Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Construction Project


Exodus 32:1-4
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.”  So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”


Moses, the appointed leader to the Israelites has been sequestered, isolated and insulated by the presence of God on the mountain of God's choosing.  God's intention to reveal his glory to Moses, to encourage and equip Moses, to instruct and prepare the people for the encounter ahead; a journey that would dispose nations and give possession to the Israelites.   The fulfillment of the promise spoken to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.  Moses is gone for 40 days, let's say almost 6 weeks.  So what happens; a golden calf is erected, an object of worship.  The people that had just been freed from bondage, somehow find themselves migrating to idol worship. The question that has recently been on my mind is, how quickly did they start thinking, contemplating, collecting items of gold, to fashion this idol.  I mean, it takes time to collect all these items, and fashion it into an object, an object of false worship I must add.  This animal; this object of worship did not just "pop out of the fire" as Aaron tried to convince Moses was the account that took place.

Can we walk away that quickly from what God is doing if we "feel" God is not moving "fast" enough?  If somehow we allow our thoughts and convince ourselves that the endeavors, the plans, the vision, the promise is  taking to long, can we walk away?  Can we too start our own "construction project"?

How long were the people of God thinking about this evil thing; were they distracted quickly, shortly after Moses went up the mountain? The Book of James says; "each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" (James 1:14-15). Interesting, this generation died in the wilderness.

How long did they "stay in the way of sinners" or "sit with mockers".  What kind of counsel were they listening too? (Psalm 1)  These are God's people who have crossed over; the enemy is dead, buried in a water grave.  Who's conversation and thoughts are they entertaining? 

While Moses is in the presence of the Lord, they overlook that God is Omni-present and with them as well.  Their hearts became darkened and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image made to look like an animal (Romans 1) The heart of worship must bend toward the one True God; the object of our worship must be the Lord but instead they listened to the quiet whispers and lies of Satan and they begin bowing.  Their reverence was stolen by a cheap imitation that has no ability to give life.

The goal was to wait until Moses returned and worship Jehovah God while he's away.  But God's time table was not sufficient.  God who revealed himself in the cloud and by fire-- is Spirit.  They wanted their physical eyes to see what God had already revealed by his Spirit and thus missed--BIG TIME!

Is there something currently taking to long? We assume the timetable is a little off.   We begin to think, have we missed the fulfillment of God's promise; perhaps a vision that's about to come to fruition? Do we assume that things are stagnate when actually birth is about to take place?  If we are not careful, we will miss it; we will begin to make new plans, divert from what God has spoken. 

It's a dream that he has given us, a plan that we've held on to, a prophetic word, a vision, a promise and we are about to cross over.  Do we wait or do we erect a new object of worship, a quick "fix", something to satisfy the flesh when indeed it is the spirit that longs for what God is about to do.

The psalmist in Psalm 5:3 says, In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

I pray that we hold on to the promises that God has given us.  Each of us is keenly aware of what God has spoken. He has been specific...has he not?   Help us to wait on you and to surrender our heart, a heart of worship totally unto you.  We want to cross over; we want the inheritance and promise of your Word!  We don't want to miss you and we don't want to entertain whispers that are not from you. Help us to wait Lord...help us to trust; it's almost here and we will miss it if we run before you. They that wait upon the Lord; their strength will be renewed and a song of praise will come forth. 
God bless you!~Liz
 

 

Friday, June 21, 2013

Who is Speaking?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

 
Ever woke up in the middle of the night with a thought that would not let you sleep; how about while driving home. Perhaps you are in church or at the grocery store and the thought grips you. You are wondering; is it true? The better question is: Who is speaking? Is it the Advocate or the Accuser? One promotes life the other death. The one who pleads on my behalf; the one who intercedes and appeals for me is the Advocate! The one who points the finger and tries to humiliate me or sows dishonor to the person the Lord is shaping and molding daily into his image, that is the Accuser.

Are you a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ? Think you are shielded from such thoughts? Even worse; they come in floods and try to suppress our tongues from praising God. They try to steal the joy that God has given us. They bring confusion and shame. They speak, ridicule and belittle the believer who has been made in the image of God.

The Accuser promotes pride. The Advocate, the Avenger (I like that, the righter of wrongs; the Punisher) he promotes humility. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.. Psalm 25:9

Often when a thought tries to invade me; before I begin entertaining it: I ask myself; who is speaking? Are these thoughts trying to make me feel better or worse? Do they come at me like darts, trying to leave scars? Has the accusation captivated my thoughts to the point that I have just made it a "god"?

I am listening attentively, I am consumed by it, my focus is completely at its disposal; I have even forgotten to invite Jesus to the conversation. I have built an alter and I have "worshiped" every thought that has come to destroy me. If I am not careful, I will begin to agree with it. I will partake in this ceremony of destruction; a demise to my spirit; a clear demolition of all that God has been building in me. I erect a "golden calf" and I am satisfied even as I engage in idol worship. Idol, an obsession that has taken me captive.

We demolish arguments and every pretentious thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)


Thank the Lord for his intrusion; for the invasion of his Spirit, the Avenger. Oh, a shield that is raised; a swift reminder to open my mouth and begin to exalt the Advocate, the King, my Redeemer. Come with a song; begin to agree with the Word that became flesh; ask my Defender to pulverize and bring the demise of these accusing thoughts that stem from the pit of Hell. It really does not matter what the thought was; big or small.

The question is who is speaking? If the Lord wants to get my attention, bring correction to my life, he knows how to take this clay and throw it in the fire, melt it, mold it, break it and reshape it.

The Accuser throws me in the fire and leaves me there to die.

Examination is good but if it leads to guilt and I begin a destruction pattern that leads to death; I'm inviting Jesus to the party, He is the giver of Life!

A battle was about to begin last night, woke me up; but I called on the Name of Jesus! Hallelujah!!! Are you in the midst of a battle right now--STOP-- call on the name of your Avenger; he knows how to crush our enemy.

God bless you!~Liz

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

It's June 4th

1 Thessalonians 5:18a NIV
....give thanks in all circumstances;
Today, would have been one of the days that my mom celebrated her birthday. I say ONE because she had two birthdays. Huh? You see she was born on June 14th but an error occurred when documenting her birth date. The birth certificate read June 4th even though she was born on June 14th.
 
My sisters, my brother, my dad and I differed on when to celebrate her birthday. My mom, a very wise women, settled the matter quickly; she agreed with both parties...celebrate them both :)
I share this today because as you know my mom is no longer here; she is in the presence of God where the festivities are even more grander!
Sweet memories help us stay connected with those we love and have moved to higher & better things. A place where angels reside, gold is used as walking material; the glory of God shines and illuminates the entire place…. Grandiose& Magnificent!
I praise the Lord, Most Excellent God, that 24 hours before she would depart from Earth, He revealed himself to her and she reached out and received the best gift anyone can receive; she inherited eternal life; the Perfect Gift from God!
God your ways are perfect!

CHANGE, WELCOME IT!

 Acts 9:32-34 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas,...