Easy Companionship

Every day, no matter what activities take place, can be a day of joy and gladness as we move through it together.

Meditation Thought: ““Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)

“What more do you need – than strength, joy and to be rescued from all harm?

Allow Me to use your mind (through your knowledge of My Word and of My will through your prayers), your emotions (through your concentration upon the joys of life in Christ), your spirit (through your will yielded to Mine) and your body (through kind words and deeds).

It is in the happy, easy movement possible when you are glad to be My child and especially glad to be My obedient child, that I become your strength, your song and your salvation.

Every day, no matter what activities take place, can be a day of joy and gladness as we move through it together. When you are with a loved one, doing things together, even things which done alone might be unpleasant, joy and companionship and a sense of accomplishment are possible. Concentrate on this thought, that your moments may be pleasant.

Your attitude is far more important than any other factor in bringing you peace and joy, for your choice is to be glad of our companionship, glad of opportunities to learn – of Me, of life, of truth, of who you are as My beloved and competent child, or to wallow in self-pity because whatever activities are necessary are not your desire at the moment.

It is the fact that I am your strength and your salvation, when your will is yielded to mine and your trust is in Me, that produces the song of joy in your heart. Be one in Spirit with Me, and I will give you peace.”

Look!

You will then be so totally comprehending of my vast love for you that your fears and doubts and inadequacies will disappear, replaced by renewing love, unbridled hope, confidence of who you are as my beloved child.

Meditation Thought: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant. (Psalm 34:4-5)

“Look to Me – and not your fears. Your fears do not love you, cherish you, protect you, empower you, fulfill the desires of your heart, work good in all circumstances. Fears are destructive – they would bind you, keep your talents and your energies ineffective, perhaps even hidden. I bring to you life as I intended it to be for you – if you choose to look to me – for instruction, for inspiration, for knowledge, for truth, for unlimited and uncondemning love. Do not fear – whatever you encounter, I am in it with you, and when you look to Me, you realize I am with you. No power in heaven or on earth can harm you when I am with you: with you, not only in Presence, but in power, in effectiveness, in wisdom and in the renewing process.

If you have faith – if you believe I am your sustenance and stronghold, and no power can prevail against Me as I seek to work good for you – then so shall good be the fruit, the delight, of your life.

Look to Me: I am all that is good, lovely, peaceful, joyful and fruitful. When you observe Me, you are then able to come to be more like Me. This is what Jesus did – and what the Holy Spirit (Jesus’ presence and My presence within you) does when you choose to believe that not only is this possible and desirable, but it is the very purpose for which you were born. I created you in love – to love. Recognize yourself as My beloved. It will transform you, as it has transformed so many. When you comprehend that I love you and desire good for you in the same manner – but to even greater degree – that you love and desire good for your children – then you have joy, peace, fulfillment and understanding. This is the key to the wisdom of Solomon, the faith of Abraham, the devotion of Moses, the obedience of Jesus, the transformation of Paul and the disciples. This is the source that actually is the creating of the new creature in Christ.

The more you look to me, the more radiant you will be, for you will then be so totally comprehending of my vast love for you that your fears and doubts and inadequacies will disappear, replaced by renewing love, unbridled hope, confidence of who you are as my beloved child.

For this purpose Jesus lived in the flesh – that looking to Me would cause you to be radiant – that looking to Me would transform you from only awareness of self to awareness of Me and My relationship to that beloved self.

You are not merely a human, struggling to survive or even doing things that you believe will make you happy. Thus you are not limited to life similar to that of the animals or that of ignorant mankind. When you look to Me, you know that you are far more than animal and ignorant human: you are spirit, and your spirit is filled with My Spirit as you look to Me. It is My Spirit within one’s spirit that is so transforming that thoughts and actions are a dimension so much greater than normal that even casual observers are forced to realize that there is something powerful and productive and unique within the container of the personality before them.

Those whom the world calls “saints” are set apart by this act of looking to Me, and in realizing the magnificence and the magnitude of My love, they become radiant. They reflect My love to the world – and thus the world is converted to the Kingdom, for the Kingdom is where My love is the prevailing force, the standard of behavior, and the law above all laws.”

Life’s Basic Desire

Assure yourself of My strength upholding you, of My wisdom guiding you, of My love enriching you, and My power moving you.

Meditation Thought: “The Lord is a stronghold to him whose way is upright…” (Proverbs 10:29)

I am your stronghold when you are doing My will – when you are righteous, loving, compassionate, forgiving and are expressing all other attributes which are the essence of My character. I seek to propagate Myself – through you, through all of My creation. This is a desire which is basic to all of life – spiritual and material. It is what keeps life, and defeats death.

Therefore, when you seek to expand Me through yourself being true to Me, in essence becoming an expression of Me – of the way I am, you assure yourself of My strength upholding you, of My wisdom guiding you, of My love enriching you, and My power moving you.

Grand Purpose Defined

Our welfare depends upon our cooperating or defying that authority.

Meditation Thought: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10)

To have respect for God and to believe that what He claims is true: that to perceive His will and do it is the best way to live – is to be wise; it is the means by which we can turn darkness to light, despair to hope and all things distressing into blessings. We don’t do these things ourselves, but God does them for us and with us as we “fear” Him, that is as we fear the consequences of not heeding Him – as we realize that He is the top authority, the greatest power, the most magnificent lover, and the most generous giver in the whole universe.

As we come, not only to realize this fact, but to be more adept at living with it, and taking advantage of it (which is what God constantly encourages in His creation), we have a totally different perception of what it ought to be . And we also have found the key to unlock our imprisoned souls – as we comprehend the glory of God’s love for us, and for all He has created, and as we perceive that His grand purpose is to enable us to love as He loves, we are eager to hear Him and to heed Him.

We “fear to displease God not because He is a terrible dictator, but because He is not a terrible dictator. We “fear” to displease Him because He is right; He knows what is best for us, and yet He allows us to choose to seek His way or to go off in our own direction.

The more we comprehend the miracle of free will given by a loving God, a hopeful God, yet a righteous God, the more we “fear” Him, if “fear” is defined as respect for one in authority, and the acceptance that our welfare depends upon our cooperating or defying that authority.

To “fear” God is not intended to be something God uses to coerce us into doing His bidding. It is intended for us to be able to choose wisely and well that our lives may be fulfilled and joyous, full of peace and love.

On Whose Terms do we Love?

But none of this can take place until love opens the way.

Meditation Thought: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet… A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you… By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:14, 34-35)

“If I have loved you unto washing your feet and shedding My blood – is there any greater love? No – to love so much to desire to perform the most menial job for the loved one, and to desire to suffer and die for the loved one is the most complete expression of love. And I, your Lord and your Teacher, have performed these ministries to you. I have not visibly washed your feet, but nevertheless I have spiritually ministered to you in the attitude of washing your feet. My blood has washed away your sins, and My blood has washed your feet. Remember this: your life’s blood is to be symbolically poured out to those whom you would teach. When you give yourself wholeheartedly in love, whatever expression it takes, that is washing feet – and in the washing of the feet, you reveal the fact of my love even unto death for the salvation of the one you love and to whom you are ministering.

Wherever love is poured out unresistingly, unselfishly and with astute perception as to the form most appealing to the recipient, it waters the seed of God which is contained within, causing it to sprout and to cause movement in the mind and in the heart. It is this movement which allows the growth of God’s love and power within. Then does the Father rejoice as He is able to perform His miracles through the heart cleansed by the Son, and filled with the Spirit.

Stubborn, clogged arteries (power) are opened and new healthy life-renewing blood flows: living water and manna (blessings and wisdom) combine to nourish and feed and give health never before even conceived as possible.

But none of this can take place until love opens the way, until love touches a mind and a heart and elicits response.

Be My lover – love all whom I place within your reach. So is the Kingdom come upon the earth, and the Father’s will done as it is in heaven.”

Family Partnership

The most effective method of transforming the inexperienced into effective partners is example.

Meditation Thought: “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26)

If anyone ministers to your child, how you appreciate him! To help your child is to be of more joy than if they help you yourself. So the Father honors you who help His Son.

The Son has given you a transformed life: can you but desire to continue in His company? The way is not easy, but it has every other positive aspect.

It brings peace and joy in all circumstances.

It is exciting.

It is fulfilling.

It abounds with love and satisfaction.

To serve Jesus is to not be a servant, but to be in partnership, one family member working with another family member toward as exciting goal, with many benefits along the way. Jesus is the Teacher, the Leader – but always He does His teaching and leading in love, compassion, understanding and wisdom. We are not a slave, but a “junior partner”, learning from the more experienced partner. The most effective method of transforming the inexperienced into effective partners is example. When we are with the most perfect Example of God’s methods and purposes and desires for His children, we are able to become more the image of the unseen Father through the visible Son.

Choose the Primary

God is not only creator – but Continuing Creator in your life.

Meditation Thought: “My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.” (Psalm 62:5)

Choose the primary, then concentrate upon this: the secondary and other causes and effects will automatically fall into place if you perceive that which is primary and concentrate your mind an energies upon harmonizing it in your life.

You know now that God is not only creator – but Continuing Creator in your life. As you perceive clearly (through the insight of your yielded will to allow the light of His will to shine within you) – you can then act in harmony with the creating will of this indescribably powerful and loving Force. This creative action can be channeled in your life to be awesomely effective. In fact, this is the primary: To base all of your thoughts, your allegiance, your energies upon listening, looking – and obeying the Spirit who is
1) Creator
2) Demonstrator
3) Power Source
– is to order and harmonize every facet of your life – on “earth” and in “heaven”. This is the “coming of the Kingdom on earth.”

Preparation Tools

This knowledge is the armor which protects you against hopelessness and listlessness. You are protected – and you need tools.

Meditation Thought: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.” (John 9:3)

The “works of God” are to be made manifest in you. Does it not give you an entirely different perspective on your trials to know this? To have it confirmed by the Spirit and the Word? This knowledge is the armor which protects you against hopelessness and listlessness. You are protected – and you need tools to give you the faith to desire to have the works made manifest in you. Your “main” tool is the Word. Other tools are: a merry heart, a kind word, a good deed.

With your armor and your tools you are prepared to believe the Master when He seeks to heal you to give the Father glory. This belief will enable you to do your part in the miracle-working process.

Some will rejoice with you in the miracle, and will become disciples too, others will scoff – but there is always the possibility that the scoffers will have a change of heart at the next miracle, and become disciples.

Never give up believing, never give up ingesting the Word, never give up your ministries, never give up your prayers: The Father seeks your love and your companionship through the means of the Son and the Spirit – never doubt this, but believe at all times.

Environmental Change

Life is no longer a “line” from “here to there”. Life is a sphere, encompassing ever-widening perceptions and knowledge, our awareness of the interrelation of all things seen and unseen.

Meditation Thought: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38)

To believe in Jesus is to move into a new world: one minute we live on a physical plane only – the next we have moved into a totally new environment. It is so different that it takes much effort to explore and understand the implications of its various facets. What excitement greets each day! There is mystery of the unexpected – there are the “impossible” coincidences, there are “miracles” of healing – physically, in relationships, within self, others are given more tranquil hearts because God guides us to say and do helpful ministries.

All is not “sweetness and light” all of the time – but never is there a “dull” time if the Word is in our mind, for contemplation of it always “entertains” us as it enlightens us. Never is there a hopeless situation for “in everything God works good to them who love Him, to them who are called according to His purpose.”

There are the glorious times when prayers are visibly answered, when love abounds, when the presence of God is so real it is as strong as a physical presence, a visible presence.

Life is no longer a “line” from “here to there”. Life is a sphere, encompassing ever-widening perceptions and knowledge, our awareness of the interrelation of all things seen and unseen. The contrast is as dramatic as going from blindness to sight – and life is as dramatically changed.

Preparation is the Key

If distressing circumstances drive destroying forces against the one who would produce fruit, then we can protect ourselves from them by specific means.

Meditation Thought: “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” (John 7:17)

When the knowledge of the Father is great enough to prompt courage to yield our will to the will of the Father, there is transformation. The earth is transformed by the effect of heaven upon it – the invisible effects of what occur in the sky affecting the earth below is merely symbolic of a nature which permeates all of creation. The spirit is the determining factor of the physical.

To one who looks only at the earth, there is no connection with the events there having been prompted by the activities in the sky. But to those who look outside of their own narrow confines of earth – to those who look upward – is revealed the signs of what will take place, and thus they are able to prepare their property on earth to be the most enhanced by what will happen.

If there is sunshine, then the preparation is removing weeds so that the good plants grow unhampered by strength being sapped by weeds. If rain is forthcoming, the soil should be loosened beforehand that the water may soak in and not run off. If the winds are coming, and driving rain or snow or ice, then the plants should be protected.

To translate to a parable: the sunshine is the Word, and the removal of thoughts incompatible with the word is to absorb the sunshine into the mind, benefiting the mind greatly because all of its energy is concentrated on Godly thoughts, and not used to combat weeds of unGodly thoughts. The Godly thoughts thrive unhampered by unGodly thoughts.

The soil of the will should be loosened to receive the water of the Spirit. A hardened will cannot absorb the rains of the Spirit.

If distressing circumstances drive destroying forces against the one who would produce fruit, then we can protect ourselves from them by specific means:
– The Word in us
– Prayer
– Loving deeds
– Kind words
– Trust in God
And having thus done all we can to be protected, give thanks to God for the storm, knowing that it shall pass, and that some benefit to us shall be left in its wake.

All creatures on earth are subject to the activities of the sky – but we do have the choice of learning how the activities can effect us and thus we can affect our thriving or our destruction. God seeks to cause us to look away from our downcast view of our own little place on earth – to look upward and outward, discovering a whole new world of vastness and beauty, of others like ourselves, and never again are we the same. We are not isolated in our ignorance, but we are joyous in knowledge and good company. We have the benefit of cooperating with both the elements of the sky and the other elements of the earth to be the best that we can be – and to help others be the best that they can be.

(Note from Karen (see About this Blog) I couldn’t help but think of Lauren Daigle’s song Look Up Child when thinking about this post.)