myemanna.org

I’ve been a Tommy Tenney fan for a long time now, and have read several of his books.  One that I have on order through www.paperbackswap.com is entitiled “How to Be a God Chaser and a Kid Chaser”.  I’m expecting it to have some wonderful information I can use, as we’ve started back homeschooling and there isn’t as much time to sit and “pickle” in God’s presence like I love to do!  Instead of nurturing Mary (devotion and love for God) I end up catering more to Martha (serving and providing for others), and it has been a hard road to reconcile these two squabbling sisters.  There has to be balance between the two.  After my devotion to Him, God has called me to minister to my husband, and then my children - in that order. If any one of these three areas are neglected then trouble begins to brew.  One thing I’ve begun to learn over these summer months is the incredible love God has for family, and how much He loves His kids.  So to neglect my husband or my children spells disaster in ways I don’t want to stick around to experience.  While I am ”sleeping” - neglecting those things the Father has instructed me to do - my enemy looks for every opportunity to sow tares into my life, or into the lives of my loved ones.  Mary needs Martha as much as Martha needs Mary.  Love and service.  Both should go hand in hand.

I’ll be sure to post an update as soon as I’ve read the book.  I know it’s going to have some very practical and thought-provoking information, and I’m looking forward to passing it along.  Tommy’s mother co-wrote the book with him, so I know it’s going to be a good one.  Moms, you just never know what destiny the Lord has in store for that precious child currently under your wing.  As I aptly reminded my husband the other day, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world!”  This was in response to his jab about the Women’s Movement “failing”.  Praise God, I hope it dies completely!  Just like in the Garden of Eden the enemy tricked women once more into believing that they can “have it all”.  We were never meant to carry that burden, and the only way anyone can find freedom and self-worth is through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Last time I checked He was still “THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life” - not me.  The Women’s Movement has done more to damage the home than any war ever started by men.  All you have to do is look at the state of our teens out there to see it.  The current stats are that there are only 4% of teens in our country right now that are what we would consider Bible-believing Christians.  And one day very soon they will be running our major corporations, our government, our healthcare systems, etc.  Scary isn’t it?

So, who’s rocking your child’s cradle?  Make sure it’s you Mom and Dad.  But be encouraged, God is with you every step of the way.  He Who began a good work in you (and your husband and children) is faithful to complete it! (Phil. 1:3-6)

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” Isaiah 40:11 

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die,…” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a NIV 

Our Father has an amazing sense of humor.  He’s been teaching me some pretty amazing things about “dying to self”, and here is another facet indeed.  Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be going to a viewing today.  We’ve recently had a death in the family, and here I am awaiting the time to pay my respects.  The oddest thing about this day is it’s my birthday.  I don’t suppose this was coincidence was it Father?

You are correct dear One.  It was not a mistake that I brought you to this place.  Do you fear Me?  Do you truly understand the power I have over life and death?  There are mysteries I’ve wished to reveal to My children if they will only stop to listen.  Hear Me daughter, for there will come a day when the time for hearing will be over, and the time for strict obedience will be at hand.  Learn these lessons well Emanna.  I’ve called you to be an overcomer, not to be overcome.

Each man’s time is in My hands.  It is My great mercy that continually strives with the lives of men.  How each man lives the life I have given him will be weighed upon the event of his natural death.  When you die there is no more striving, no more redemption, no more sorrow or sighing (chances for repentance).  There is TRUTH on the other side of death.  Everything that does not stand before my Holy Presence but is consumed by My fire will not be worthy to enter the Kingdom.  But those things that remain are truly worthy to enter My Kingdom, and the fire will only serve to magnify the brilliance of those things.  At the end of your life Emanna you will only be allowed to bring with you things of eternal significance: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  Remember that against these things there is no law!  These are things the Spirit provides you while on this earth, and He desires that you grow in these virtues.  He desires, as I do as well, that these virtues become shining jewels in your crown when My Son brings you fully into His Kingdom.  We desire that you bear much fruit.  Do not pick up the fruit the enemy lays at your feet.  His fruit is full of deadly poison.  His fruit is easy to take up.  It is the fruit of offense, envy, anger, slander, despair, jealousy, hatred, discord, malcontent and more.  Fruit that is from the Spirit you have to reach upward to take.  Fruit from the enemy lies all over the ground at your feet.  Even though it looks tempting to the eye, and is easy to reach, it is full of great evil and results only in death.  Reach for the fruit that will supply your every need.  Reach for the fruit provided by My precious Spirit.  Reach higher Emanna!

Father, give me a greater desire for the eternal fruit of Your precious Spirit.  Help me redeem the time You have given me and use it for Your glory.  Give me a greater measure of discernment over my days, and help me to know immediately if I’ve picked up the fruit of the enemy.  Forgive me and cleanse me from the fruit I’ve already taken up that was not Yours.  It is my desire to follow You, and reach only for those things that honor and please you.  Help me Holy Spirit to love and fear my Beloved King as He deserves.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Luke 6:27-28 ESV

Be careful what you pray for…God may just be listening.  I’ve been praying for truth over my life, and He’s certainly been honoring that prayer.  Truth is certainly a double-edged sword.

We all have them - family members who think we’ve lost it.  Family members who don’t understand the great desire to follow God no matter what the cost.  Family members that act more like “enemies” than friends.  And yet, we are commanded to love them, do good to them, bless them, and pray for them.  It can be the ultimate test of your Christian walk…one that I have failed miserably again and again.

Tonight I had a confrontation with one such family member that’s been brewing for two years now.  This relative was single, and is now married (glory to God!).  During the period before their marriage they began living together and their relationship quickly became intimate.  Here’s the rub: they both claimed to be Christians.  I struggled with scriptures like this one:

“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.  But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.  For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?  God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ESV

What Paul is saying seems pretty plain doesn’t it?  They are both members of a bible-believing church.  How do you reconcile the fact that this scripture found in 1 Corinthians exists and still love a “fallen” believer?  I once heard a pastor say that there is a difference between a true believer and a false convert.  The true believer “falls” into sin, while a false convert runs straight toward it!  Paul said it plain enough: “purge the evil person from among you, and don’t even eat with someone who practices immorality.”  It is a hard saying…especially when you’re dealing with your own family.  I don’t have trouble dealing with sinners outside of the family of God - I really don’t.  I can even empathize with them.  I’ve “been there, done that.”  Who was Paul referring to in this scripture?  The people who called themselves brothers and sisters in the Lord.  We are not to judge the world outside (God will do that), but to judge rightly those who belong to the family of God, if indeed they belong at all.  Then there is this scripture:

“BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.  Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it].  For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.  But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.” Galatians 6:1-4 AMP

My great sin in all this was I had neglected to bear their burden, and to love them as I love myself.  This is the second part of the greatest commandment Jesus gave us (Mark 12:30-31).  I stepped back from relationship with them, and rightly so.  But I neglected to pray on their behalf and carry the burden the enemy had loaded onto their backs - no matter how willingly they received it.  It was still deception of the greatest sort.  Where were my tears?  Where was my sorrow?  Where was my love?  Where were my prayers?  They were nowhere to be found.

So here I was this evening in my living room, being strongly rebuked for creating an inpenetrable boundary this precious family member did not know how to cross, being accused of staying in my holy bubble, and generally acting like I was above them all.  More truth was spoken than what this family member was aware of.  I have separated myself from their affairs.  I was not being responsive to the Spirit of God and was acting superior to them.  I did not know how to “speak the truth in love” to them, because I didn’t have the love of God in my life for them.  I’ve cried out to the Lord in regards to these sins in my life, and God has done some wonderful work in my heart towards that end.  I’m beginning to love them again.

My prayer for them now is that they get to live a long and happy life together, but most of all that they’ll find the amazing love of Jesus.  In His presence everything is transformed.  Our sins and constant failures melt away by just a glance of His magnificent eyes.  A two second encounter with the King of Kings can turn your world upside down.  I’ve experienced these things in this year.  As much as I wanted to rebuke them the Spirit of God would never release me to do so.  Even though I know the scriptures, I didn’t have His seal of love on the transaction.  Death would have come instead of Life.  I’m so grateful to Him for keeping me from greater sin. 

“DO NOT judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves.  For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.  Why do you stare from without at the very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam of timber that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam of timber in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5 AMP

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:23-27

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I’ve been thinking a lot about death lately.  Not in the morbid sense of the word - well, maybe I have. 

I’ve walked in places this year I never thought I’d walk.  I’ve heard things I never imagined I’d ever hear.  I have been filled with His love until I thought my heart would explode, and I’ve had my heart torn in two because I longed for even more.  It has been a divine and painful rapture of my soul all at once.  How could we possibly contain the glory of God in these mere vessels?  It is too large for my human comprehension.  Then He takes it up a notch.

The other day I heard these words: “Dead men do not fear.” Anyone who has been to a funeral or watched a loved one die can agree with that statement.  But on the inside I knew the Lord wanted me to have a deeper understanding of this truth.  1 John 4:18 began to play in my mind, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”  So, if dead men do not fear, then perhaps perfect love -His love- comes to us as dead men.  Or perhaps God’s perfect love brings death with it.  Either way, there’s death involved somehow.

The word translated “love” in the above scripture is the Greek word “agapé”.  It describes God’s benevolent love - the love that seeks the greater good of another.  It’s benevolence is not shown by doing what the person loved desires, but what the one who loves (God) deems as needed by the one loved (us).

Which brings me to the opening scripture.  Jesus Himself told us to take up our cross daily and follow Him.  I’ve pondered this commandment for years, not fully grasping what He meant by this.  What does that look like?  I was questioning the Lord about this the other day when the question came to me, “What was placed on the cross specifically?”  “Your flesh!” I replied.  Then my mind exploded with understanding.  He’s asking us to lay down our fleshly desires - anything that is not born of the Spirit of Truth.  As my mind wrapped fully around this revelation, I began to take this idea of death, and dying to self very seriously.  These are the thoughts that entered my mind:

          “Dead men don’t dream dreams.”

          “Dead men don’t get offended.”

          “Dead men are not prideful.”

          “Dead men don’t put themselves above others.”

          “Dead men don’t worry about the future.”

You could go on and on.  About the same time I heard “Dead men do not fear” the Lord also said this to me, “MY best for your best.”  Then He began to explain to me that when I lay everything at His feet - all that I am, all my love, skills, abilities, my talents, my home, family, friends, relationships, dreams, church - EVERYTHING, then He replaces it with HIS love, HIS skills, HIS abilities, HIS talents, HIS home, HIS family, HIS friends, HIS relationships, HIS dreams, HIS church, PLUS HIS glory, HIS honor, HIS grace…and so much more.  It is an entirely unfair trade, but one that gives Him great delight.  Through our “death” He gives us His “LIFE”.

Have you ever wondered why so many people are afraid of dying?  I have.  There was even a period of time when I was very afraid of dying.  It had even become a stronghold in my life.  The fear of death immobilizes you, and makes you hang on to everyone and everything around you extremely tight.  Our adversary is very crafty, and always mixes a bit of the truth in with the lie he carefully feeds you, so that it is more palatable.  If Satan came to you one day and just said, “I want to kill you” then you’d recognize him for what he really is - a murderer.  So what is the smidge of truth here?  Our Lord has called us to die daily.  Not a physical death like Satan would have us believe, but a death of the flesh.  And our enemy knows all too well that those who die in the flesh can resurrect with great power!  He learned his lesson well at Calvary.  And so he entices us with all the fleshly desires he can throw at us (“the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” - 1 John 2:16), because he knows that if we discover the secret of death, then we can walk in the power of Christ’s resurrection.  We’ve traded our best for Christ’s best, and the gates of Hell tremble with unbridled fear at the approach of a Christian walking in His ressurection power.

Let’s shake the gates of Hell, shall we?

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10

Great sorrow fills my heart tonight.  It has been a day like no other - God has shown me the deceitfulness of my heart.

Recently I’ve been crying out to have a greater capacity to receive more of Him.  I’ve asked the Father to enlarge my heart so I can love His Son even more, never understanding that there was major “housecleaning” to be done.  The Father was pleased with my request.  Little did I know that the spirit of pride had again taken up residence, and had to be removed to make room for the King.  To the very pit of my soul I’ve been crushed beyond belief today, but through it all His grace and mercy have saved me. 

In my heart I’ve asked for His truth to invade my life.  Funny how it’s never packaged like you expect it to be.  Truth - God’s truth - is terrifying in the most inconceivable way.  He knows me.  There is no thought, no imagination, no intention that is not completely laid bare before His throne.  He alone is the righteous Judge.  He alone can weigh the hearts of men.  He weighed mine today and found it wanting. 

When Saul was on the road to Damascus, knocked down in the middle of the road, and rebuked for persecuting the Lord and His Church - Jesus in His great mercy brought blindness to his eyes.  It was an outward manifestation of his heart’s spiritual condition.  Only in his blindness did Saul become Paul.  The Lord had to blind his physical eyes for a time so he could begin to see things His way.  May we all become “blind” to the ways of the flesh, so we can truly see with the eyes of the Spirit!

This is the path of humility. “He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)  The light of His truth shining into our hearts brings revelation and repentance.  The Father is looking for worshipers “who will worship Him in spirit and in truth”. (John 4:23)  The revelation of our heart’s true condition brings humility.  Humility brings us into unity and abiding with Him, for at this place of brokenness we realize “without Him we can do nothing.” (John 15:5)  Abiding in Him brings fruitfulness, and much glory for the kingdom.  But oh the pain of it!  It is gut-wrenching work at times, but the fruit from living a life submitted to God in this way is indescribably rich and beautiful.  It is a wondrous thing how God can reveal your heart to you, cleanse you from all sin, and afterwards leave you with the most amazing peace.  It is like a strong summer thunderstorm – fierce and wild, and yet refreshing to the land once it has passed over.  I would rather fall into the hands of my God, than fall into the hands of an angry man.  He is faithful and true, and His judgements are always righteous.  May we never become so stiff-necked we refuse His correction!

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Father, we fight hardest not with the world, but with our very selves.  Teach each of us what it means to “take up our cross” and follow Jesus.  Place in us a hunger to know Your truth in our very hearts, and give us the courage to face whatever we find there.  We trust You because there is no other God besides You.  Who could we possibly run to but the Lover of our souls?  Cover us with Your grace for this season of revelation.  Cleanse us with the blood of Jesus.  Bring us into complete unity with You and the body of Christ.  And may our lives, though severely pruned, bring You the sweetest fruit of all.  We submit wholly to the plans You have for our lives, knowing full well that you are able to keep that which we commit to you.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”  Proverbs 27:6

“Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  Luke 18:16

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine who cleans homes.  One of her clients is a grandmother, and recently her twin granddaughters came to visit.  As my friend came into her house, this proud grandma pointed out the many fingerprints now gracing her doors and windows, and asked that they not be removed.  How precious those fingerprints are to her!  My friend was so amazed.  We began discussing the joys of having children, and the mixed feelings we have toward them growing up and leaving the nest.  I am the type of mom that loves to have constant activity in the home, and often my electric bill is sky-high from all the kids running in and out.  But I love it.  I have friends who shake their heads and wonder at me, but I know where my kids are, I know who their friends are, and if I really feel the need to have a clean house I just do it at 2am!  (Fortunately for me I’m a night owl.)  All that aside it comes down to this: Life is messy.  If you don’t have life in your home, chances are it is perfectly clean (or you’re manic!).  One day I will have a clean house.  My children will be gone, and the fingerprints will go with them.  I think that is why that precious grandma asked my friend not to clean the prints from her home.  LIFE came for a visit.

As I was sitting with the Lord yesterday He began to give me His perspective on these things.  Honestly, I had totally forgotten about my conversation with my friend earlier, so His musings caught me off guard.  I hope you are encouraged as you read this.

My precious Emanna - how you bless Me little one!  Yes, I called you “little one” because you have humbled yourself like a child and come to Me.  The kingdom of Heaven belongs to the children - not the proud, the arrogant, the wealthy or the strong.  The kingdom belongs to the children - the weak, the lonely, the outcasts, the forgotten - the humble.  This generation is deceived by pride and the spirit of self-sufficiency.  What they call strength is their weakness.  When you take the things of the world - the wealth, the power, the influence - take it all away, these whom I would call lose their identity.  They look to and fro and do not see themselves - they’re lost - sheep without a shepherd.  But not so with My children.  They identify with Me.  I am their Father and they eat from My table.  No one will take their bread from their mouths.  They enter My courts with praise and thanksgiving.  Even if their very last breath were stolen by the world they would have their place in Me.  I am their fortress and strong deliverer.  I have called the children into My throne room.  They will come in and go out and no one will hinder them.  I will protect them.  They have unlimited access to My throne.  My heart delights when I hear one of My children whisper to another, “Don’t worry, my Daddy can do anything!”  My heart swells with pride when they take Me at My Word and run swiftly with the vision I have given them.  I want the fingerprints of My children to be all over the walls and windows of Heaven, and even on My throne.  I delight in each fingerprint - each mark My children leave behind as they come in and go out.  Each fingerprint echoes back to Me that they are indeed Mine.  I formed them, I know them, and I love them.  You cannot possibly come near to Me as one of My precious children and not leave your fingerprints on My heart.  I cannot get enough of them.  I have set you as a seal on My heart, sealed with the blood of My Son Jesus.  If He had not given Himself as a sacrifice for your sins, then My children never would have had permanent access to Me.  I had to make a way.  I could never leave My children outside the door.  My love is too great and it would have consumed Me.  A sacrifice is not a sacrifice unless there is great cost involved.  I gave the greatest gift I had for all humanity - My only Son.  I am Love, and He is Love Incarnate.  This is a great mystery daughter.  Even the angels don’t understand the great love I have for My children.  They marvel at the love I have set upon the hearts of men.

Blessings,

Emanna