Echoes From Zion

This morning I was praising God and thanking him for the advancement of His kingdom. What a day and hour in which we are living! God is moving all over the globe in demonstrations of power and might. I am amazed at the reports I hear from various ministries and individuals about what God is doing in our day. While pondering this, my heart was led to a friend of mine who tends to speak negatively about the church. Now, I will confess: there is a lot of stuff in church that is disorderly, rotten, and just plain discouraging. It's easy to see the problems and to feel like the church is perishing, especially if the environment one is in personally is NOT seeing the advancement of the Kingdom as desired. This view point usually leads people to talk about 'the remnant' in Christianity; how only a few will really stand in the last days. Is my friend and people in this camp not seeing what I see? Do they not see that His Spirit will be poured out on all flesh? Do they not see that ...

Psalm 17:4 - it's one that caught my eye this morning. When you put it in context with my Psalm 17:3 challenge, it's really interesting. "I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer." (Psalm 17:3b-4) How do I keep my mouth from not sinning? David says here it comes by the word of God's mouth - by having HIS word in my mouth I'm guaranteed NOT to transgress! Oh, isn't the Kingdom life one of great exchange? It's so marvelous! At the cross, we exchange unrighteousness for His righteousness, sorrow for joy, fear for peace. And here we see that we exchange our human words for divine words - natural, powerless conversation for supernatural, powerful conversation! In our everyday living in the kingdom, we have the opportunity to enter this great exchange. The temptation that comes our way is for us to look upon 'the works of men;' in ot...

I am doing well on my challenge. It's amazing how when you present your weakness to God, he fills it with Himself. He loves my weakness...my weakness presented to Him. I am reminded of that even this week. Whey do we hide our weakness? We are ashamed of it, so we hide it or try to cover it up with our own efforts. But God does not run from our weakness...he waits for them to be given to him. Like a child who has broken something...I can go to Daddy and give it to him to fix and take care of. God loves everything about me. He even loves the weak parts of me as I yield to them. If I don't yield them, however, it just becomes stubborness! Oh, for a heart that will trust you, Father, always enough to give you even my weakness...even my MESS...and run to you! Thank you God, that you fill me up with YOU! This is grace!

Journal Application on Meekness What do you see of meekness in me, Master? What fruit? What process? Oh, Lord…give me eyes to see and ears to hear. I present them both to you to fill now. It is meekness to present your eyes and ears to me, child, for in so doing you are admitting that you cannot see or hear apart from me. On your own, you are admitting that you will fail to see and fail to hear what I say. Yes, Lord. It feels more like desperation! J Come with me and see, child. (I see Jesus taking me by the hand he is leading me to waters. I see myself being baptized in them.) Meekness is like these waters, child. You step in and they cover you and cleanse you. What you were when you came in is no more. You were dry, now you are wet. One state is taken over by another. Apart from water, you cannot be wet can you? Lol, I guess not, Lord. You need an outside source to do it. The water covers you and takes what was dry and makes it moist, wet, drenching…depending on how deep you go...

Well, for all who are following my progress....sorry it's been a while since I've posted. And, as for the progress...well, I'm still in...progress. I noticed something this week: I haven't been speaking ill of people or being critical or complaining (well, I have a little), but the Lord showed me where I have faltered with my speech - I have not kept blessing and praise in my mouth. This is something he told me in an entry quite a while ago: Keep your mouth filled with good things! The life that is led by the Spirit is one whose tongue is led by the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, and graced by the Spirit. It really is amazing how much better my outlook and attitude becomes when I just stop and praise. There is a vast difference between guarding my mouth and yielding my mouth to His Spirit. One is more soul based and the other is Spirit based. I need grace, not to just guard my speech...but to yield to the One inside of me whose words are Spirit and Life. Even so, L...

I spent some time in repentance again yesterday...because of my mouth. Will I ever conquer this evil member? Lord, help me RETAIN and ACT on what you've taught me! As I was thinking about how I opened my mouth when I shouldn't have, I suddenly realized that I can never complain if anyone ever says anything about me that is hurtful, untrue, or just not necessary. Why? Because I reap what I sow! I mean, think about it....how can I complain that someone gossips about me if I've sown to the flesh in gossip? How fickle a creation I am. How often am I like a spoiled child who desires everyone to love her...but who doesn't love in return? Sigh.... Praise God that he is working in me both to will and to do according to His good pleasure. He is able to keep me from stumbling. I've just got to keep my mouth shut when certain conversations come up. Ack! It happens in the church and I am guilty for participating: "So and so is really having a hard time..." and t...

Well, I have not commented about the progress of my Psalm 17:3 challenge lately. It's been going well. I can confidently say that putting this challenge 'out there' has helped me think more about my words. Because it's public knowledge, it keeps it at the forefront of my mind. That may sound silly, but I encourage anyone to try it. If you are wanting to grow in any area (diet, conversation, etc), try doing a blog! It's helped me a lot. I have kept my mind more focused on the power of my words. It is getting easier. I still get caught in a snare when I talk to a few certain individuals. However, it's good for me. I have to bite my tongue and not comment or direct the conversation in another way, etc. How many times did this exact thing happen to Jesus? Pharisee number 1: "Hey, Jesus...let me catch you in a snare here..." Jesus would reply, "My words are life. Not gonna happen." Pharisee number 2: "Okay, then, Jesus. Let me twist your wo...