The Fullness of Time

1 Corinthians 13:11-12

It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.

I know you completely, wholly.
I know the number of hairs on your head, I have known you since before you were conceived.
I know you in the fullness of time, for remember to Me a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.
I exist in and outside of your time.
This is how I can know you fully, wholly and completely.
Do you think it is a coincidence that you grow weary of religious activity with no tranformation?
Just as a child wearies of his toys, so I have designed you to grow in Me and weary of religious doings without true change.
As you grow in Me you will put away these childish thoughts.
The notion that you can continue to study, pray, and worship beyond your capacity to obey must end.
Maturity teaches that to know Me, your knowledge is only as deep as your obedience to Me in that knowledge.
All spiritual disciplines are to draw you closer to Me with the purpose of loving a lost world. They are merely tools to be used to know Me, not rewards in themselves.
I am the reward.
Putting away childish things is more about how you think about such things, what your goal is in doing them? to be in activity or to be in Me?
The further you are from Me the less clear all things appear- the closer you move toward Me, the clearer they will appear.
When your human reasoning tells you I am mean or weak then Faith, my gift to you, must pull you closer to Me so that you know that I am all goodness, love and strength.
I am the Creator of ALL - my thoughts are not your thoughts.
There is a good and loving purpose and plan in all I do and in the fullness of My Time, you will see clearly, completely, wholly.
So come to Me, not out of duty or obligation, but out of true desire for relationship with Me.
Allow Me to continue to move you deeper into Me.
Whether I bring you to the Mount of Transfiguration, My death on the Cross, My Resurrection, My Appearing to the Disciples in the Upper Room, the Walk to Emmaus, or the Road to Damascus, look Me full in the face and show Me you love Me by revolving your life around Me.
Be My Follower first and let your life reflect Me.
Then you will give up childish things and you will grow in the Fullness of Me.

Obedience is faith lived out

Colossians 2:6-7
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him so you will grow in faith, strong and vigourous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

Remember your "yes" must be a daily "yes."
As you pick up your cross and follow Me.
Daily - step after step - walk to your Jerusalem.
Know that I am with you to the end of days- that is for ALL time.
Obedience is faith lived out.
Go deep in relationship with Me so that you may draw strength from Me.
Remember, My Joy - joy in Me is your strength.
In growing deep you must reach out to others for Faith without works is dead.
Don't you see this is why death to self must occur?
Your focus is to be on Me and others and then you will grow strong in the Truth you have been taught and continue to learn.
Live your life in thanksgiving and goodness will flow from your heart.
Think on these things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praise-worthy and My Peace will be with you.
For what you think you become.
Keep your mind captive to Christ, and you will grow strong in faith.
Others will know you are Mine by the way you live and love.

Don't be afraid, just trust Me

Mark 5:22-23, 35-37
A leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and fell down before him, pleading with him to heal his little daughter. "She is about to die," he said in desperation. "Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live." While he was speaking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus' home with the message, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now." But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just trust me." Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn't let anyone go with him except Peter, James and John.

Humble yourself before Me.
Come to Me, even when others tell you it's no use.
You are not a trouble - the tiny and big details of your life are not a trouble to Me.
I want you to come to Me and tell Me everything.
I am in the details of your life.
I am the details of your life.
I have purpose in even the smallest details of your life.
Lean in - Lean on - Trust Me.
Don't be afraid for if I am with you, and I am with you, who can be against you?
Others may laugh at your trust in Me, but trust anyway.
Notice I stopped the crowd. Not even all the disciples were invited to see this miracle.
Peter, James and John were often with Me as they were sometimes slower to believe, to trust, to humble themselves. Sound like anyone you know?
But in the end the difference was made in our relationship.
They loved Me more than their lives - they took the road less travelled.
Will you?
Fear is not greater than My love for you.
Do not let fear paralyze you.
Don't be afraid, Just trust Me.
Resist fear by trusting Me.
Focus on Me.
Look beyond the veil of the earthly, the temporary to the heavenly, the eternal.
Remember, celebrate and praise who I am, whose you are, and what I have done, am doing, and will do in you and My Kingdom.
Remember I know who you are becoming.
I am drawing you to Me.
My purpose is to have you be My witness to others so that My Kingdom is advanced on earth.
Do not be afraid, just trust Me.

Fear or Faith?

Mark 5:24-34
Jesus went with him and the crowd thronged behind. And there was a woman in the crowd who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors through the years and spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she was worse. She had heard about Jesus so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched the fringe of his robe. For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed." Immediately the bleeding stopped and she could feel that she had been healed! Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" His disciples said to him, "All this crowd is pressing around you. How can you ask, 'Who touched me?'" But he kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the frightened woman, trembling a the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done. And he said to her. "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed."

Do you want to be part of the crowd or do you want to be My disciple?
Will you choose to focus on your problems, circumstances, sins or will you choose to focus on Me?
Make no mistake choosing to be My disciple will not make your life easy, but it won't be boring.
My healing is here- it's available to you.
Will you allow fear or faith to rule your life?
Faith is more than believing things about Me - it is about living out your beliefs.
It is in your behavior - but your behavior can't be your focus. I must be your focus.
Give Me your mind, your heart, your habits, your relationships, your influence.
Focus on Me. Claim My Healing in your life.
Stand out from the crowd and declare Me as the reason for your hope and I will heal you - I will change you.
Real change from the inside out.
Your "yes" has to go beyond belief.
When I say, "Follow Me," it's not about believing a set of right doctrines - it's not about religion - it's about relationship.
Believers obey and only the obedient are believers.
Does My Word say, "Well thought, good and faithful servant"? or "Well said, good and faithful servant"?
NO! My Word says, "Well done good and faithful servant."
Step out of the boat! Walk on water with Me!
Remember, just because the woman thought if she touched My robe she would be healed- that did not heal her.
She was healed when she took action on her beliefs and actually touched My robe.
Without her action, she would have stayed a part of the crowd, and she would not have been healed.
Faith is not a noun. It is an action verb.
Believe things about Me and never act on them,
OR
Believe in Me. Trust Me and live out our relationship in your life.
Be of the world,
OR
Be Mine.
Claim My Salvation and Healing,
Or
just think about it.
Never act, wait to see, and never believe,
OR
Believe, Act and See.
It is always your choice.
Hopeless life focused on Self,
OR
Abundant Life focused on Me and others.
Choose wisely.

Forgiven

Proverbs 28:13
"People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy."
Psalm 32:3-5
"When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.' And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

The Deceiver wants you to believe you can hide from Me.
He wants you to deceive yourself into thinking you are better than you are - that really the sins you commit aren't so bad after all. So why think about them?
No need to confess and seek forgiveness because then you are covered by layers of sin and are further from Me and closer to him.
He knows your strength comes from your joy in Me and he will do anything he can to steal that from you.
Throw those filthy rags off!
Confess your sins. I forgave you before you even did them!
But you won't and can't live in My forgiveness as long as you deceive yourself into thinking you're better than you are and therefore have no need to bring your sins to the light.
Each time you try to go it alone - you add another layer that separates you from Me.
Layers of pride.
Pride must be peeled back for only in humility and brokeness can you find Me.
Admit your rebellion.
Admit when you don't do what you know is right.
Boldly approach My throne of grace and mercy - you are My child and you are welcome and loved beyond compare.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
I am about to do a new thing!
I have already begun.
Do you not see it?
You have confessed.
You are forgiven.
Your guilt is gone.
Wrap yourself in My mercy and love.

God's Time

Genesis 21:1-2
"Then the Lord did exactly what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant, and she gave a son to Abraham in his old age. It all happened at the time God had said it would."

I always keep My promises.
They come in My timing not yours.
Though they may tarry, wait for them for My promises always come.
In the waiting there is purpose.
My purpose is to grow you into the promise.
If too early, you will not be ready. Too late and it would not be fulfilled.
That is why you must always be ready, open, and listening so that you don't leave Me waiting for you.
When there's a step to take, take it.
When you stay in My Presence constantly you will hear My voice and follow it.
Twenty-five years Abraham waited for a son, yet he believed and trusted My Promise.
He left his land. He obeyed and was willing to forfeit the son he had waited for. He trusted that I would provide, and I did provide. The covenant was honored.
I know you are eager to be My Hands and Feet and that pleases Me.
Right now I am working on changing your heart.
Be patient.
Know that I work all things to My purposes and for the good of those who love Me.
I am a promise keeper, a dream maker, and the fulfillment of hope.
All promises, dreams and hope are fulfilled in My Perfect Time.

The Great Physician

Mark 1: 30-31
"Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. He went to her bedside, and as he took her by the hand and helped her to sit up, the fever suddenly left, and she got up and prepared a meal for them."

Search deeply for your "high fever" - the healing you need right now.
My Healing is not just physical but mental, emotional, spiritual and relational.
You can't heal it or change it - only I can.
Simon's mother-in-law had to allow Me to take her by the hand and help her to sit up.
Allow Me to take you by the hand so that I can heal your hurts.
You can't be healed if you hide from Me.
I Am your hiding place.
But I can't be that for you when you pretend that you are someone who you are not.
Admit your brokeness and your need for My healing.
Simon's mother-in-law was willing to receive My Healing, otherwise she would not have been healed.
Do you believe and trust that I can heal you - the hurts, the brokeness?
Receive My Healing and wholeness.
Now go and love others the way I love you.
Let your heart break for them. Feel their suffering. Join them in their suffering.
Bring them to Me so that I can heal them.
Be servant to all.
Think of others as better than yourself.
Feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty.
There are the physically hungry and thirsty, but there are also those who are spiritually, emotionally and relationally hungry and thirsty.
I AM the Great Physician and I come to give abundant life.
Thankfulness and praise will lead you into the servant's life.
I AM here to change your heart.
Allow Me.
Receive Me.
Love Me.
Love others.

Fish for People

Mark 1:16-20
"One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother, Andrew fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. Jesus called out to them, 'Come be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!' And they left their nets at once and went with Him. A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat mending their nets. He called them too, and immediately they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men and went with him."

I was not along the shores by accident - it was on purpose and with purpose.
Just as I walked along your streets and sent people into your life on purpose and with purpose to call you to Me.
I call you daily - to come and be a fisher of people.
This was not the first time, nor the last time I called them to leave their plans to follow Mine.
It is the same with you.
The key is always in the response.
Compare their response to that of the rich young ruler.
They immediately followed leaving their routine behind - the ruler chose his routine, his "responsibility" over Me.
What a difference a "yes" makes.
Was it easy for them?
No.
Nor will if be easy for you.
But take on my yoke, which fits perfectly, and you will find rest - soul rest - and your burden will be light.
Ask yourself what did they see in Me that made them want to uproot their entire lives and follow Me even to death?
What do you see in Me that makes you want to uproot your entire life and follow Me even to the death of your self?
Aren't they the same?
Compassion
Understanding
Wisdom
Pure Love
Truth
Unconditional acceptance of who you are
An inkling of who you might become if you spend every day in My Presence
Peace
Joy
Comfort
Feeling like there is really no option because you were born to be in relationship with Me
A heart filled instead of empty
Your heart's one true desire
Being beloved
Being free
Your chains are gone and you are free - free to love because you are loved passionately and with wild abandon.
Come to Me and I will show you how to bring people to My Kingdom.

Being Dangerous

John 1: 35-42
"The following day, John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at Him and then declared, 'Look! there is the lamb of God!" Then John's two disciples turned and followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. 'What do you want?' he asked them. They replied, 'Rabbi' (which means teacher), 'where are you staying?' 'Come and see,' he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place, and they stayed there the rest of the day. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who had heard what John had said and then followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which means the Christ). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus."

I did not die on the cross for you to be tame.
I died on the cross for you to be dangerous.
Find what's worth dying for and then you will finally live.
What do you want?
Do you want to follow Me?
Or
Do you think I should follow you?
You make your plans, but remember, I direct your steps.
It's when you learn to follow hard after Me that the adventure begins.
Do you want to live as if you are already dead?
Then stay tame.
Die of Boredom.
No?
Then come and see.
Follow Me.
Live for something worth dying for.
Search your heart- your soul.
What makes you weep?
What makes you angry?
What makes you leap for joy?
You see I've already planted the passion in your heart.
The passion only you can live out.
Let me reveal it to you.
Your adventure awaits.
It's going to sound impossible and irresponsible and people, especially your family, will think you're crazy.
But you're not- you're just dangerous!
Others aren't used to people picking danger over tameness.
I call it lameness.
Hold on!
Get ready when you choose to follow Me!
Teach others what you have learned and are learning about a real relationship with Me, about seeking Me with your whole heart.
Find everyone you can who will listen and even those who don't listen and tell them who I AM- the Messiah - the One who loved them before they were even born - the One who loves them despite who they are and because of who they are and who they can be in Me!
Shout it from the mountaintops and from the valleys of your life.
Invite them to come and see for themselves and then leave the rest to Me.
Are you ready for the Adventure?
I AM!

Transformation

Ephesians 3:20

"Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish more than we would ever dare to ask or hope."

My mighty power is at work in you.
You may not feel Me, but I am in you.
Growing you.
Giving you wisdom, compassion and understanding.
Dare to ask.
Dare to hope.
Even then, My plan is to do more than you can even imagine.
Each day, each step I bring you closer to the image of My Son.
I love you more fully than you can comprehend.
Thanks and praise, even in your darkest hour, will bring you encouragement and closer to Me.
Trust Me. Love Me.
Live your life so that others may see you trust and love Me.
I know you grow weary sometimes - this is when you must return to Me.
Return so that you may never grow weary in doing good.
Look with My Eyes not yours so that you may see what matters in forever versus only what matters in this world.
You are so easily distracted by the things of this world.
Day by day, morning by morning, moment by moment, seek Me and you will find Me, and I will tell you great and unsearchable things.
Every day bring your requests to Me and wait expectantly.
Remember that it is I who change you.
In My love you are transformed.
Like a tree that starts with a seed, the seed must die for the tree to grow and live. Your old self is the seed- with Christ you are the tree - a new creation.
Daily a New Creation.

The Battle is God's - show up!

2 Chronicles 20:15b-17
"...this is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march out against them... But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord's victory. He is with you... Do not be discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!"
Psalm 3: 3-6,8
"But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory and the one who lifts my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety for the Lord was watching over me on every side. Victory comes from you, O Lord."

Oh, but you are a stubborn child.
Lessons you must learn again and again.
The battle is Mine, not yours.
All you need to do is show up.
I promise that I work all things to good.
I promise that the Victory is Mine.
Be encouraged for I AM with you and I fight the battle and win the battle for your good!
Every child of Mine is a work in progress.
Remember that the enemies you fight are not just people - they are temptations, attitudes and the unseen rulers of this world.
Don't be afraid for I am with you. I have promised never to leave you, I have promised you a future, I have promised My plans for you are good, and I keep My promises.
I am your armor - I am your shield.
When you cry to Me, I answer.
My Peace I give you so that you may sleep in My assurance. Fully trusting that I Am Who I say I Am and I will do what I promise to do.
Enemies may surround you, but who are they when I am watching over you?
If I am for you who can be against you?
Remember to look for My lesson in every struggle you face. Never forget that I stand between you and whatever your circumstances you are facing.
Put My Armor on every day. The Armor of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation, My Word, and Prayer.