Prostrate submission

"And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me." Ezekiel 1:1-2

Not once but TWICE was the Glory of the LORD so captivating & powerful that it HUMBLED Ezekiel. He literally FELL TO HIS FACE! 

"Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face. Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house." Ezekiel 3:23,24

Did you catch that? It took the Spirit of the LORD to set Him on His feet again. Such overwhelming awe at His Splendor humbled Ezekiel to the ground! On his own, he could NOT stand. Can you imagine? Where is this awe-inspiring REVERENCE today?

Ezekiel didn't "think" about it but automatically displayed prostrate submission! Do you respect the Living God enough to humble yourself in His presence?  

Danger in misplaced anger

"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..." 1 Samuel 15:23 

Did you know rebellion stems from bitterness? Bitterness & resentment walk hand in hand. All 3 - rebellion, bitterness & resentment stem from anger! Stubbornness means the trait of being difficult to handle or overcome and a resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires. 

Is it all about you? Do you want what you want despite what's good for you? Despite what The Lord says is best? 

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" Hebrews 12:15 

Misplaced anger causes us to sin greatly. Priority check, who are you living for? 

The Great Exchange

I once had a heart of stone, until Love bid me to the Royal Throne. 

A river of Love overflowed, where I saw the Blood once shed. All done for me, so Christ could be my Lord, Master, Savior & Friend. 

A sight so deep, it enamored my heart. A great exchange I humbly then made. I laid it all down but was afraid to let go. 

I knew this heart and what to expect. See with that heart it was easy to be cold and to others neglect. 

I laid it down, once and for good. No more misery and pain misunderstood. 

My heart of stone was crushed along with my sin, my will, desires and all fleshly lusts. 

It is painful to feel, it is painful to see, the person I thought I was; wasn't at all as He saw me. 

New life has been given, my sins now forgiven; I've stepped out of the darkness and consumed with His Light. 

A great change He's made with that cold heart of stone, to which I did cling; now let go and my heart sings! 

Such peace His Love brings. Casting away worry, doubt and fear; it's amazing now how things are so very clear. 

I've tasted His Love and the freedom of sin within, He's forever embraced me as His Beloved and I Him, my Lord, my Master, Savior and friend! 

Have you experienced His great exchange?  

SERIOUS WARNING & CALL FOR SELF-EXAMINATION

 

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Corinthians 13:5

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," 2 Corinthians 6:17

"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Matthew 12:30

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24

"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:" Exodus 34:14

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Revelation 3:16

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

Coach bags & Christianity

As I've watched an online auction this afternoon for the high end "Coach" bag products, I initially thought I was wasting my time. See, name brand has never been an issue for me. Much less could I afford to feed such desires. 

As I watched the numbers soar in short amounts of time for countless styles, colors and sizes The Lord spoke these things to my heart... 

"There's only one "Coach" brand but many impostors. These handbags come at a high cost not many desire to spend. They desire the appeal of wealth without the cost it takes to achieve & attain such craftsmanship. Look at the state of My church. Many impostors have come in offering a replica of my Son, yet require 1/2 the cost. Many cannot see or do not realize accepting the imposter will damn their souls."

How true is this!? So many have accepted a "knock-off" version of Christ. He "feels good", looks good and seems affordable! 

Without correction & conviction of sin, we cannot have a genuine repentant heart to turn from our hearts desires, fleshly desires & our own will. Hence, we cannot have a life change that will lead us to life everlasting by and IN Christ! 

The imposing knock-off will come packaged in a form suitable to our wants, our "needs" and our Will. The true genuine Christ WILL challenge every fiber of your being! He requires a high cost; your heart of stone for a heart that's pierce-able and your old life in exchange for His everlasting life. 

Look closely at the Christianity you claim and keep these things in mind. Have you settled for a soul damning knock-off or are you willing to consider the cost of Christ and the cross? 

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 2 Peter 2:1

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1

Remember a good sales person can sell anything despite need, value, quality or  integrity. Test it all by prayerful digging in the Word of God. Consider the cost... 

Lord please...

Dear Lord, please keep me in your Love, hold me in Your arms and saturate me in Your embrace. All I wanna do is seek Your face. Seems the whole world has gone to waste. 

Lord God, please fill me with your love and cover me in Your grace. I don't wanna seem selfish - but without You, life would be pointless. Stuck in this evil world, I gotta keep Christ first. 

Dear Lord, How can people know, how can the people see, if I don't display You? Let them feel Your Love, grace & forgiveness. Help me be Your witness. 

Lord God, There's so much wicked going on in them crazy streets. Countless looking for hope but everything apart from You, leads deeper than 6 feet. Use me Lord and help me see as You see, so I can be Your hand that'll stretch out and reach. 

Dear Lord,  I'm just a pilgrim in this foreign land. Grip my heart and help me hold Your hand. I wanna bear Your countenance, so this world can plainly see all You have & hold could be theirs too, in an instant. 

Father God, You gave all when You gave up Your Son. Use me to tell them all, the battle's already been won. They don't have to pretend the darkness of the world is fun. Father God, thank You for the cross and for Christ who paid the cost, so I can freely bring this humble plea. In Christ's name, I ask and seek Thee. Amen!