Month: August 2009

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Rooted and Grounded

…that ye, being rooted and grounded in love… (Ephesians 3:17, KJV)

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him… (Colossians 2:17, KJV)

Rooted – “comes from the Greek word ridzo, which means to be firmly and deeply rooted, making the object fixed, steady, stable, and strong.” (Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems from the Greek)

God is love. (1 John4:8, KJV)

We are to be rooted and grounded in love. Last night at church as we read this scripture the minister asked, “What are we to be rooted and grounded in?” My response, “in Him”. He is love.

Many years ago, the Body of Christ received the revelation of the meaning of the Greek word Christ, the Anointed One and His Anointing. So we began reading our Bibles translating this Greek word.

Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27, KJV)

The Anointed One and His Anointing in you the hope of glory.

You can’t separate the two. The Anointed One and His Anointing go together, where you find One you find the Other. You can’t think about Jesus apart from His Anointing. You can’t think of the Anointing apart from Jesus.

So here we are told in our scripture from Ephesians to be rooted in love. And in our scripture from Colossians we are told to be rooted in Him. So which One is it? Both, because you can’t separate God from His love or His love from God. He is love.

When we speak of God’s love, we are not speaking of something He has or something He does, we are talking about Who He is. He loves because He is love. As I heard someone put it, He loves because He can’t help Himself. It’s Who He is. His very Essence, His very Being is Love. When we speak of His Presence, it is the Presence of Love Himself.

For in him we live, and move, and have our being… (Acts 17:28, KJV)

He is love. In Love we live and move and have our being. Rooted not only in the fact that He loves us, but rooted in the Love that He is. Rooted in agape, not just the God-kind of love, but in the God Who is Love.

As Christians we are to renew our minds daily, change our way of thinking. The most important change that needs to take place is to always have that fact that God is love and the fact that He loves us and He loves others at the forefront of our minds at all times.

When something bad happens and the enemy tries to accuse God, we will reject that thought because we know Him as He really is. He is love and love would not do that. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came that we might have abundant life.

When some bad situation arises and the enemy tells us there’s no hope, there’s no way out, we will reject that because we will know there is a way out. My Father loves me and He will show me the way out. His plans for me, Love’s plans for me, are for peace and well-being not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11).

When someone acts ugly and the enemy would have us reject them, we will reject that thought instead of the person and say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” We will be free to love with His love. Free to love unconditionally.

We will find ourselves steady, stable and strong in this world, no matter what comes, as we are firmly and deeply rooted… fixed, steady, and stable… strong in Love Himself!

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You Are…

Picked up a new song from iTunes last week. “Beautiful” by Gateway Worship. One of the lines says, “I just want to dwell on Who You are.” This stirs so many beautiful thoughts in my heart. Here are just a few.

You are Love. Forever patient and kind.

You are the One Who made that love mine.

You are my wisdom, my Guide and my Light.

You took my blind eyes and gave me sight.

You are My Father, Who cares for me.

You are my life. The very reason I breathe.

You are My Savior, Who bled and died.

You are the One Who has called me your Bride.

You created the beauty I see.

You are My King, I bow to Thee.

You caused the waves in my life to cease.

You are my calm, My Prince of Peace.

You are the Wisdom I seek every day.

You are the reason my heart sings today.

You are so awesome there is none like You.

And because of all this, I worship You.

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Turn to Me

Daddy spoke the most precious words to my heart a few weeks ago. They blessed me so much just hearing Him speak them to my heart. But as much as they blessed me that day, they continue to bless me more than I ever could have imagined. Just as I turn to encounter a new situation His words are stirred up once again in my heart and I see in them the answer to my need. This Word, His Word is alive and active in my heart and in my life! And I will never be the same again.

For I will be leaning toward you with favor and regard for you, rendering you fruitful, multiplying you, and establishing and ratifying My covenant with you. (Leviticus 26:9, Amplified)

I have read these words before. I have heard these words before. But now I hear Him speaking them to me.

There is so much that has happened since I heard these words. So many wonderful things I could share, but today I have just one word from this scripture on my heart to share with you. It’s the word leaning.

We have read much of our leaning on Him.

For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]… (Colossians 1:4, Amplified)

O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You… (Psalms 25:2, Amplified)

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. (Proverbs 3:5, Amplified)

I am leaning on You.

And now here in this scripture from Leviticus He speaks of leaning toward me. The King of the Universe is leaning toward me. He’s not hesitating. He’s not holding back. His posture is one that is moving in my direction.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8, KJV)

In the King James, Leviticus 26:9 says, “For I will have respect unto you.” That Hebrew word for respect means, “to turn toward; to turn and do; to turn and look”. David (the beloved) used this same Hebrew word.

Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. (Psalm 69:16, KJV)

Hear and answer me, O Lord, for Your loving-kindness is sweet and comforting; according to Your plenteous tender mercy and steadfast love turn to me. (Psalm 69:16, Amplified)

I love the sound of those words… Turn to me.

But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned toward them because of His covenant… (2 Kings 13:23, Amplified)

Turn to Him today… as He turns toward you.

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Clothed with Light

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light… Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh… (Romans 13:12, 14; KJV)

…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5, KJV)

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. (1 John 2:10, KJV)

As I read Romans 13:12 today from the King James I thought to myself, “That sounds so poetic. The night is far spent, that day is at hand…”

But this is not just poetry, it is reality. I read this scripture in the New Living Translation as well. This is what it said.

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. (Romans 13:12, NLT)

…Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 13:14, NLT)

How do you clothe yourself with His Presence? By putting on the armor of right living.

You may be thinking, “Now wait a minute, what about grace?”

If it wasn’t for grace we wouldn’t be able to live righteously. But thank God we have His grace living in us, because we have His Spirit living in us.

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully)… (James 4:6, Amplified)

Pastor Terri Pearsons, one of my Pastors, once said, that in the Old Testament they did the works to become righteous. In the New Testament, we have been made righteous so we could do the works. And when we do those works, we release the power of righteousness, God’s righteousness that makes everything right.

So here we have this power in us. Christ in you the hope of Glory. Christ being the Anointed One and His Anointing. We see reference to this power in many other scriptures as well.

By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints… [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead… (Ephesians 1:18-20, Amplified)

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11, KJV)

He who believes on Me… as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow… rivers of living water… He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed… in Him were afterward to receive. For the [Holy] Spirit had not yet been given… (John 7:38, Amplified)

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages… (Ephesians 3:20-21, KJV)

By the power that works in us. To Him be Glory in the church. How do you release the power? By walking righteously by the power of His Holy Spirit at work in us. (See Galatians 5:22-25, the fruit of the Spirit).

…[the work which His presence within accomplishes]…. (Galatians 5:22, Amplified)

What is righteous living? Doing what God says is right. Remember God is love. Righteous living is doing what Love says is right.

…for he who loves his neighbor… has fulfilled the Law… (Romans 13:8, Amplified)

The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet… and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. (Romans 13:9, Amplified)

…love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law. (Romans 13:10, Amplified)

Walking in light releases God’s glory in the church for this age.

…God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5, KJV)

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. (1 John 2:10, KJV)

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. (Romans 13:12, NLT)

Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ… (Romans 13:14, KJV)

“Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ” by walking in love.

…For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! (Romans 8:18, Amplified)

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I Sing of Your Love

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.

And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

And when Judah came toward the watchtower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. (2 Chronicles 20:21-22, 24; KJV)

We’ve all read and heard of this account. A mighty army is marching toward Jerusalem ready to wipe her off the map. Her enemies have joined forces. Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, seeks the LORD, because without Him they have no hope. But they are not without Him! Neither are we.

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid or dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15, KJV)

Now many of us remember this account because of the strategy Judah’s army used to go into battle. They put the singers out front. I’ve heard many a preacher say, “How would you like to be one of those singers marching out in front of that army into battle?” But as we know, they never had to physically battle anyone that day. Because when they started singing, God moved and the multitude was defeated. Not one escaped.

As I read this account today one little detail stood out to me. What were they singing? In the King James it says they sang, “Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.” Here’s what it says in the New Living Translation.

Give thanks to the LORD: his faithful love endures forever! (2 Chronicles 20:21, NLT)

They were singing of His love! It is the Hebrew word hesed… God’s unfailing love.

What are you facing today? Open your heart and your mouth and begin to sing of His love!

Lyrics from the song, I Could Sing of Your Love Forever:

Over the mountains and the sea,

Your river runs with love for me,

And I will open up my heart

And let the Healer set me free.

I’m happy to be in the truth,

And I will daily lift my hands:

For I will always sing of when

Your love came down.

I could sing of Your love forever.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136, NLT)

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His Love For Me

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39, Amplified)

Faced with many very trying circumstances in the last few weeks. More than enough to warrant feeling very discouraged. But only if I had my eyes on the wrong thing. Only if I was thinking on and meditating on the wrong thoughts. But by the grace of God I’ve turned my eyes on Jesus and turned my thoughts to the Father’s love for me.

Nothing can ever separate me from His love…  the love of the Creator of the Universe. Neither death nor life. I am more than a conqueror no matter what I face. Why? Because of Him Who loved me.

David faced a giant with no fear. David faced discouragement, but encouraged himself in the Lord. David whose name means beloved.

My beloved is mine and I am his… (Song of Solomon 2:16, Amplified)

His love drives out all fear (1 John 4:18). No matter what loss or separation we may face in this earth, one thing we can never be separated from is His love.

When things are going right I have His love. When things are going wrong… I have His love. Whether things are up or things are down, I have one guaranteed constant in my life, His love for me. How awesome is that?

Think on these things 🙂

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Our Father

I spend most days visiting and praying with people in hospitals. I’m there in His Name, with His Word and His Spirit, sharing His love. And during my times there I see God do the sweetest things for people and hear God say the sweetest things to people.

That’s just what happened earlier today. The person I was praying with was moved to tears and asked God to teach them His ways.

I sensed compassion rise in my heart and I said something straight from the heart of God that ministered to me as much as it did the other person.

Parents teach their children how to tie their shoes. Right? Right.

During this time of training what do the parents do when the children’s shoes need to be tied? They help their children tie their shoes.

Our Father which art in heaven… (Luke 11:2, KJV)

Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4-5, KJV)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9, Amplified)

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things… (John 14:26, KJV)

Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. (John 16:15, Amplified)

We are being taught. We are being trained. And along the way we are also be helped… by Our Heavenly Father.

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Time With You

It’s been a very busy last few weeks. So many pressing needs. People in need. Broken air conditioner in need of repair. Laundry to do. Meetings to attend. Meals to cook. Calls to return. Emails to answer. Mail to go through. Traffic to wait in.

Today I sit and wait. Missing a meeting. One song plays in my heart reminding me there’s one thing in this world I have to make time for… sitting with Him.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word… And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:39,41-42; KJV)

And the ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word; Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. (Mark 4:18-19, Amplified)

I tell the things which I have seen and learned at My Father’s side… (John 8:38, Amplified)

Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. (Song of Solomon 2:13, KJV)

Here are some of the words from the song playing in my heart today. Reminding me of what is most important in this world.

There He was just waiting
In our old familiar place
An empty spot beside Him
Where once I used to wait
To be filled with strength and wisdom
For the battles of the day
I would have passed Him by again
If I didn’t hear him say,
I miss My time with you
Those moments together
I need to be with you each day
And it hurts Me when you say
You’re too busy
Busy trying to serve Me
But how can you serve Me
When your spirit’s empty
There’s a longing in My heart
Wanting more than just a part of you
It’s true, I miss My time with you

~I Miss My Time With You, by Larnell Harris