You are Mine!

What the Lord has said, outweighs anything man can.

"Thus says the Lord, your Creator...and He who formed you. 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flames burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom...since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you. I will give other men in your place and other people in exchange for your life.'”

"Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth. Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

“You are my witness, declares the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord and there is no savior beside Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses, declares the Lord, and I am God. Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”

“Thus says the Lord you Redeemer, the Holy one of Israel...Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it springs forth. Will you now be aware of it? I will make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert...to give drink to My chosen people. The people who I have formed for Myself will declare My praise.” (Isaiah 43: 1-21)

The Race of Life

As the summer season, June 21^st, approaches, it is already summer here in San Carlos, I have felt the need to wait more on the Lord in the shadow of His wing, and my air conditioned room. There has also been a hunger in my soul that has never been satisfied since leaving the United States. Although I know that I have the fullness of Christ in me, there is always more that He would desires to reveal all of us, and so I yield this time  and my love to receive more of His love and Presence. However, there has also been an increasing effort from the enemy to keep this from happening. But I intend to finish this great race and journey regardless of what satan does or the desires of my flesh that seek comfort from the heat or from some other sorce of temporary pleasure. The Bible instructs us to run life’s race “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). And that is what I intend to do.

This past week my landlord came down for a few days and we had some time to talk and help each other. While he was here he took me out for breakfast a few times, which I enjoyed. He also loan me a book that was very special to him. It was “The Pursuit of God’ by A.W. Tozer. I started reading it, because it seemed to fit into the framework of where my heart was going. It was a small book and I really enjoyed reading it, and I would recommend reading it, if you have not already read it. I really didn’t learn anything new, but it was more of a conformation and encouragement to me. I also loved seeing the man's passion for God that is so desperately needed in the Church today. I would like to finish is article by quoting from Hebrews 12:1-2 and a portion from Tozer's book.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the thrown of God.”

“From this [passage] we learn that faith is not a once-done act, but a continuous gaze of the heart at the Triune God.

Believing, then is directing the heart’s attention to Jesus. It’s lifting the mind to “Behold the Lamb of God” (John1:29), and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives. At first this may be difficult, but it becomes easier and without strain. Distractions may hinder, but once our heart is committed to Him, after each brief excursion away from Him, the attention will return again and rest upon Him like a bird coming back to its window.

I would emphasize this one committal, this one great volitional act which establishes the heart‘s intention to gaze forever upon Jesus. God takes this intention for our choice and makes what allowances He must for the thousand distractions which beset us in this evil world. He knows that we have set the direction of our heart toward Jesus, and we can know it too, and comfort ourselves with the knowledge that a habit of soul is forming which will become, after a while, a sort of spiritual reflect requiring no more conscious effort on our part.”

“The man who struggles to purify himself and has nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfected One. While he looks at Christ, the very thing he has so long been trying to do will be getting done within him. It will be God working in him to will and to do.

Faith is not in itself a meritorious act; the merit is in the One toward Whom it is directed. Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting into God’s focus. Sin has twisted our vision inward and made it self-regarding. Unbelief has put self where God should be.

All this may seem too simple. But we have no apology to make. To those who would seek to climb into heaven after help or descend into hell, God says, “The word is nigh thee, even …the word of faith” (Romans 10:8). The Word induces us to lift up our eyes unto the Lord and the blessed work of faith begins.

When we lift our inward eyes to gaze upon God we are sure to meet friendly eyes gazing back on us, for it is written that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through all the earth. The sweet language of the experience is “Thou seest me” (Genesis 16:13). When the eyes of the soul looking out to meet the eyes of the God looking in, heaven has begun right here on this earth.”--A.W Tozer

You Are Clean

For the past five months I have come to know a greater portion of God’s grace than ever before. We all walk, live and breathe in the awesome grace of God. Most of us don't even realize it and often take it for granted, but I don’t any more. I am forever indebted to that Love and Grace of God, and I'm truly grateful.

The twelve disciples of Jesus spent several years with the Lord, the Master of their lives. Yet they still hardly knew Him. Jesus knew them better than they knew themselves. Jesus also chose each of them, simple ordinary men to reach the world for the Kingdom of God. He knew all their strengths, weaknesses and imperfections; and He still loved each of them, including Judas. But this article is not about him, but Peter. A man that I can easily identify with. Peter loved Jesus. However, he had his good moments and some not so good. Peter often spoke first without thinking--something that many of us are guilty of. But despite that, Jesus loved him and everyone of us very much. In fact He doesn’t even take note of ours flaws or mistakes the way we do.

For example, when Nathanael first heard about Jesus from his brother Philip, he questioned whether anything good could come out of Nazareth. But when he finally met Jesus , Jesus referred to him as “an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Wow, Jesus totally disregarded the negative comment and saw only the good in the man.

Then on the last night with all His disciples, Jesus wanted to set another example for them and us to remember. He humbled himself, knelt down before his disciples and began to wash their feet. But when Jesus came to Peter, Peter refuse to have his feet washed, but then changed his mind after the Lord explained that this was necessary. Jesus also told him “you are clean.” Jesus said this knowing full well what Peter would do and say later that night. Peter felt that he love Jesus so much that he boldly declared that he was willing to lay down his life for Him. Something he eventually did, but not until there was a “sifting” of his soul. But Jesus had prayed for Peter and knew he would change and be a different man than he was. Peter thought he was ready, but there was still more he needed to be done and learned, as we all do. How often have we told God or others, that we would do or say something, and then not follow through, because of fear, doubts or other desires? But praise God, Jesus is still praying for us, and we can truthfully say, God see us as we are in Christ Jesus, free of sin and we are clean.

It is important for us to see ourselves and others as Christ see us, and not focus on flaws or mistakes. We become what we see. Therefore, let us keep our eyes on Jesus and give God credit for taking our sinful and broken nature, and imparting His holy and perfects nature in us. This also gives us the grace to allow others to be different, and to mature in God's divine timing.

No Water

God used Moses to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt. They had seen many miracles from the hand that held the rod. They also saw Moses hold it out over the Red Sea, and they walked through it on dry ground. They sang praises to God for delivering them from the Egyptian that had enslaved them for 400 years. Now they faced the wilderness, heading for the Promise Land, but after walking three days they found no water and they began to complain—again.

How quickly they changed and doubted the powers of God and His promises to them. Are people any different today? There are many Christians who have never seen a miracle—only read about them or heard reports from others. To see miracles one has to prepare their heart and mind to receive them; wanting and hoping won’t cut it or make them happen. We must prepare the soil of our hearts if we want to see the rains from heaven that will help us fulfill God's destiny for our lives.

We have had no rain last winter in San Carlos, just a few sprinkles and now it's very hot. Then a couple weeks ago we were told that the city of San Carlos and surrounding area would be without water as they did some major repair and upgrading their water system. Many people began to water their plants and fill extra water containers; thinking there would be no water for showers, toilets or washing dishes. I did the same, knowing somehow we would all get through this with some help from God. After the second day of no water, it came on for about one hour, then off again. This continued almost every day, but at different times; so I just kept checking, mainly so I could flush the two toilets in my house and water some plants. It is amazing how easily we can take certain things for granted, and yet they are all gifts from God, including these kinds of experiences. Trials are means to remind us who is really in control and to keep our eyes focused on Christ, the answer to all our needs.

I have read about the drought conditions in the United States, especially in California, and it is long past time for America to change it focus, just as it is for the rest of the world. I have been praying for forgiveness and that God’s grace and mercy to start showering us to soften our hard heart so that we can receive more of His awesome love and grace.

I know many people are worried about these drought conditions, but there has also been a much bigger drought in the spirit of mankind. For years, people have been rebellious and stubborn, but some are also now feeling more helpless and alone than ever. And whatever trial they are facing, there is only one real answer—Jesus Christ. More people crying out to God, because they are seeing that the gods of this world failing to meet their needs and the real hunger of their soul. God want to meet all our natural needs, but more important He desires to meet our spiritual need for Him.

I too, have been a little concerned about facing another hot summer in San Carlos. I have an air conditioned room, but life outside is not very pleasant, even for many Mexican. But this is where God wants me. However, the Lord told me one night, that this would be the best summer of my life. I can live with that, because I trust Him. I also know that the best from God's perspective can be much different than what I or some people would think. A spiritual encounter far outweighs any natural need or carnal desires we might have.

"If my people who are called by My name humbly themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sins and will heal their land.” (2Chron.7:14)

 

 

Our lands need healing, but I'm praying and declaring that the River of Life will sweep over us and bring healing to our dry and thirsty souls. Just like Moses, God wants His sons and daughter to lead His children out of captivity and to the Promise Land, and the Rock of Living Water. We have been given His rod and authority and whatever else we need to establish His Kingdom on earth. Despite the drought conditions we see in the United States today, America will once again be showered with God's blessing and become the bread basket to the world. It is also God's desire to bless everyone and every nation.