All For Love

According to the worlds standards, everything that we put effort or work toward is for the outcome of payment. Today I'm sitting here thinking about the efforts that we put toward kingdom purpose. Why do we labor? Is it for money payment? Is it for the outcome of seeing our churches grow? I feel like my heart is free of motive. I serve to see people added to the kingdom of God not for money however, in doing a self evaluation I heard the Spirit say, "Would you labor if there were no outcome? Would you labor if all that you strived for was because of your great love for me?" I know that the Lord wants people added to the kingdom but in saying that, I believe that He wants us to get back to the organic state of our first love. It's in giving our lives from the place of love that laboring for him no longer wears you down. It's in that place that you can give love and receive love to the point that you no longer exist.... It's Christ in the world completing all that He set out to do through you as a vessel. Keeping ourselves in the organic state of love, everything naturally falls into place.

Today's Devotional

"None of us lives to himself..." Romans 14:7

This is the devotional that I read today from "My Upmost From His Highest" by, Oswald Chambers I had to share:

Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We set together in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, our spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, "Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?" Our sufficiency is from God... and God alone (2nd Corinthians 3:5).
"You shall be witnesses to Me...Acts 1:8. How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone- to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life in service to God is the way I say thank you to Him for His inexpressively wonderful salvation. Remember it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to him... Lest when I have preached to others I myself should become disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

Powerful! We are not made to be sheep that only sit in the seats. God called us to go! Great word!

The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. psalm 87:2
Zion is the church. This scripture is saying that the Lord loves the doors to the church more than any other place established on earth.
Psalm 87 goes on to say that the Lord establishes Himself in the church. He loves it so much that He has set His foundation upon it. If we say that we love the Lord and we don't regularly attend church then we need to evaluate our definition of love. When you love someone you want to please them. Find a good Bible believing church and plug yourself into the place that God has set His foundation upon.

Location:Is Going To Church of Today?

Diamond in His Hands

There is a war going on that you cannot see. That war is waging against your soul. The enemy knows that if he can take your fire and your passion, you will eventually die spiritually. Last night I was thinking about the body of Christ and wondering how many of us actually know that it is our responsibility to kindle and fan the flame that is inside of us. I asked this question on Facebook, "What do you do on a daily basis to keep your flame burning?" I have to say that if your seeking God daily there really is no wrong answer to that question. Everyone has a distinct walk that works for them. I couldn't stop smiling as I read the responses to my semi loaded question. One answered, "fanning the flame is simply living the Word as a lifestyle." Another said, "I stay aware that the Lord's presence is always with me and I always listen to worship music." One answered that they meditate on the Word and all that Christ has done for them, always making sure to keep a song in their heart. I have to add that it's very interesting to me that the first three letters of the word song is S-O-N!
I mentioned that my question was semi-loaded: I wanted to honestly know what people do to maintain and increase the flame however, I also wanted to see first if people knew that it was our responsibility. I wondered if they did anything at all.
This morning the Lord gave me a vision of his hands holding what looked like a huge clear diamond. This diamond was polished, cut, reflected glorified light and was extremely beautiful. Much like we are in the eyes of the Lord. As I got closer to the diamond I saw it slowly transform into a set of praying hands. Instead of a diamond, the Lord was now holding a set of praying hands.



As I moved closer to the hands of the Lord I saw the praying hands transform into a red hot flame. I began to move closer and I saw the flame turn into red hot praying hands. As I moved closer the praying hands changed into a flame, back into praying hands and back into a flame again. The cycle never stopped as long as the diamond remained in the hands of the Lord!



I realized that the Lord molds us into a beautiful diamond but it's our responsibility to take that diamond and turn it into hands of prayer. As we pray a flame enters our hearts. This cycle repeats and the flame never leaves, it only gets bigger! In my life prayer is the keeper of my flame!
Lord,
Teach us today that Your presence is what keeps us hungry and passionate. Father, increase our understanding of how vital to our lives prayer is.
In Jesus Name!

Weapon Of Love

Love (perfect godly love) is such an amazing thing! It covers a multitude of sins, it casts out all fear. It does not keep a record of wrongs, it is patient, it always believes the best of everyone and it never fails. Love is a powerful weapon guaranteed to work!



A high school friend of mine posted this scripture on Facebook today and it spoke so deep to my heart! "God gives life to the dead and calls those things that are not as though they were." Romans 4:17 Meditating on this verse overwhelmed me and reiterated the extent of Christ's love and salvation. How He loved us while we were still sinners. Before I was even born He looked into my future completely aware of all my mistakes but yet while nailed to a tree He still called out my name. He had to of seen the completed me. Believing and knowing that I would become what He created me to be. Jesus lavished that perfect love on all of creation knowing that it would never disappoint Him! Knowing that what He saw in us would never disappoint Him! Wow...what an amazing love!

My prayer today is that Love be made perfect in me... In return I can lavish it on all of Gods creation. Changing lives springing forth like Christ!
Thank you Crystal for inspiring me today! What a blessing you are!

Declaring Victory Day 6

To You O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust O my God. You will never let me be put to shame, nor let defeat triumph over me. No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame. Show me Your ways, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me for You are God my Savior! My hope is in You all day long. You remember not the sins of my youth and my old rebellious ways; according to your love and mercy You remember me! For You are good, O Lord! God You are good and upright! You instruct sinners in Your ways, You guide the humble in what is right. All of Your ways are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of Your covenant! For the sake of Your name, O Lord forgive my iniquity, even those that I can not see. Thank You for leading my life and for directing and instructing me down the path that You have chosen for me. 
You have granted my prosperity all of my days and my descendants will inherit the land! You confide in me Lord because I fear You. You have made Your covenant known to me. My eyes are ever on You Lord. You guard my life and rescue me, my integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in You. 
Psalm 25

Declaring Victory Day 5

The earth is Yours Lord and everything in it belongs to You! My hands are clean and my heart is pure! I will never put anything before You. I will not swear by what is false. Thank You for the blessings that You bestow upon me O, Lord! I love to seek Your face. I love Your presence my God! I choose to open the ancient gates of my heart so that You, the King of glory can enter in! You are the Lord strong and mighty! You are the Lord mighty in battle. Every victory belongs to you. Thank You for fighting the battles that come my way today Lord! Thank You for blessing me with victory in every area of my life! Thank You for searching all the deep places in me and declaring victory where victory is needed! You are the Lord strong and mighty, faithful and true!! I honor You!
Psalm 24