Perceive the Valley from the Mountain

Our role is to share our experiences, to share our knowledge, and to share our love which has been quickened.

Meditation Thought: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

To be baptized is an act of being set apart for special service – the observing of the commandments is the nature of the service – the presence of Jesus is the moving power of the service. The baptizing, or setting apart, is the reason that those who believe cannot behave as the crowd behaves.

It is as if Christ takes us to the top of the mountain, where we can come to new perspective and knowledge of the valley, and then we can go back to the valley to share our new knowledge and wisdom to help others, and to urge them to go for themselves to find the new view of the valley.

Living in the valley after the trip up to the mountain is not the same as before the trip – it is more intense in every way, for awareness is sharpened, and new knowledge changes perception. Some will resent the ‘differences’, others will see it as being desirable and wish to take the trip too; our role is to share our experiences, to share our knowledge, and to share our love which has been quickened. Thus we provide the opportunity for our neighbors to respond to our sharing, and through their response, Jesus moves. And so the process becomes a ‘making disciples of all nations’.

(When we look at the world with our human eyes only, it is as if we look at a map in a book. When we look at it with spiritual eyes, we see it as a globe with topographical markings added – we can perceive so much more of the true qualities when we have a more complete perspective.)

Wholeness

It is imperative, therefore, that any change in us be a change toward God’s will.

Meditation Thought: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

If one part is missing, the “whole” has disappeared – it is now something different. It may even be considered a whole, but the original “whole” has disappeared, it no longer exists. When a part is altered, no matter how slightly, the whole is altered too. It may take a while for parts of the whole to be affected by other parts – but it will happen, for all are interconnected.

Therefore, we must take care that we, as a part of the Body of Christ, are a healthy part, a part that is in good working order, bringing joy not only to ourselves, but to all the many other parts, and to the whole. We must remember that no matter ow slight an event might appear, that creation all is structured so that one tiny cell changing in the slightest manner, can have an effect that becomes magnified – a chain reaction in fact, a geometric multiplication.

It is imperative, therefore, that any change in us be a change toward God’s will, toward the furthering of the health and purpose of the Body, for our own good, and for the good of the whole.

Heavenly Wisdom

We learn patience, and trust, as the heavenly wisdom does its work of oozing into the situation.

Meditation Thought: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:17-18) Also pertinent is “By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13)

Qualities of heavenly wisdom:
1. Meekness
2. Pure
3. Peaceable
4. Gentle
5. Open to Reason
6. Full of Mercy
7. Full of good fruits
8. Without uncertainty
9. Without Insincerity

The wisdom that is earthly is:
– bitter jealousy
– selfish ambition
– unspiritual
– devilish
– false to the truth. (See James 3:14-15)

Look at the qualities of heavenly wisdom – they are almost all foreign to our quick reactions when we experience attack, or when we perceive what we believe is foolish – unless we have come to know and to trust God as His principles are revealed. If we walk in the flesh, we use worldly wisdom, and are confused when the results are frustrating. It is a strengthening experience to set aside our human emotions of annoyance and desire for revenge, and to act in heavenly wisdom – for the results are not immediate, at least usually.

We learn patience, and trust, as the heavenly wisdom does its work of oozing into the situation, of gradually – by a replacement process – changing the situation and the results of it into something positive, something good for all, whether or not it is perceived as good by the participants – for to those who love God and believe him and act on that belief, every situation will, by prayer, and by “heavenly wisdom” action, be changed to be good for His believers. With God there is no defeat – but His respect for free will is so great that often His wisdom is seen by us as more of the “turtle” speed than the “hare” speed; nevertheless the result is the winning of the race.

Turning From, Turning Towards

Your task is to learn of My methods, of My attitudes, of My will in general and My will in particular – and then in prayer, in yielding to the Spirit, speak and act. 

Meditation Thought: “For it is God’s will that by doing right, you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” (1 Peter 2:15)

“Take your cue from Me – I only invite, suggest, touch lightly, lovingly. The response is left to the one touched. But it is when you are behaving in imitation of My ways that the response is likely to be positive – a response which will turn one from selfishness, from foolishness, from sin – toward love, consideration, wisdom, respect, righteousness.

Your task is to learn of My methods, of My attitudes, of My will in general and My will in particular – and then in prayer, in yielding to the Spirit, speak and act.

When you are in this state, you are doing My work, and when you are doing My works, it will not be in vain.”

Presence = Fullness of Joy

When I am concentrating on being where You are, then no matter what scene You are in, and I am in with you, I am content – fulfilled.

Meditation Thought: “Thou dost show me the path of life;
    in thy presence there is fullness of joy,
    in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

“In thy presence there is fullness of joy” – in thy presence  – when I am concentrating on being where You are, then no matter what scene You are in, and I am in with you, I am content – fulfilled. For it is not the place, the action, that is important to my life – it is the Presence – the Presences that:
assures me of total confidence,
shields me from harm,
brings me joy,
raises my hope,
delights me,
excites me,
relieves boredom,
surrounds me with love so powerful that all else pales beside it,
being as nothing as I bask in the closeness of My Lord’s Presence and all that Presence brings to me. It satisfies every need, every desire – even those I was unaware that I had until after they have been fulfilled.

Power and Vitality

We must look to Him for His power to be available to us.

Meditation Thought: “And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:19)

His power – our belief – one is connected with the other. We must look to Him for His power to be available to us. We can be spending much energy, working so hard, hoeing in our garden – and all along, the power rototiller was right beside us, waiting to make our work light and easy – but we didn’t look for it, so we couldn’t use it.

God touches us lightly, so as not to violate our free will – but He does try to make us aware that His power is waiting, unlike an inanimate rototiller. We however, must not be so engrossed – perhaps in resentment at our task – that we cannot be aware of His touch. If we miss it, we miss out on a totally new, totally improved way of living our life, of doing our tasks. When we see that power, when we trust that it will work for us enough to make the effort to take hold of it and try it, then our belief and our acting on it is justified, and proved, by a new way of life – most visible to us, but visible to others also. They may want to find this more effective way of cultivating their garden of life, too and we can bring new lives and new vitality into the Body of Christ.

Alive and Thriving

the way to have more riches of the kind that will bring peace and joy is to recognize that there are spiritual laws in operation also.

Meditation Thoughts: “ I am the vine; you are the branches.” (John 15:5) “ It is possible to give away and become richer.” (Proverbs 11:24)

It is possible to give away and become richer because of the interconnection of vine and branches – nourishment taken from one flows into the other – so that, although the nourishment of one kind flows out, it is replaced by nourishment of another kind flowing in. The beauty of the flowing, rather than each being self-contained, is that what flows out is an enrichment by the entity of what flowed in, and then if flows out as an enrichment to the receiver. In the meantime, the “outflow” is constantly being replenished by an “inflow” from the connecting part.

As long as there is an interchange, each is nourished and thrives. But when one part starts to receive only, and stops the outflow, the other part dies – and when it dies, its outflow stops, and this kills the part that originally stopped the outflow. One cannot live without the other. We need to have that inter-dependency to keep the vine and branches alive and thriving. We cannot just take and not give; God’s creation was not structured in that manner. The more we understand that as we give, what we give is transformed into something even richer, and then as another gives, we receive the enriched gift back in the form which we need at that time, the more in harmony with our intended nature we will become.

We send out the gift of our raw material, and it is just what someone else, who is serving as a manufacturer at the moment, needs – he produces a finished product, which he then returns to us. Sometimes – maybe most times – there is a complicated exchange of raw materials and manufactured products – but the principle remains the same. Only by being willing to give away our raw material can it be changed, and added to by others, to be returned to us as a more desired form than when we let it go. The more we are willing to let go of our “better” raw materials, the more we will receive “better” finished products.

All through the Bible it is made clear that hoarding is a short-sighted self-defeating attribute. Though it might appear by physical laws that to hoard is the way to have riches, and this is true as far as it goes – the way to have more riches of the kind that will bring peace and joy is to recognize that there are spiritual laws in operation also. As these are perceived and acted upon, the riches that satisfy will then start to be piled up in the storehouse. There is no fear that they will be stolen, as there is with hoarded riches, for the riches flowing in from the observance of the spiritual laws cannot be stolen. Would-be thieves are not even aware that some of these riches exist, and even when they know of their existence, they find that if they try to steal them they disintegrate – for they cannot handle them properly, being unaware of the spiritual laws which are needed to handle these riches. As they try to grasp them with the crushing grasp of greed, the riches crumble.

Faith Through Circumstances

Trust me. I don’t want robots; I want children. I want to hold you in my love, to enable you to use the gifts I gave you when I created you.

Meditation Thoughts: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Quote: “Faith is the ability of the human spirit to open up and receive impressions from God that are born of the Word and made alive by the Holy Spirit.: – Jim Cymbala.

Thoughts – Impressions: (This is a message Mom perceived as God entering into her mind His message of comfort and hope. Mom wrote this journal entry in 2001 – a time shortly before her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and many years after she began her journals. At this time she was distraught over her nervousness, lack of concentration and memory difficulties.)

“My Spirit shall be a light unto your path. Trust me. I don’t want robots; I want children. I want to hold you in my love, to enable you to use the gifts I gave you when I created you. Don’t fret as is your inclination, but focus on Me, on the reality of what I have done for you in years past. You have experienced many situations where I have worked good for you when you were unhappy with your circumstances. You have experienced uncanny “coincidences” that were the very means of bringing good, not merely to you, but to others also.

Do not despair now, but hope. Hope and pray. Believe with your spirit, even if you cannot believe with your mind at this time. I shall rescue you from despair and confusion. Trust Me. I am here, for you, and for others.

Have you not experienced my power? Have you not seen beauty rise up from ashes? Can you not perceive the order of creation, the flow of it?

Go now, in faith and hope in Me and be a light to yourself as well as to others. I will help you. I do love you.

Get on with the Show

“This is My will for you: to be at peace, to love and be loved, to enjoy the world which I have created, and to open eyes to that world: to spread the good news, to set an example of what power and love are available from Me… Proceed: get on with the show. Use your talents with joy and enthusiasm. You will bless yourself as you bless others.”

Meditation Thought: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.” (1 John 1:1)

“Heard, seen, looked at, touched”, the multiple ways in which You communicate with Your beloved people: the very same ways in which we can communicate Your reality and love to others.”

(This entry was the last one in Marie’s journals before the Alzheimer’s diagnosis.)

Message in Marie’s mind perceived as being from God: “You’re catching on – proceed. We have an interesting itinerary ahead. I created you; I love you, I desire to help you and I have not only the will to help you but the power to help you.

You must do your part. Read My word, heed My word, treasure My word, and use My word to enhance your life and the lives you touch, even in the tiniest ways.

I will help you; I will guide you. Picture Me as being beside you; get a mindset such as you get when your husband holds your hand when you are uneasy. The warmth and steadiness of his touch calms you, helps you and enables you.

This is My will for you: to be at peace, to love and be loved, to enjoy the world which I have created, and to open eyes to that world: to spread the good news, to set an example of what power and love are available from Me. This is My will for all of my people. Do your part to be my helper in spreading the good news. You need not be an evangelist. You only need to be enveloped in My love, in my guidance and, most of all, My presence.

Proceed: get on with the show, use your talents with joy and enthusiasm. You will bless yourself as you bless others.”

In Step with the Guide

In the marriage ceremony, two people become united into one. In the same manner the ‘ceremony’ of confessing Jesus as the Son of God unites the believer with God.

Meditation Thought: “ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15

In the marriage ceremony, two people become united into one. In the same manner the ‘ceremony’ of confessing Jesus as the Son of God unites the believer with God. The life – perhaps lives could be used – are changed; for the inter-relationship changes the life of the believer, but God is also doing differently than if that person had not confessed Christ as Savior. Once we accept Christ as Savior, and act as if we have a new relationship, we behave differently. Only people who have a similar relationship can truly understand! That is why believers often act incomprehensibly to non-believers, for they are ‘marching to a different drummer’.

But once we know God and recognize Him as Guide of our lives, we must obey Him, and not the usual order of society. We are out of step with the world, but more importantly, we are in step with God.