Friday, June 29, 2012

Happy Birthday Mike

Psalm 139:13-18 (NIV)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

Today is my son's 28th birthday.  Every year I remind him of that wonderful day he was born; given to us; a gift from God entrusted to us. Father I pray that my husband & I will be able to always instruct our son in the way he should go according to your Word.  I pray that you would give us instruction, council and wisdom.

I pray that you oh Lord will birth even a new fire within him.  I pray that he would continue to walk in the path of righteousness and draw closer to you daily. Multiple his giftings even as he surrenders them to you.


Thank you for the gift Lord!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!! We love you.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Life or Death

Mark 7:31-38 

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.  People were overwhelmed with amazement. He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

As I read this today; the opening of the ears and the loosening of the tongue reminded me of the rebirth of the one that is lost when Jesus comes and speaks life to them. That was me! Though I could hear well and speak freely, it was not until the Lord, the precious Holy Spirit drew me to Himself that I truly was able to speak words of life and hear direction clearly from the Lord.

We use our tongue to speak whatever we want and sometimes the tongue is full of "curses, lies and threats" (Psalm 10:7) This speech does not belong to the believer. We are encouraged to speak of God's righteousness and to sing praises (Psalm 35:28). The tongue of the righteous brings forth wisdom (Proverbs 10:31). The Book of James encourages us to keep a tight rein on the tongue (James 1:26).

Likewise my ears have now been opened to clearly hear from the Lord....how you ask? By reading his Word. Faith comes from hearing the message (Hebrews 10:17). Oh, Lord speak to us.

It wasn't until the Lord saved me that new life sprung up and along with it came new ears and a new tongue; ears to hears and a tongue to praise Him!

We all need the Lord to take us aside, aside from the crowd that is empty and keeps us from the Lord.  A touch from the Lord that takes the members of our body, our ears and tongue and sanctifies them to himself. The work begins in the heart, when the Lord comes to let us know, it was for you Liz that I came to die. I shed my blood for you. I've come that you might have life, abundant life (John 10:10). Everything becomes new; in the process of new life, I surrendered my ears and tongue for the use of the Master! 

Teach me and cause me to speak of your wonders, your righteousness, your mercy & grace, your unending love for the lost, and that you still speak today; you touch the lost causing life to arise, the mute to speak and the deaf to hear!  Truly Lord when you take a life and change it, when the dead surrender to you and life comes; the testimony comes that indeed overwhelms people with amazement.   You do everything well! Father, we know we fail sometimes; at times we say the wrong thing and death may try to reign. If our ears have not payed attention to your instruction, forgive us. Thank you that we are a "work of God" in the process of becoming like you.  Be our help; use us Lord!

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

God bless you!~Liz 
www.lizrod.com



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