Category: Purpose

Flourish

Life – not just existence, but life in all its fullness, in its glory.

Meditation Thought: “The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” (Psalm 92:12-15)

The reason that the righteous flourish, grow and produce, even in old age, is that they are watered by the Spirit of the Lord, which brings and sustains life – not just existence, but life in all its fullness, in its glory.

The very fullness and glory are a witness to the Lord who has made them possible – and there is an ongoing reaction which is both satisfying and exciting, as the growth produces fruit, and then the fruit itself produces growth. Some fruit reproduces in kind, and some is used as food to enhance growth in something different than the nature of the fruit itself. This adds zest and an unknown mystical quality to life.

“Variety is the spice of life” must be a reflection of the Father’s philosophy for it is so evident everywhere.

We need to realize that one variety is not ‘better’ than another – and that the difference exists for a particular purpose – that since environments and circumstances are varied, so too do those creatures and things living in various places need to be adaptive to their site.

We need to recognize that although the righteous all flourish as the palm, and grow like a cedar, the forms they take are of infinite variety, and God loves them all, desires all flourish and grow, each according to his particular inheritance and specific site (circumstances) and specific instructions from God as to good ways to grow and flourish.

Challenging & Fulfilling

When God’s favor is upon us, what joy this brings!

Meditation Thought:
“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!”
(Psalm 90:15-17)

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us – and establish the work of our hands”: the two could be reversed – for if God establishes our work, then His favor shall be upon us as we do His will. And when God’s favor is upon us, what joy this brings! It’s the kind of joy Paul had – knowing he was doing work established by God, and knowing God was pleased by his work, he could observe, despite terrible persecutions and difficulties, the fruits of his labor. He knew he was not running in vain. His work was challenging – but fulfilling.

Many times he was tired, discouraged, disappointed and in pain physically and in spirit. But he persevered in doing God’s work. And he developed a spirit, an attitude, an outlook, that could claim “whatever state I am in I rejoice.”

Basis for Decisions

I can use my resources to help the poor, to create jobs, to bring beauty, to inspire generosity.

Meditation Thought: “…render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Luke 20:25)

As a matter of practical living in the realm of the physical, I “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”. But my decisions of how to do this are best based on my “rendering to God the things that are God’s” – namely, devoting time in prayer and meditation, to perceive His will as to the decisions concerning practical physical things which will most reflect the best of “spiritual living” – the decisions which will be most effective in promoting kingdom-characteristics on earth.

I can choose to “bribe Caesar” to do my bidding and to satisfy my selfish, uncaring whims – or I can use my resources to help the poor, to create jobs, to bring beauty, to inspire generosity.

Only by “rendering to God the things that are God’s” am I able to render to Caesar only the things that are Caesar’s. If I choose by myself what I render to Caesar, I give Caesar God’s rightful due. And that causes all kinds of disruptions and harm.

It would be far better to err in the other direction – to give God Caesar’s portion – for God is loving, generous, kind, righteous, and fair – He would give Caesar his due – but Caesar would not give what he has wrongfully received to God, and therefore God would be left with less return than He desires from my “talent” which He has given me to use and protect – and eventually return, that He may judge how many talents I am trustworthy to use for Him.

Response: “My Father, Who is generous beyond my understanding, help me to be wise, prudent and alert to the opportunities presented to me to render to you and to Caesar. I desire to never ‘short-change’ You, and I seek your help in making all in my life a proper balance of rendering to You and rendering to Caesar all that is entrusted to me. According to Your will. Amen.”

Pace-Setter

The transforming grace of Love changes every thought, every word, every deed.

Meditation Thought: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Message perceived to be from Jesus:

“If you are willing to follow Me, I will take you with Myself – holding your hand when necessary, doing all that you need to be done and cannot do for yourself along our journey.

To walk in the darkness of mere physical life is discouraging to you – and limits your potential. If you will follow Me, I will light your path, revealing many things to you which will be opportunities to use your talents, fulfill your dreams, and bring joy to many. Is this not what I did on earth? I suffered but I was a dynamic force and I knew the joy of obedience to My Father. I knew the joy of healing the sick, giving hope to those in despair, and setting the pace for all who would run the race of life – if they would follow Me, they would develop in similar character, in similar works.

Many desire to make a mark upon the world – but unless it is I whom they follow, that the Way may be that leading to the Father, the impact will be satisfying to neither that person nor to the world – certainly not to the Father.

But the Way is not easy, for self must be subdued – at first a difficult sacrifice – but when self has been crucified, then is the Holy Spirit raised up off that cross crucifixion, and the new creature is formed in the old body, and old mind and old spirit: the transforming grace of Love changes every thought, every word, every deed.

It is I who will give you the courage and the strength to crucify self that the new creature may emerge.

My bodily crucifixion ‘set the pace’ for the crucifixion of self-will and the sinning involved with it. But My crucifixion did more than ‘set the pace’ for those who follow in the race. I return from My running of the course of physical life to be the Light for all who run, and who desire Me to accompany them. My Light, as does the sun, provides warmth needed for growth, and energy needed for movement as well as visibility of Truth, that all things may come together for good: that the race may go, not to the swift, but to the enlightened.”

Maximize the Benefits

To know that I am helpless is not to know I’m hopeless – quite the opposite.

Meditation Thought: “God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

I have been chosen to saved (what care!) – through sanctification by the Spirit (how wise – I couldn’t do it on my own!) – providing I have sense enough (my free choice!) to believe the truth when it is presented to me.

‘You are no longer a baby, dependent upon your elders, you are a thinking adult with experiences and opportunities and choices. Every moment your intelligence, your conscience and your spiritual antennae guide you – unless you foolishly relinquish them to be replaced by your whims of feeling and influence of others.

You know what will serve you well in the long-term analysis, in the eternal perspective. Be imaginative in bolstering your strength to cling to your intelligence, conscience and spiritual antennae and to reject your ever-changing feelings and advice from who may have their own best interests in mind rather than yours.

There is maximum benefit to be derived from every situation, and to be aware of this and to learn how to take advantage of this knowledge is the applying of the keys to the locks on the kingdom’s doors.

The confusion lies in recognizing the difference between earthly benefits – that which are temporary – and heavenly benefits – those which are eternal. Decisions can be made to maximize the eternal benefits when there are specific principles which can be confidently applied to measure alternatives. In addition to the principles clearly outlined in the Word, and demonstrated by the Life, there is the Way revealed when the Truth is perceived by the revelation of the enlightening indwelling Spirit.

Each person will be confronted with unique choices: yet the purpose is one – to develop spirits which are reflections of the Spirit, to develop minds which function as the mind of Christ, to develop attitudes which are identical as an inheritance from the loving Father, and to develop the ability to do as well as the accomplishment of “greater works”.

To know that I am helpless is not to know I’m hopeless – quite the opposite. It is when I am most helpless that hope is born and grows. It is in the climate and condition of my recognition of my weakness that the seed of God’s power and love and mercy can grow and thrive – and my hope sprouts and grows with His seed’s growth – for my hope is a branch of His vine. Without His Presence, I am something less than I should be – but when my helplessness breaks my own self will, and I yield to His will, then my hope comes alive as His Presence is welcomed and His power and love and mercy spring forth.”

Unlimited Power – Hope

My power changes situations as surely as physical power changes physical environments.

Meditation Thought: “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34)

You were given the ability to choose that you might have joy – you are to choose wisely and well if you desire eternal pleasures.

Take time and effort to seek out every facet and phase of whatever touches your life, looking for the deeper hidden significance in each situation. Cultivate habits which are consistent with all that is extolled in the Word and in the Life.

When you are aware of more than the temporary, the immediate, and the selfish, then you also know that I will seek to shelter you when danger appears – and your choice to come to Me as I call is your road to joy and peace – no matter what you perceive surrounding you. When you desire to take shelter with Me, nothing shall come between us. This is your hope as well as your salvation.

To know that I long to give you aid – and that I have unlimited power to do so – is to engender such hope and confidence that your faith is the “substance of things hoped for”. “Substance” is real. Your knowledge of My loving desires and intentions is the power-generating part of releasing My aid specifically to wherever it is need in your life – and My power changes situations as surely as physical power changes physical environments. When you act out this knowledge with total abandon, unbridled enthusiasm, and extreme confidence, then you will do “greater works”.

Dual Perception

The person need not copy carry a label “made in the image of God” to identify the quality of workmanship: their thoughts, words, deeds and prayers will all reveal the Source of the quality – the high quality of their life.

Meditation Thought: “But if we walk in the light, as he [the Father] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

We “walk in the light” when we commit ourselves to seeking God – to loving Him – to becoming like Him. This is the invisible, spiritual aspect of “walking in the light”. But we are also physical creatures in a physical world. It is in the physical realm that Jesus, through His own physical being and actions that He took while in the body, that we can realize the miracle of cleansing our past, as we desire to do so, having become aware of God and committing ourselves to His way.

It is the dual aspect of our very beings – spiritual and physical – that requires dual perception, dedication and behavior in order to become creatures walking in the light. Our spirits can long to walk in the light, yet the actions of our body keep us from that light. And strange as it may seem, our body taking right actions does not insure our walking in the light: good deeds are helpful, and appreciated by the recipients – but unless the powerful love of the Holy Spirit is involved, they are limited in quantity and quality, and are not the beautiful, whole miracles of the light-enlightened and light-filled child of God.

Only when both one’s spirit and body are dedicated to walking in the light does the evidence shine forth that this person truly is fulfilling the promise declared in the Word. The person need not copy carry a label “made in the image of God” to identify the quality of workmanship: their thoughts, words, deeds and prayers will all reveal the Source of the quality – the high quality of their life.

Dawn: Moment by Moment

I desire that you see the pure, lovely, effective life ahead unmarred by the life that you lived up until this moment.

Meditation Thought: “ Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these [a new heaven and a new earth], be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation…” (2 Peter 3:14-15)

“I seek to lift from you the burden you have taken up which is not My choice for you to carry: the burden of fear of not thinking, saying and doing everything perfectly according to My will.

I do desire for you to do everything perfectly according to My will, for this behavior will bring you maximum joy and will be the most effective way to be My minister to the world.

But: you do not accomplish this most perfectly by being so uptight about it that you feel constrained. As in worldly matters, you perform best spiritually when you feel such rapport and love and confidence and enthusiasm that you are content and relaxed enough to move freely to express yourself naturally.

I wish for you to be your unique self – true to My Word and My principles, but trying any way which seems right to you to express them.

Jesus came to demonstrate My tolerance: tolerance to the point of forgiveness: forgiveness to the point of doing for you what you are unable to do for yourself: cleansing you completely of all sins, including the sin of not believing that you are actually forgiven to the extent that your sins never took place in My sight – and I desire that you also see by the insight which I reveal to you the pure, lovely, effective life ahead unmarred by the life that you lived up until this moment.

Yes, you will err – and when you do, take proper steps to once again find the proper Way. But do not walk the way in such fear of taking a wrong turn that you do not enjoy it and you go along at a snail’s pace. Use the methods Jesus used: constant prayer, constant ministry, constant forgiveness, constant appropriate, creative expressions of love.

How? Take time to pray, develop your mind, use your body, be preceptive and observing and appreciative. Consider each moment as a dawn: the dark cold night of ignorance, fear and rebellion is being removed by the Son breaking into the darkness.”

Establish Successful Plans

Your plans move from contemplated to completed… You realize that nothing can stop you if you simply will not stop.

Meditation Thought: “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

If you commit your work to the Lord – then you are doing His works, and they shall be done according to His plans revealed to you, and thus “your” plans are established – your plans move from contemplated to completed.

The knowledge that you cannot fail – because God is the instigator and mover of your plans – gives you a confidence that assures your overcoming every obstacle. You realize that nothing can stop you if you simply will not stop.

You find many ways of overcoming obstacles because the power and wisdom of the Lord are able to deal with each situation in a way that overcomes the obstacle – you may be led around it, over it, under it, through it – or it may be removed from your path.

The key to success in the establishment of your plans is to believe that the obstacle will be overcome, that it is merely a temporary “roadblock”. Thus you persist in learning the secret of getting it out of your way, rather than stopping, giving up and remaining stuck at that point.

Supercharged Superhuman

Jesus – as man – could not say “yes” to agony. But Jesus – as man filled with God’s Spirit could sacrifice Himself for the love of the brethren – for the love of even His persecuting enemies.

Meditation Thought: “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12)

The crisis – the battle – was coming shortly. Jesus had lived his life to this time as a commitment to the doing of the Father’s will. Perhaps many moments were not easy – but now the time was approaching, and Jesus could recognize it, when it was going to be a choice of “all or nothing”. Either He would go 100% with the Father’s will or, in the evidence of attitude and events taking place, retreat in fear for his life. There was only one way possible to overcome the fear of the Jesus who was totally human – and that was to, through communication with the Father, become convinced that the strength, power, courage and divinity of the Father would overcome all the world could do to harm him. Jesus – as man – could not say “yes” to agony. But Jesus – as man filled with God’s Spirit could sacrifice Himself for the love of the brethren – for the love of even His persecuting enemies.

And it is this way to which He says “follow me”. Why? Only by the recognition that we are something more than human prompts us to seek that “something”. And only the sure conviction that we are endowed with “superhuman” strength gives us courage to face the crises which will arise as we commit ourselves to living in the realm of the kingdom while still hampered by the inadequacies of the limitations of our humanness.

Only prayer can infuse us with enough divinity to “charge” us with power to behave as beings of a society other than the society that is visible and obvious to all.

As prayer gives us “a charge”, we are able to move effectively, not dependent upon human resources, but upon the Creator: the more completely we “know that we do not know” – the more surely the Father can guide us into doing His marvelous works. We learn in prayer who our Father is, and why we can trust Him with our very lives, with our desires yielded to Him that He may transform them into mutual desires.

We may not be eager to do what is required of us to fulfill the mutual desire, but when we, despite our misgivings or feelings, do what is necessary to fulfill the Father’s will as we perceive it after intense consultation with Him (prayer!) – then we become vindicated, not only in the Father’s viewpoint, but in the perception of all who know of us down through eternity.

Prayer: “Oh, Lord – I am so nothing compared to You, and yet – I am all to You because I am Yours. Help me to be teachable – to learn not only the significance of these facts, but how to live my life as a balance of them, pleasing to You. Amen.”