CALLED BY NAME

Have you ever felt it has been hard to emotionally receive the Father's love? The Father demonstrated His love, and gave up His Son.  After the resurrection He sent back the Holy Spirit to shed His love abroad in our new hearts. Why should it be so hard?

I don't confess to have all the answers but for me, it took several years before I could accept His love. I was too afraid to FEEL His compassion. It was one thing for God the Father to love Jesus, He was His son, but why should I be so afraid to receive His love for me?  I was His daughter! I think I have figured it out.

God the Father is a person too.  He has a mind, a will and emotions. On earth the only father love I had ever experienced was my own father; a  man rather distant, too busy, and indifferent. I think he loved me.  He never said so. At least he was in the home and provided for the family. 

At thirty years old when I came to Christ, I brought with me the same emotional feelings of my heavenly Father that I had experienced with my earthly dad. "He was distant, too busy and indifferent. "I think He loves me?"  


One morning when I was in prayer,  I had this vision.  I saw a baby in the arms of Jesus. As He lifted the baby up  before the Father, I heard my name presented before the Throne of Grace, "This is Dorothy Jane ---- I bought her in my blood for You.  Receive your daughter Father."  Jesus then said to me, "Now go and tell others what you have seen.  For every one who I call by name, I do the same."  I laid weeping on the floor. I don't know how long. The love of the Father flowed over me. I have never been the same since. Believe and receive the Father's love for you. He is NOT your earthly father.  You are a child of God, He is your  forever real father, who will never ever forsake you. You can trust His love. It truly is amazing 

Psalm 139 :14-18 and Jeremiah 1:5 

THE BONDAGE OF SELF-PITY

Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? "The why me syndrome?"  I have. It is a horrible bondage, but you don't have to wallow in it any longer.   In my wallowing days, I didn't realized that the enemy was feeding me thoughts of resentment, anger, hate, self-justification, and bitterness. and I was believing for each one of them.  But the worst of it was I was accusing God of not loving me.  Honestly, I didn't even know I had this poison hidden in my heart for years towards my own mother.  I was totally blind and covered it up. I was a Christian and aren't Christians suppose to love their mother?

It was about ten years into my faith when all this sickness was revealed in the my heart. I was in bondage to self pity.  A dear older sister spotted this attitude and helped me to see that I needed to repent. It was a lie.  God did love me.  I just had to look at the cross.   He found me in my iniquity and with His great compassion picked me up out of the mire, took me to the cross, and I died with Him, was buried and raised with Him clothed in His Righteousness.  I never held on to self pity again?  It was gone. Consumed in His death.

 The Lord enabled me to change my mind toward my mother.  God created her and my father to bring me into this world.  Who was I to resent her. I had to forgive her.  She was the best mother she knew to be and the best mother for me.  Within days I was amazed how the Lord had changed my heart.  Self pity was my sin and it cost Jesus His life.  I had no reason to feel sorry for myself any longer.  God does love me and demonstrated it at Calvary.

A NEW MAN: A THOUGHT TO PONDER

Once we believe, and by faith receive, God's love and forgiveness, it opens up a new world. A world foreign to all that we have known. A world where selfishness, pride, greed, envy , violence, and hatred do not rule but are swallowed up by His almighty love. A love that gives itself away to others. All things have become new.

The addictions and private hells that men and women  once faced are dismissed by the power of His Cross.  Jesus has been to the depth hell and come out victorious in resurrection power, breaking the  bondage of sin. In Him, we are apart of a NEW MANKIND. We have never been before.

Joined to Him, Spirit to spirit,  we have been born from above to be part of this NEW KIND OF HUMANITY.  The world around us still may  HAUNT us, but IN HIM, we have come to the ultimate reality.  We are alive for the first time no longer WALKING DEAD MEN SPIRITUALLY SEPARATED FROM OUR CREATOR.  Once we  inhabited the domain of darkness, but now translated into The Kingdom of His dear Son. Colossians 1:13,14.

This NEW COMPANY of people is made up of men and women who  believe that Jesus is the final reality.  He is the Truth , the only way to the Father, He has died in their place for forgiveness of sin and believe that this world is in PROCESS of passing away. 

This company of LOST PRODIGALS have been found, forgiven , MADE NEW, and crazy with JOY. They worship and give thanks and in their gatherings, encouraging one another, " HE IS ALIVE, HE IS PRESENT", establishing them in this NEWNESS OF LIFE. They are new creations. I Cor. 5:17.

Out of death has come new life and a new kind of humanity  from every color and nation that has been created. If you are in Christ you are seated in Him in Heavenly Places.  And it is all by GRACE THROUGH FAITH in the finished work of Christ.  He died in our place, and rose again to bring us home to our Father. 

 On earth today there are three kinds of people groups: the Jew, the Gentile (all the other nations) and the Born from Above believers. All three  groups contain peoples from many nations.  Have you ever thought about which people group you  belong ? Your future  will depend on it. Only the new group created out of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus will see Heaven. Repent, Believe and Receive the Holy Spirit ." YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN." 
John 3:3-7

IS JESUS THE MESSIAH?

I have something interesting to share with you.  Do you remember how on the cross Jesus cried out "Eli, Eli, Lama sabachthani?"My God my God why have you forsaken me?"  I have always wondered why. I assumed that it was at that time He became my sin and the Father had to turn His head away.  I think it is still good a reason, however, I would like to share another thought to ponder.

If Jesus was the Messiah, where was the proof? When Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God my God why hast thou forsaken me?", He was singing in His weaken voice Psalm 22, " My God My God why have you forsaken Me' The Jews knew this song.  When Jesus sang it from the cross He was declaring , "I am He."  The Jews were very familiar with this Psalm and believed that the Messiah would quote it when He came. In fact, someone near the cross said,"Surely He must be the Messiah!" 

Another interesting situation that Jesus wanted to proof His Messiahship was when Jesus intentionally waited four days before He arrived at Lazarus' tomb.  Mary and Martha were all upset and wondered why Jesus took so long.  After three days a dead body starts to decay and stinks.  One knows it is dead.  Jesus knew exactly what He was doing by waiting.  Again He used this opportunity to declare His Messiahship .  (John 11:21-25)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection , and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live." 

His resurrection is the foundation of our faith.  If He is not risen than we are still in our sins.  Jesus truly is the Messiah.  I know He is alive because He lives within my heart. The sinner ( me) has died in Christ, is buried in Him and am raised to newness of life. God's word is true: repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit.

DEATH OF A VISION

Have you ever had a dream or a vision  and wonder why it is taking the Lord so long to answer it ? You thought it was a good idea,but the Lord is silent and time is passing by.

The story of Moses is where I first learned about the death of a vision. We are told that Moses was a meek and humble man. He trusted in and obeyed the Lord's commandments. However, Moses wasn't always humble, Earlier in his life, when he saw an Egyptian abusing a fellow Hebrew,  his temper rose and Moses became a murderer. He killed an Egyptian.

His intentions were admirable.  He thought he was helping God stop the Egyptians from flogging his Hebrew brethren. Moses was discovered trying to bury his victim and had to ran for his life.  He ended up far, far away in the back side of the wilderness.  There he became a shepherd, tending sheep for a living.

 Talk about humble pie! His dreams were over. Moses who once was a somebody, who sat in the audience of the great Pharaoh , now was a was a nobody. But,God was not finished with him.

Forty years later when the Lord called Moses out of the burning bush, he was a totally broken man.  His self-confidence and pride had been exposed. The years he spent in the wilderness had broken his self will.  He no longer had any confidence in himself to act for God.  In fact he asked the Lord to send his brother Aaron.  Moses had been humbled.  He knew that if the Lord did go before him, it was totally impossible to do what the Lord was asking.  He was in a good place. He had to depend on his God. That is what made him a humble man.  He had complete trust and confidence in the Lord and not in himself.

God had taken a somebody, made him a nobody, and then raised him to be a somebody that He could use. The Lord had dwelt with Moses's pride, his self-will.   He didn't get there overnight.  It was a process that only God could do.  God had a work for Moses and only He could prepare him to lead his people out of bondage in Egypt. Apart from the Lord's power, it would be totally impossible for any man. 

What I  have learned is that if an idea or vision is really from the Lord, it is important to let it die.  If it is not from the Lord, it will stay dead. If it is from Him,  He will resurrect it  and use me to fulfill it.  Don't try to accomplish in the flesh (self-life) what only God can perform by the Holy Spirit. Surrender to Him and let God be God.

"MY DADDY CAN DO ANYTHING"

One of my dearest friends told me this true story.

When she was four years old, she and her little girl friend were playing in the sand box filling coke bottles with sand. In the process of playing her friend broke her bottle and began to cry.

"Don't cry Sarah, my daddy can fix anything! she explained, picking the pieces and taking them to her father.

Her father took the pieces into his work shoppe and told her to ran out and play while he fixed the bottle.  Minutes later, her daddy came out with the fixed bottle. ( a new coke bottle)

Sara was delighted . Christine explained,"SEE, MY DADDY CAN FIX ANYTHING!"

In reality, her father could fix anything, so it never occurred to Christine that he wouldn't.


What a great picture of our Heavenly Father.  How many times have you and I taken broken pieces to Him, knowing that He is the ONLY ONE WHO COULD FIX ANYTHING!

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD TOO!

It is so easy to think that the Holy Spirit  is not a person, but as some godly influence or power. But He is not.  He is God too. I know that we are not to worship the Holy Spirit, but without Him, we would never know Jesus or be able to understand the Word of God.  He is our teacher and revealer of all truth. He always points us to Jesus. Without Him we would never have a relationship with our God.

 We believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.We accept the  adoption of our Father as sons and daughters, but we so often neglect the importance of the Holy Spirit as a person too!  Is He not the person who prays through us in agreement with Jesus in Heaven?   Jesus sent Him from the Father to replace Himself on earth when He left to be at His Father's right hand. He did not want to leave His disciples as orphans.  As His disciples today in 2019, the same is true.  We are not orphans.  The Holy Spirit's work continues among us.

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me". How can we hear His voice except through the person of the Holy Spirit in us? The Holy Spirit is like the sheep dog that rounds up the sheep at the command of the Shepherd's whistle and herds them into a pen. He takes his orders from the Shepherd only.

 Peter preached saying,"repent, be baptized, received the Holy Spirit.? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? " We were baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, but have we ever acknowledge Him or allowed Him to baptize us in the power of His Love?   

Let  us not neglect to acknowledge Holy Spirit as an important person in the Godhead,  and  thank the Lord Jesus for sending Him to take His place. Through the Holy Spirit we will experience the presence of God, the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The Throne room is open all the time. The blood of the lamb avails for us to enter in.  Our born again spirits  ignite with excitement and joy as we enter into fellowship with the God of this universe. Come let us worship our God together: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

THE NARROW WAY

Have you ever seen a sheep herding contest?  I saw my first one at the Fryeberg Fair in Maine. Half the time, the sheep  ignored the  dog, refusing to obey his lead. But the sheep dog just patiently waited for the shepherd to whistle his commands. Then like a shot, the dog would race across the field, nipping at the kneels of the sheep directing them towards the pen.  I was amazed how many of the sheep fought entering one by one through a narrow gate.  Eventually, the shepherd and his sheep dog herded them into the pen. The contest lasted about ten minutes. The shepherd and his dog, who were the fastest to herd their sheep into the pen and close the gate won.

This event was one of the most fascinating to watch, especially the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep dog. It reminded me of one of the glories of our Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd. 

 Jesus Christ is the Shepherd, we are the sheep and the Holy Spirit is the sheep dog.  The Holy Spirit was sent into the world to bring us back through the NARROW GATE to the Good Shepherd. The Holy Spirit is often called the "the hound of heaven" and I can see why.  He is determined to fulfill the glory of the Good Shepherd in His sheep even if we go astray, He will be nipping at our heels.

Sheep have such a mind of their own. How appropriate it is for the Lord to call us His SHEEP.  By working together, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit hems us in on all sides leading us through the NARROW GATE on our journey home.  If we are left to ourself, we would wander in this world without hope.  

I am so grateful to be born again by the grace of God and able to confess that Jesus Christ is THE NARROW WAY: THE ONLY WAY  BACK TO MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. John 14:6.


  

THE CURTAIN IS TORN

Matthew 27:50,51 states, "Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom."

The "veil" in this passage refers to the curtain separating the Holy of Holies- the most holy place- from the rest of the temple. The Holy of Holies was off limits for everyone except for the High Priest on the annual Day of Atonement.

With the ripping of the veil, access to God was opened and made available to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Every believer in Jesus can come directly to God through His shed blood.  We do not need a priest or intermediary.  The way has been opened for every believer. Heb. 9:6-8.

The ripping of this veil or curtain from top to bottom suggests that this is something that God has done.  Had the veil been ripped from the bottom-within the reach of men-to the top, that would suggest that this ripping and tearing was something that man had done

God was, and still is, fully satisfied with the propitiatory sacrifice that Jesus Christ had offered.  God has accepted the death of Christ. Consequently, God by His grace and mercy, has removed that veil.

Another thought to ponder:

Woven into this thick curtain were two Cherubim (angels) facing each other. When the curtain was torn from the top to the bottom, God ripped it right down the middle between the two Cheribum.

It made me think that God has removed the two Cherubim that He placed at he entrance to the Garden of Eden to guard the Tree of Life. Jesus is our Tree of Life, (our daily bread).  Now, we can come back to the Garden, (God's presence), but only through the blood of His Son.

Hebrew 10:19-20 reveals this truth,  "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh..."


 Meet you in the Throne Room.

ANOTHER LOOK AT LENT

It's Lent!  Forty days before Easter. It is time to give up something. Let me see. I am a little overweight--chocolate , cheese or ice cream for a start?  How about TV?  Oh no, forget that! March Madness is starting--college basketball games. Wait a minute.  

What am I thinking. Even if I give up sweets or TV, I know myself only too well. Just as soon as Lent is over, I will be right back into the sugar bowl and watching TV.  I don't think I really understand Lent.

From a religious point of view, I think it is a time when man gives up something to honor the Lord's great sacrifice.

 The more I thought about what I wanted to give up, I was more aware of my old man of sin, the flesh.  It doesn't like to give up anything.

But isn't that the point. It is a sacrifice for only forty days.  I could at least do that. It sounded good. 

 I began to ask the Lord what He might like me to give up for Lent. To my surprise, Roman 12:1 and 2 came to mind."I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." 

He, then, spoke to my heart, "My daughter, the only thing I desire is for you to give me your whole heart. The new heart I transplanted in you when I gave you a new birth."

Then an acrostic for Lent came to mind. 
                    
               
                L-iving               
                        E-ternally  
                N-ow 
                T-oday 

As a believer, He has put eternity in my heart. Every day I desire to bless my Lord.  My new heart is more important to Him than anything I could tangibly offer Him.  He just loves me.  He just loves you, my brothers and sisters because you belong to Him.

A FICKLE BRIDE

The stars glistened in the night sky, like polished diamonds on a black velvet cloth. In the brilliance of the full moonlight, ocean waves sparkled as far as you could see.  The once crowded beach was empty, except for the evening walkers.  A young couple walked  romantically holding hands along the beach as ripples of waves washed over their feet.  They couldn't resist the playful gesture of splashing each other and running away. Love was in the air.  Their friendship was growing, but this night was different.

Their lives would forever be changed.  He wanted to marry her.  But, was she ready to forsake all others and only be true to him?

This love story reminds me of the time the Holy Spirit revealed to me how much Jesus loved me. He stretched out His arms and died. What I didn't understand was the importance of my identification with His death, burial and resurrection.  The sinner, (me) had to die, be buried and raised to a new life in Him,  (Galatians 3:20) In effect I had spiritual surgery.  The old stoney heart of sin was cut out and a new heart of love was transplanted into me, (Ezekiel 36:25-27). I was now married to Jesus: "He who is joined to the Lord is ONE SPIRIT with Him", (Corinthians 6:17)

Like the young women in the story, I liked the idea of Jesus dying FOR my sins, but the thought me as a sinner dying in Him was a revelation.

 " I was a fickle bride"

I had two Lovers: Jesus and this world, (Ephesians 2:2)

Engagement is one thing.  Marriage is a Covenant.  Was I ready to enter into an eternal  covenant with Jesus? I didn't realize how independent I was.  I wanted the Lord's blessings without true repentance. I had to forsake the world and only to Him be true. I have to confess that I never really understood repentance or counted the cost.  It doesn't mean I am sinless, but, I would have power over sin and sin only by choice.  Repentance is a beautiful gift in my relationship. I am always forgiven. 

By the grace of God, like a new bride learning the habits and ways of her bridegroom, I am growing to know my Lord in a more intimate way.  I am grateful that He is not fickle.  He is a faithful bridegroom, patient,  kind,  understanding, forgiving, providing for my needs and protecting me from the evil one.  His love will never fail. There is no one like Him. 

HEALING FROM ABORTION

THIS S A TRUE STORY OF YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAD ABORTION. AFTER SHE READ THE BOOK BY PRAYING MEDIC, " DEFEATING YOUR ADVERSARY IN THE COURT OF HEAVEN", SHE DECIDED TO GO TO COURT.  IT WAS HER FIRST TIME.  THE FOLLOWING IS HER TESTIMONY.

"As I asked for the Court to be convened, I could vaguely see God the Judge in front of me. To my right stood Jesus. To my left in front of me was the accuser. When I asked for the accusation to be heard, I saw several little beings by the accuser. I knew /sensed the accusation was about an abortion I had when I was 17 years old (I’m presently 52).

To give a brief background, I have wholeheartedly repented for this sin. I broke covenants with death and murder. Broke curses, etc. Forgave every person involved. As far as I knew, I dealt with this in a spiritual sense 100%.

I sat there and waited for the Holy Spirit to guide and help me. I thought to myself, I only aborted 1 baby, not all of those. My recollection was about 6 little beings there. And then I sensed/ heard from the Lord, I don’t remember how He communicated to me, but He revealed to me that I had not just killed that baby, I killed the offspring. The other lives that would’ve come through my baby’s life.

I wept so hard!
I saw this!
I saw them!

It was so horrible to realize the gravity of aborting my baby. I cried in deep repentance and asked for forgiveness. I stated my only defense was the blood of Jesus!

It was so horrible to realize the gravity of aborting my baby. I cried in deep repentance and asked for forgiveness. I stated my only defense was the blood of Jesus!

Then, the most amazing thing happened. I could feel the mercy of Jesus. Right there in the midst of discovering the gravity of my sin (not one life but many) I was forgiven. It was a profound moment of experiencing the mercy and forgiveness of God. I was declared not guilty and Court ended.

I’ve never heard anyone teach on this in what I call “Freedom” ministry. It was a revelation to me. It is imperative for anyone that has had an abortion to not only repent for the life they ended, but also for the offspring that would have come through that life.

Thank You, Jesus for Your revelation and amazing grace!"

It is not our intent to cause shame or humiliation to anyone who has had an abortion. Our only intent is to let you know that God is compassionate toward you and He would like you to be free of any accusations that the enemy has brought against you. 

Penny Richardson ND, CNHP

A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, andwrath are like rottenness of the bones. Proverbs 14:30 AMPC

GRAFTED INTO CHRIST

GRAFTED INTO CHRIST

Abide in Me.
Be grafted into me,
for on the cross
I allowed My body to be broken
in order that I might draw you into Me.
I have exposed to you My inner self,
and I have opened a way for you to become one with Me.

Place your life into Mine.
I will surround you with My love.
I will cover  you with My protection
that you may stand steady
despite the gales of life.

I will nourish you
with My unlimited resources.
Will quench your thirst
with My life-giving water.

As you allow Me to shape and prune your life
through your obedience to My teachings,
 I will help you grow
 and become so much a part of Me
that your life will produce the fruit of Christlikeness -
      the fruit of love , joy, peace,
          patience , kindness, goodness,
             faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

And through the fruit
 that I will produce in your life,
others will see Me in you;
and they, too, will be led
to become grafted into Me.

Based on John 15:1-8; Galatians 5:22-23
     (c)1994 Marlene Bagnull by permission.