I Humbly Bow at Your Feet

Father,
Forgive me for all of the times that I forget:
that I need you more than I need my next breath.
that my words to You are of no importance in comparison to Your words to me.
that the secret place is far greater than any public place.
that this world is my temporary address, not my heavenly home.
that my words pass and fade, but Your Word is forever.
that this life of mine is nothing if I do not spend it in the presence of Everything.
that the harvest can only be reaped in the amount that it is sown.
that You, oh Love, are greater than any byproduct human love.
that selfishness opposes servanthood and servanthood, evil.
that cravings of the flesh deceive and destroy, but Your craving produce luscious fruit.
that You hold me in the same hand that You hold all the stars of the universe.
that Your plan surpasses the picture book I would destroy.
I ask all this in Your mighty name. Amen.

1 Kings 3:5-12

Just some random recent thoughts (including the verse above):

• You must be filled before you can overflow.
• There is a vast difference between acknowledging and accepting. 
• I'd rather irritate in my asking than infuriate in my not.
• If, in speaking about the Spirit, you desire to reveal the Spirit, speak like the Spirit: boldly and powerfully. 

Psalm 139:17&18

This trip across the sandy shores reveals the grains in which You know,
I walk along, triumphantly, Your will I desire to show.
I boast as You count the hairs on my head, not in my own power -
all from You all-powerful King whose grace washes me, in shower.
Oh release Your glory cloud to come and rain down Living Water,
for cleansed is the one for whom the lamb took undeserving slaughter.
Here I stand as you carry me across this vast expanse of sand,
knowing You are holding me in the palm of Your mighty right hand;
so whom shall I fear, for who can contend with You, the great I Am?
All fall down at the glory of the One who undoes every scam.
Flawed I fall, yet flawless I'm sent into the pressing battlefield,
declaring the victory You've already claimed - seeing lame healed.
Side by side You waltz with me and show me the narrow path to take,
beckoning me, as Your heir, revealing the beauty You now make.
Miry clay turned to porcelain princess is the transformation;
now calling me, on this beach, to return to the quenching station,
where Living Water flows freely from the ocean so vast and wide,
purifying the one who got dirty again, now called the bride.
This beach wedding reunited the Creator to created,
never again can divorce undertake, for this has been fated.
Oh One whose thoughts toward me far outnumber the place in which we stand,
I humbly bow before Your throne to consecrate this Holy land.

The Enemy has been Defeated

The devil is not patient. He is not willing to wait. He seeks to devour you like a roaring lion. He scratches and claws at you, looking to harm and destroy. He craves your soul. He earnestly desires to rid you of your joy. He wants you now.


The devil is not kind. He is ruthless and malicious. He cares not whom he hurts nor who he takes down. He hungers to see you suffer and does all he can to ensure this. He condemns and destroys. 


The devil is envious. He gnaws at any bone tossed his way. He sees the King of Kings working and yearns for the power that will never be his. 


The devil is boastful. He takes immense delight in making his workings, although minute, known. He puffs up the evil workings he does. 


The devil is proud. He smirks at the skewed glimpses of "victory" that he sees. He puts out his chest thinking that he has won. He stands on all he has done, even though he has no ground to stand. 


The devil is rude. He will trample every care and cry that you have and leave you as dirt. He wants to see you broken and beaten. He ignores every cry and longs for never-ceasing weeping. 


The devil is self-seeking. He reflects an extreme kid in a candy store. He wants all for himself and for himself only. He looks out for himself and longs to push you lower to make himself higher.


The devil is easily angered. He whines when you ignore his attempts to crush you. He moans when you step on him and turn from him. He attacks in greater quantities when he is angered to such an extent.


The devil is a keeper of the record of you wrongs. He consistently brings up past errors and burdens. He tries to condemn with his records and yearns to bring an error of yours back to you.


The devil delights in evil. He is evil and delights completely in himself. He sneers at his plans and plots when carried out. He is enchanted at the sight, sound, and touch of evil.


The devil always fails. 




Woe to thou whose attempts to scare have failed
Never being able keep the righteous jailed.
Power, none, for who can stand against
The glory of the One who dispensed
all authority to the Throne of grace
to shine upon this unworthy face.
All glory and honor and power 
to the One who's the sole strong tower. 
None can stand in the might of the King
but all bow down to triumph and sing.

Exodus 5

Verse 6-14 "Your life will be easy when you become a Christian." Will it? According to this, the Egyptians made the Israelites work even harder and beat them when they were trying to follow God. There are many Egyptians (followers of the world) who will come against you and attempt to bog you down with lies and deceit and to make you busy with the ways of the world. But let me tell you something: we serve a God in whom nothing can stand against and He fights for us and all power is His. If we have Him fighting for us, the only way our life becomes harder is when we try to fight the battles He is already fighting. So, yes, the attacks on you will become greater when you become a Christian; however, your life will become easier if you serve God and not religion.
Verse 21 The Israelites blamed not Pharaoh but Moses for their hardships and troubles. We must be careful to not turn against the body for the world see enough of this judgement as it is.
Verse 23 Moses, like so many of us, thinks that what he currently sees around him must be the only thing that God is planning or is going to use for His glory. He cries out in anguish. Hold fast!

Exodus 4

Verses 3-5 Sometimes God uses things that we run from to make many believe in the Righteous One 

Verses 6&7 When we are unclean and diseased, we can rest in the cloak of righteousness that rests on us and we will be purified; once again, the glory of the Lord will be revealed.

Verses 8&9 God was speaking of the Israelites being the ones who would not listen; He recognizes the stubbornness and rejection that can occur within His own people. I desire to be one who listens without rebuke.

Verses 10-17 We are, like Moses, thick-headed and pitiers. We often cry to God to send someone else who is more sufficient and suitable; the reality is that the Great Commission sent YOU. It is an immediate call to action by a God who has provided us with the ultimate Aaron (the Holy Spirit) to serve as our helper. God Almighty will help us speak and will teach us as we go in order to combat all of the arrows of the enemy.

Verse 17 This word staff is also used to mean tribe. God wants to use His tribe to perform signs. That truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Verse 21 Solely in the power of the Lord Most High can any works and wonders be performed.

Verse 22 You are a member of the body of the first born son of Yahweh. The blood that dripped out of Jesus flows in you.

Verse 31 The only proper response to the greatness of our God.

Exodus 3

Verse 1 It was while Moses was tending the flock that the Lord appeared. Often, God chooses to reveal Himself when we are tending to our entrusted flock.
Verse 3 I desire to be consumed by Fire Himself and therefore not be burned down, but instead be enflamed for all to see and be curious as to why I am not burned in the heat of the devil's flames.
Verse 7 God hears your cries! That's why He chose to riddle this characteristic all throughout the Bible. What God repeats, we should reserve, reexamine, and remember.
Verse 10 God is calling us in the same fashion, daily, to return to the people in slavery and bondage to rescue them.
Verse 11 The proper response to Yahweh.
Verse 12 The God of all things that ever was, is, or is to come will be with you when you go to free the slaves. Who, then, can stand against us?
Verse 14 The answer to every question that ever existed came in the form of the name in which God gave Himself: The I Am
Verse 15 "I Am" is His name forever. That means that He remains. There is no question that will ever be formulated in which His name changes and, thus, the answer never changes.
Verse 17 His promise remains: He will deliver you and shower His grace and blessing on His people.
Verse 21 We're not merely redeemed victims; we're righteous victors!

Exodus 2

Verse 9 In the same way, Christ takes us, the babies, and nurses us. Not only that, but He pays for us as well. 

Verse 10 I desire to be so engulfed in the Living Water that one must come and draw me out in order to see my heart. I desire to draw out hearts from the crowd. I desire to Moses hearts.

Verse 17 Not only should we come to the rescue of the broken hearted, we must water them with the Living Water in which we are engulfed.

Verse 22 Moses' name is known worldwide, generation after generation and is hardly foreign; yet His first-born son's name was "a foreigner there" because even Moses felt like a foreigner at a time. You are not alone.

Verse 23&24 The cries of the sons and daughters of God Almighty are always heard, regardless of your slavery and captivity to sin, for He remembers His covenant with you.

Verse 25 The God of all of the Universe is concerned about you and all you go through.

(I was simply too excited; I posted two)

Exodus 1

Verse 7 Fruitful parallels in us as the fruit of the Spirit. We are the Israelites and we will be exceedingly fruitful with the fruits of the spirit. 
Verse 12 In the same way, the more the devil feebly attempts to attack you, the more you grow for His power is made perfect in weakness.
Verse 14 The devil will ruthlessly attack you. Be alert!
Verses 20&21 When we fear God, especially in the face of trials and enemies, He will reward us and bless us in even greater ways.

Ever-Encouraging Exodus

In Exodus, You explain the glories of the ark
and the intricate design, no question mark.
You clearly outline the necessary rules
and how to tell the truly wise from the fools.
The garments of the priest are complex and fancy
the lives of the disobedient ones, quite chancy.
And I sit and ponder this ancient book,
as You open my eyes and tell me to look
to see all Your glory shown then, now to me;
For I am the reason You wrote this decree.
To show that I am more elaborate than clothes
for to You I am a pure, flawless, white rose.
To show that Your ark protects my heart
and in it You make inexpressible art.
To show that Your covenant abides within
for here Your law's written regardless of sin.
To show that the table I come to is grand -
once I am here, how could I stand?
To show that the Tabernacle at which I enter
is the very place my spirit needs center.
To show that the incense glorifies You
as the aroma of Christ off me, ensues.
To show that the lamp is meant for the stand
as You design this unfathomably grand.
To show that the Altar is meant for offers
so I choose to lay down all in my coffers.
To show that the oil comes strictly from You
as life and peace and goodness do.
To show that ephod and breastpiece have function
as the body of Christ must work in junction.
All these things You wrote in Love
to prove that I shall rise above
the plagues and droughts and hunger pains
as done with them; Jehovah reigns!

Staking Claim

I am nothing; I am a fool.
I am a pointless, unraveling spool.
I am a sinner; I am a clown.
I am a hater who instills a frown.
I am a broken, fallen disgust
who denies love for a chance at lust.
I am the one who repeatedly hurts
the One in whom my heart, converts.
I am the deadly, poisonous snake
who has caused countless heart ache.
I am nothing; I am a fool,
but I serve the One who makes me a tool.
A tool in which muck is chiseled;
from others lives, sin is fizzled.
Flawless One who delights in me -
Holy, Mighty, Righteous, Free.
Bloody Savior, came down as man
to prove that He is The Greater Than;
greater than me and my lowly being,
greater than those in which He is freeing.
Blessed and beautiful the names He gives;
Beloved He calls the heart that lives.
Matchless and Healer; Love and Peace
Whose grace on me will never cease.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
no wrongs of mine, He records.
So nothing I come as nothing You came,
washing me and staking claim.

Lavish in Mercy; Scarce in Self

I choose you not for what you can bring me
for I know that you have nothing to offer,
yet I still choose you and I want you to see
that there is a reason I made you my coffer.

Sitting there looking at your human lowly self
trying to fix and obtain My pure beauty;
not realizing that it comes not from yourself
and not from your vain attempts at duty.

Grace is the reason from which you are saved
and from grace, here you stand high and sing;
each secret, unspeakable sin has been waved
you are My bride, and Holy Spirit, your ring.

For with nothing I came down as a child
to rescue you, oh nothing, from obscurity;
in the midst of your suffering, I joyfully smiled
for I transformed you into My purity.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you,
so be still and know I am King of Kings.
Stop exhausting strength to make yourself new;
just rest in these perfect mercy springs.

The Waiting Game

Isn't it strange how the beginning of the speaking of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is "Love is patient."? (v. 4)
Isn't it strange how Moses waited for 6 days in the glory cloud before God even spoke? (Exodus 24:16)
Isn't it strange how God gave instruction to build the Ark of the Covenant before He gave the Covenant? (Exodus 25:16)
No it's not. Because God knew what He was doing and what He is doing and what He will always do.

The carving of the inside creates the beauty of the out;
with hands lifted high and mouths we will shout.
In patience we will wait, knowing it's Your call
to be still and know You, in the midst of it all.
Waiting in glory, like Moses, we desire
for You come in this and rain down with fire.
In this time of wait, make the Ark in my heart
prepare in me the place, before You throw the dart.
Ready and in waiting, we stand up tall and know
You are the Rock and the arrow to throw.
The people entrusted to us we will hold
keeping eyes on the hearts that You wish to mold
for it's easy to keep in sorrow and in pity
but we know that You want to move in this city
so amongst this time of patience that's occurring in us
we know that You have greater when we chose to trust.

Valentine's Day

Love is not just simply a four letter word;
It's not a term thats broken and blurred.
Love is not what you see in divorced home
where families are torn and thick tears roam.
Love is not what you see in that boy's eyes
where lust is consuming and craving flies.
Love is not what you see in the romance clip
where feelings are truth but bound to flip.
Love is not what you see when yelling occurs
where anger and envy are blatant prefers.
Love is not what you see when he holds you after
where sin has prevailed and gone is the laughter.
Tattered and bruised are hearts from this wrong
aching to have what they heartily long:
a solid foundation and truth-ridden Love
a real-deal relation that rises above
the storms of the life with the winds that shake,
feelings that change and hearts that break.
Love is not just simply a four letter word;
God is Love and your cries are heard.

Blessed

I live for the glory of the King
All around me makes me sing
"You are Holy, matchless name;
Above all, Your mighty fame."
And yet I see the downcast eyes
longing in a dark disguise
broken, beaten, bruised, and torn
hearts in pieces; in side, thorn.
I belt out for the comfort of cries
and knowledge that You are the only true prize.
The only one who stands all the waves
this life has brought in shallow caves.
These broken hearts will be renewed
and harden, same, for You obtrude
in built-up hearts where no light shines,
You break in and pay the fines;
for life and death are in Your hands,
oh Sovereign One, reveal Your plans -
plans of mercy and of grace
perfect and mighty, the ways you trace -
trace my heart and its design
All in All, You fully align.
So today, I knock and ask this quest:
Take the broken, make them blessed.

The Egyptians

You stand on a tall rock. You are untouchable, yet your brain tells otherwise. This five foot diameter fortress stands hundreds of yards above the ground with no ledges for climbing. You are untouchable, yet your brain tells otherwise. Because you see creatures, evil creatures, crawling at the base of the rock. Grabbing and scratching to try to get to you. This makes your forget that you are safe on the rock and you cry out for help! Then you see something else: Knights in armor and warriors are fighting for you. They bash and smash every creature that comes near the base of the rock; because, although you're safe on the rock, they are the ultimate fighters and they love you. Yet, in your human nature, your eyes fix once again upon the evil creatures. They seem too powerful regardless of all you know about their defeat. You once again moan and wail, "Help!" Suddenly, you look to your right, and you see an eagle. And you are raised up on eagle's wings. All you need to do is rest on the wings, on the rock, knowing who's fighting for you and who's defeated all for you.


Exodus 14:13&14
¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”


Exodus 19:4
⁴ ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.


Psalm 18:2
² The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
   my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Right v Wrong? No. Right < Gift.

Why do we treat gifts as if they're rights? Let me tell you something.. 

Christ, The Gift, (Rom 5:15) came and gave us the gift of salvation and eternal life (Rom 6:23). The gift of the Holy Spirit was then given. (2 Tim 1:6) The Holy Spirit gave us spiritual gifts. (1 Cor 7:7; 1 Pet 4:10) We all have different gifts. (Rom 12:6) God gives us gifts when He answers our prayers (2 Cor 7:7). You lack no spiritual gifts. (1 Cor 1:7)

This does not say.. Christ, The Right, came and gave us the right of salvation and eternal life. The right of the Holy Spirit was then given. The Holy Spirit gave us spiritual rights. We all have different rights. God gives us rights when He answers our prayers. You lack no spiritual rights.

Why doesn't this sound right? Because it's not! It's foolish.

"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge." (Psalm 51:4)

We need to recognize that every single good thing we get (including a breath) is a gift, not a right; and we need to begin to act as if this truth is truly true.

When God speaks, I know it's truth. Do you? Enough to change? Let's do it.

Calm Amongst the Storm

Patience. The unspoken truth underlying the sin.

Waiting is so glorious when it comes from within.

But we choose, as a people, to turn it from its design;

all along, knowing, it's lacking full define.

"Patience is waiting," so many would claim

but what if I told you that this is not the aim?

Patience is more than simply holding out

It changes your heart if you choose not to pout:

"Why me? Why this? Is this really Your plan?"

"My child, be still, and know that I can.

And I will, if you let Me, sit calmly, I ask.

Rest in My peace; in My holy grace, bask."

Indifference

How can I sit by and accept the striking fact that all these heart are dead?

How can allow my arrogant self to silently sit as if He never bled?

How can a church rise in numbers and nonchalantly speak the Word

while simultaneously ignoring the one whose bruised and unheard?

Go sip your coffee and eat your pastries while death knocks at the door

for this apathy is what, even more so than sin, is killing the whore.

For indifference is our right hand and disgust, our left;

if only we could pay someone to reach out to the theft.

We fail to realize that we are the thieves, 

stealing the joy of the one who believes

that there's more to life than clothing and shoes

and games and houses and filled up pews,

more than our safety and comfort and knowledge

and luxury and lust and "Oh, which college?"

Patience, Perseverance - Plenty

As this season of wait surrounds,

I pray Your glory expounds.

For in You I find my rest

amongst this heaving chest.

Although the tears flow steady,

I know that You are ready

and when the time is right,

occurs the end of this fight;

for now I'll trust and know

that You will overflow

into this stirring heart;

oh, God, set me apart.

For in this time of wait,

I'll knock at Your holy gate

and King, You hear my cry

for this, I choose to die -

die to my selfish timing;

ready to keep on climbing.