Weeds in Your Garden

There are weeds in your garden.  Your garden is unkempt.  You are overwhelmed by what you see needs doing, and you despair of ever having it under control.  You don't know where to begin, what to do, or how to do it, so your mind races, and you are always making new plans for new beginnings, searching for how others have done it, trying to make a plan that will finally make sense to you and work.  Stop.  I have given you everything that you need.  This life of yours is not for your own glory, it is for Mine, and I will make of it a garden that I delight in, with twists and turns and paths that are different from everyone else's.  Take one day at a time.  Rest in the work I give you to do this day.  I'm not after perfection today.  I'm after your heart, your will submitted to mine.  And when you look back at your life, you will see that I took you here and there for a purpose.  I have it all under control.  All you have to do is cling to Me, and work for Me today what I show you to do.

God of Peace and War

I am a God of peace and a God of war.  I call you to both.  Your longing for peace was placed within you.  It is a seed that will one day come to full bloom.  You catch glimpses of it now enough to cause you to cry out for more.  Those longings will be fulfilled in My time, but now comes the time of waiting, of listening to My voice, of gaining strength from My presence, and of learning the art of obedience, so that when the battles come, and they will, you will be ready, dressed in full battle array.  You will be able to cry, "For the honor of My King and the deliverance of His weak ones from the power of evil."  Don't ignore the martial.  There is great need of it in the pursuit of peace.  Go and learn today of obedience to Me, of strength and courage. You are a warrior.  I give you permission to learn to fight, to know the thrill of My power in your victory, to exercise hard love that calls others up to the higher ground.  I will show you the battles which are yours to fight as you walk in obedience to Me.  Learn this day what Your Commander asks of you, and follow, no matter how ridiculous My demands appear.  You must learn that it is not in your strength that these battles are won, but in Mine.  I must strip  you of all that would falsely cry within you, "Look what I have done!"  My work in you will not quit until I have accomplished all that I purpose.  Now go in the power and grace of your King who loves you with an everlasting love.

No Security Apart From God

In July, 2010, I began something that seemed pretty scary to me. Based upon the devotional book Jesus Calling, I decided that I would give this "listening to God speak" deal a try, but to be honest, I was afraid that I would start making things up and pass it off for God's word to me! God knew my heart, however, and that my heart's desire was to deepen my relationship with Him and to follow Him in obedience, and He has been ever faithful to meet me just where I am, to do a little heart surgery some days and just love and encourage me others. I'm truly a mess inside, full of insecurities and crazy thinking, but now that it has been over a year since I began this journey, I can honestly say that I never want to turn back from meeting God in this way. It's not a substitute for learning and leaning on the revealed, written word of God, but it's a huge connection to His revealed word as He seeks to show me where I am failing to trust Him and why. I have finally decided that I would publish some of my times with God in the hopes that someone somewhere will read something that will encourage them just as much as it has encouraged me. Since I am a teacher, my times with God often reflect teaching. I want to be taught by Him so that that He can teach the children through me.

Child, you want security and yet you so often seek it in the wrong places. There is no security apart from Me. Everything changes constantly. One day it's the economy. Another day it's a relationship. It could be a natural disaster in a place that has always felt safe. Whenever you try to place your peace of mind in anything other than Me, you have elevated that person or situation to idol status. Watch out, for I will elevate My name above every idol, to show you that it's in Me and Me alone that you can rest in confidence. I am the One who gives, and I am also the One who takes away. Do not have any unhealthy attachment to any person, job, or possession. Place your sense of security at the feet of the only One who can give it - Jesus Christ - who delivers from sin and darkness, Who alone can place you in the kingdom of light. To Jesus be all your love and devotion. Hold everything else with a loose hand.

To My Savior,

Jesus...what a sweet, sweet name. Jesus, who loves me. Jesus, who came for me. Jesus who died for me. Jesus who will bring me safely to my heavenly home. Jesus who sees me. Jesus who never leaves me. My prince and the rock of my salvation. Jesus, my all in all. I am your beloved, and You are mine. I stand at the well thirsting for Your every word. Pour forth Your truth, Your mercy, Your love, Your holiness, and let me tip my head upwards to receive it all like rain falling, like joy flowing, like healing coming on the wings of a dove. Let me receive Your peace, earned by Your battle won, and Your life, earned by Your faithfulness unto death, even death on a cross. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus... what a sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet name.
Me