The Evidence

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law". Galatians 5:22-23 The clusters of fruit, the attributes of our relationships are:
1) Love, joy and peace = our relationship with God
2) Patience, kindness, goodness = our relationship with others
3) Faithfullness, gentleness and self-control = our relation to self.
Fruit is natural in its growth, it cannot be hurried or picked before it is ripe. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us NOT become weary in DOING GOOD, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do NOT give up." Galatians 6:7-9

SOW A THOUGHT, REAP AN ACT
SOW AN ACT, and YOU REAP A HABIT;
SOW A HABIT, and YOU REAP A CHARACTER;
SOW A CHARACTER, and YOU REAP A DESTINY.
We need humility and faith to bear fruit in our lives. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me." John 15:4
We must ask for help to activate our self-control. Through the discipline of our mind, we cultivate habits of thinking and action that with practice, over time produce maturity --- maturity requires patience with ourself. "Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near." James 5:7-8 So as we wait, as we exercise the holding of our tongue and the self-control of our actions, we are encouraged by this inspired word from God. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phillipians 4:8

THE FULLNESS OF JOY is descirbed by God in Psalm 16:11
THE PEACE OF GOD is described in Romans 5:11
THE ACCESS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT is for us in John 14:27

MESS with SUCCESS

To successfully MESS with SUCCESS is to maintain the MIND of a DOG. Note that dogs wake up HAPPY. Note that dogs do NOT worry about the economy and they are forever READY to GO for a WALK. Note that a dog LOVES all the time, even if they are neglected, not elected, or forgotten while we go on VACATION. To GAIN a dogs mind full of peace is to practice emptying our mind. CAUSE and EFFECT LAWS dwell in our hearts and they have been written on our minds. If you carry any worry or anxious thoughts --- CLOSE YOUR EYES, and IMAGINE that you are out on the deck of an OCEAN cruiser. Get that VISION fixed in your mind. Now reach into your MIND, and PULL out all the thoughts you have been tackling with. GOT THAT? Now drop those worry thoughts overboard and watch them disappear in the wake of the ship! "Forgetting those things that are behind" Now when the MIND is emptied, something NEW is bound to enter. We can all admit that we have seen a few folks who seem to be empty minded, or clueless most of the time. NOW TOOT your HORN if you ENVY their HAPPY! SO as we PRACTICE emptying our minds, it is necessary to REFILL with FRESH positive thoughts or the worry we just flung overboard will for sure climb right back in. IMMEDIATELY we must INTENTIONALLY fill the ENGINE of our mind with new FUEL. "Think about whatever is lovely, whatever is true, whatever is noble.." JUMP UP and shout leaping lambs ~ "ITS ALL VERY VERY GOOD!"

EXTREME MAKEOVER

Neglect of the original Owner's plan for this house is evident by the outward conditon seen. Is it a wise decision to demolish the old to rebuild? Should all be tossed aside as rubbish? Is there anything salvagable in this ruined structure? Don’t judge by the apparent neglect, but consider that all things are possible for those who TRUST in God! If the truth is told with complete transparency, an Extreme Makeover will follow! What NORMALLY appears to be beyond repair or useless to the watching world, this One Carpenter is delighted in taking on! He swore that if a house is destroyed that He would restore it in three days! In order for this Carpenter to begin a new project, He simply asks the tenant to honestly disclose all the weak parts. The walls of insulation that protected fear and guilt were ripped out so that the noise of the world would no longer drown the voice of the Landlord. As the tenant TOOK responsibility to confess all that was neglected, the Owner then allows the Carpenter to begin the process of restoration. First the faulty wiring that caused a short circuit that disconnected the tenant from its Owner was repaired. The broken windows (eyes) that welcomed illegal entry were given a fresh vision. The leaking roof that exposed the tenant to outside influences was lifted off and new thoughts resurfaced the mind. Weather resistant tiles(words)with a lifetime warranty were laid out. This Carpenter rebuilt the home and signed His Name to the Deed of Trust! He then was given the authority to renew the lease with Rules for Living. He used the worn wood boards, the cracked bricks, the stained basins to allow the tenant to remember their years of struggle, and failed attempts to impress the world, the family, the neighborhood by themselves. The Carpenter listened to the tenant pour out his heartfelt thanksgiving for all that had been done in him. With great compassion and love for the tenant, the Carpenter respected the deep character lines carved into the tenant He calls "friend". The tenant rejoiced in his relationship with the Carpenter and lived in the house of the Lord forever and ever! AMEN The Landlord of the entire universe is willing to restore His original plan for each body, each soul and the CHURCH He created. Let us look at the UNITY within the CHURCH as God sees it. NO walls, NO division, NO denominations, NO squabbles, NOT one annointed teacher, NOT one leader, but as God drives the TRUTH in us, as we nail our insecurity to the cross, as we trust that He qualifies, He equips those He calls, we listen and respond with willingness what His word says to our hearts. NEW KING JAMES VERSION Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in ALL WISDOM and prudence, having made known to us THE MYSTERY of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times ------ He might gather together in ONE all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth---in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things accournding to the counsel of His will, that we who FIRST TRUSTED in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvationl in whom also, having believed, you were SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheirtance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of His glory--- that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to YOU the SPIRIT of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the EYES of your
understanding being enlightened: that you may know what is the HOPE of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance IN the saints, and what is the EXCEEDING greatness of His power toward us who BELIEVE, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him in His right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all principality and power and might and demonion, and every NAME that is NAMED, not only in this age but in that which is to come. And He put ALL things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over ALL things to the church which is HIS BODY, the fullness of Him who fills ALL in ALL." In other words, God does not call the qualified, He calls us ALL His saints, His friends, His beloved to which He caused ALL wisdom, knowledge and the RICH FULL GRACE to abound, or leap toward ALL who TRUST and BELEIVE in GOD, according to HIS PLEASURE, that our EYES will be enlightened with understanding, that each of us KNOW what is the HOPE of His calling of us, LET us board His bus and ride knowing the RICHES of our inheiritance WITHIN us, and that in His HOPE for us, that we BE AWARE of His exceeding great power toward us who BELIEVE in His ability to RAISE the dead in spirit, and to TRUST in the name above all names, Jesus Christ our Lord, and that Jesus is the Head over ALL people, leaders, pastors, teachers, prophets, in this age and in the age to come...the CHURCH is HIS BODY, He is the fullness that fills us ALL. God has HOPE that we respond to His HOPE in us, that we say YES to our calling to serve Him, His church, without walls in the field, to harvest souls before His return. The will of God will NEVER take you to
WHERE the grace of God will not protect you!

LIFTED UP

Thanks to all my peeps for their prayers and their patience in my silence ~ which is better than a halleluiah at this time. At church TODAY, it was NOT an accident that God placed Cassandra and Jason before me. Their FAITH in the living word of God ministered to me during our time this summer listening for God's voice. In Jason's quietness and in Cassandra's humble revelations, that TODAY God would allow me to see Cassandra and Jason one more time before they both move to Oaklahoma so that Cassandra can begin med school - Their ministry hath thus begun! On my heart was this young couple, and GOD knew it! Refreshed by His word, by His presence, by the praise songs, then after the service, the brief yet light filled moments spent with Nancy Wilkins in the loft. Nancy encouraged my writing, and then she asked if upon her return from Wisconsin that IF she could be a support as a friend in Christ. WOW ~ talk about God knowing your every need before we even realize we have a need ~ He knows our hearts and even answers unspoken prayers! God is ministering to my soul, quietly and majorly effectively at this very moment. Majoring in the essentials of my faith, I am stilled, alone, and without a word from my son Jason ~
God gave me His comfort ~ in a CERTAINTY that Jesus dwells inside. His Holy Spirit swells to flush out all my doubt and fear and give me rest. God NOW fills my mind with courage, HOPE and calm assurance. Jesus, in the Person of the Holy Spirit has sent me His personally selected, amazing angels! Diana and Nancy have loved me well with their words of encouragement and by showing me the fruits of His Holy, perfect spirit. Such kindness, gentleness, understanding and grace is fully recognized as a GIFT from God. As Jesus protects my son Jason from all harm, my Lord is guiding me to make right decisions and He will see me through the storms ahead. "Likewise every good tree bears good fruit...thus by their fruit you will recognize them" --- The truth is that God calls us to judge, to evaluate, to discern gracefully, not harshly. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1 ~ This photo was taken on Mothers Day 2010. All my past worry and concern for my son did nothing! Today I SEE clearly through my Fathers eyes. My heart was full of deceit and confusion about His life changing power! Notified on the inside to correctly discern, to respond in His way. To love as I am loved, to forgive as I am forgiven, and to surrender my mind to Christ and be healed of every doubt, in every thought about God's plan for my son, and for me. Any fear about my surgery has been expelled by His flushing of my mind with the TRUTH! The Bible reminds me of God's truth "That which I have greatly believed has come upon me." JOB 3:25 ~ In the past I have voiced a fear that my son would die before me. My FAITH in God is the one power which fear cannot stand! Ringing in my spirit is this truth: "With God on my inside, whom shall I fear?" This week a wise choice has been to stop all the chatter and bathe my mind in the TRUTH of His living Word. Underlining and blogging every statement of courage and confidence...is the effort I choose ~ to cram my mind full of the healthy, happy, transforming TRUTH of JESUS. My focus on Jesus, my attentiveness to His Word, my active listen for His voice, for His direction ~ has successfully lifted my mind and heart out of the gutter of worry. Overcoming the worn out inadequacy lie, as any negative thought attempts to blur my vision of what CAN BE, my choice is to wisely cancel it out with a deliberate voice from God's word. Praise the name of Jesus for He has given me VICTORY! God Himself dwells on the inside of Jason and He is inside battling it out on Jason's behalf. In my weakness, in my silence, in my full surrender...God is most powerfully STRONG. I am praying HUGE prayers for Jesus to be resurrected fully in Jason's life and in mine. "According to your faith...be it done unto you" Matthew 9:29 --- Without the prayers of Diana, Nancy, Helen, Cassandra, Sonja and the church of Jesus Christ, I would have crumbled. ~ Thank you for the FAITH you exercise as His Ambassador!
I herein list my greatest ASSETS:
1) Belonging to a patient, loving, forgiving Father God
2) Fantastic friends and family in Christ Jesus
3) A son who loves me, even in his silence
4) Integrity, nothing to hide, no shame, no pride
5) Physical health and the Greatest Physician of mankind
6) Living in the USA which was founded by Christians
7) Rich in faith, believing and trusting God.
AMAZED! Click photo to enlarge. SEE a reflection of the cross on my heart, in the framed picture of Anne Graham Lotz ~ He is in the smallest detail as we Pursue More of Jesus ~ He is in us! AMEN
By practicing my FAITH in word and confident action towards my Holy God, By affirming the TRUTH verbally on my blog, by visualizing with the aid of photography, By believing what He says is TRUE about Jason, and about me as His daughter-- it SHALL come to PASS according to my FAITH in the ONE who in on the throne, in the ONE who knows my heart, in the One who loves unconditionally, all of His creation! AMEN ~ RIGHT NOW, the power of the Holy Spirit is released to actualize the outcome of His will! He shall continue to astonish and amaze us ALL by His magesty and mysterious ways! Emboldend by His ever increasing presence, I trust that His mighty force will continually intrude and dominate all the circumstances of my life. Emerson said "They conquer who believe they can. Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain." ---- An old worn out fear has been that ~ as a mother I have not done enough. Therefore to do NOTHING and entrust the outcome to God....is to hang my fear on the cross and kill it! All doubt, all fear is forced out by my faith in Almighty God. Praise to the One Who teaches us, Who trains us, Who corrects us, Who guides us, and Who disciplines those He loves! AMEN ~ To Barbara, my Jesus says "Rest my dear,
I got this. Relax and believe Me, Jason is safe in My arms."

HUMOR ME

FREEDOM in DEATH

The FREEDOM we celebrate on the fourth of July is and was made possible because of the death of many solidiers who willingly gave up their life so that we may live. As we read chapter four of Pursuing More of Jesus we receive the same object lesson. Last week we discussed John 12:12. "The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem." A great crowd of holiday seekers were in the streets roaring with excitment like fanatical fans at a Raiders game. Contagious rejoicing resulted in spontaneous combustion! Halleluiah! The enemies of Jesus could not stop Him, control Him, or restrain His followers. The disciples of the Christ were standing among a throng of strangers that came to cast their vote for Jesus to rule the world! Following Him through the streets, being close to the One who would surely rule the World was exhilerating! In the midst of His hour of glory, the personal friends of Jesus must have been privately thinking of their great benefit as He is crowned King. He knew their hearts and hopes to win personal favor and gain with positions of proud authority and popularity. Jesus had already rebuked them for harboring selfish ambitions. He knew that His disciples just DID NOT GET what His coming suffering as the King of Israel would mean. Jesus chose to water the seed He had planted in their hearts:
"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified." John 12:23 His followers were inwardly quaking with hopes for the One Who came to walk among them, in the powerful name of the Lord. "FINALLY" they must have been thinking! In their VISUAL midst was the Ruler of the World! (God knows most must see to believe) They were wild with enthusiasm because of the potential for their future as a citizen in His kingdom! Jesus knew the motive of each shouted praise and said with a thundering voice of authoritative truth: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But IF it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24. Was there a wide field of wheat within His view? Did He motion His hand across it to gather their attention? For this out-of-left-field lesson, did our Lord Jesus hold up a stalk of wheat and pluck one seed to emphasize---that unless this tiny seed was planted in soil, unless it dropped dead and was buried, would it crack open and grow to its full potential. Does His Word become fully alive in us when we read: "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." John 12:25. Do we pray "Lord take my life, help me die to myself that You may be fully glorifed." Is Jesus shown to others in our long life of suffering for His sake? Anne points out that it is impossible for us to crucify ourselves because crucifixion is the result of our decision to YIELD ourselves to Christ for His purposes. God allows pain and suffering on this earth and in the lives of His children. Our personal suffering is used to put to death our ideas of the abundant, spirit filled life of a Christian. In my life I can now look across the pages, the decades --- and genuinely praise God for all things! I was born unto unbelieving parents. At a young age I was molested, at 16 I endured the suffocating pain of silent shame as an unwed teen who was pregnant. All hope was swallowed when my daughter was secretly adopted away from me. I was dismissed from jobs, experienced an abduction and rape, I gave my only son to my ex-husband to provide for as I could not, I lived homeless and jobless in Texas, I suffered the humility and shame of bankruptcy, I endured an empty home alone at Christmas, I cared for my son after his fathers sudden death as he struggled with chemical addiction, and for 35 years as a divorced woman, because of my lasting commitment to Christ, the hope for marriage has been delayed. As Anne listed the nails that pinned her to the cross, hopefully each of us can look back and name the excruciating pain of our broken helplessness as we submitted to Jesus in those times we were forced to hang on to our faith. Jesus lifts our burdens as the Holy Spirit gives us peace that surpasses all human capacity to grasp WHY a believer can have peace and JOY in the midst of suffering. Anne teaches that the power in our lives that results in blessing is in direct proportion to our willingness to "hate our life" --- I remember thinking: "I would rather be dead than remain in an abusive marriage. I would rather be dead than carry on alone. I would rather be dead than live in this crazy world. I would rather be dead than suffer the consequence of my selfish sinful nature!" Do we take the challenge of Jesus seriously with HOPE for our promised future resurrection "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." Jesus surrendered to His Fathers plan, out of His willingness to suffer the cross, He was blessed by God with a position of power and everlasting authority! "Whoever serves Me must follow Me." John 12:26. Jesus knows us, He created us with a seed, a need to connect to the truth of WHY we are here and He encourages us in His living Word with the promised Holy Spirit Who helps us, Who enables us to know with blessed assurance that what Jesus says is truth! "Where I am, My servant also will be". John 12:26 So we are called to ask ourselves if there is anything more desirable than Jesus? The treasures of this world --- fame, fortune, honors, fitness, health, careers, vacations, promotions, positions, achievements. Are these things more desirable than eternity with Jesus Who said and delivered His promise in the indwelt Holy Spirit. "I will never leave you or forsake you." For now, we are FREE in the USA to worship Jesus Christ as Lord and to read our bibles. After a while, don't you tire of crime, commercials and the undesirable values on TV? If you WANT to HEAR the GOOD NEWS over and over, ORDER A BIBLE on DVD to watch on TV! Buy one for $19.95 and get one FREE to give away. Great quality, sound and a special tour of Jerusalem. ORDER www.dod.org or call 800-556-3388