10-14-2009 Oh How My Soul Longs

Oh, How My Soul Longs   October14, 2009 ~Denise Grant   "O God, my God! How I search for you! How I thirst for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. How I long to find you! How I wish I could go into your sanctuary to see your strength and glory, for your love and kindness are better to me than life itself. How I praise you! I will bless you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. At last I shall be fully satisfied; I will praise you with great joy." Psalms 63:1-5          Can you recall a time when you have been most thirsty? Perhaps, you were where there was no water or anything nearby in which to quench your terrible thirst. Your mouth felt like cotton and your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth. Your lips were parched, dry and cracking. You felt as if you would surely die if you could not find something to drink – and quick! How did you deal with the incredible longing?        Can you remember just how wonderful it felt when you were finally able to relieve your thirst?        During the time David wrote the above verse, he was intensely lonely. He was seeking refuge during Absalom's rebellion and hiding out from his enemies in the barren wilderness of Judea. He likened his loneliness to a terrible thirst. He longed for a friend he could trust. No wonder he cried out, "O God, my God! How I search for you! How I thirst for you.", as he sought lasting satisfaction.        Maybe you're a bit thirsty right now? If you are lonely or long for something lasting in your life - remember David's prayer. Look no further - only God can satisfy your deepest longings!        For reasons I have no answers - I spend a lot of nights, longing for sleep to come. One way I pass the time, is to turn my thoughts to God. I recently read that illness, stress and worry are only a few of the reasons why we can't sleep – but honestly, who has little of these worries, on their proverbial plate these days? So, I've elected to turn my sleepless nights into quiet times of reflection and worship.        Surely, you too have experienced one of Satan's many ambushes – where he comes in an evil plot to catch you unprepared? He tempts us in our weakest areas and when we least expect it. He's just good like that. But Psalms 64:7 tells us, "But God himself will shoot them down. Suddenly his arrow will pierce them." – whether our enemies are physical or spiritual – God always comes to our rescue. Hallelujah!  Wickedness may seem widespread and it does affect us in many ways, but the final victory belongs to God and those who trust and believe in Him. Is that you my friend? Do you trust and believe in Him?        Can you relate to David's prayer above? Do his words describe your souls' deepest longing? If so, the way to quench your soul's thirst is not through water – but through God's love.        When we come to Him in worship, it's as if we are taking our thirsty souls to the wellspring of God's love and drawing in deep, fulfilling and long gulps of His goodness and grace.        God's love is better than life itself – amen? He's more than capable – and willing – to pour it out on us when we simply turn to him in worship and offer Him our meager cups.  It is then that we can begin to understand what true soul satisfaction feels like.  Until then – we're thirsty as dust in a dry and barren desert - parched without perfection or peace.        Drink! - How refreshing is God's love!     Loving God,        I thank You so much for Your unending love. Thank You for pouring it out so generously into my soul. Thank You for giving my soul what it so desperately needs to be satisfied – Your refreshing and thirst-quenching love. I worship You, Lord, and I offer my soul to You. Please fill it with Your love. I need Your love, Lord. I need it to feel complete. Thank You for giving it to me. In Jesus' name. Amen. Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands. God is the source of my existence. He has become my Lord and my friend. It is He alone who keeps me functioning each day and the absolute only reason I bother to get up in the mornings. I am a precious daughter of the Most High King and I know that I am absolutely worthless without Him! Side by side with the Savior -  ...."I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". Philippians. 4:13  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14

10-12-2009 God's Provision of Protection

God's Provision of Protection   October 12, 2009 ~Denise Grant   "David shouted in reply, 'You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of the armies of heaven and of Israel – the very God whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you and I will kill you and cut off your head; and then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And Israel will learn that the Lord does not depend on weapons to fulfill his plans – he works without regard to human means! He will give you to us!' As Goliath approached, David ran out to meet him and, reaching into his shepherd's bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and the man fell on his face to the ground."  1 Samuel 17: 45-49 TLB     David was a shepherd boy, not a conventional soldier. Yet, he trusted God for divine protection in his duties of sheep-watching. David had witnessed God's protection many times in his young life. He had a history of defying the odds. Once he killed a bear, and at another time, a lion in order to keep his father's sheep safe. Perhaps you can you recount a time when you know you were kept safe because the Lord intervened on your behalf?   Goliath mocked, teased and criticized Israel's soldiers, but at nine-feet-tall, Goliath had the definite advantage against David - from a human standpoint. But one thing was lacking - Goliath failed to realize that in fighting David – he also had to fight God!   Onlookers saw a giant. David, however, saw Goliath as a mere mortal man defying his God. In his eyes, this Philistine was doing something far worse than just trying to steal sheep - Goliath was insulting the Lord Almighty who was responsible for protecting David. You see, David was in love with God. Are you that crazy about your creator? Has the same anger stirred your soul when you hear or witness others putting down God or speaking badly against Him?   David heard Goliath's insults and went into shepherd mode. He knew he would not be alone as he faced Goliath - God would fight with him. He simply looked at the situation from God's point of view. Do you view impossible situations from your point of view – or ever try viewing them through God's? Doing so can helps you to put giant problems into a Godly perspective.   Criticism couldn't stop young David – and it shouldn't stop you either. While the rest of the army stood around, he knew the importance of taking action. Don't you think David prayed as he bent over to pick up those five small stones? I don't believe it ever crossed David's mind to doubt God's protection. He instinctively knew - as he had a multitude of times before - that God would protect him. Do you second-guess your instinct to trust God's protection in your life? There are plenty of Giants in your life, who may try and discourage you with negative comments or mockery.   What battles do you shy away from? Let me remind you that God is not only a God of mercy and grace, but a God of might and supernatural power! He can be trusted to pull you through when those giants stand much taller than you and are breathing down your neck.   Addiction – Anger – Bitterness - Gossip –Greed – Jealousy – Lust - Resentment – Unforgiveness –are not your battles to fight – not alone anyway. Take a few moments to pray and as you lean over and pick up a few stones, give them to God. Trust Him -  He's got your back!     Lord Almighty,   Thank You for Your provision of protection in my life. Help me to always trust in Your power and not my own. Lord, I can do nothing without Your help - I've tried and failed a million times. Help me to step out and face my enemies. Remind me that my battles in this life are not my own; they belong to You. With Your strength, I cannot lose and I'll be sure to give You the glory for all You do in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen. Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands. God is the source of my existence. He has become my Lord and my friend. It is He alone who keeps me functioning each day and the absolute only reason I bother to get up in the mornings. I am a precious daughter of the Most High King and I know that I am absolutely worthless without Him! Side by side with the Savior -  ...."I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". Philippians. 4:13  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14

10-5-2009 His Dwelling Place In Me

His Dwelling Place In Me   October 5, 2009 ~Denise Grant   "Jehovah said to Moses, "Tell the people of Israel that everyone who wants to may bring me an offering from this list: Gold, silver, bronze, blue cloth, purple cloth, scarlet cloth, fine linen, goat's hair, red-dyed ram's skins, goat-skins, acacia wood, olive oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. 'For I want the people of Israel to make me a sacred Temple where I can live among them.'"  - Exodus 25: 1-8          This verse begins the record of God's instructions for the Israelite's building of the Tabernacle; the place of His dwelling among them.        What can all these ancient and complicated details of construction mean to us today? Well, for starters - just the portable nature of the Tabernacle alone, shows God's desire has always been to be with His people. We can see this in the beginning when God sought out Adam in the Garden of Eden, and we know that in the end, God has promised that we can spend eternity with Him.        Just like the Israelites, God wants to dwell with you too. He wants to step down from His dwelling place in heaven, and spend time with those that love and worship Him. He desires quality time. Not what we scramble together as leftovers when everything else of importance and priority has taken place.        God wants your time right now – this very second – no matter what you're doing – He wants today – tomorrow – and the rest of your life, to be spent hanging out with Him.        God is saying– "I want to be involved in your life. I'm not going to elbow you out of the way and take over by force. You have to show Me you want Me here with you." What is your response to His invitation? God's invitation to you, is an invitation to give up something in return for His awesome and constant presence.        The Israelites construction of this holy dwelling place was so they could have interaction with Him, albeit, in a very limited way. Their rigid laws at times seemed nearly impossible to keep. However, we have none of those same restrictions and laws today. Instead, we are His dwelling place.        To those who have accepted His invitation, Christ lives in you. Instead of dwelling in a constructed facility, God now lives in each of us – giving us a righteousness the ancient Israelites could never attain. You have been given a life that you could never know outside of Him. Hallelujah!        And when we approach Him in honest worship, giving of ourselves, recognizing and honoring the Spirit of Christ that dwells within us, we become lovely to Him. We become a temple more beautiful than anything anyone could build, no matter how precious the materials they used.        The same invitation may only seem ancient – but it's one still open today! Won't you invite Him into your heart and life today? Your life will never be the same!     Lord God,        I thank You for Your invitation and for dwelling in me. Thank You for giving me the direction I need every day as I seek to mirror You. Thank You for fulfilling Your end of the bargain – even at times, when I forget mine.  Help me always keep Your Temple, clean.  I pray that I make Your home in my heart, a place where You feel always welcome. In Your precious name Jesus, Amen! Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands. God is the source of my existence. He has become my Lord and my friend. It is He alone who keeps me functioning each day and the absolute only reason I bother to get up in the mornings. I am a precious daughter of the Most High King and I know that I am absolutely worthless without Him! Side by side with the Savior -  ...."I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". Philippians. 4:13  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14