Heavenly Magazine

“But the water that I will give him will become a fountain..” John 4:14  

There is a redemptive counterpart prepared and ready for every fallen state of man. Because God loves us that much.  We can remain in the fallen state or pursue His redemptive plan for our lives. We can go to Him and receive living water for every failure, for every strain, for every need. When He becomes our Source, there is nothing we can not do well, beautifully and sustainably.

“The disciples urged Him, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” John 4:34

The disciples urged Jesus in the natural and He put the most important thing back at attention; the will and work of The Father.  What if the things of which we are struggling with most in our lives, right now, hoping and waiting for them to pass, are the things He has called us to, to overcome as the redemption story of our lives. What if that struggle or challenge, burden or grief, is a way for us to know the power and presence of our Father. Because once we Know Him and once we receive Him, He then will power through us to rescue others.

Our burden should always cause us to kneel at the foot of our Source.  So many of us walk around with our burden; tired and weary. Lay it down. Sit at The River. Guard your belief. Drink and receive. Then walk our your Story.

Man chooses a way which is not God’s way but God chooses to make new ways over and over for man to return to Him, to return to his source for all things redemptive and good.

Philippians 2 says, “Stand…not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition.  Your courage and unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for you and both because of God.”

Have you ever thought about what your first response is when you’re facing opposition? Is my response fear and trembling or is my response to stand firm and trust and pray, believing in and asking for my victory? My response to opposition can ALWAYS be victory if I remember WHO it is I’m victorious because of.

The more we practice this response during opposition and times of trouble, the quicker our victorious response will be.

I know you might think, “challenge?” But honestly I’ve realized it can be challenge to make God first in my life. It can be a challenge to stay connected to God. It’s a difference maker. It actually matters. To remain in His shadow, to let every relationship and every detail flow through His guidance and His light- it makes a big difference. I got a taste of what it’s like when I do press in and connect with His heart. Here’s the story:
We were driving to Richardson and my daughter had the front seat. That’s her new thing. She takes the front seat and her dad or I depending on whose driving will take the back seat with her brother. So yesterday I was driving and she was controlling the radio. Her dad noticed that she knew the words and was singing along to a song that was inappropriate. You see, little by little I had allowed her to compromise our family standards and her dad noticed it. I asked him to make “the call”. I needed his help. To set back the standard for us. And he did. My 10 year old was singing a song about sex and alcohol (I know, not very Christian of me ??‍♀️) and it just wasn’t ok with him. It shouldn’t have been ok with me. But little by little I allowed her to make choices for herself and little by little I believe we began to quench the Spirit of God in those moments. So Gigi turned the radio off and said, “ok, then let’s just talk.” We spent the next 30 minutes asking each other questions. Getting involved in each others lives. Learning about one another. The atmosphere in the car was God’s presence. Little by little we can compromise our standards but little by little we can get them back! Little by little we can help one another when we see and hear things that don’t line up with hosting the presence of God.

What if I were to tell you, Mom, that your only real work in this world is not the dishes; it’s not the money you bring in; it’s not the school you pick or the activities that make up your week. The real work is done in prayer.  Because in THAT PLACE everything is made possible. Because in THAT PLACE He teaches you how to BE LOVED.  Because in THAT PLACE you find out who you are and what your purpose is.

Love the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9

Have you ever had a dark hour?  I imagine we all have.  Who did you call?  Recently, I had a few hours where the darkness was pretty intense. “Troubles come.  Don’t be surprised when they do, consider it pure joy.”

It always amazes me during those times…it doesn’t matter how dark it is or how confusing things seem, God always redirects me right into the Light where Truth dwells.  Truth is a person, part of the trinity of God. Truth was sent down from Heaven to dwell among us and in us. Truth is the living Spirit of God. Don’t try and walk alone. Walk with The Spirit of Truth. Root yourself in the streams of living water and your prosper no matter how long it takes for the rains to come.  It’s all about The Who.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8

When our expectations fall on a person, we will inevitably experience disappointment.  When our expectations fall on God in prayer (for the person), this is where we find contentment and possibly even joy no matter the circumstance.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

The goal is not to try and fit God into my life (decisions and plans) but to bring my life (decisions and plans) into the presence of God.

I decrease, HE increases.  There is no room for both. The more I focus on and exalt God, the more truth I will see, the more power I will receive and the more beauty I will behold.

To advocate means to speak in one’s defense. If I am advocating for myself in an argument, it’s at that time difficult to show love. It’s loving kindness that leads to repentance. Can we ever expect repentance from the one we are arguing with? I’ve noticed with my husband, my first response can to be to advocate for myself and expect for my husband to simply concede and respond in love. Does this technique work for you?

The more I expect from my husband, the more The Lord shows me what He expects of me.  The answer here is to plead our case to our Heavenly Father and He will give us wisdom and power and The Holy Spirit will do the advocating, the convicting and the healing.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

Some seasons (interesting enough it should be every season) requires us to be more focused on God than our circumstances. That requirement or privilege is part of the beauty and rest of hte Christian faith. Parenting strong, tenderhearted leaders requires remaining in His presence more than in anyone else’s. Listening to what He says over what my fears my be.  Drawing from His heart in prayer so I know HOW to pray with promise and purpose. Praying today for every person who is in a season of faith testing.  REMAIN STEADFAST!  He’ll see us through, with fruit!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4