It's Happening...

(originally written March 2, 2005, republished November 30, 2009)

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. -– Psalm 91:7

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. -- Genesis 50:20

You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me. -- Psalm 118:13

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. -– Habakkuk 2:3

 

When I used to go through a testing period, before I came to know the Lord and understand that He has a specific plan for my life, I would cry, whine, throw fits, ask “why me?” and basically act like the child I was. But now that I’m grown, I have put childish things away and now look to the Father for the reason for the present test. Don’t get me wrong, there are still times when I give in to the flesh and forget Whose child I am, but those periods don’t last long, and Daddy, by His Holy Spirit, gently chides me and reminds me of my reason for living.

I do not in any way liken myself to any of the biblical Hall of Faith honorees, far from it. I do however, see the seeds of similarity in some of the situations in which I have found myself. Like when the Lord explains that I only went through “that” for His Glory, I gain a little understanding of Job’s faithfulness. Or when someone operates against me in an ungodly way, yet I still emerge the victor, I catch a glimpse of what Joseph must have felt like. Well, I had a “Jonah-like” experience recently and I would like to encourage anyone who has strayed to get back to where you need to be before Daddy takes a switch to you!

I had a bit of a fall Monday night and bruised my hip. No big deal, but it is relevant to the story. I had class last night, Tuesday, and was not looking forward to sitting for two-and-a-half hours on a bruised hip, so Tuesday morning, while at work, I took some painkillers to ease the discomfort. By the time I left work to get to class, I had forgotten to take another dose before I left and so by the time class began, I was in pain again. Forty-five minutes into class I am having problems concentrating because of the pain, so I excuse myself to go home. I do not have my own car yet, so I take the bus to get to where I need to go.

I get to the bus stop about five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. I am standing there for about two minutes when two police cruisers go flying by, sirens blaring, lights flashing. The location of the bus stop is two blocks from the police station, so though exciting, it’s not a rarity. Well, a minute later, I hear a major collision to my right, and so, naturally, my attention is drawn in that direction. What happens next is definitely a rarity, at least in my life…

I see a white SUV come barreling out of a parking lot (the collision I heard was the SUV hitting a compact car). The SUV is now trying to flee the scene and decides to go the wrong way up a four-lane one way main street. Now mind you, there are buses and cars coming down this street at their regular pace, not expecting to see a car coming towards them at top speed, so now chaos begins to ensue as vehicles brake and screech and try unsuccessfully to get out of the way. The SUV is hitting vehicles left and right, trying to flee in the wrong direction and seeing no other way out, jumps the curb and starts barreling towards me!!!

Y’all, all I could do was call on the name of Jesus. I couldn’t even scream it. I just kept calling His Name because there was nothing else I could do. There was nowhere for me to go. If I jumped to the left I would be in the street in the path of other vehicles, and the right was blocked by a five-foot high chain-link fence that ran the entire block length. So here I am hanging on to the fence, calling Jesus, and seeing my life flash before me as this vehicle is heading straight for me. Jesus heard me and put His Hand out and the SUV veers to the left, his right, into oncoming traffic, fewer than 50 feet from hitting me. It takes off, continuing on its extremely reckless wrong way path up the one-way with now six or seven police cruisers chasing it. All this happens in under a minute.

The moment the wail of the sirens die down, my knees buckle, and I begin to hyperventilate. There was a gentleman waiting for the same bus who had to talk me down from my heightened state of panic.I used to live in New York City, the city reputed to have the highest crime rate, or at least gets the most publicity about its crime, and I have never experienced the things I have experienced since moving to Delaware, reputedly the slow state. I was ready, at that moment, to move back to New York. But I digress…

On my way home, you better believe I had a serious talk with God. I just knew that the enemy was after my life and that God had such a big thing planned for me that the enemy was angry and was trying to take me out before it manifested (you know, the things we’re taught to think in some instances of adversity).After He got a Word in edgewise , He let me know that my life was never in danger, but I needed a wake up call. You know that got my attention.

My prayer and study life had seriously slacked off and I knew it had, but I kept letting it get away from me. I am a warrior for God, but I can’t go into battle without armor, or with rusty weapons, and believe me, if the enemy had truly come up against me, he would have been the victor and I could have blamed no one but myself. If God had not stretched out His Hand and protected my life from all the unseen dangers I am sure have occurred, while I found my way back to Him, I would already be asleep in my grave, another unfinished story.

God has been gracious enough to show me little pieces of the part I am to play in His Plan and I can neither sit idly by nor skate on prior experience; I have to stay in the Word, guard my heart with prayer and fasting, and be ever vigilant against the distractions the enemy keeps throwing my way to keep me from doing just that. I used to fool myself into thinking that because some parts of the vision had not yet manifested that I had time to “take a vacation” and relax in my duties as a soldier. Let me tell you, NOT SO!!! Don’t slack off, be ever ready, in season and out, not just because you never know when God is going to call upon you to perform the duties to which He called you, but also because the enemy roams about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (see 1 Peter 5:8).Many soldiers have been devoured simply because they slacked off and their armor wasn’t in place when the attack came.

God made us in His image and in His likeness for His purpose (Colossians 1:16). How dare we take that workmanship and grace for granted? I took the moments of free time to relax instead of delving deeper into my relationship with my Father. If God hadn’t been gracious, it might have cost me my life.I am a part of God’s plan, whether or not I see or feel it. You are a part of God’s plan, whether or not you realize or recognize it. We are a part of God’s orchestra and choir—every instrument and voice is vital and plays an extremely important part, no matter how small it may appear to the human eye. Your part may be one note at the end of the movement, but though the vision tarries, wait for it, for it shall speak and not lie (Habakkuk 2:3).

God allowed me to live through a harrowing experience just to show me that He is still in control, that He still values me, but that I must do my part. I am still to encourage others as together we strive toward the mark of the prize of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:14). I am still to speak words to the weary (see Isaiah 50:4). I am still to overcome obstacles with the Blood of The Lamb and the Word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11). God is still my refuge and my strength (Psalm 46:1), my battleaxe (see Jeremiah 51:20), the lifter of my head (see Psalm 3:3). He still keeps a fiery hedge of protection around me, but that doesn’t mean He won’t let me experience the adrenaline rushes that sometimes come to kick me out of my complacency.

So the enemy comes like a flood against me, I know that The Spirit of God lifts up a standard (seeIsaiah 59:19) and all I have to do is fall in behind it. So what if attacks come from without and within (see 2 Corinthians 7:5)? Greater is He Who dwells within me, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).What can man do to me when God is on my side (see Psalm 118:6)? He is the God of my salvation (seeExodus 15:2;Psalm 18:2, 46; Psalm 25:5;Psalm 68:20), the author and finisher of my faith (seeHebrews 12:1-2). So what, I don’t see the physical manifestation yet of the vision? I know to wait for it; God spoke it, so that settles it. It’s happening!

I encourage you to wait on God. If He made a promise to you and you have done all He has instructed you to do, then stand still and see His salvation. He promises that His Word will not return to Him void; it will accomplish the task it was sent to accomplish (see Isaiah 55:11). But your part is vital. Search your heart, have you done all you were supposed to do? Have you put off doing the unpleasant part until a more opportune time? Do you realize that you could not only have been delaying your own blessing, but someone else’s? You’ve heard this all before, so why are you still standing there gazing at a spot from where the anointing has now passed. Get moving to where The Lord is leading you. I have heard many preachers say that many of us are stuck on what God said, instead of moving into what God is saying. But that’s a message for another time…

Be blessed of the Lord! Receive His Word readily, preach it joyfully, live it completely!

 

Lovingly submitted,

The Psalmist

Give, and you will receive

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Give, and you will receive

Luke 6:38 says, in the New Living Translation, "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. ”

One of the gifts GOD has laid on this servant is the gift of exhortation. Those of you who share this mantle know that the enemy comes against us more often than others with darts of depression, attacks of despair, slings of criticism, barbs of hurts, bombs of insecurities, bullets of rejection, and countless other weapons of offenses to make us move backward and not fulfill our purpose. There have been many a day when I've given in to the flesh, taken my eyes off JESUS and focused on the problem, but then I'm reminded that I am not alone in this and that GOD has me surrounded by angels on every side and that it is HE WHO fights my battles for me.

I am not a "Mary Sunshine," far from it, but when I hear, see or sense another being beaten down, that gift is stirred up, and no matter what I'm facing in my own life, I am compelled to encourage that dear one to keep putting one foot in front of the other, to let them know that someone is here who is willing to listen or just to let them know that they did not just "fall into a void."

This stirs up the WORD within me that has been deposited by wise men and women of GOD over the past decades, the WORD that is written on my heart and worn around my neck with pride. It then encourages my own spirit to keep moving forward and accomplish GOD's plan for me in HIS grand scheme, until HE sends JESUS to come get me.

I encourage anyone who reads this to do the same. Whenever you're feeling down, use GOD's accounting system: if you need something, give it away, because in many days, that bread that you cast on the waters will return to you. And don't give grudgingly or stingily because that's exactly what you'll receive. Give cheerfully and amply, because the more room you make by giving of yourself, the more room you'll have to receive what The LORD has been waiting to pour into you. And on days when I'm feeling really up, I can pour out of the abundance of joy and share with others and bring a smile, a laugh, and blow on a guttering ember.

One other thing, while you're encouraging another, this will keep your focus off your own situation, and give The HOLY SPIRIT time and space to work on it for you without your interference...

Be abundantly blessed!

The Psalmist

HIS Way only!

Originally published April 5, 2010

HIS Way only!


You know how we try to teach babies to "self-soothe" to keep them from needing to be picked up whenever they start crying? Well, that's what the Lord was teaching me today.

You ever have one of those days where things just don't go your way, no matter how hard you try? You push, you pull, you scream, you yell, you pout, you frown, you use every manipulative tactic you've learned over the years, but to no avail. No matter what I did, the Lord still kept me from getting my own way. He was not going to give in to my tantrums, and He was not going to answer just because I was screaming. I was not happy, especially since HIS way required me to humiliate myself. No, I did not give any thought to the sacrifice He'd made, celebrated only just this past weekend, uh uh! My flesh wanted satisfaction, and it wanted it NOW! So I did not have a good day, to say the least.

I, uhm, was trying to deal with a few issues today and instead of first running to the Word for advice and direction, I tried tackling things in my own strength. Well, that didn't work, so I ended up having to take a walk in order to get myself back under some semblance of control. When I finally calmed down enough to humbly return to my Father's lap, He chided me by leading me to Galatians 5:19-24 (below).

Getting chastised is never pleasant, but you know what? Being left out in the cold without receiving necessary chastisement is even worse! I am soooooo glad that God still loves me enough to allow me to come back, even after such shameful behavior.

The following is straight from the Word of God; the version, The Message Bible.
19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom.

22-23 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

23-24 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

I pray this blesses someone, and keeps them from making the same stupid mistakes I did!





Lovingly submitted,

The Psalmist

Oooops, too bad

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Oooops, too bad!

You know, the devil is really stupid!

He keeps trying me and doesn't seem to recognize that I have been taught by some of the wisest saints around, and when their lessons don't apply to a particular situation, GOD Himself, through HIS SON, by HIS MOST HOLY SPIRIT is a Wonderful Counselor!

The month has only just begun, but it's been hellish already. No details, but on top of the emotional turmoil, my hormones have been in overdrive and anger seemed to be the emotion of the day, both from without and within. Crying and screaming for the last three days didn't do much to alleviate the situation; the problem was still there after all the emotional upheavals. So then I was right back at square one, only on top of things, I was emotionally imbalanced and hoarse.

I thought I had worked on the source of the problem, but as before, I was only treating the symptoms. Well today, I got to work on the source, and on top of it, I went into warfare mode--laying prayer, praise, worship and scripture at the root of the problem while I tackled some major physical work. I'm worn out, but so much better! I am going to sleep tonight! I have some heavy-duty spiritual warriors in my camp and we're going to knock the devil out with a one-two-three-four punch (see, a simple one-two punch is not going to bring this one down). We're bringing the triple threat right to his neighborhood. We're binding the strongman in his own house and not allowing him access to those areas ANYMORE!!!! HE shoulda known that the more he messed with the children of GOD that we were going to come back with Daddy, and he was going to get his butt whupped!!!!

I still have some other things to work on, but this one thing I know, and I stand on, "Nothing can separate me from the love of GOD. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from GOD’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of GOD that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

From the inside out

Friday, May 14, 2010

From the inside out

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23:27-28

I had to go on a personal retreat a little while ago because I found myself so frustrated and so angry that I was ready to give up. Not on myself, but on this new assignment that Jesus has set before me. I know that to whom much is given, much is also required, but sometimes I just wanted to be like a kid and "coast" on my laurels, y'know, the good deeds I'd already done, and not have to work out my own soul's salvation anymore. As always, The Holy Spirit gently chided me and encouraged me to just step back, come away for a while and take some time to spend with Him. So, I went on a fast, cutting off all communication, entertainment, food, water, everything until I had an answer to what was going on with me. The scripture above is only a little of what was revealed to me.

As we each embark on the paths laid out for us by GOD, we have to be mindful of the reasons we do certain things. Many motives are tainted by worldly desires, and because of this, so many of us have failed to recognize is that we're building our lives on shaky foundations. Every once in a while, we may heed the voice of The Lord and check ourselves and fix this or repair that, but as with so much in today's society, we're treating symptoms and not the problem. In order to truly follow after Christ and walk the path HE walked, we need to "perform necessary spiritual/mental/emotional surgery" and deal with the root of the problem, or we'll always be circling the same problem, coming back to the same starting point and eventually giving up on attaining the goal.

Before the surgery is performed, however, we have to take self-inventory, and really be truthful with ourselves about what is causing the reaction that leads us to self-destructive behavior, whatever the behavior. For example, self-pity doesn't just happen, something made a person feel so insecure that they retreat to a place of self-pity. Also, self-pity manifests itself in multiple ways, from the withdrawn wallflower to the whiny overachiever, always looking for someone else's approval. We have to make the correct diagnosis in order to perform the surgery, and there often is no quick fix. We have to be ready to unearth the tough memories, answer the uncomfortable questions and face the truth in order to move forward effectively. Sure, tears may be shed, but tears have an amazingly wonderful cleansing effect; they can make things so much clearer once they're shed.

Well, while The Lord and I communed, so much of what was causing my anguish came to the surface, but what was also revealed was that the outward efforts I was making were not going to do me any good until I make an effort to heal from the past. I know that I had held on to some things all because they made me feel "powerful," but that was so stupid, because all it made me become was bitter. I had to come to grips with my shortcomings and my flaws. I had to accept me for me, no matter how much I wanted to be something or someone else. GOD had given me to me as me for a specific purpose, and no matter how much I tried to change, the fundamentals would always be the same because that's just how HE made me. You know that saying, "No matter where you go, there you are?" Well, that about said it.

I was given certain gifts and I was given instructions on how to operate in those gifts, but my disobedience (partial, delayed, or total) caused a malfunction on the way. The malfunction snowballed and I found myself back where I started because GOD is not going to let me move forward until the step I was on was completed. I wanted to shine in areas that I liked and bury the ones I didn't like; not so. I had to complete every step, no matter how unpleasant or fearsome. I have to speak to people I hate, I have to minister to spirits I fear, I have to work with people with whom I would not normally associate, but they were all placed in my path for a purpose. I may not always know the purpose, but because all things work together for the good of them who love GOD, who are the called according to HIS purpose, I have to do it in order to move forward.

I can't make it through this battle without some scars, but there is a Balm in Gilead, and even Jesus rested while HE ministered to the multitudes. I have to do this thing from the inside out, not the outside in. I don't want to deliver a powerful message, but be all jacked up on the inside, aching from unhealed wounds because I failed to heed vital instructions.

I want to be a living testimony to someone, happily skipping down the street, not just wearing a smile on my face, but a smile on my soul as well because I am truly joyful. I am going to continue this cleansing process because it's how Jesus wants me. Holiness is what Jesus wants for me and because HE died for me to have it, I can do no less but to die to self and strive for that holiness. I must keep my face set like flint, my eyes on the goal set before me, being mindful at all times on things above.

Prayerfully submitted,

The Psalmist

Okay, fine...WHATEVAH!!!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Okay, fine...WHATEVAH!!!

Wow! There is a saying: "You ain't been done, 'til you've been done by church folk!"

I thought I'd experienced it before, but nothing like what I've been experiencing of late. Getting calls from strange people venting about something that either they should have no business venting about, or venting to me about something in which I'm not even involved.

The Bible teaches us to take the log out of our own eye before removing the mote out of our brother's eye. I've received a "stern talking to" from someone who, frankly, has no business speaking to me about anything except everyday pleasantries. The sad thing about their concern was they had the power to rectify it, but instead chose to chew somebody else out in order to boost their social standing and their ego. I'm quite a bit perturbed, but because GOD is my source (of strength, longsuffering, patience, love, kindness) and HE has placed angels around my mouth to guard my tongue, I simply listened respectfully (which they acknowledged), took some of their advice, handed "the plate" to someone else and stepped out of the situation.

I will receive manifold, abundant, overflowing blessings because of my faithfulness I've been told, but in the meantime, I endure...

I'm tired...

Saying goodbye and letting go...

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Saying goodbye and letting go...

Too many times in this life we hold onto things from which we should be free. I give warning here that some observations may prove to be too painful for some, or too soon for others to read, so guard your heart and govern yourself accordingly.

I have been fasting and praying, seeking GOD's face about some things. What HE has revealed has both hurt and healed me, but because I know that "all things work together for the good of them who love GOD, who are the called according to HIS purpose," and "whom the Father loves, those HE also chastises," I received my Daddy's instructions and am in desperate effort implementing them.

When a loved one is on their deathbed, be it literal or spiritual, we must go to GOD to find out what is HIS next step. We can't just wail and moan, crying out to save them or heal them; that might not be HIS plan. Too many times we are trying to hold onto someone who wants to go home, who is tired of fighting, or who knows that they have fought the good fight and kept the faith and it's time to say goodbye. Of course, we will miss them, especially if they are a close family member, a best friend, or even a beloved pet. But we have to remember that this is not our home, we are just travelers through it, and holding on to that worn out vessel is not good for either of us/you.

We are meant to be dynamic, not static, and moving on is what we are supposed to do after our assignment is complete. This is not to negate the scriptures that say, "greater things than this will you do," or "you shall lay hands on the sick and they will recover," far from it, but we still are subject to GOD's plan and we must be ever mindful of HIS next instructions. Yes, we have been given the power and authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, open blinded eyes, unstop deaf ears, etc., but the power and authority comes from GOD and we still have to operate under HIS jurisdiction. If HE says that it's time to let that loved one go, then that we must do. We cannot weep like those who have no hope, even if we erroneously feel that they were the last one in the Earth left to us. (Side note here: I said "erroneously" on purpose because no matter how alone you may seem or feel, you are never truly alone. Just take the time to look around you, and GOD will show you who's truly in your corner.)

I have to say goodbye to someone soon, and it's breaking my heart, but it's GOD's instructions. I knew my heart would be broken, but since I left it in HIS capable hands, the pain would be fleeting. Even though I haven't said goodbye yet, I am already feeling the healing of my broken heart and I'm at peace. I urge you, if you have to say goodbye to someone, and you know without a shadow of a doubt that "this is it," seek GOD's face and climb up into HIS lap to receive your instructions and comfort, because only there will you find the solace and strength to keep going...

Lovingly submitted,

The Psalmist.

Speak LIFE!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Speak LIFE!

Proverbs 18:21 says, in the New Living Translation, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

Be ever mindful of the words exiting your mouth. I had just updated my status on another site stating that "I was feeling blue..." but as soon as I hit the enter button, I felt a check in my spirit and the above scripture brought to the surface. WOW! Even the ones who are supposed to be teaching the lessons should be teachable. I have been duly admonished and I receive it...

We reap the benefits or consequences of our words, whether or not we recognize or accept it. What we speak out into the atmosphere are anchors from which angels and demons carry out orders. They then return to that anchor, that source of good or evil spoken, and deliver the fruit of those words. If we speak good, then GOD can step in and bless; conversely, if we speak evil, the enemy can step in and wreak havoc.

Because my body and emotions aren't feeling their best today, I should have used that opportunity to speak life to them instead of voicing the already obvious. I can now negate that previous statement by stating that GOD's Love flows through me so freely, my heart, my soul, my spirit, my mind cannot help but leap for joy. This is not only truth, but medicine to my soul.

Speak well to yourself. Speak well of yourself. You will be the benefactor of and the resource for even more blessings.

The Psalmist.

From the heart to the mouth

Thursday, June 3, 2010

From the heart to the mouth

Luke 6:45 (NLT) says: A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

I was just reading someone's favorite quotation and the above scripture came bubbling to the surface. The quotation was, "If you find yourself in an ugly situation, chances are your ugly thoughts brought it into manifestation. Change your thinking and you will change your life."

This just continues my thought process from yesterday's post because what we say, we have. We speak prosperity in JESUS, we have it, we speak pain in this world, we have it. So again, be mindful of what you speak.

But now, we go deeper, let's journey to the source of what comes out of your mouth. Your mouth will often speak what is in your heart. If you are feeling misery, try to speak joy to overcome that miserable seed that's trying to germinate and grow. Don't feed that misery, KILL IT!!! If you are feeling joy, feed it and it will grow until it just bubbles over and infects those around you.

If you're around someone who is perpetually gloomy, MOVE AWAY! Their pessimistic demon will constantly try to sow seeds into you. If you continue in their presence, those seeds will germinate and grow and choke out that spring of joy that once sprang up so effervescently in you.

I don't mean to demean or belittle anyone's genuine immediate emotional response. Yes, sadness comes when sad situations arise. I'm not referring to the situations that temporarily arise, I'm talking about the perpetuation of negativity on an ongoing basis. The enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy, and would like nothing better than to destroy all the positive life GOD has bestowed to us all. If the enemy can't kill us physically, he'll work on our minds. If he doesn't succeed there, he'll work on our emotions. If he doesn't succeed there, he'll seek some other weakness on which to work. This is why we need to keep our armors polished and our prayers, praise and worship on point and ever-ready!!! When circumstances arise that bring a negative response to the forefront, before it has a chance to burst from your lips, counter it with a praise! If we continue to do this, we will indeed defeat the enemy at every turn because he won't know what to do if we keep praising GOD through every stupid situation he throws our way.

I'll close this post with another of my favorite scriptures because it pretty much wraps up my thoughts for today...

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8

Lovingly submitted,

The Psalmist

OVERFLOWING!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

OVERFLOWING!

Oh! If I had the words to adequately describe what I'm feeling today...

Last night at the Prayer and Healing Service I experienced an encounter with GOD I have been seeking for a long time. I experienced something like it years ago at a few of our annual Women's Weekends of Restoration, but because GOD meets us at our present need and doesn't need to repeat anything because HE is THE CREATOR, HE took me to a place I've not seen or felt or heard in a while. HE wants me to reach out to HIM again as I used to, to seek after HIM as I used to, to run after HIM as the deer that pants for the brook's water.

It was like being washed thoroughly; every concern, ache and pain was just washed away. I wept with joy as HE spoke directly to me (I'm crying again at the remembrance of it..). And when I came home, I slept as I haven't in months.

I urge you, if you haven't been to that place of intimacy with THE LORD GOD, get there and yearn to get there in every waking moment. It's indescribable! I tried, but the words here are not even pale in comparison to what really happened.

We are anticipating a "Sound" that only those who are in tune with the HOLY SPIRIT will be able to hear. We are praying for the Body of Christ to unify and do what it was commissioned to do. Then the "Sound" will come like a mighty rushing wind to sweep through the land and give credence to the miracles that will be almost commonplace. But for that to occur, the people of GOD need to humble ourselves and pray, seek HIS FACE, and turn from our wicked ways. THEN GOD SAYS, HE will hear from Heaven and forgive our sin and heal our land.

The need to do that is so overwhelming right now, I can't help but rejoice that GOD still has mercy enough to reiterate instructions on how to regain HIS EAR as HE stands waiting with open arms to receive us unto HIMSELF again. HE wants us to be whole, HE wants us to run and not be weary, HE wants us to prosper as our souls prosper, but we have to want it as well.

My brothers, my sisters, as you ponder your place in HIS plan, seek HIS FACE as you haven't before, not for new instructions, but to get clarity on what you missed in the previous set of instructions. HE will not allow us to move forward without each step being complete. Sit quietly before HIM. Let HIS presence envelope you and when you have been released, do what HE has commanded.

We need this like never before. There is a "SOUND!"

The Psalmist

It's On You!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

It's On You!

Joshua 14:6-15 (The Message):
The people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite spoke: "You'll remember what God said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me back at Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of God sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. And I brought back an honest and accurate report. My companions who went with me discouraged the people, but I stuck to my guns, totally with God, my God. That was the day that Moses solemnly promised, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance, you and your children's, forever. Yes, you have lived totally for God.' Now look at me: God has kept me alive, as he promised. It is now forty-five years since God spoke this word to Moses, years in which Israel wandered in the wilderness. And here I am today, eighty-five years old! I'm as strong as I was the day Moses sent me out. I'm as strong as ever in battle, whether coming or going. So give me this hill country that God promised me. You yourself heard the report, that the Anakim were there with their great fortress cities. If God goes with me, I will drive them out, just as God said."
Joshua blessed him. He gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite still today, because he gave himself totally to God, the God of Israel.

The name of Hebron used to be Kiriath Arba, named after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.

And the land had rest from war.


This morning during the preacher's sermon, the Lord began to expound on the very Word He was bringing forth through that anointed vessel. Not to say that the Word delivered was incomplete, far from it; the Lord just had more to say to me regarding that particular exposition of scripture.

The preacher explained that Caleb was only one of the two who were sent to spy out the land for the Israelites and brought back a good report; yet he was not an Israelite, he was a Kenizzite. It was explained that he waited for his promise to be fulfilled, and when the time came, he went and laid claim to the very thing that seemed to stand in his way. It was also explained that he did not lose strength as he aged and so was able to make good use of the promise once it was fulfilled.

It's time to stop using that mountain that's standing in your way as an excuse and recognize it for what it really is: your promise. It's not an obstacle, it's your provision. Stop shying away from it and go after it. This particular mountain need not be cast into the sea because it is the heaping, overflowing blessing that has been promised to you, but that others said was too big to overcome. Because of their bad report, you believed that it was not for you for so long, you've grown old just looking at it. That mountain is your inheritance and you have every right to it because it was promised to you. Not as an obstacle, but as a miracle. It's what you have been praying for, but your eyes haven't recognized it yet. It has now been revealed to you, so go and claim it!

That's where the message from that vessel stopped, but God had more for me. He told me to keep reading, and so I continued to the end of the chapter where the last sentence jumped out at me: "And the land had rest from war." That's where my lesson began.

The land and those in it are at war because of your fear to claim that which is rightfully yours, that which the enemy fooled you into thinking was only an obstacle. Once you lay claim to it and walk in your inheritance, the war that rages around you will cease. It won't just cease for you but for all that is connected to you and all that concerns you. But now it's up to you to do what you are called, anointed, appointed, justified and predestined to do. It's on you...

Lovingly submitted,

The Psalmist

Yet holdin' on (Help me believe)

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Yet holdin' on (Help me believe)

Some of you may not be familiar with the "story" that goes with that title. I won't go into it here, just know that in the midst of it all, I'm yet holdin' on, and I encourage you to do the same.

It's getting a little cloudy here, and if I kept my eyes on the clouds gathering, I'd be convinced that the storm about to break would overwhelm me and wash all my hard work away. But because my eyes are fixed on Jesus and His righteousness, I can walk through this storm with my head held high, my hand firmly in HIS and come out the other side stronger than before. I am holding firmly to Philippians 1:6: He Who has begun a great work in you will see it through to completion, until the day of Jesus Christ. God has indeed begun a great work in me (there is too much evidence to disprove the contrary), and because of that very promise, I can't give up, no matter how stormy it gets.

Yet in the midst of it all, despite my constant profession of faith, there are moments when the darkness threatens to close in and the testing of my faith proves just a little difficult. It is then that I look to Jesus and scream, like that man, "Lord I believe, but help Thou my unbelief!" I'm yet holdin' on, but some days, it's a tenuous hold, and I feel like I'm slipping. That's when I know that Jesus definitely is here with me. If it were in my own strength, I would have fallen away a looooong time ago. But because I'm not the only one holding on, because Jesus is holding on to me, HE promised that HE won't let me go, and HE hasn't! So HE's yet holdin' on to me!

For those who are also in a struggle that is sho' nuf testing your faith, below are the lyrics to Kirk Franklin's "Help Me Believe," and hopefully, a working link to the song itself. It acknowledges that we get weak, but we know to Whom to turn during those cloudy times. Be encouraged, and continue to pray!



Help Me Believe
Kirk Franklin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
pp3w-1qNOKU
Just wanna write You a letter,
Have to be very honest with You,
I don’t’ really know how to say this…

I wanna believe
But I’m having a hard time seeing past what I see right now, I see right now.
I wanna be free,
But when I try to fly I realize I don’t know how,
No one showed me how,
Wish I could see,
That this mess I’m in will really work out for my good,
You said it would.
So, if You can hear me,
Can You give me a sign ‘cause I don’t feel You like I should
Please, if You could.

My faith is almost gone,
I can’t hold on much longer,
Take this cup from me.

But if You choose not to, please,
Help me believe,
Can I believe?
Let me believe,
I wanna believe!
I’m no good on my own, please give me another chance!
It’s hard to believe in what I can’t see,
To give You my will, ‘cause Your Will’s better for me.
You can look in my eyes and see,
I wanna believe, believe, believe, believe.

I want You to know…
I wanna believe,
If I never hear I’m sorry I can let it go,
Gotta let you go.
‘Cause it’s killing me.
Jesus, You know how it feels, ‘cause You’ve been hurt before,
Don’t wanna hurt no more.
I’m trying to hear You speak
But my heart is growing weaker,
Take this cup from me.
But if You choose not to, Father…

Please, help me believe,
Can I believe?
Let me believe,
Jesus, I wanna believe!
I feel stuck Lord!
I’ve been here before and can’t take that hurt again!
It’s hard to believe in what I can’t see,
To give You my will,
‘Cause Your Will’s better for me.
You can look in my eyes and see,
I wanna believe, believe, believe, believe.
Believe, believe…

I wanna believe,
When I close my eyes on this side I’ll wake up with You,
More in love with You.
And, and finally,
You will say my race,
It is over and my work is through,
‘Cause I believed in You, oh…
I know dark nights will come,
And some days there’ll be no sunshine,
If You’re too far to see...

Jesus, Help me believe!
Daddy, can I believe?
Father, let me believe.
Savior, I wanna believe!
I’m no good on my own,
Please give me another chance!
PLEASE, it’s hard to believe in what I can’t see,
To give You my will, ‘cause Your Will’s better for me.
But if You look down inside me,
You can look in my eyes and see,
I wanna believe, can’t You see me?
Believe! I’m tryin’ real hard!
Believe! I don’t wanna fail You!
Believe! Jesus, I really wanna!
Believe! My scars will heal.
Believe! I won’t live afraid!
Believe! And this is temporary!
Believe! My season’ll change!
Believe! The curse is over!
Believe! Every yoke is destroyed!
Believe! I’ll live better than my father!
Believe! Instead of happiness, I’ll have joy!
Believe! Like all things.
Believe! You did it before.
Believe! You’ll do it again!
Believe! I just need to…
Believe! I can’t see it…
Believe! Right now I can’t feel it…
Believe! But if I’m gonna have faith…
Believe! I’ve got to…
Believe! That You’ve got me!
Believe! That You’ve got this!
Believe! That You’ve got us!
Believe! I need somebody to…
Believe! I wanna, I wanna let go…
Believe! I wanna give up!
Believe! I’m tired of trying!
Believe! Without You!
Believe! I need You!
Believe! Don’t’ You see me?
Believe! Jesus, I wanna believe!
Jesus! Father! Savior!

A Fight to the Finish

Friday, June 25, 2010

A Fight to the Finish

Ephesians 6:10-20 (The Message)

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

The heading of the above passage in the Bible was so pertinent that I used it as the title for this post. “A Fight to the Finish” is what we need to understand that we are in.

What we also need to understand is that it doesn’t just apply to us individually, but to us as the Body of Christ. Matthew 11:12 says, “And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.” This applies to both the saints bombarding Heaven with our prayers, and the enemies of God attacking with almost overwhelming force.

We have to remain steadfast in prayer, listening for the sound of God’s voice instructing us in each and every step. In these times, we cannot afford to misstep or miss God. Lives depend on it, and not just those with whom we are closely connected. This goes worldwide. While we’re in our individual prayer times, we cannot just confine ourselves to individual prayers; we must uplift all who are affected, remembering that there are others who are going through far worse then we are all over the world.

Amos 3:3 admonishes, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” The Body of Christ is fractured because of all the in-fighting between the “so-called” denominations and between individual church members. When we stop fighting amongst ourselves about these temporal, fleshly concerns, then we’ll begin to resemble the Church that Jesus is returning to receive unto Himself; the one without wrinkle or blemish. How can we do anything constructive in the Kingdom of Heaven if we can’t even come together here on Earth?

If we are to roust the enemy, if we are to bind the strongman, we have to be in agreement to do it effectively. Otherwise, we’re just shuffling him around, passing demons around to each other. We cannot keep fighting amongst ourselves or we will be defeated. Matthew 24:24 warns us: For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Those false ones are already running rampant throughout the nation, deceiving even the very pastors, preachers and prophets we trust. They are being used of the enemy to cause divisions and factions within the Body, and distract the people of God from our true purpose: to lift up the Name of Christ, so that He can draw all men to Him.

We have to arm ourselves with the weapons of our warfare moment by moment. Our hands have been taught to war and our fingers to fight, but we are still to answer to THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, JEHOVAH GOD HIMSELF! When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of The Lord will raise up a standard against him. A standard is a rallying flag, and it’s our job to line up behind it, prepared to shout unto the Lord with a voice of triumph. But in order to be ready to shout, we must be ready to endure until the end, and we can only do that through fervent, effectual prayer.

Prayer will always be the key to winning this battle. It will be in prayer that we receive the instructions for each step we must take, or each test that we must endure, or each rest stop to which we are to retreat. Saints of God, we are in a critical time and our prayers must go up before God as incense and perfume the air, so that He will lean His ear toward us. 2 Chronicles 7:14 states it completely, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and PRAY and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

The Psalmist

Strange, peculiar...

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Strange, peculiar...

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:9-10

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. – 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10

Okay, okay, I know sometimes we don’t see eye to eye, but we still have a lot in common, we just march to the beat of different drummers. Actually, I think our bands are different…well, to be honest, they play totally different tunes…

Hopefully, we still are headed to the same place. Though our paths may look totally different to the natural eye, it’s the same. As long as we are in agreement, we walk together; if we didn’t agree, we couldn’t walk the same path. I don’t refer to the piddly everyday minor disagreements; I mean the core-deep, soul-defining beliefs that direct our decisions. Yes, we are peculiarly alike, my friend, whether you like it or not, different, but alike. GOD designed it that way so that we wouldn’t get bored with each other. We learn from each other simply because of the subtle differences and obvious quirks.

This simple truth was revealed to me on a recent trip to the zoo. I love nature, so anything that has to do with it: plants, animals, air, I love to study. So when the LORD laid it on my heart to take a trip to the zoo, not only didn’t I think it strange, I looked forward to it. Yes, I knew that the animals were not in their natural habitats, yet I could still learn from observing their behaviors, even in those alien places (another lesson for another day.)

I spent the day just wandering aimlessly from habitat to habitat, taking pictures and enjoying the antics of the few animals who decided to enjoy the day with me. It was hot after all, and I didn’t expect too much activity from too many of the already bored specimens. I didn’t have any specific agenda or route in mind, so even though I had a map, I just went where the wind led me. The only thing I made sure of was that I didn’t miss any exhibit.

I knew GOD led me there, so when I’d verified that I was nearing the end of my “tour” and had seen almost all the animals, I began to be a bit concerned, because the “revelation” hadn’t hit yet. I needn’t have been concerned, because at that very moment, on my way out of the zoo, I went past the last pen, in which paced the American Anteater. What a strange and peculiar looking creature! BANG! There it was! The lesson GOD wanted me to learn.

As I stopped to observe this “tailored” creature, I could hear the many times GOD spoke to me over the years whenever someone called me strange or peculiar. My family never really understood me. My few friends stopped trying to change me, and simply accepted me for who I was. Enemies ridiculed me when I wouldn’t conform to their ways or bow to their ridiculous rules. Strangers either gave me a wide berth or stopped and stared at the strange and peculiar “creature” in their midst. Sometimes they cheered, sometimes they jeered. Didn’t matter, for each time GOD would remind me, “I made you just the way I wanted you to be, so don’t worry about what they think.”

Being strange and peculiar gave birth to a very uncomfortable and lonely childhood. Being taught to “follow directions” was often confused with “follow the crowd, do what they do,” even when everything inside was fairly screaming not to. Being uncoordinated for some simple childhood games, or mastering some other childhood activity at an “unnaturally” rapid pace often led to ridicule or exclusion. Adolescence and early adulthood weren’t much different, except now the ridicule came at the hand of teachers and professors who made their “observations” part of my permanent record, and the exclusion became outright ostracism.

Those of you who haven’t yet accepted your uniqueness may still find yourself in despair over some of the cruelties the world heaps on those who don’t conform to their view of “normalcy.” Those of you who have finally come to terms with being the you GOD created, and have finally learned to enjoy the quirks placed in you, can now rejoice in your singularity.

It was during early adulthood when I finally learned to not only embrace, but celebrate and flaunt my uniqueness. I was different! I played differently, I spoke differently, I danced differently, I sang differently, and I loved it! I didn’t have to fit into the world’s mold to live happily. I didn’t have to march to the beat of their drummer; I could start my own band! As a wise teacher once told me, “I didn’t have to go along to get along.” I began to love me for me, and a whole new vista of joy opened up for me. I began to embrace the various unique gifts GOD had placed within me and began to walk in them. I began grooming myself according to where and how GOD directed me, although many contended with me. I recognized that it was GOD grooming me for something wonderful. He hadn’t yet revealed the entire picture, but I could feel the excitement building.

I began to understand that my penchant for going against the grain was the “turning over of the hard topsoil” that so many needed. I didn’t need to plant any seeds, I just needed to break up the fallow ground; someone else would come behind me and plant the necessary seeds. I was the sandpaper so many needed to reveal the beauty beneath (lost a LOT of acquaintances that way). I was the dynamite that sometimes had to be exploded in the midst of stony obstinacy in order for GOD’s plan to progress.

I began to enjoy the often solitary existence that came with such a strange and peculiar assortment of gifts and callings. Sometimes too much “noise and input” can put you off your assignment (Selah). Where before, I would relish going places with others, I began to “go with” fewer and fewer, and often found myself turning up at various assignments by myself. In those instances, I found I could hear GOD’s voice more clearly and, more often than not, get clarity for the next step of my assignment, whereas before, I would often have to wade through the various “messages and noise” to get to the heart of the matter.

That’s where I find myself now: in a unique position of being able to move and do what I want whenever GOD gives the instruction. I still do have people to whom I answer, but GOD has placed them there for instruction and not as the impediments of old. If my mind wanders to those places where I remember only the ridicule, GOD gently reminds me of HIS Hand in creating my uniqueness, that I am HIS workmanship. HE reminds me that HE loves me the way HE made me, and that HE’s proud of me. I find that I can be an encouragement to someone else bogged down by the world’s “standards” and help pull them out of that dangerous hole and send them along the path GOD meant for them to follow. I learned to see the error of following the world’s ways and strive to keep my mind on things above so that GOD can direct my path.

If this sounds too far “out there” for you, then I despair for you, because you obviously have not yet embraced your own uniqueness, and are happy with being comfortable in someone else’s mold (judgmental, but true nonetheless). But if you’re like me, and have found your unique place in GOD’s plan and are striving toward fulfilling it, I rejoice with you…in my own strange and peculiar way!

The Psalmist