All Authority is His Alone

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. -Psalm 139:16 (NIV)

Ok...here we go again.  Two weeks ago I was told by a radiologist that I needed a biopsy. Well...I'm thinking...we went through this 6 months ago.  I think I was more frustrated that I would have to go through the test...than what the test would actually show. So...I go for the test...and lo and behold the doctor says...well the tissue is benign...Hallelujah...but simultaneously he says...we are not sure if we actually got the right tissue.  I say Hallelujah again....the One who sits on the Throne is worthy of all praise & worship!

Ok...so what do I do.  Honestly I was angry.  Angry that I put myself through that evasive test......even though it was needed...but then to have no definitive results.

Hmmm...did I say "definitive".  The Word of God tells me that He made me......he knows how many hairs I have  on my head......all the days ordained for me were written in his book. As I sat in the waiting room ( I was by myself because it was not a scheduled biopsy) the Lord ministered to me again, I am with you always, even until the end of time.  I know I could have called my sister or one of the beautiful ladies of OCF...or have my husband come from a far distance to sit with me....but I was peaceful.

I appreciate the "Medical field" , those men & women whom God has imparted His wisdom...doctors, technicians, medication...truly at times that's what God has used to allow me to walk and move.... literally.

But the definitive, the ultimate, that which will allow me to continue to breath in this world....the appointed time for me or anyone to leave this earth...that goes to the One who sits on the Throne...All Authority is His.  I rest in that....I will move forward with His Wisdom and go through the "due dilegence" the testing if you will.... and then I will live as if today is my last day....tomorrow is not promised...to me or to anyone.  Rejoice in today!

Enjoy the song | Click Here

Overcome-Desperation Band

God bless you!~Liz

www.lizrod.com

Above the Clouds

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where
Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When
Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

Ok...here we go...I will be up in a plane in just a little while...really high up...I'm traveling to see
my son Mike who relocated to Savannah.

Inevitably, I will begin to think about how small everything below me is. It's not the first time
that this thought has come to me. There is a peaceful feeling just to look at the clouds and at
times it feels like we are standing still.

Looking through the window...trying to see below...everything becomes smaller and smaller
until you can't see anything except for the peaceful, fluffy, marshmellow-like clouds. It's like
the reality of life fades away and I am lifted up from what's below to what's above. It's not that I have forgotten my life below, but its a different perspective. I love my life...I love what God is doing with this clay. God has given us life and wants us to enjoy it; I love all that the Lord is teaching me, the constant dependency on Him....really...I can't do a thing without God...not even breath.

So here we are....climbing higher and higher. I'm reminded .....It's like when you begin to worship the Lord....we may enter discouraged, maybe our hearts are heavy, we come into the House of God and when the saints begin to lift his Name high...when the people of God begin to call on his Name and praise the One who Sits on the Throne, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, when the Beloved start to exalt the King who is forever making intercession for His people....WOW...something happens...the things of earth grow strangely dim...even the "issues" of life. We find ourselves enjoying the marvelous presence of the Lord....He comes to rest in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) and we too...wow....rest in Him. It's not that the troubles of life have disappeared but its like when the altitude of the plane rises, now we can also ride above...above the clouds like the plane, higher than the issues that at time can rob us of the Presence of the Lord. We must fix our eyes on Jesus the perfecter of
our faith (Hebrews 12: 2). We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18 ) So...yes...I set my mind on things above...... Oh..I forgot to tell you...I don't like flying :(  I get motion sickness....

God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com

Born Twice

The fool says in his heart,  “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.Psalm 14:1 (NIV)

Today is my birthday, I share it with my Pastor's wife, Beverly--Happy Birthday Bev! I'm not telling you so you can wish me a Happy Birthday...but I'll take that too :)  I want to share about how I have been born twice.......yes twice.  On April 1, 1963 I was born into this world, my Father in Heaven knew all about me already...knitting me together in my mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13) My parents named me Elizabeth, the name of Hebrew origin, meaning God's promise. I actually like my name, though I did not always know what it meant. About 23 years ago, I was born-again. You may ask, How can she be born twice? 

(John 3:4) Nicodemus in the Bible asked the same question to Jesus. Twenty-three years ago while on vacation, the Lord called me out of darkness and into

His light....His amazing love called me. (Ephesians 5:8) My life was changed.  Never again would my eyes see only "what eyes see".....never again would my ears hear only "what ears hear". The Spirit of God began to teach me.....all about Himself... through his Word, the Bible.  The Lord has shown me so much about who I am...He has taught me what pleases him and revealed to me when I do not do right...just outright sin against him... He has instructed me how I am to live my life on this earth to honor Him...I don't always get it right....but I am teachable.....I am so glad the Lord loved me enough to die for me and reconcile me back to the Father! The Bible says he has given me a new name (Revelation 2) My life was changed, my name was changed....I have been born- again....not because of anything I have done...but all because of what Christ has done.

How can one be born-again? Read: John 3   

God bless you!~Liz

www.lizrod.com

Inheritance

Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.  Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.” But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 1 Kings 21:1-3 (NIV)

Read entire chapter

Naboth was not willing to part with his inheritance.  Naboth was faithful even though it cost him his life.

The Lord of Life has paid the ultimate price to pay for the sins of men. He has snatched us out of darkness and brought us into the light. (Colossians 1:13) He has given us an inheritance, a place to dwell with him forever.  Jesus has called us to participate in the Kingdom of God with him.  He has filled us with gifts & talents and has told us to "work the field". (1 Corinthians 3:8-9) 

For the disciples it cost them their lives but the world heard the Good News.  We are God's ambassadors, his representatives to tell the world , to inform the lost of the this inheritance that can be theirs too.  It may cost us....their is always a price to pay.  Naboth was not willing to waiver on that which the Lord had given him, he was not going to compromise. We are God's inheritance and he is ours.   Help us to be faithful to the call. 

God bless you!~Liz

www.lizrod.com

Spontaneous Praise

Romans 1:20 (NIV)

 

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

As I drove home one day last week...I was in my car and as usual and I begin to talk with the Lord....you see I kept hearing this light noise...but could not figure out what it was.  So as I'm driving on Route 17M...I'm saying...Lord what is that....what's that noise....I'm looking around in my car thinking something maybe is rolling on the floor or can it be my tires..or something mechanical making noise....then my eyes began to focus on my windshield....the day was overcast..nothing extra-ordinary...then I begin asking the Lord....could it be hail....Lord I would love to see hail....I don't see anything Lord....let it be hail ( I'm marveled by hail)

It's not just your typical ice storm like we recently had...it was overcast...not cold...I did not see any precipitation....so as I kept looking...and tiny......tiny........ little pieces of ice begin to bounce off my windshield...call me crazy...laugh if you will (it's good medicine) ... but I began to worship the Lord...yes worship the Lord for the hail...for rain...for the wind..for the sunshine...it was what

I like to call...Spontaneous Praise....it made my heart glad...I think my Father in heaven also was moved....His daughter...driving home...amazed by something He created....yes...He created......... The "Awe" was focused back to the Awesome One!

Look today...for that moment of spontaneous praise that can move the Heart of the Father..as his children marvel at what he has made...making it evident that He is the Creator....of everything.....

Marvel at this: Wikipedia Unlike ice pellets hail stones are layered and can be irregular and clumped together. Hail is composed of transparent ice or alternating layers of transparent and translucent ice.....

God bless you!Liz

www.lizrod.com

Our Offering

Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. (Deuteronomy 11:16)

I pray you have been reading along with me, the Book of Malachi. I can't help but see the broken heart of our God as the sacrifices that were being offered lacked fear and reverence. To bring a blind animal, an animal with defect, when the Lord specifically gave instructions on what kind of sacrifice was acceptable to Him. That's like our children going out to the garbage and picking something up we discarded and wrapping it up and saying, "here mom, here dad, I want to express my love to you and thank you for being so good to me."

So today, when we enter the courts of the Lord, what do we bring? I'll make no suggestions because we have all been guilty of bringing something "less than" to the Lord. Father forgive us.  You have made it clear what is pleasing to you. You have been our Provision and from the very bounty that you have given us, we will bring a sacrifice, a gift acceptable to you. Father receive our lives afresh as an offering. May it be acceptable in your sight, our reasonable act of worship.

Let us come into His House with joy and a spirit of celebration as we come to worship our King! 

"When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.  “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the Lord Almighty.  “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty." (Malachi 1:8-11)

God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com

My Testimony

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

In the last week I have received 8 prayer request, which is my pleasure to forward out to you...who pray and intercede on behalf of others. We have received reports of the amazing things that God is doing in our midst. I am encouraged to receive the reports of praise as well;  I count it a privilege to share the needs of others with you.

God bless you! God does hear when we cry out to him!  Cry out! 

My Praise Report | Twelve days ago, on Jan.13, I had a biopsy done. I must testify, that God had given me such Peace from the moment I was told that I needed this procedure done till the moment of the results...it was tangible.  I did not know the report...I did not know what God would do in my life. The one thing that I did know was that God would receive praise & honor from my life, even before the report would be received, therefore I worshiped my God, as always, with all my heart...with all my strength.

You see, it's not only when the report comes back good, the way we want it, that God is worthy of Praise.....NO...it's in the waiting...its in the not knowing...its in the report that we might somewhat dread....God is worthy to be exalted & praised. I asked the ladies of OCF to pray

with and for me and then I presented my request to the congregation as well so they would join me....God is worthy of my Praise!

I am thankful and grateful for God's mercy on my life, as he has preserved my life, once again. The report came back benign the following day...and I am thankful that God has taught me....that in the good times and in what seems bad...God is worthy of Liz's praise! 

God bless you!~Liz
www.lizrod.com