Author: daughtersofz

Good morning,

     As long as you and I stay on the narrow road we will continue to grow in Him.  ^" But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.  So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].  And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul's safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him, Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters.  There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures.  Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind].  But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen (so be it)! "  Grow is to increase and to become better; to become greater and to expand.  We will always be in progression all the while because there are some things that we are not ready for until we reach a certain level of maturation.  Staying in your present firm condition requires that you are steady in the application of the Word.  "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord."  So if you have been experiencing some growing pains, that is normal.  Each and everyone of us as believer's will grow to a place where we have to exert more spiritual energy to go beyond where we are, in order to become better, greater, increase, and expand.  Sometimes we grow by leaps and bounds, other times it may seem like we are at a snail's pace, but we must keep inching along. 

 

Good morning,

     Today I was reminded yet again about the importance of being thankful.  Quite often when we are going through any kind of testing or trial, we lose sight of all of the good things that God has already blessed us with.  Yet, if you have an agreement with The Father He will, by the Holy Spirit, gently encourage you to continue to offer thanksgiving.  Today, I saw a clip about a young boy of 10 years old, that was blind and autistic.  There he was singing the song, "Open the Eyes of My Heart."  Well, that instantly caused me to cease murmuring, and start thanking God for His faithfulness to me.  Here he was singing, "open the eyes of my heart, I want to see you!"

     Jesus gave His life in order to make it clear to us by the Holy Spirit, all that God has prepared and planned for all who believe in Him and continue to put their trust in Him.  "[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.." (Ephes. 1:17-19) After all isn't that what we really want and need most of all is a spirit of wisdom and revelation, of insight into mysteries and secrets into the deep and intimate knowledge of Him?  God has granted that to us, but this too is in progression, or in stages of growth.  It is to the degree of our hunger or pursuit.  We want to know the deep intimate secrets and mysteries of God, but a lot of the time we really don't want to have to do what's necessary to be in the position to have the eyes of our heart flooded.  Deep is extending far down from the surface; the part of greatest intensity.  Intimate is very private; closely personal; (of an association, knowledge, understanding, etc.) arising from close personal connection or familiar experience.  We can go as far as we want from 'surface Christianity', and be as close as we want to knowing and understanding more about our Father.  When we avail ourselves to Him more often during our day, we will find our eyes flooded with light.  By setting our minds to be more sensitive to Holy Spirit all day long.  The eyes here represent the faculty of knowing; having vision or being able to see; to be discerning or perceptive.  Light is to illumine; to render evident; to become clear; to instruct and inform; and to give understanding to.  Flood is to overflow or an out pour of; to overwhelm with an abundance of.

  

Good morning,

     Today let's finish talking about the dream and it's interpretation.

     For three nights I dreamed the same dream; "There were eight deer standing on a hill at several stages of growth.  In the distance behind them were twelve trees swaying in the breeze.  A major snow storm had come and the deer were almost overtaken by it, yet they stood immovable.  The twelve trees refused to bend under the pressure of the heaviness of the snow.  We have already shared about the number eight especially associated with 'resurrection' and 'regeneration' and the beginning of a new era.  The number three signifies the perfectly divine and heavenly number.  The number twelve signifying "perfection of government".  Now we all know that we are oftentimes referred in scripture as certain things, to denote the character of those things.  For example: sheep, goats, wolves; we are referred to as deer; eagles; members of a body; and trees; just to name a few.  In the Bible we see a deer as a hart as well as deer.  Here is one scripture, "As the hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God." (Psalm 42:1) Deer have a four-chambered stomach and they have high nutrition requirements.  That is what we should have toward the Kingdom of God, our thirst and hunger for God should cause us to seek the high nutrition of His word above all else.  We are not to just go around eating anything under the guise of "Christianity."  Deer are selective eaters too.

     Now the definition of 'trees' is a plant having a permanent woody main stem or trunk, ordinarily growing to a considerate height and usually developing branches.  Now we are likened unto trees in several places: "And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]." (Psalm 1:3)  "[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green.  It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit," (Jer.17:7-8)  "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." (Is. 61:3) Now the Amplified version of this verse says a lot about trees, that should describe us; "To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."  This year my brothers and sisters we must be lofty, strong, magnificent, but most of all distinguished, set apart by our uprightness or doing right according to the Word of God.  Of course our ability to do this is in line with us being firmly planted and tended by the streams of the river.  Determined to be people who are determined to remain consistent and constant in bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit, in-spite of all that is going on around us.  Trees don't get up and move around to find the conditions that they think are better for them.  We must not bend or break.  The year 2012 will be the time that those who are trees will receive beauty for ashes, oil of joy instead of mourning, praise instead of a heavy burden.  We will be truly distinguishable from all who haven't made the right choice.  "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, [like a tree] always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose." (1 Corin. 15:58)

 

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     Today I woke up hearing this one line from the Word of God, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" (Matthew 6:27) Father was talking to me about worry, because occasionally, we all need to check our 'worry meter'.  For each of us carry different things in our heart that affects our health, physically and mentally.  We were never made to carry weights of worry, there is no outlet in our bodies to do so.  That is why people are so stressed and overburdened.  This is where most of us live, trying to figure out the next move, if it is not finances, then it is our family, or other relationships, or, our health, that keeps the highway of our minds busy.  "And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?"  This is the same verse in the Amplified bible.  It is absolutely impossible for worry and anxiety to exist if we are trusting God is in our heart.  Each of us try to carry someone or some situation on our own, that we are not capable of doing anything about.  This is no reflection on our skills or our abilities, we are suppose to learn how to give them to God.  "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter5:7-9)  Care here means distractions and anxiety.  We are to throw those anxieties over on God so that He can do something about them.  The same afflictions are familiar to your brothers and sisters, there is nothing new under the sun.  The devil knows if we carry worry and anxieties in our heart it will breed fear, and fear is the opposite of faith.  We must resist worry!

     Here is another verse that we must meditate upon when we refuse to be weighted down with worry and cares.  "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage!" (Gal. 5:1) Stand fast means to persevere, to persist in our standing.  That's our answer, once we are free, we must fight to stay free, refuse to be yoked up with the worry or anxiety again.  Eventually we relax into peace and His rest. 

 

Love,

Pastor D.

Good morning,

     Today I will attempt to finish the dream I shared two weeks ago.  There was eight deer at several stages of growth standing on a hill in the distance as they stood there was behind them twelve trees swaying in the breeze.  The last part of the dream occurred on the third night that I had this same dream.  In this scene everything was the same but a major snow storm had come and yet the deer and the trees remained standing.  The trees were bowed under the pressure of the snow, yet they did not break.  Today I would like to talk a little about the significance of twelve.  Next time we will search the trees.

     First of all twelve is perfect, signifying "perfection of government".  In the multiple of the number 3 and 4 it has to do with 'rule.'  Three is the divine number or the heavenly number; ex. the Trinity.  Four stands for the earthly number, or the number of what is material and organic.  The number four following three, denotes God's creative works.  Four represents all that is created, [ex. water; trees, animal, etc].  So let's think about the number twelve in Scripture.  There were 12 Patriarchs from Seth to Noah, and 12 from Shem to Jacob.   There are 12 sons of Israel, or the tribes of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.  There were the 12 Apostles or disciples.  Reading in Revelation 21:0-21, this is where we find the picture of 'perfect government'.  "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs.  The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.  And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.  And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.  And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.  The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.  And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass."  In order to have perfect government, then we need to understand what it means to govern.  Govern is to rule over by right of authority; to exercise a directing or restraining influence over; to hold in check; to control or guide; to serve as or constitute laws for dominion.  We as the people of God will be restored and resurrected (remember that is what the number eight means) to our rightful place to rule by right of the authority that God has given to us.  We will be reestablished to a new and better basis.  Our influence over this world will be redeemed from error.  God originally made us to exercise dominion over the world, let's look at our original intent.  Read and meditate on these verses: Genesis 1:26-28; "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."  Dominion equals govern the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority, rule; control.  We are heading back to God's government and reigning and ruling as kings.  We are training for reigning!