUL HEART

"Sometimes the greatest ministries
are situated squarely in the midst of the ignoble,
accompanied by conditions & companions
we might never have sought,
left to our own devices.
It is often then & there
that along comes a opportunity ~
an appointment with destiny ~
which could come by no other means. "

Kathleen Flanagan
you can read "The Wondering Place"
at Sassy Granny
















Maybe you had to be at the crossroads
that I was on at the reading of Kathleen's
thought provoking words last Friday.
Because I pondered them all weekend.

Words like.....

" It is often then & there
that along comes a opportunity ~
an appointment with destiny ~
which could come by no other means. "


Knowing the history of Philip and the Ethiopian ...
in Acts 8; 26-40 -  how Philip led him to Christ...
baptized him and then ...
Philip was taken away by the spirit
to another place of ministry...
speaks of a very definite appointed time...
in Philips ministry.
If Philip wasn't accustomed to hearing
and responding to the voice of the Lord...

He could have missed this Opportunity.


I was contemplating whether to stay or to go..
in my current position -
petitioning unto the Lord ...
if there is a destiny yet in the making...
that I'm called to participate in?


If the Lord has has placed me there
for His purposes and not mine...
then I was trusting that He would make
that purpose CLEAR.

I want to be ready
for where ever He sends me...
and I need to be fortified
by His strength and grace
to continue in a place
as long as it takes
to accomplish His will.

But I have a tendency
to go the extra mile...
not understanding whether or not
the Lord has lifted the mandate to stay.
It is such a hard road
for me  to walk sometimes...
not knowing...
whether to go or to stay.

It would be soooo much easier
if ...like Philip...
we could just be transported
in the spirit when it comes time
to move on.

The one thing I hadn't contemplated before...
from this scriptural account...
was the openness...
the readiness of the eunuch...
to hear and receive the gospel message.
The Spirit had already prepared him.
He was reading in faith ...
for understanding to come.

He was seeking TRUTH...


"Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door
will be opened to you."
Matt. 7:7

While he was still seeking...
the door was opened unto him.
As the Spirit was preparing his heart and mind
to receive that which he sought after...
'spiritual understanding'...

the Spirit was also preparing Philip ...
to be the fruit of the GOSPEL to him.

Remember...


I was standing at a crossroads
SEEKING God's will.
ASKING which road...

when I read Kathleen's words....

" It is often then & there
that along comes a opportunity ~
an appointment with destiny ~
which could come by no other means. "

DO I STAY?

DO I GO? 

Many were in prayer for me.
I sought His face dilligently.
If a destiny was at stake..
mine or someone elses...
I didn't want to miss it!

Sometimes...I walk down a rough road
way longer than the Lord intends.
Because I want to be sure
that it is He and not I
that turns me in another direction.
We are called to suffer
with Christ.
Christianity is not an easy road.
Our flesh is weak...
when the enemy of our soul...
our destinies...
taunts us with lies
until we call out...

"Get me out of here!"
When He has called us to STAY!

OBEDIENCE is EVERYTHING!

I know I've used this scripture before...
it is a headliner in my mind.
Stamped out there years ago,
by the Holy Spirit Himself.
It bears repeating often in my life.
This scripture is why I often STAY...
on a rough and sometimes muddy road,
when He has told me to GO.
More than anything in my life..
I desire to be right where He wants me..
at any given time.

Run with Perseverance

Heb 12:1-3
1  Why seeing we also are compassed about 
with so great a cloud of witnesses, 
let us lay aside every weight, 
and the sin which does so easily beset us, 
and let us run with patience 
the race that is set before us,
2  Looking to Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured
such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.


Often I Forget...

There are others
on the same road.
others just like me -
coming and going;.
staying for a while...
or moving on. 
Many people.
Many destiny's.

Sometimes,
I feel so alone
in my walk...
that no one understands -
least of all ME.
But God goes with us
He never forsakes  us.
He goes before us
and lights the way.
All He asks...
is that we TRUST
Him with our whole heart.
Our whole mind.
To not walk
in our own understanding.
In all our comings and goings...
acknowledge that He is God!
TRUST that He IS...
who He said He IS....
and that He WILL direct our path.

I FORGET..That I KNOW


"that in all things
God works for the good
of those who love him,
who have been called
according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28

I Forget that...


I am His
He is Mine
My Beloved
His Warrior Bride


I Also Forget...


That where I lack understanding...
The Lord is not deaf and dumb.
He hears; speaks; and intervenes.
Sometimes,
we are led down a road...
by His divine plan,
to bring His light
to people and places,
that need to see.
Even we faithful christians...
sometimes fail to see....
the subtleness of the world's
influence on us and our family. 


"THE LORD WILL NOT MUDDY HIS BRIDE" *


Did I STAY or did I GO? 


I did not STAY.
But I KNOW that He sent me
down THAT specific road...

For such a time as this!


The book that the Lord opened...
by my being there...
revealed that an intruder
had scribbled 'his' name
on pages of innocence
to 'muddy' their name.
The enemy of our soul
set to re-write...
their story according to him.
Worldly intentions
already in play.

But the book incomplete...
a story not finished -
with unwritten pages
just waiting to be filled....
springs forth
with new chapters...
new stories to tell.
And a knowing that...

"THE LORD WILL NOT MUDDY HIS BRIDE" *




Trust HIM...
He has a PLAN.
He ALWAYS has a PLAN!

"Trust in the LORD
with all your heart;
and lean not
to your own understanding.
In all your ways
acknowledge him,
and he shall direct
your paths. "
Proverbs 3: 5-6


May the Blessings of the Lord 
overtake you...
and fill you with JOY!


Patrina.... his Warrior Bride in Boots!


* Quote from Truthsharer



RELATED SCRIPTURES:


Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the LORD, 
and he will give you 
the desires of your heart

Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, 
and he answered me; 
he delivered me from all my fears.

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

John 15:16
You did not choose me, 
but I chose you and appointed you 
so that you might go and bear fruit--
fruit that will last--and so that 
whatever you ask 
in my name 
the Father will give you.

John 15:7 
If you remain in me 
and my words remain in you, 
ask whatever you wish, 
and it will be done for you.




14 comments:

  1. Obedience is better than sacrifice,
    GOD counted that as righteousness for Abraham.
    Nobody likes to be disobeyed especially a master to a servant, an employer to an employee, a parent to a child, then talkess of our heavenly father, the creator, saviour and redeemer of our body, soul and spirit.
    When we obey GOD, our spirit is calm and happy, and we are rewarded with blessings from HIM.
    But many times, as humans we disobey GOD, if it does not suit our purpose or reasoning.
    May HIS grace continue to be upon us. Amen.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Obedience is better than sacrifice,"

    I forgot that! The Obedience of faith is what the Lord wanted ..not sacrifice. I kept saying for weeks..."its all about obedience...I'm doing what I feel the Lord set for me to do"....and in the end...I know that obedience was written all over it. It was a personal sacrifice. But more important to HIM was my willingness to move forward in blind faith....trusting Him with the outcome. Abraham was known as "the Father of the
    faithful"...and because of His Obedience of faith...He received the Lord's promise of limitless blessings!

    Obedience is Everything to the Lord!..Better than sacrifice! Abram was also called 'a friend of God'

    Thank you so much for picking up the pencil. I loved that first line of yours! Music to my weary soul.

    Blessings to you my friend
    Patrina <")>><

    James 2:23
    And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.


    ReplyDelete
  3. 'Go in this thy might', Judges 6: 14.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David,

      Thank you so much for picking up the pencil to encourage and empower me with this scriptural account. I had absolutely forgotten this in my confusion to go or stay. In fact, whether to take on the position in the first place.

      The account of the prophet Gideon is one of my favorite! Partially because of the way God showed him in very specific ways...particularly by allowing Gideon to overhear the enemy's dream that was a prophetic picture of God's intent to give the Midianites over to him. The battle was indeed the Lord's!

      “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

      That was a big word to me. The Lord had given me a dream the very morning after the opportunity of this position came to me. In asking the Lord for His divine help in knowing what to do...He gave me a dream to ponder.

      Today... I see that the dream He sent me was not only confirmation that He sent me...but that the battle was always His and remains with Him. My presence truly only opened a window that helped those He sent me to...to see.

      And...as the Eunuch that Philip was sent to ..for one purpose and only one... had to go the rest of the journey without Philip by his side...so it is with those the Lord sent me to. I was sent for one purpose and only one...to help them see.

      Thank you so much David. I so appreciate your strength of the WORD!

      blessings, my friend
      patrina <")>><

      Judges 6:12-16

      12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

      13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

      14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

      15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

      16 The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

      Delete
  4. Thank you for sharing this - God Bless

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you, Nita for stopping by and picking up the pencil. So nice to see you here..

      blessings
      patrina

      Philemon 1:25
      The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

      Delete
  5. I put two decors on top of our fireplace. Just two words:

    Believe...Faith...

    It helps me remember as I face any trials each day that it takes more than just believing in God. It requires Faith...

    And with His Word, He makes my heart sees what my eyes can't...Only by His grace...Be strong sister in the Lord's mighty power. Thank you for this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RECUBs

      your statement....

      "it takes more than just believing in God. It requires Faith"

      ...like He says, TRUST in the Him with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. in order to do this, we have to trust that He is who He says He is...and that He has our good in mind at all times...

      I liked the way you said that HIS WORD makes your heart see what your eyes cant see.

      True because His WORD is the Living WORD...

      yes...I am strong...in our weakness...He makes us strong. Oh for the mighty power of God's grace...where would we be with His love?

      blessings to you my dear friend
      patrina <")>><


      John 1:1
      "In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God."

      John 1:14
      The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

      Heb 4:12
      For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

      Delete
  6. The Lord will always give us answers to our questions and if we put Him first and His will in our lives, then He will give us guidance each day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brenda,

      This is true. As I stated twice already...Trust in the Lord with all your heart...in all your ways acknowledge Him...and He WILL direct your journey....each and every day...every hour of every day...if we are in tune with His leading.

      Thank you so much for picking up the pencil to affirm His truth.

      blessings to you, my far away friend
      patrina <")>><

      Isaiah 51:1
      "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;

      Delete
  7. I took to heart what I read on the post before this one, and even re-posted it on my other blog (My Rehoboth) because it was such a now word for me, esp. the Scripture passages you quoted, and the hymn.

    And now this one about OBEDIENCE - it is also a timely word. Obedience is the only fitting covenant response to a covenant God.

    Thank you for sharing what is on your heart. In many ways, I am also at a crossroads, and obedience is the key... the willingness to obey... and the actual obedience.

    Blessings my dear friend.

    Love
    Lidia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lidia,
      I wrote a comment to yours last night ...but today, it has vanished! I'm sorry... I haven't a clue what happened. it was copied to my email...so here it is again :)


      loved how you stated this...
      'Obedience is the only fitting covenant response to a covenant God.' Indeed! It is everything to God.

      I am so thankful that my words penned in the last post...spoke such a NOW word to you...it was a now word for me...and I just knew it was to be a now word for someone else. Grateful that the Holy Spirit brought you to receive it at the point you needed it. He is like that, isn't HE?

      I have been praying for you since your last comment... Jesus the Messiah and the Holy Spirit is interceding for you as well..I trust you already know this.

      I did not know that you had started another blog. I found it and read through all the posts. I loved how it came to be...and your profile name for it...

      'room enough'! from the scripture in Genesis 26:17-22...I love it!

      your words from your first post blessed me today...

      "...my faith tells me that the God I believe in is a God of provision, abundance, and more than enough."

      Thank you for sharing your heart and for letting me know of this blog. Thank you for your honest humble heart. You willingness to go the distance with God. You are such a blessing to me and so many others that pass your way.

      Thank you so much for visiting me here at my place and for picking up the pencil to encourage my heart! God is good all the time!

      hugs, my far away friend
      patrina <")>><

      Prov 25:11-12
      11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. 12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise re prover on an obedient ear. …

      Proverbs 15:23
      A person finds joy in giving an apt reply-- and how good is a timely word!



      Delete
  8. Isn't our Great God just so Wonderful? HIS ways are perfect even when it means a difficult path. HE never forsakes and always is with us each step of the journey. Thank you for your kind words on my blog regarding the home-going of our precious son. God is Good. Always. Blessings to you! Camille

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Camille,

      God is indeed good ...all the time. Even in such great loss as yours.

      Appreciated you last post about your beloved Austin's home-going...I am amazed how the good Lord carries those whose trust has been placed within His hands. Such a huge encouragement your whole family has been to so many...before and after Austin's home-going.

      I'm posting a link to your last post...for those who come here in need of encouragement for a similar season of loss. May your words..your heart...your faith continue to be a light in someone else's darkness.

      http://flowersinhisgarden.blogspot.com/2013/07/nearly-year-ago.html

      The Lord is most definitely with you.

      blessings to you and yours...
      prayerfully holding you up to the Father which is in heaven...where
      Austin now abides.....completely healed! and free!

      patrina <")>><

      Matt 7:20-21
      20 Why by their fruits you shall know them. 21 Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

      Delete

Thanks for picking up the pencil...

May the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit ...
be with you all.


Patrina
His Warrior Bride in Boots

"HEAR The Word of The Lord"

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