Category: Encourage

Freedom in Belonging

Look to each moment with enthusiasm, knowing it holds a key to unlock a new secret of the kingdom.

Meditation Thought: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)

To such… looking with wonder, delighted in all the variety they find around them, excited to discover something new, open to knowledge, seeking to understand the world around them, seeking to understand themselves.

Come – come like a child to explore the kingdom – see it as a child sees the physical world: eager for every detail, rushing to learn about the latest discovery, pondering as to how it fits with the knowledge already stored away.

Look to each moment with enthusiasm, knowing it holds a key to unlock a new secret of the kingdom, as it fits together with all that is in your spirit, your mind, your emotions, your body.

“Seek ye first the kingdom” – for it is in the kingdom that the total truth lies: the truth that will make you free – not in bondage to your own self, not in bondage to another, not in bondage to the world. No, but free to peace, free to seek your purpose, free to pursue knowledge reserved for those who believe that in the kingdom is the fulfillment for which they long.

Simplify

You cannot skip over fundamentals to jump to the higher planes. You will be lost, confused and discouraged. Trust Me.

Meditation Thought: “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:3)

“To learn to interpret the signs of the times – or to learn anything – you must recognize your present ignorance, and furthermore, desire to replace ignorance with knowledge. You must desire this to the point of acting. You must seek where the answers lie: the signs of the times are in My Word and My Spirit. My Spirit leads you to the Word, and My Word leads you to My Spirit. Both are necessary, for both are an integral part of every creation.

Sharpen every sense, physical, mental, spiritual, by concentrating on the development of the sense. ‘Decently and in order’ will aid you in coordination of your studies. Do not daydream about another subject as you are in the classroom, but focus on the subject you are to be learning at the moment. You have many talents and graces to be developed, and learning the signs of the times is included. You cannot skip over fundamentals to jump to the higher planes. You will be lost, confused and discouraged. Trust Me: I know your progress and your difficulties. Stop trying so hard. Relax, allow Me to place you in circumstances and to give you words to guide you. Stop reaching, and start receiving what is coming but you do not observe. Life is not a complicated as you try to make it. Simplify your life: trust Me to do the arranging of your study schedule and your work schedule and your ‘play’ schedule and your sharing schedule. Fret not any more about what is undone – but enjoy doing the activity of the moment, doing it as a sacrifice of praise to Me: for I will bless My people for faithfulness.”

Go in Confidence

Stride boldly, confidently, buoyantly and joyfully.

Meditation Thought: “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31)

“I protect My loved ones! Go in confidence before men and angels, knowing that you have every form of strength and power needed to conquer every foe and every circumstance, when you are yielded to My Spirit and My Word.

Stride boldly, confidently, buoyantly and joyfully in this knowledge. Grow tall in the Spirit, able to see in better perspective, and able to act more vigorously. Fear not, fear not: I will sustain you, I will guide you, I will reorder whatever circumstances are necessary to do My work in you and for those for whom you pray.

And so, rely on Me, and I will give you peace. Rely on Me and I will give you the desires of your heart and fulfill the longings in your soul.”

Kingdom Language

You speak the language of the Kingdom as you utter sounds of praise, of comfort, of love, of peace.

Meditation Thought: ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)

“Babel, babel, babel – that is all that the words mean which are used against you because you speak My wisdom. The meaningless babel of babes, who do not understand the meaning of the words they utter, nor the meaning of the words they hear. Hearing a noise and producing a sound is not understanding or speaking a language.

You learn the meaning of the language of the Kingdom as you tune your ear to hear it as having particular meaning which is to be manifested in your life. You speak the language of the Kingdom as you utter sounds of praise, of comfort, of love, of peace.”

Stepping Out Anew

We all allow cloudiness of heart at times – but we can step out anew in faith and hope.

Meditation Thought: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

Those who are not aware that their spirit could see through a pure heart to God simply do not understand the thought-process and actions for those who are able to see into a place (God’s Kingdom) from which they have blocked off their view.

We all allow cloudiness of heart at times – but we can recognize it and then take action to clear out the impurities by repenting and seeking forgiveness and stepping out anew in faith and hope.

Junk Food Dissatisfaction

My Spirit is the delicious ‘soft center’, which will satisfy your hunger and not only satisfy it, but give the ecstasy of it being a delight to your palate.

Meditation Thought: ““Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)

“Embrace righteousness! Though the outside appearance of it may appear to be hard, and not tasty – once you taste it, and become accustomed to it, the flavor becomes very pleasant, and in fact, righteousness has an even more delicious ‘soft center’ hidden until you really start to eat of the righteousness with enthusiasm! Not only shall your hunger be satisfied, but your taste buds shall be delighted too. Your hunger for all that is good in life – spiritual and physical – shall be satisfied, for your hunger truly is the wish for the in-filling of My Spirit. And My Spirit is contained in righteousness. My Spirit is the delicious ‘soft center’, which will satisfy your hunger and not only satisfy it, but give the ecstasy of it being a delight to your palate.

You choose the food you eat; you can indulge in ‘junk food’ of ego-building thoughts and deeds, of thoughts and deeds that take advantage of others – or you can feed upon the righteous, love-giving, self-sacrificing thoughts and deeds which serve as the containment of My Spirit. You may temporarily be deceived, or you may not resist the junk food at times – but if you are determined to pursue the healthy diet of My righteous food, you will partake of great quantities of it – enabling you to, as you grow in Christ, become expert at determining it by appearance, and also be able to develop a stronger will-power in resisting the ‘junk food’ and reaching for the righteous food.”

Willing

Willing to love instead of hate, love instead of rest, willing to love instead of claim honor and glory,

Meditation Thought: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

“Blessed are the humble spirits, for they do not overwhelm My Spirit, but yield to it – this is the kingdom of heaven, and this is their reward for yielding their spirit to Mine. The ‘kingdom of heaven’: a different kingdom from the world! The humble spirit with the possession of the wealth of the kingdom is richer by far than the richest person in the world. Only the riches of the kingdom provide lasting treasure, and treasure to bring joy now and forever too.

Hold fast to all that you possess in the kingdom by keeping your spirit humble – willing to listen to Me, willing to act upon My Word, willing to love instead of hate, love instead of rest, willing to love instead of claim honor and glory, Your riches here and in eternity shall be as grains of sand by the sea if your spirit is humble.”

Harmony is Created

There are many similarities among us, and even what appear to be differences are frequently various outward expressions of the same inner thought or feelings.

Meditation Thought: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6)

When anyone lives in accord with Jesus Christ he is living in accord with others – for Jesus promotes accord with one another. As all seek to know the Father and to glorify Him, all come to realize the close bond that all of God’s creatures have with one another. There are many similarities among us, and even what appear to be differences are frequently various outward expressions of the same inner thought or feelings.

When we desire more than anything to know God and to love Him and to heed His suggestions, then we become so in tune with one another that we edify one another – realizing that this is the way to bring peace to our hearts. We lose our selfishness as we become more and more aware of the joy of glorifying the Father. Once we are free of selfishness God can use us for mighty works of ministry to one another through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Key to Peace, Joy and Love

In this type of love, “enemies” are converted to friends, strife is dissolved into harmony, war is stopped and peace reigns.

Meditation Thought: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them… Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you – live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:6,12,14,16)

There is an attitude which is the proper one for all who seek to be the loving, obedient, willing children of God; it is a reflection of our Father’s attitude: TOTAL LOVE. Love which allows the beloved to choose, love which does not condemn, but teaches a better way – mostly by example. Love which recognizes the desirability and the reality of each member being unique – and not only accepting the uniqueness, but enhancing the qualities of it which will bring glory to the Father.

In this type of love, “enemies” are converted to friends, strife is dissolved into harmony, war is stopped and peace reigns. The kingdom is superimposed upon the earth: the tawdry places are made shining clean, selfish motives give way to commitment to the common good, the wealthy eagerly aid the poor – and the poor accept the aid as a “talent” – to be used to increase the wealth for all, not accepting it as a gift for self only; as Paul states it, all of these behavioral patterns shall result in: “loving one another with brotherly affection.”

Is this not the purpose for which Jesus came? Is it not the purpose for which life takes on meaning for us, and richness, and joy?

It is in the knowing that this is the key to our heart’s desire that we are able to use our gifts gladly: giving joyfully and generously. For in loving one another in brotherly affection, we fulfill God’s will for us – we cannot love our fellow creatures without loving Him who created all. To love and to be loved is the central theme of Christianity. It is also the will of the Father, the joy of the Father and the sons, and the one way which leads to peace and fulfillment.

I wanted peace,
I wanted joy,
I wanted love.
I said “Give”,
Give me peace,
Give me joy,
Give me love.”

The answer came:
“When you change
‘You give me peace,
You give me joy,
You give me love,’

To

‘I give you peace,
I give you joy,
I give you love,’

You shall possess
please and joy, and love.”

Hope!

If my heart attitude is right, my Father makes sure that I am rescued.

Meditation Thought: “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:25-27)

The Spirit intercedes for me since I try as I might, at times misunderstand the will of God. What comfort that gives me! If my heart attitude is right, my Father makes sure that I am rescued, corrected, and thus I can wait in patience for that which is my hope. I may not take the most direct route to fulfill my hope – but God’s Spirit will lead me to it despite my incompetence.