Intimacy with Christ

By Martha Hepker Stufflebeam
1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

A few months ago, the Holy Spirit woke me with a prophetic word. Through this Word, He began to do a new thing in me. This is the first paragraph:

I have many hard things to say unto you my children. A new season is not coming; it has turned over. The time of adorning my BRIDE is at hand. I am jealous for the world to see her in her “GLORY.” It is her ‘coming-out’ party, a time for her reveal. My true BRIDE must know my voice, my heart, my joys and my pain. She must spend more time with me to know my desires, and how to pleasure me. It is a time for the preparation of the wedding bed. Her fragrance must please me. Her adorning must be of my choosing. It is a new intimacy she must have.

I have been on a journey that I would like to share with you, little by little, in the next few writings from me. My journey has been to have a new intimate love relationship with Christ.

Sometimes we need to look inside ourselves and test our love for family, friends and our Heavenly Father.

The Holy Spirit chose to test my love in a way that was beyond any proofs that I had ever understood. He asked me if I loved enough to walk away so another person could have their happiness, their fulfillment and desires, no matter what pain and distress it caused me. This question took me several days to chew on and pray about. In the end I came to an understanding of LOVE like I've never had. When one has deep love for another person, he or she wants the other person’s happiness and fulfillment more than their own, no matter how it hurts.

Jesus truly did that for us. When He was willing to go to the Cross, go through the loneliness and the pain, then leave it up to us to choose Him. He knew that upon our choosing Him, He would truly be pleased. There is no feeling like being chosen to be loved!

There is a song, "I Wonder If God Cries." How He loves us, even when His LOVE is unreciprocated. I am quite sure it brings tears to His eyes. How I pray that I give Him pleasure everyday as I choose to spend time with Him, just because I want to give Him happiness.

So I pray today that you receive LOVE from someone that is pure and unselfish, a love from Someone that wants to give you more love than He desires to receive. His love will comfort when you are weary, help carry your burdens and will bring you pure pleasure and happiness.

Turtles

By Kandace Rather
I just have to ask... have you ever wanted to be a turtle? I know that's a crazy question but I had this thought today while driving around with my daughter. The thought went something like this: "It must be nice to have a shell to hide under when you just don't want to face the world." OK, getting smashed on the highway because you're too slow to make it across in between cars is a big setback, but all that aside, turtles have it made. I wouldn't want to be a snapping turtle. Snapping turtles remind me too much of moody people. I've never considered myself to be moody. You might say I am a very positive, optimistic, upbeat person. However, if I do get in a bad mood, I might do more than just snap, so beware!

The part about turtles that was especially appealing to me today was the retreating inside my shell part. For the last year I have been in a storm, the longest storm of my life. At first, I just tried to rebuke it. You know, the get-behind-me-Satan-type rebukes. However, after that didn't work I began to think that maybe, just maybe, there was purpose in the storm. Maybe it was what Jesus talked about in Matthew 7:24-27:

"So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!" (TEV).

Basically, Jesus had just told His disciples many things in the previous chapters in Matthew, including the Sermon on the Mount. He then tells them, "Do these things and you're going to make it through the storm that's coming." However, not only are you going to make it through but you are going to come out of it knowing that your house is secure! He separates those who hear and those who hear and do. He also does not indicate IF the storm comes, but WHEN the storm comes. I believe there are two types of storms that come into our lives. The first kind of storms are ones that we rebuke even as Jesus did in Luke 8:22-25:

“One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they started out. As they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly a strong wind blew down on the lake, and the boat began to fill with water, so that they were all in great danger. The disciples went to Jesus and woke him up, saying, "Master, Master! We are about to die!" Jesus got up and gave an order to the wind and to the stormy water; they quieted down, and there was a great calm. Then he said to the disciples, "Where is your faith?" But they were amazed and afraid, and said to one another, "Who is this man? He gives orders to the winds and waves, and they obey him!" (TEV).

The second kind of storm we are to ride out as we stand upon the Rock of His Word. No doubt the "rebuke storms" are more desirable as we see the enemy bow to the Name of Jesus in our lives, but the "ride it out storms" are becoming to me even a greater miracle. With winds blowing and rain falling, peace prevails! Yes, the enemy flees long before the storms come when our lives are built on the Rock of His Word.

So, the thought about the turtle ended with the Lord whispering His Word to my heart.

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.’
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler." (Psalm 91:1-4, NKJV).

I'm kinda like a turtle after all! Even better... His faithfulness will not get smashed on the highway of life as I am making it to the other side! It is my protection and my shield. So, instead of dreaming about the life of a turtle I am choosing to live in the reality of His protection! I am hiding under the shelter of His wings and trusting Him until the end.

God's Treasure

By Rebecca Bogle

“When I don’t measure up to much in this life, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ.”

Every morning I wake up with a song on my mind. This morning it happened to be “Forgiven” by Sanctus Real.

One day it is a song of praise; another day a song of forgiveness. Whatever the case may be, it’s always a song that is meant to minister to my day. I struggle with everyday life just like anyone else.

“Will I have clean clothes for tomorrow?”

“What will I fix for dinner?”

“How am I going to pay this $200 electric bill?!”

Questions like these go through my mind everyday. I find worry creeping into my thoughts more than usual. When it happens, believe it or not, I find myself asking, “Why God? Why don’t you just give me a couple of more hours in a day to wash clothes? Why are we getting hit with a $200 electric bill?”

I’m sure God has heard his share of “Why?” prayers, probably more than He can stand. However, His Word quickly puts an end to my worry. Matthew 6:31-34 states:

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (NKJV)

Regardless of how we feel or act towards God, He still loves and takes care of us. Looking back on my life, I’ve never gone a day without food; I’ve never had a day without clothes to wear... and PRAISE THE LORD, I still have electricity!

I may not be the holiest person on this earth. I may not have a lot of money or fame. I may not have it all together but....

“When I don’t measure up to much in this life, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ.”

We Lost Our Home in a Fire

By Julie Skaggs
Christmas is always a special time. It’s when we celebrate the birth of Jesus and give thanks for His love and faithfulness. For our family, we were especially thankful because our son who serves in the U.S. Marine Corps was home for Christmas. He was getting ready to leave for his duty station in Hawaii, and we knew it would be several months until we would see him again. Also, our daughter would soon begin college and there was an acute awareness in each of us that this Christmas may be the last we share together for quite some time. Our lives were all changing and as a mother, I was struggling with a sense of loss. I knew my role in their lives was changing and I questioned what the future held.

Christmas day came and went and we enjoyed being together with family and friends. In just a few days, we would have to say goodbye to our son as he would leave to begin another chapter in his life. It was late on December 28 and everyone was asleep. I had just finished packing the last of our son’s things in his military bags; it would be only a few hours until we would take him to the airport. I was struggling with the thought of having to say goodbye, knowing that we would be miles and miles apart.

Our son was still out saying goodbye to his friends so I decided to doze on the couch until he came home. After I drifted off to sleep, I was soon awakened with the sensation that someone was choking me. When fully awake I realized our house was completely filled with smoke! I immediately awakened my husband. As he opened the door to our downstairs, he was met with flames and heat. I could not believe what was happening!

We ran to our daughter’s room to help her get out of the house. Once outside, I remembered our son’s military bags that were by the door downstairs. As my husband ran to the neighbor’s house for help, I ran around the outside of our house to see if I could get my son’s military bags. The basement was already engulfed in smoke and flames. As I opened the door, there sat our son’s bags untouched. I quickly pulled them from the burning building, but the intense smoke and flames kept us from saving anything else.

I cannot explain all the emotions that consumed me as I stood and watched our home of 20 years burn. I will never forget the look on my son’s face when he arrived home to see our family home consumed by fire. As the fire department worked to put out the blaze, the time came for our son to leave for the airport. With tears in his eyes, he asked me what he should do. He didn’t want to leave. I remember him making the statement, “I can’t leave not knowing if you are going to be OK.”

The Word of God tells us of a “peace that surpasses all understanding.” I know that it was the presence of my heavenly Father that held and comforted us that night. It was His strength that enabled us to say good-bye to our son and to our home in the same evening. It was His peace that gave us the reassurance that all would be OK.

All our worldly possessions were gone. Our comfort and security was taken away. All we had left was God—and we found that He was more than enough! God’s provision and faithfulness has overwhelmed us. Since that unforgettable night, He has blessed us not only with a new house and furnishings, but also with a family vacation to Hawaii to visit our son. More than anything else, we have been reminded that no matter what circumstances we may face, God goes before us waiting to show Himself strong. GOD IS FAITHFUL!!

Seven Secrets to Living an Extraordinary Life

By Kathy Smith
Are you living an ordinary life or are you living an extraordinary life? God does not want you to live a mundane life; He doesn’t even want you living an average life! God wants His very best for you; after all, you are His child!

How can you live the extraordinary life God intended for you? Here are seven secrets to an extraordinary life in Him.

1. God is a jealous God and he wants to be first in your life.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Matthew 22:36-38 says, “ ‘Master, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.’ ” God wants to be first in your priorities, first in your day, first in your finances, first in your thoughts.

2. Pray without ceasing.
When we retain God first and foremost in our thoughts we are always in an attitude of prayer, no matter what we are doing.

3. Meditate in the Word.
Joshua 1:8 says," This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

4. Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).
If we are to be like trees that are planted by the rivers of waters, then we have to be planted somewhere and stay put so that we may grow, be fruitful, and multiply. (See Psalm 1.)

5. Follow the path of peace.
James 3:17,18 says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."

6. Rejoice every day. Don’t worry, be happy!
Comic strip character Charlie Brown says, “I only dread one day at time.” As Christians, we do not need to dread even one day! Paul said in Philippians 4:4 that we are to “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” We are to cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).

7. Live life expecting God’s best!
Attitudes are like waves in the ocean... we want to make certain that we catch the best one so that it will take us all the way to the shore of our destination in Christ Jesus. Are you expecting God’s best for your life? Are you expecting a miracle? The woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 was expecting God’s best and she received her miracle.

We are all pregnant with the expectation of something from the Lord. What are you expecting? Nurture a spirit of expectation in your life and you, too, will receive God’s best!

Character: Part Seven

By Carol Dickey
Character development is not simply a matter of changing how we behave and think today. It also involves taking responsibility for how we have behaved in the past. This includes neglected debts and apologies never made.

Our relationship with God hinges on our relationship with people. We cannot resolve
our differences with the Father if we are unwilling to resolve our differences with others.
We cannot be in fellowship with God and out of fellowship with others.

To love God is to keep His commands; Jesus has commanded us to love others (John 13:34), which is His new commandment.

Reconciling relationships and making restitution are what instills character in men and women. Doing these things are signs of spiritual maturity and personal security. Sure, it is inconvenient. Yes, it is embarrassing. Often, it is humiliating. Our Savior suffered a painful, inconvenient, and terribly humiliating death on the Cross for the sins of the whole world. Some people think walking in the Spirit is a level reached after years of listening to tapes, reading books, having marathon quiet times and going further and further into the deeper things of God. Some hope for an infusion of willpower that would make choosing sin out of the question. Some wait for God to scoop them up and change them. None of these is what is meant by walking in the Spirit.

Sometimes do you wish God would take control of your mind? Wouldn’t it be easier if we could walk down an aisle, pray a prayer, push a button and then suddenly God would take over? However, control is not His goal; a relationship with us is His goal.

We have freedom of choice, freedom to follow, freedom to surrender. As we follow Him and surrender to His will and purpose, He empowers us to do what He desires us do.

Our pursuit of character is not intended to be a solo flight; God has sent the Holy Spirit to direct and empower us. He will enable us to be what we cannot be in our own strength... a PERSON OF CHARACTER!

Character: Part Six

By Carol Dickey
God’s goal for us is to be like Christ. His method is renewal. When we take steps to renew our mind, we are working hand-in-hand with God. He has promised to “complete what He has begun.”

“Putting on the new” means moving beyond a devotional approach to Scripture. It can mean opening your Bible on a daily basis for the first time. You will never renew your mind by merely reading a couple of pages of a devotional book and praying a short prayer.

Renewal is a lifestyle. Some new habits are required. Anytime we try something new, it can feel somewhat uncomfortable. God wants us to renew our mind with Truth, not just fill it with facts. Renewal will involve digging out specific Bible truths for ourselves. We are to live on the words that come from the mouth of God. Renewal is our way of working alongside the Holy Spirit as He endeavors to conform our character to that of the Lord Jesus.

Remaining in His Word helps us discover the Truth that removes the obstacles between us and our character development. Truth paves the way for spiritual progress. God is going to use a variety of things to shape our character; our responsibility is to trust Him and remain faithful.