Mary Lindow ~ The Messenger Podcast
CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
Episodes
Friday Dec 30, 2022
Friday Dec 30, 2022
By Mary Lindow
Today’s podcast is one that I am going to share with you about “another wonderful story” of how the Holy Spirit can prompt us to do things for others at the most uncanny times, and as if they were perfectly orchestrated years and years beforehand.
And, of course, the Lord knows the heart desire of every one of his children, but he often uses his own children to help bring about the heart’s desire for many other people by being obedient and acting when the Holy Spirit in first Corinthians says, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple that belongs to the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, whom you received from God, lives in you. You don’t belong to yourselves.” 1 Corinthians 6:19
IT WAS NEAR CHRISTMAS TIME, and a local Women’s Aglow group, which happened to be a good sized chapter, was having a Christmas ladies luncheon and asked if I would come in and be their keynote speaker. The room was decorated beautifully and of course the tables were festive for the holiday!
As I was sitting at the table next to the team members and the president of the group, there was a conversation about the beautiful table settings. I was just listening and enjoying hearing them talk about how they went about getting everything ready, and why they wanted to make it so nice for so many other women that were coming, because many of them worked full-time jobs and didn’t get a chance to come and partake of beautiful things during the holidays because they were also busy mothers.
ONE OF THE LADIES BY THE NAME OF BILLY WAS SHARING WITH EVERYONE THAT SHE HAD JUST GONE SHOPPING WITH HER DAUGHTER A FEW WEEKS AGO, and they had picked out Wedding China for her daughter and her husband, because her daughter was going to be married in the spring. She went on to say that she never did get to have Wedding China as a young bride and wanted her daughter to have a beautiful experience and opportunity to have a beautiful table.
I THOUGHT, "WHAT A WONDERFUL THING THIS WAS THAT THIS WOMAN WAS GETTING CHINA FOR HER DAUGHTER, AND THAT SHE HAD NEVER HAD WEDDING CHINA HERSELF." She went on to mention that she had picked out a special pattern herself as a young bride, but that it was just not possible for her family and friends to give wedding china at that point, because it was a very frugal wedding, and other wedding gifts were more important.
I sat there and wondered about how wonderful it was for her as a mother, to be so concerned that her daughter would have a beautiful table to set with beautiful things, when she herself had never had any. Now, it was time for me to get up and share my Christmas message so I did, and afterwards told her how beautiful her story was to me about her daughter, and proceeded to go home for the day.
On my way home, I began to remember that I have been given an entire set a Fine China from a dear friend, whom I had come to know while I was in Bible College.
NOW, THIS IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING!
This dear, godly, lovely man would take on students to help with jobs or different kinds of projects in his home or, other derelict properties that he would buy, and train them and also pay them so they could pay for their Bible college fees. He had been in the military with a high clearance type of job, and although he had wanted to marry, he knew that he would never be able to be home enough to justify caring for a bride. At 63 he began to take students into his home for meals and storytelling, and developing them for skill sets. He had been a trainer for all kinds of business components of the military.
WHEN I MET HIM WHEN IMMEDIATELY HAD A BOND because he was also a gifted musician, and had a love for Fine art and Fine China. He would go to the thrift stores or take me along and different places where very wealthy Texans would drop off Crystal and China and dishes and silver that they were no longer using. So he was forever scouting out Havilland china pieces or different kinds of China to add to his collection. I went on to meet my husband and marry him later and we moved to Illinois. (That’s where my husbands from.)
THIS LOVELY MAN BY THE NAME OF ALAN would occasionally sent boxes of pieces of things that he would find to add to a side of China for me, and I did have wedding China of my own. At one time we had three full sets of Fine China and I wasn’t sure what to do with all of it! Then came two boxes that he had found of a 1950s china pattern that he thought was exquisite! I had opened the boxes and noticed there were eight place settings, eight cups and saucers, eight salad plates, eight serving plates, and also a creamer and sugar set as well as a large serving bowl.
SOMEHOW, I NEVER FELT LIKE THESE WERE TO BELONG TO ME, and I really didn’t have storage for them. So, I put them away in a cupboard thinking that someday if we moved and I had a China hutch for them, I would use them as spring dishes. They had a platinum rim, they were white and off to the right side there was a spray of flowers that had a lot of teal and a little bit of touch of pink and a hint of orange, and of course soft green.
STEVE AND I WERE THEN CALLED TO GO HELP PIONEER A CHURCH IN MISSOURI, so we packed everything up and moved those dishes and everything else to Missouri. And understand these dishes have been shipped from Dallas Texas to Illinois. Now they were taking a trip to Missouri!
ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER STEVE AND I DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO DENVER, COLORADO BECAUSE THE LORD HAD PROMPTED US TO DO SO. So once again, we packed everything up and moved to Denver. There I was in Denver speaking at a Women’s Aglow Christmas banquet luncheon and I hear this woman-discussing find China for her daughter.
NOW! BACK TO ME ON MY WAY HOME.
The thought came to me, (prompted by the Holy Spirit) “Why don’t you give that set of China to Billy? What a wonderful Christmas gift it would be to gift to her, and she would have a lovely set of China for her own home.”
I was absolutely thrilled to think that this would belong to someone else, and that the Lord would want me to give it to them. But I wasn’t sure if it was a pattern she would want or not.
BUT THE PERSISTENT NUDGING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…
… WOULD NOT GO AWAY!
I went into our basement storage area and found the two boxes and everything was still pristine and in great condition. I wrote a quick card, and told her that I felt like the Lord wanted me to give these to her after listening to her conversation about buying China for her daughter and then that I just wanted to bless her with it so she would have a beautiful table at Christmas time. I did get a hold of her telephone number and called and told her that I was having my husband and two little boys run some boxes by, just a little something for her. Would she be home? She said of course she would and she said she was “quite intrigued”.
I BUNDLED UP THE BOXES AND HELPED MY HUSBAND GET THE TWO LITTLE BOYS INTO THE CAR AND OFF THEY WENT TO DO THE DELIVERY. I was downstairs folding laundry, and just thinking about how much I hoped it blessed her, and that she would be tickled that the lord thought of her.
NOW COMES THE MOST EXCITING PART!
The phone starts ringing and I went upstairs and I missed it. (This is back when Cell Phones were way too expensive for everyone and we still had a landline with a long cord!)
Then the phone started ringing again, so I quickly answered the phone, and on the other end, there was the sound of someone gasping and crying! Now Being a pastor's wife, we often received calls from people who were in distress or who were needing prayer, so, I began to saying, “Hello? Who’s there? Can I help you?” Finally, the person on the end of the line was able to clear their throat and gather their emotions, and it was Billy the lady who Steve had dropped the China off to.
SHE BEGAN SAYING, “OH MARY! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!” And of course I didn’t, and I wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but I could tell that she was overcome! She then began to tell me that when the boxes arrived, she was tickled to think that someone thought of her, and my husband said my wife wanted to give these to you and wish you a Merry Christmas. But, when she closed the door and went to open the packages, she reached in and pulled out one of the dinner plates that was in a slotted cardboard area. The China pattern was the EXACT China pattern that she had wanted as a young bride, but never had. It had the platinum rim that she had desired to have on her pattern! And there were eight place settings, just enough for her Christmas table and her family that was coming to feast. Also, she was able to set a beautiful place setting and table, for the Mother of the Groom, who was going to come and visit.
THIS WOMAN WAS WEEPING AND LAUGHING, AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE LORD WOULD HAVE HELD ONTO THIS CHINA FOR HER ALL THESE YEARS. I told her that they have been given to me and shipped from Dallas to Illinois to Missouri to Denver. Imagine! The Lord had shipped those dishes, and had me move them “strategically”, until they got into the hands of the woman that he had planned to bless them with!
MY FRIENDS, GOD KNOWS THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS even down to the simple things like Fine China, and he knows that soft and beautiful things, in specific times of our life are so necessary, to show us how lavish and beautiful his care and love for us is.
THE STORY GOES ON BECAUSE MANY OF HER FRIENDS THEN BEGAN TO HEAR THE STORY ABOUT “THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE CHINA”, and they began to give her serving pieces that matched, or Silver pieces or Crystal, and one friend even gave her a set of family silverware to accompany her beautiful table. Everyone wanted to get in on the beautiful moment!
WHEN STEVE CAME HOME, WE JUST PUT OUR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER AND LAUGHED AND CRIED at the joy of knowing the Lord had those dishes, literally moved and sent on his behalf, to this darling woman.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO NEVER, EVER, MINIMIZE THE FACT, THE HOLY SPIRIT ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
It could be something as simple as giving them a beautiful scarf that you are no longer wearing, or perhaps you have tools in your garage that you’re not using.
IT’S IN THE ACT OF GIVING
THAT THE PRESENCE OF GOD COMES DOWN
AND TRANSFORMS WHAT WE ARE GIVING, INTO HOPE.
GIVING IS NOT THE NATURE OF THE DARK WORLD! Taking and grasping and hoarding is from the dark part of the world. But we as believers are to give freely because we have freely received everything we could ever need to save us from the doom and darkness of this world.
When Christ himself came and gave his life as a lamb, as a child, he gave his life to us in the form of an infant so that when his day to die up on the cross came; he could truly say that he experienced life like we have, from cradle to grave.
AS WE ALL BEGIN TO DE-CLUTTER AND PUT AWAY CHRISTMAS ITEMS, I would encourage you to look at through the lens of what you have, and ask the Lord, “Is this something that I need to be sharing with someone else?”
Is there another set of silverware in your house that you are not using that another family might need?
Do you have several pairs of sports tennis shoes that you purchased and realized you don’t like them and they’re practically brand new?
FIND A FAMILY, FIND SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THEM.
And yes, you have to look for them sometimes, but the Lord will direct your path because you are led by the Holy Spirit and you belong to Him, and the Holy Spirit wastes NOTHING!
WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHERE THE BODY OF CHRIST
IS BEING CHAMPIONED AND CHALLENGED TO LEARN
HOW TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND MEET ONE ANOTHER’S NEEDS SO THAT NONE ARE LACKING.
There’s no place in the Bible that talks about hoarding or keeping everything to us. None whatsoever. But it does talk about sharing and at times, “sacrificial giving to others” so that they may know the love of Christ.
I encourage you to go through your canned goods to look at your bedding, sheets, extra coats, and by all means that dozens of Bibles that we all have sitting on our shelves in abundance! There are those who would give anything to have a new Bible or perhaps a warmer winter coat.
WE CANNOT LOOK DOWN ON THOSE WHO ARE SLIGHTLY IMPOVERISHED OR IMPOVERISHED,
BECAUSE THERE’S NOTHING "MORE GODLY" ABOUT BEING WEALTHY, THAN THERE IS ABOUT BEING POOR.
GOD JUDGES THE INTENTION OF OUR HEARTS,
NOT THE ABUNDANCE OF OUR WALLETS.
THERE ARE THINGS AROUND YOU THAT THE LORD HAS PLACED WITHIN YOUR REACH and maybe even you have moved from state to state or move from one house to another that you could easily ask him about and ask him to prompt you to show you who is this to go to.
You may be sitting in a restaurant and hear someone talking about something they need and you may be prompted by the Holy Spirit that you are the one that has it.
It takes simple listening.
It just takes simple listening!
It doesn’t take a Herculean effort.
But love acts!
ONCE WE SECOND-GUESS OURSELVES and never stop and buy that cup of coffee for the person in front of us that seems downtrodden. Or, we wonder if that $20 towards someone’s grocery bill in front of us makes any difference, then we miss out on the blessing. But you see it’s not for us to question the amount or the moment! It’s for us to act in loving grace and humility and kindness, and in that moment change the world!
HEAVEN COMES DOWN AND MEETS THE NEED AND KISSES SOMEONE’S HEART WITH HOPE, AND HE USES US TO DO IT.
I wish you all a beautiful week as you prepare for this up-and-coming year.
My message after the first of the year is going to talk about “Peace in the midst of chaos” because the world is becoming more chaotic, and unfortunately the world is covered with a gross darkness right now.
Believers need to be strengthened encouraged not to quit, not to hide, and certainly not to hoard!
I BLESS YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND I PRAY NOW THAT HE WILL TOUCH YOU AND GUIDE YOU AND SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU DO HAVE, THAT YOU CAN GIVE FREELY. And, perhaps there are things that you are feeling a tug at your heart that you need to give but they’re going to cause a little pain to give away. That’s OK! The Lord does love, sacrificial, giving, and above all, he loves a joyful giver!
THERE IS NOTHING MORE JOYFUL THAN TO SEE THE ABSOLUTE SURPRISE AND DELIGHT ON THE FACE OF SOMEONE THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED IN KINDNESS, AND WITHOUT FANFARE.
Have a beautiful and Happy New Year, but above all, pray that the Lord would show you what he has to say to you in 2023 specifically for your life and what kind of assignments he has for you.
THE CHURCH IS BEING CALLED UP TO BE THE FULL ARMORED BODY OF CHRIST, AND MY FRIENDS THAT MEANS YOU AND I.
Goodbye for now please go to my website at www.marylindow.com where you can listen to this podcast directly there or you can read and listen to other things that I have posted there and a few videos.
I say thank you to all of you who have been so gracious to send beautiful Christmas cards and little notes in the mail and also emails with encouraging words, sharing what these podcasts and stories I’ve been doing mean to you.
And I thank those of you who have been prompted by the Lord to support this next year of ministry. Your response has been a bit overwhelming and I thank you for your help, and also I think you more than anything for your prayers for I truly do feel them.
God bless all of you.
Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete article, podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You!
Copyright © 2022 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
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Saturday Dec 25, 2021
Saturday Dec 25, 2021
By Mary Lindow
Last year on December 21st 2020 (which was the 1st Day of Winter) Steve and I drove to pick up salads for our dinner. It had been a challenging month having just had his Mother pass into heaven while in WuhanCovid-19 lockdowns in a nursing facility.
To be honest, we were a little weary and tender in heart, and still had preparations to do for our Family Christmas Day dinner and celebration with our Son Joel and his wife Angela and our 4 Grandchildren. Our youngest son Tim and his wife Liz were in Texas with her family. This had also been during the most severe time of lockdowns and restrictions in our State.
Everything felt hard, and dark, and mean.
As we were driving away after picking up salads,
my sister texted and asked if we were going to look for
the “Christmas Star”,
Or, the two planet convergence taking place that evening at dusk. I had wanted to see this and had forgotten! So we aimed the car West and watched the sky!
We live at an altitude of 5290 feet above sea level and have a glorious view of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. At this specific time of year the sun sits at a very low angle in the western sky and when it dips behind the mountains, there is an almost greenish-aqua reflective light, and at 5:15 MDST we saw the "Christmas Star" or two planets very closely spaced together (to human eyes) start to take shape in the Western sky.
We quickly drove to a favorite hilltop location, not too far from our home where we often go to walk and enjoy a complete 360-degree view of our surrounding area and state. We thought that at night and away from city lights we’d have a great place to see this phenomenon and view it away from too many people. This event marked the first time since 1623 that the two planets Saturn and Jupiter have passed this close to one another and also marked the nearly 800 years since the planets aligned at night. As a result, some have referred to the planetary alignment as forming a "Christmas star," in reference to the Star of Bethlehem, since the event falls only a few days before Christmas.
As we drove in thinking we’d take the dirt road up to the hill where there was a parking area, all around us there were HUNDREDS of people parked on the dirt driveway up the hill and on the side streets of the neighborhood surrounding it!
HUNDREDS of people were standing on the hill, looking Westward and upward, looking for the "Christmas Star".
The most unusual thing was taking place though.
There was a hushed "awe" in this big crowd.
People were either talking low or they were whispering, as if this was a sacred moment not to be disrespected by loud noises. No one was talking on his or her cell phones! WOW!
You could feel the questions and the cries and thoughts of those standing there watching and looking up into the sky. You could sense the desperation of many wanting to know what to do in such and strange and dark time on planet earth and wondering why this event was taking place at this time!
We drove around the entirety of the hill's lower neighborhood road,
looking in amazement at all of the people, and a sudden wave
of what I would call "travail" moved me to tears and prayer.
Steve and I began to cry out the Father to touch the souls of those looking up into the sky, knowing that all of them are fully aware of the troubled days that they were living in. We prayed that they would risk and speak from their weary hearts to the God who hung those radiant planets that were glowing in the sky, just for them, just at this very moment in time.
God SO Loves the World!
He sent his Son...
…So the world might know His full expression of deep commitment to the people He created with the tips of His fingers and the breath of His being.
We saw more than just the "Star" that night! We saw people, engaging in wonder!
Of course we know it wasn’t "THE" Christmas Star shining so very brightly in the sky, on the longest and darkest day/night of the year! (The Winter Solstice), but doesn't the Lord create things that would show signs and wonders in the heavenlies?
WHY DID GOD ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN THAT NIGHT,
DURING THE CUSTOMARY SEASON ON EARTH WHERE PEOPLE CELEBRATE
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, WHEN THE EARTH WAS IN SUCH TURMOIL?
(And still is!)
Because He knows that if He can use something to draw people to himself,
He will do it!
Psalm 57:10-11 says,
“Your love is so extravagant it reaches to the heavens;your faithfulness so astonishing it stretches to the sky!
Lord God, be exalted as you soar throughout the heavens.May your shining glory be shown in the skies!Let it be seen high above all the earth!”
Of course it’s was not the actual date of the birth of Jesus Christ in December,
nor was this the actual star that was seen by the shepherds and Wise men.
But God knows mankind knows the stories and that there was a Star to guide them, so, He wastes nothing in order to draw all men to himself.
"This is what I will do in the last days— I will pour out MY Spirit on everybody
and cause your sons and daughters to prophesy, and your young men will see visions
and your old men will experience dreams from God.
The Holy Spirit will come upon all my servants,
men and women alike, and they will prophesy.
I will reveal startling signs and wonders in the sky above,
and mighty miracles on the earth below. - Acts 2:17 -19
These planets would be closest to each other in the sky on Dec. 21, appearing only a tenth of a degree apart but they would remain in close alignment for a few days and would be easily visible to the naked eye when looking toward the slight southwest west just after sunset on first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
NOW! THIS IS THE PART WHERE THE KINDNESS
AND SUPERNATURAL TOUCH OF GOD,
TOOK PLACE FOR STEVE AND I!
We had had a very intense and sad family upset with some stressed out relatives the night before and had done a bit of damage control and counseling of everyone, but our hearts were hurting over words that had been spoken and the pain that they had caused for many. (Holidays can often bring out the dysfunctions and anger in some people who tend to not address personal issues.) We gently but firmly coached a few involved to see things more accurately and to go and correct there bad choice of words and apologize. They did, but the upset left everyone feeling grieved and raw.
On Christmas Eve we like to take a tray of home baked treats to a few of our neighbors and wish them a Joyful Christmas. I had asked Steve to run a final tray across the street to some neighbors who hadn’t been home earlier. As I was standing at the kitchen sink rinsing out a bowl that had held cookie dough, I was talking to the Lord and sharing my heart and sadness with Him about missing my precious Mother in Law, the strangeness of the dark world of a bio-terror weapon that was causing such fear and sickness, and the grief I felt after the tense family situation.
I asked Him to pour over Steve and I, his holiness and peace and I asked him to receive an offering of praise out of this sorrow, thanking him for coming to earth as a Savior in such a dark and wicked world.
I then had a thought that reminded me, that the “Christmas Star was still visible in the sky on that night and I realized the timing right then would be perfect to view from our front porch. We have this unusual glow in the West in the winter months when the sun is setting and I could see the hue as I walked toward our front door, which has glass in it.
As I stepped out onto the porch I could see the two stars, which were a bit more separated at this point, but absolutely clear.
What took place next was something I have no explanation
as to where it came from, but the timing of it
was so precise and overwhelming
that I just stood there in awe, and wept.
A CHORUS OF VOICES BEGAN SINGING SILENT NIGHT, Holy Night, Son of God, Loves Pure Light, Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of Redeeming Grace, Jesus Lord at thy birth, Jesus Lord at Thy Birth.
There were no instruments accompanying the voices and it wasn’t coming from a house or car nearby. It was out in the open air and reverberating over our street, softly and simply.
Steve was coming back across the street about the time the voices began to sing and we stood there on our lawn looking at the stars growing brighter as the sky grew darker, and marveled at this singing.
It was just one song. Then no more.
(We wondered if there was an outdoor service somewhere and maybe the sound was travelling, but the words were very clear and understandable.)
THE MOMENT WAS AS IF WE WERE SUSPENDED IN TIME, and the Presence of God softly fell on us and around us, and soothed our weary souls.
We felt His Rest come upon us, and understood the awe that the shepherds must have experienced on that first real nativity night when, “Suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
-Luke 2:13-14
ALL I CAN TAKE AWAY FROM THESE EVENTS IS THAT GOD ALMIGHTY
SEES AND KNOWS EVERY MINUTE DETAIL OF OUR EVERY DAY.
He sees our struggles and our sorrows and our love for Him as well!
WE ARE IN A TIME LIKE NO OTHER TIME BEFORE ON EARTH, and yet the history of evil men and women attempting to stop the power of the Savior and the King of Heaven moving on earth among His people, has been a non-stop war since time began.
We are to be expecting HIS evidence in the earth with great exploits
and moves of His Dynamic Force.
He is not unaware of our great need for His Help and Protection from filthy and evil men and women who are given over to demonic possession.
We live in day and age where it will take Divine Intervention
to shake the lukewarm believer out of passivity,
and for the world to know that God is Sovereign.
BE READY AND EXPECT SIGNS AND WONDERS.
Test them. Be alert.
Be Ready to tell of the Wonders of His Love.
LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM!
AND
LET HEAVEN AND NATURE SING OF THE WONDERS OF HIS LOVE!
Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete message, Podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank you. Copyright © 2021 THE MESSENGER " ˜ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
Friday Sep 24, 2021
Friday Sep 24, 2021
UTTERLY HOPELESS UPSIDE DOWN WORLD?
F E A R IS A L I A R ! HOPE IS A FORTRESS!
Mary Lindow
DO YOU FEEL AS IF THINGS ARE UTTERLY HOPELESS
AND COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN RIGHT NOW?
Maybe you have you been in that scary place before. Most people, if they are being transparent and honest will admit to times of experiencing hopelessness and feeling alone and afraid.
Friend.
You aren’t without hope,
You aren’t hopeless,
But you ARE helpless!
God has allowed this time and position of helplessness and complete dependency on Him, and you are helpless to help yourself.
We struggle to gain back some measure of control over our lives when this pressure is upon us, but our personal pride (that we didn’t even know that we had) is being crushed, and the only thing for us to do is to surrender!
NOW YOU MAY FEEL HOPELESS, BUT REALLY…
…IT’S THE CONDITION OF HELPLESSNESS THAT IS CAUSING YOU PAIN.
God wants you completely dependent on Him, and He will keep you a “prisoner of hope” until you are.
OH HOW WEARY YOU ARE OF THE AWFUL REFINER’S FLAME AND THAT SEEMINGLY ENDLESS TWEAKING OF YOUR ATTITUDE!
“Okay, God, you can stop now!" you scream.
But He doesn't stop.
You're caught in a prison of hope and He will not let you out until He is finished with what He began in you.
There are times during the process of pursuing heartfelt dreams and callings in life that you might feel that your "hope" seems to have been locked up in a prison. You can't seem to make your dreams come true, and yet, you find it impossible to stop believing in them!
YOU CAN'T GO FORWARD ANY FASTER THAN GOD WILL LET YOU,
and yet, you sure don't want to return to where you once were before you were overshadowed and given a "life vision" with a promise from God!
GOD JUST WILL NOT LET YOU GIVE UP!
During this time you might feel like saying,
"Okay God, this is enough! I don't want to hope anymore!
I am tired of being like an egg in an incubator with this promise!
I want out of this prison of hope!"
IT'S DURING THIS TIME THAT YOUR DREAMS FEEL SO VERY REAL TO YOU,
YET TO OTHERS THEY DON'T!
There is a big conflict between what you discern in the Spirit and what appears to be moving so slowly in the natural, and that grates at our souls!
We feel like we are on a Ferris wheel.
You have your “up times” when you can see your dream's fulfillment far into the future, but you also have your “down times” when you can't see anything and everything seems to have crashed into a messy heap.
YOU THINK TO YOURSELF,
“AM I CRAZY TO THINK THAT GOD COULD USE ME? NOW?
IN THIS TIME?"
The enemy comes in like a rushing flood and you begin to doubt, causing anguish to your soul.
THIS IS THE TIME WHEN GOD IS DOING HIS GREATEST WORK IN YOU!
This is when the refining process REALLY hurts, because He is getting down to the very core of your soul, to the deep regions of your heart.
HE IS DEVELOPING THINGS IN YOU
THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU LACKED.
THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU NEEDED.
You think, "Okey Dokey God, this is deep enough!"
But, every builder knows you must dig down deep to lay a proper foundation first, before you start to build upward. And the greater the height of the structure, the deeper the foundation must be.
YOUR FORTRESS OR PLACE OF REFUGE IS TRUSTING IN A LOVING GOD.
Trusting Him in spite of all the reasoning of your mind, in spite of the circumstances that surround you.
YOU WERE CONTENT TO GIVE GOD CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE UNTIL HE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE, YOU DIDN’T LIKE.
You were happy to surrender all to Him, until He decided to give your promotion to someone else.
You believe in His sovereignty, until His sovereign will conflicts with, your will.
Then you are sure He has made a mistake!
You want to run from Him, but He is your refuge.
How do you run from your refuge? How do you run from the only one who really loves you or understands you?
The answer is . . . you don't.
SO, RETURN, MY FRIEND, TO YOUR FORTRESS,
AND REMAIN A PRISONER UNTIL HE IS DONE WITH YOU - UNTIL HE DECIDES THAT YOU ARE READY FOR ALL THAT HE HAS FOR YOU.
Zechariah 9:12 says,
“Return to your fortress! Yes!
You prisoners who have hope!
Today I declare that I will return double what has been taken from you."
PROPHETIC WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
The Spirit of God says,
“Even now I announce to you that not only will I restore to you all that has been taken from you, but I will give you double for all the trouble you have endured."
He says, "Don't stop now . . .
…Keep trusting me, because I can see your future and it is very blessed.
Keep walking with me and keep trusting in me and I will give you rest."
“Come to me all who are weary and burdened,
And I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28
Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed as long as the complete message, podcast location and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You!
Copyright © 2021
"THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.podbean.com
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
Wednesday Sep 11, 2019
By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit
If you would ask the true "heart determined" believer in Christ today just what it is that they need now more than ever, it would be totally answered by the very raw words;
“I am need to have full clarity of mind and a fearless trust in the knowledge of how much God loves me.”
WE ARE IN ONE HOT REFINERS FIRE!
People are winding up in anger, disbelief and frustration over this "Unfair" season the Bride of Christ is in! It just isn't fair! We have been so good! We have laid down everything!
Why oh why are WE being singled out?
“I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”
~ Psalm. 69:3
“ I am weary with my sighing; every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears.
~ Psalm. 6:6
Does this sound like you right now?
EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE TESTED SOMETIME!
The strongest impression I have received from the Father about the condition of His Bride is this. When things are going "fabulously" for her, when all of heaven is blessing, she wants to keep it that way! If she is not in a place of great humility and thankfulness for what the Lord is doing, she tends to assume that, “It’s about time folks knew just how long I've been waiting for them to see just how great this church, or ministry or intellectual skill I've been soooo blessed with is!”
Then comes the attitude that we have to keep it allotted to only a few “real winners” like ourselves, and we become exclusive and look for only high rollers to run with.
And then. AGAIN comes the TEST.
Persecution comes, mug slinging, attacks on personal integrity, character assassination, and again the fiery trial.........of our soul.
TO REMOVE IMPURITIES - GOD USES A HOT OVEN!
These trials as if by fire are only to test our faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-- and our faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.
“So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” ~ I Peter chapter 1: 7
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
The Lord is working the Bride overtime right now to deal with selfish ambition, personal comfort, and any other areas of personal agenda or presumption.
YES! Presumption.
We as Christians have often presumed that because we are Christians…
…we should never experience severe sorrow, grief, loss, or devastation.
This “fairy tale” stems from a huge level of denial and total self focus. It is also a very Western culture mindset.
A dear friend of mine who went to China and who was visiting a Chinese underground church group, had a reality check that shook her to the core of her faith.
She thought that she was coming to this group to “help and bless them.”
When they asked her what could they pray for the church in American about in order to bless them she was flummoxed! Her reply was, “We came to see how we might help you! ” How can we pray for you?”
The response back was, “Pray that we would not be fearful or silent about the gospel of Jesus we share when the authorities beat us or imprison us. Pray that we remain strong enough physically to endure the persecution we receive and not fear what man may do to us.”
SOBERING ISN’T IT!
When others around us are going through loss, trauma, or heart breaking circumstances, sadly, many believers turn away in disgust or even more disturbing, display an arrogant attitude of thinking they are more blessed by God because their lives are not so complex or “shattered” as those around them who must have done SOMETHING wrong to bring these things upon themselves.
Regrettably, some of the pain some saints are experiencing is due to the disobedience of those in the Body of Christ around them! They resist the hand of God and react against others in retaliation toward God bringing correction or exposure to their secret lifestyle of personal gain or need for power!
WE ARE NOT ALONE!
“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners
against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”
Heb. 12:3
Admit it! It is hard to not lose heart right now!
The world is in a tailspin and lukewarm Christians are showing their true colors! It's time to deal with this! It is NOT going to go away!
AGONY IS MORE SEVERE WHEN IT IS "ENHANCED" BY BETRAYAL!
Jesus went through it. Stephen went through it and so did hundreds of others! AND it hurts, and disillusions, and causes us to be so very very weary!
“You will be delivered up and betrayed even by parents and
brothers and relatives and friends, and [some] of you they will
put to death.
Luke 21:16
THE TRANSFORMATION FROM FRAGILE …
…TO FERVENT IS COMING!
“When?” You may ask…..
For my determined purpose is that I may know Him. That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness even to His death, in the hope…
… That if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead even while in the body.
Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do, it is my one aspiration, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
_Philippians 3:10-14 (Amplified Bible)
HERE ARE A FEW THINGS THE LORD WOULD REQUIRE:
1.) To gain HIS strength, we must relinquish our power or control
over what we think of others. We will be judged by the way we
judge others when they struggle. Pious and lofty lectures are not
the Kingdom language of healing and restoration. Loving-
kindness and Mercy reveal the heart of godly maturity in a
believer when dealing with the sorrows and anguish of others.
“Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
Or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs
To a heavy heart.”
Proverbs 25:20
2.) Reach out in kindness to those under fire.
Encourage them to stand. Encourage them to seek the Lord.
Bless them and don't talk about them when they struggle!
"The Lord God has given me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens me morning by morning,
He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple."
Isaiah 50:4 3
3.) Get still. Stop organizing, planning, and pushing ahead into
oblivion! God really does have a plan!
“Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the Lord, Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become cynical. “
Is. 40:30 -31
4.) TRUST FOR A MOMENT!
It's all about trusting God in the end. Oh yes it is!
Will He REALLY refresh us in this time of struggle?
His Loving Word says so.
“For I satisfy the weary ones,
And refresh everyone who languishes."
Jer. 31:25 5
THE LORD IS PRODUCING ENDURANCE WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT!
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;
For once he has been approved,
He will receive the crown of life,
Which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
James 1:12
THE FATHER IS URGING US TO RUN TO HIM.
He is there! Even in the fog of struggle, loss, anxiety, and also in seeming success.
He wants us to be desperate for Him and rely wholly on His voice.
To make all of our decisions based on His plan for the whole earth!
Seek Him.
Lean into His Voice.
Elevate Grace and Mercy…
…And lower your own opinion of yourself and your abilities to
“lecture” others into healing or restoration.
WALK SOBERLY IF YOU ARE LIVING IN ABUNDANCE AT THIS TIME, ON ANY LEVEL.
Keep the vigil of prayer you are keeping for others well lit by the reflecting memories of past times when you yourself needed the Merciful Hand of God to lift you from agony and redeem your life from the pit.
Let us be so devoted to the “One” who lavished and spilled out all He had, that we might repeat His actions, and in so doing, bring His Glory to it’s fullest measure and depth.
His Mercy….
…Endures.
Forever.
“Then will the lame leap like a deer, And the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.”
Isaiah 35:6
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Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source, podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You
Copyright © 2019 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com
http://marylindow.podbean.com/mobile/
Sunday May 28, 2017
Sunday May 28, 2017
Then he (Jesus) added,
"Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture:
'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'
For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous,
But those who know they are sinners."
Matthew 9:13
It has been said that after the French Revolution, a certain convict that was released on parole traveled the countryside in search of a new beginning. Being an ex-con, as you would expect, led to complications in this search, and he wound up at the gates of a clergyman who agreed to host him for the night.
The convict, as is well known, takes advantage of the bishop’s generosity: getting up early before dawn, he takes off with the bishop’s silver; his escape however is hindered by the local Police Inspector, who after seemingly catching him presents the presumed thief to the bishop for identification. The bishop, without missing a beat, covers for his sneaky guest and speaks such words of kindness over the convict’s past present and future, through releasing him even though caught red handed and deserving of further punishment.
His words? They were profound and dripped of Mercy.
"My friend, you forgot to take the candlesticks as well."
For those of you who are perhaps not familiar with the story about the convict/man and the priest I just spoke of, I am referring to Victor Hugo’s book “ Les Miserables.”
I think Victor Hugo shows something of the challenge of today’s Message of the Gospel that Jesus would want us each to hear and to act upon.
"Be merciful, as your Father is merciful." -Luke 6:36
NOBODY LIKES A BULLY OR TO BE TALKED DOWN TO.
Maybe it is easy for us to be merciful when we have the upper hand. If someone comes begging for forgiveness, it becomes a show–of generosity of spirit, but a show nonetheless–that we are in some way better than that person. Picture elegant royals, who, moments before the execution of a criminal would decree their royal pardon, leaving a lasting impression of compassion upon those pleading for another chance.
THIS IS NOT THE WAY GODLY MERCY WORKS.
Oh how merciful is our Father! It’s not that our faults are not important to an immeasurable God. We have without a doubt deeply wounded the ties that bind us to him.
Yet he still holds out his hand, bloodied and deformed holes in them, created by the nails put in, even to his enemies.
TODAY JESUS INVITES US TO RE-EVALUATE OUR MERCY:
How deeply do I forgive those who offend me?
Do I pray for them, or allow my forgiveness to become a show of winning the upper hand? (Another way of showing false humility.)
The forgiving priest not only forgave Jean Valjean’s theft, he created an excuse for him, and even gave away the last of his own treasure, in the hopes that Valjean would be able to start a new life, knowing that he was shown the purest of love and authentic mercy.
MERCY MEANS…
Empathy, pity, sympathy, understanding; favor, grace; benevolence, care, compassion, gentleness, goodness, goodwill, humaneness, kindliness, meekness, mildness, niceness, softness, tenderness; generosity, affection, devotion, love, worship
IT ALSO MEANS…
…Letting go of harshness, accusation, presuming you know better what others need in order for them to better serve God. When we act out like this, we become much like Javert the Police Inspector hounding and lording it over Jean Valjean, bent on making sure all deeds that do not measure up to our way of justice are fully dealt with.
He felt sure that God wanted him to be the individual who would measure out justice and harsh terms of punishment in order to break John Valejan, thus having him pay the price of his wickedness and perchance if once finally shattered and broken, he may perhaps have God look his way .
"DON'T GET MAD -- GET EVEN?”
This seems to be the usual way people view the world nowadays. We should be thankful that God takes a different view of things. Although the Bible makes it clear that God is the Great Judge who hates all evil doing, he is also the Merciful One, who forgives and accepts people who turn to him.
Occasionally God chooses not to grant us mercy; for the purpose of judgment, rebuke, discipline, or testing. Fortunately, for most of us, this is the exception, not the rule. For the time being, God has shown incredible patience and mercy by withholding most of the effects of our sins.
I will have mercy, on whom I will have mercy,
And I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."
Rom 9:15
GOD IS NOT ALWAYS SCOLDING US!
"He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever."
Psalm 103:9
Could God find reasons to scold His children all the time? Indeed, He could! None of us are perfect. We could all do better.
However, as justified as scolding us would be, God realizes that we would easily be discouraged if all we ever heard was scolding.
When He scolds us He is correcting us so that we confess our sins and do better.
"The Lord All-Powerful says, “They belong to me; on that day they will be my very own.
As a parent shows mercy to his child who serves him, I will show mercy to my people."
Malachi 3:17
ASK GOD FOR THE HELP YOU NEED TO OVERCOME SIN.
Face the reality that much of the suffering in our fallen world is caused by human sin. But count on the fact that God is merciful toward all sinners. Whenever you recognize a situation in which some of your own sin has contributed to your suffering, pray for help, and God will give you the strength you need to overcome sin. Stop holding onto any sinful secrets that have been causing guilt, shame and bitterness in your soul. Confess your sins specifically, repent of them, accept the forgiveness that God offers you, and embrace the power that God gives you to move forward into a better life.
LISTEN FOR GOD SPEAKING IN THE SILENCE.
When your suffering becomes so painful that you can’t make any sense of it or figure out how to endure it, you may feel as if you’re trapped in silence, since nothing that other people say or do to try to help actually breaks through to you. But when you’re at the point where you don’t hear anything else, you can actually hear God best, since you’re less likely to get distracted by the world’s noise around you. In the silence, pour out your thoughts and feelings to God in prayer, and then listen to what He has to say to you. God won’t shout, but He will whisper, to encourage you to keep drawing closer to Him.
SUFFERING IS ALL AROUND YOU IN THIS FALLEN WORLD.
Sometimes it’s so tragic that it’s heartbreaking. Yet, God promises that He is loving and merciful. How can you reconcile these two realities that seem like they compete against each other?
The key is to look for God’s mercy, even when it seems like it can’t exist with the suffering you encounter. God’s mercy is a stronger force than even the worst suffering, and when you look for it, you’ll find it.
The spirit, which he sent to live in us, wants us for him alone.
James 4:5
WE ARE GOD’S OWN.
LET US NOT BE AFRAID TO BE LIKE OUR FATHER.
Let our hearts be conduits of God’s mercy, knowing that we ourselves have been forgiven so very much.
Let us communicate our thanks to Him by being overflowing vessels of kind and tender expression, showing God’s mercy to all.
The Lord is kind and shows mercy.
He does not become angry quickly
But is full of love.
Psalm 145:8
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Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed provided
that complete source, and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You
Copyright © 2017 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com
Thursday Mar 02, 2017
Thursday Mar 02, 2017
By the Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow
In one of His most confrontational statements Jesus said, “I have come to bring fire on the earth.”
There are times in the Scripture in which fire is a symbol of judgment but in the great majority of references fire is used to point out God’s divine presence. His words make it clear that the meaning behind His words, “I have come to bring fire” refers to something more than a cozy flame to cuddle up to!
In this unique statement from Jesus the fire He is speaking of is not literally fire as in flames but a spiritual representation. He is speaking of the burning, exciting, dynamic presence of God in the lives of people. The fire that illuminates His incredible presence, produces unlimited power, burns away the dross and impurities and attracts people to Him. That is the Fire of God.
THE FIRE OF GOD IS NOT GIVEN TO MAKE US COZY…
…But holy, and to stir us up.
When Moses saw the burning bush God first warned him that he was standing on holy ground, and then told him of the great thing He was about to do, to release Israel from the captivity of Pharaoh (Ex 3). When Isaiah was in the temple and it filled with smoke of the burning holiness of God, his awareness of being unclean came first, before God equipped him to be His messenger. When God’s fire comes to the hearts of men and women their spirits are freed from the awful bondage of idolatry. When God’s fire comes, the enemy will be destroyed. That is why we should pray, “O, Lord -send the fire. Your fire. Send your consuming, changing, restoring, victorious fire!”
WE SING ABOUT THE FIRE OF GOD IN MANY OF OUR HYMNS.
There is a song I have known for years that says,
“Oh, Lord, you’re beautiful. Your face is all I seek.
For when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.
O Lord, please light the fire, which once burned bright and clear,
Replace the lamp of my first love, that burned with holy fear.”
OH, MAY OUR PRAYER BE HEARD!
“Lord, send your fire! May we sense and know Your burning, exciting, dynamic presence in our lives and among Your people.”
“OH HOW YOU FEAR THE FIRE!” - A PROPHETIC WORD
“It is as if you think that I might truly do something unloving to burn you or disfigure you!
I am a God of fire! Yes! But a HOLY fire!
A fire that burns away wood, hay, and dead scraps lying around
in your heart. They are littering the places that I want to bring My Glory into!
When My Fire pursues you it drives away any voice or lust or
any other enemy of your soul!
You will come to a place where
you no longer need to have the splash of fanfare or the
rumblings of the earth to know that I Am in your presence!
Instead.
The Fire brings you to a place just like it did Moses !
He saw My Holy Fire in a bush on a hill.
I spoke to Him and told Him He was on HOLY ground!
"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD,
"And like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:29
I was a still, small voice, speaking out from inside of a fire!
Listen!
I am calling out to you!
Be quiet!
Silence the noise around you!
Get quiet with Me.
Put away the busyness that you get caught up into!
After the “Fire” a still small voice.
1Kings19: 12
My Passion Fire is calling out to You!
I have things I want to whisper into your spirit-man!
I have words that will sustain you through all of the
fiery trials and tests you will inevitably pass through!
“If this is so,
Then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials.”
2 Peter 2:9
If you want the Fire of I the Living God to be evident
in your ministry, whether it is in the marketplace, the home,
or abroad, Listen to My still small voice.
It will in turn resound like a roaring ocean to those whom
you will minister to.
“O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
Psalms 84: 12
Trust.
The issue that everyone on earth deals with day in and day out.
Putting your trust in things that last for only a season or a few years can be very risky and very disappointing.
I have told My people to trust in ME with ALL of their heart
and I will make their paths straight.
Yet - continually they put
their trust in people, and idols made of gold, positions of power,
and in themselves and invented doctrines of seasonal passing!
Lasting blessings can only come from trusting in Me.
The real issue is that you don’t really think that I will do
what I say I will do!
So... You take it into your own hands! When you finally lay down your need to control those all around you and trust in Me, then you will be blessed! Blessed with safety, peace of mind and above all,
blessed by My pleasure in your resting in My plan.
“See to it that you do not refuse HIM who is speaking!”
Hebrews 12:25
Oh how many times My people have said to Me,
“Later Lord! I will do it Later?”
You exhort others to obey quickly and yet you will drag your
feet and put Me off until you “feel” like following through!
“It is the LORD your God you must follow,
and him you must revere.
Keep his commands and obey him;
serve him and hold fast to him.”
Deuteronomy 13:4
Do not refuse Me when I speak to you when I send you to do
something in My Name!
You might fear for your own reputation,
but a life could be hanging in the balance!
You do not have the luxury of “denying your King!”
If you wish to be caught up into higher dimensions in My Spirit,
and, if you long for the “deep that calls unto deep", be faithful
to ACT when I give you a command!!”
Psalm 119:57
"You are my portion, O LORD;
I have promised to obey your words."
Psalm 119:60
"I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands."
Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed as long as complete message, podcast
and website information
for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You!
Copyright © 2017 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com
http://marylindow.podbean.com/mobile/
Sunday Nov 24, 2013
Sunday Nov 24, 2013
By the Holy Spirit through Mary LindowTO LISTEN TO THIS FREE PODCAST PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MESSAGE TO SEE THE AUDIO PODCAST PLAYEROH HOW YOU FEAR THE FIRE! It is as if you think that I might truly do something unloving to burn you or disfigure you!I am a God of fire! Yes! But a HOLY fire! A fire that burns away wood, hay, and dead scraps lying around in your heart. They are littering the places that I want to bring My Glory into!When My Fire pursues you it drives away any voice or lust or any other enemy of your soul! You will come to a place where you no longer need to have the splash of fanfare or the rumblings of the earth to know that I Am in your presence!Instead. The Fire brings you to a place just like it did Moses! He saw My Holy Fire in a bush on a hill. I spoke to Him and told Him He was on HOLY ground!"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "And like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29I WAS A STILL, SMALL VOICE, SPEAKING OUT FROM INSIDE OF A FIRE! Listen! I am calling out to you! Be quiet! Silence the noise around you! Get quiet with Me. Put away the busyness that you get caught up into!“After the Fire a still small voice.” 1Kings19: 12MY PASSION FIRE IS CALLING OUT TO YOU!I have things I want to whisper into your spirit-man! I have words that will sustain you through all of the fiery trials and tests you will inevitably pass through!“If this is so, Then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials”. 2 Peter 2:9IF YOU WANT THE FIRE OF I THE LIVING GOD TO BE EVIDENT in your ministry, whether in the marketplace, the home or abroad, Listen to My still small voice. It will in turn resound like a roaring ocean to those whom you will minister to.“O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalms 84: 12TRUST. THE ISSUE THAT EVERYONE ON EARTH DEALS WITH…… Day in and day out. Putting your trust in things that last for only a season or a few years can be very risky and very disappointing.I have told My people to trust in ME with ALL of their heart and I will make their paths straight. Yet - continually they put their trust in people, and idols made of gold, positions of power, and in themselves!LASTING BLESSINGS CAN ONLY COME FROM TRUSTING IN ME.The real issue is that you don t really think that I will do what I say I will do! So... You take it into your own hands!When you finally lay down your need to control the universe and those all around you and trust in Me, then you will be blessed! Blessed with safety, peace of mind and above all blessed by My pleasure in your resting in My plan.“See to it that you do not refuse HIM who is speaking!” Hebrews 12:25DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE SAID TO ME, “LATER?” “I will do it Later?” You exhort others to obey quickly and yet you will drag your feet and put Me off until you feel like following through!"It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him." Deuteronomy 13:4DO NOT REFUSE ME WHEN I SPEAK TO YOU or when I send you to do something in My Name! You might fear for your own reputation, but a life could be hanging in the balance! You do not have the luxury of denying your King!If you wish to be caught up into higher dimensions in My Spirit, and, if you long for the deep that calls unto deep, be faithful to ACT when I give you a command!!Psalm 119:57 “You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words.”Psalm 119:60 “I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.”Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed as long as complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright 2013 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.comwww.globalprayerrooms.com
Thursday Jul 25, 2013
Thursday Jul 25, 2013
- A PROPHETIC WORD -“MANY WILL BE PURIFIED AND REFINED ...… BUT THE WICKED WILL CONTINUE TO BE WICKED”By the Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow Scroll to the bottom of this message to use to the audio podcast player.“How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, And has not turned to the proud for worldly advice, Nor to those who lapse into tale bearing.” Psalms 40:4 "My children. It is always amazing how people run to the power and strengths of man and to the voices of false hope. As if from these things they advise or promise might gain a place of security! You can only be fully secure when you first come to ME! I never break my promises to you! NEVER! I use every opportunity in your life to train you to be an honest and humble guide to lead others to my way of success. If you hear a man or woman boasting about too many great things that they have done, you will eventually find out that they are masters of manipulation and "embellished" liars. It's all to make themselves look more powerful in your eyes. I do not deeply fellowship with this type of person. “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of them.”Deuteronomy 18:22 "I only share My keys and treasures of victory and success with those who do not peddle pride and do not posture for an audience. False humility is obvious to Me even when others cannot discern it. Trusting Me means to really believe that I AM all you need to have a vision and a future. Trust. Trust. Trust! Trust ME!" Be Quick To Listen, Be Slow To Speak, Be Slow to get Angry. ~James 1:19 "The real proof of your personal transformation in Me is in evidence when you can practice this truthful insight without having to think about it too much! In order to sincerely be a voice for Me - one who cries out into the wilderness of other people's lives, you must be able to hear My voice clearly! Speaking only what I tell you to speak, and to not REACT with anger when you have those who oppose My Voice, challenge you! If you are suspicious of others motives and have secretly hidden the things of insecurity or entitlement in your own heart, you will be looking for a way to cast suspicion on others if you are the guilty or presumptuous party of some wrongdoing. This opens a door to a hardness of heart, which allows the pride of life and love for position to blind you from a life of brokenness, and personal, private integrity. Clean living creates a pure and clear conscience. "Keep me also from the sins I want to commit. May they not be my master. Then I will be without blame. I will not be guilty of any great sin against your word." Psalm 19:13 “I remained silent, like a lamb ready for slaughter! When My time to speak came, it changed eternity!It is finished! Father! Into Your hands I willingly turn over everything! My body, My soul, My spirit! Can you also turn all you hold dear in this life over to the Father? You will never be the same again! And you also will mark out a statement in eternity!" The Lord's promises are pure.... Psalm 12:6a "I have no ulterior reasons to make a promise that has a hidden agenda! I am the spotless Lamb of God! All that I have ever promised to you and to those who love Me has always been with only good and blessing in mind! Purity has it's own deep well of uniqueness to draw from.It looks for fairness for all.It only operates with absolute truthfulness.Purity is a value that never wears thin.When you minister or care for others, do all of it from only a pure motive to help, bless and restore. Impurity always shows up with self-preservation, intimidation and a pompous sense of personal power and personal vision. "We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 2 Corinthians 6:3-6 Purity.It is only a refined vessel that can walk in the power of this attribute!"“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” Daniel 12:10 Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed as long as complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright 2013 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com
Tuesday Jan 29, 2013
Tuesday Jan 29, 2013
By The Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow
To listen to this message as a free podcast, please scroll down
to the bottom of this message for the fast loading audio player.
THE STRATEGIC DRAWING BOARD
There are a great number of Divine and strategic drawing boards and a re-designing going on in the lives of those called to move into the roles of Kingdom modeling of the Father’s heart, the Savior’s passion and the Holy Spirit’s purest functions in the Body.
“See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms.
To uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow.
To build and to plant." ~ Jeremiah 1:10
OLD WALLS vs. NEW WALLS
Old walls first come down before new ones can be put up!
Old walls of keeping people out of "your space" - "your ministry" - “your home”. The true boundaries of the Kingdom have room for everyone to freely express, (with respect for others), the passion they have for the "design" the Lord has given to them, for building up the King's domain!
The "kingdom" of God has grace as its boundary setting and humility as its foundation.
And it will be said:
"Build up, build up, prepare the road!
Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."
~ Isaiah 57:14
"THE ERA OF REBUILDING"
The Lord is speaking to us in this era of "rebuilding" His house of worship – that as we put first becoming those temples and hearts of men surrendered to him as yielded vessels, there will be rooms re-designed by the "Master’s craftsman" that will be filled with strategically planned prayer initiatives, music rooms equipped with "clear spiritual headsets" to hear the songs of the kingdom and actually record and share them freely, and a series of “family rooms” where all ethnic groups become "one family" as they fix their eyes on upon the "fireplace" of the presence of the Holy Spirit and His Pentecost type of power and might!
"I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me,
and what the King had said to me.
They replied, "let us start rebuilding."
So they began this good work.
~ Nehemiah 2:18
I AM RESTRUCTURING EVERYTHING
“Yes says the Lord! I Am restructuring everything in your lives that I have allowed to be taken and shaken from you! How can you be My fresh expression in the earth with the old worn out living quarters of the past?
Those who continue to cling to the accolades of the past and bygone ministry meetings and services (even if they were just last week) will receive a limited amount of new assignments until they realize that the past is….PAST!
Each day is a new day and needs a fresh approach to the fresh design model that I AM revealing!”
“The day for building your walls will come,
The day for extending your boundaries.”
Micah 7:11
A CHANGE OF PACE – A STRENGTHENED GRACE
The unseen prophetic and travailing groups of individuals who are being shaped
into the fabric of God's own weaving, are currently being made ready for a swift and dynamic change of pace.
What was once long and hard will become shortened and filled with rest.
Release of God's grace and abundant mercy is coming into fulfillment as you end your course of instructions for this season.
“My friends don’t be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering, which are testing your faith. Don’t think that something strange is happening to you. But you should be happy that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings. You will be happy and full of joy when Christ shows his glory.”
1 Peter 4:12-13
“BIGHEARTEDNESS"
Bigheartedness will be a part of the evidence of a fresh wave of Kingdom glory in the earth. Missionaries or “sent ones” will not grieve over broken promises made to them for aid to go! No! Those now surfacing in the earth as the fresh wave of pure and “Joseph-type” of compassionate-hearted, nurturing investors (KEY WORD: Nurturing), will be suddenly established… as well as the faithful and obedient souls who have never merchandised the anointing or promoted their gifting nor have shamed others while they too were flowing in obedience themselves.
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.
In order that you may know the hope to which he has called you.
The riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Ephesians 1:18
“THE SERVANTS OF BLESSING”
The financial institutions will be dumbfounded as supernatural windfalls hit the Body of Christ while worldly concepts and scheming only further muddy the waters of global finance.
Joseph gifts in the body, men and women, who are beginning to see with eyes now stripped of the fear of be taken advantage of, will be visited with great joy and supernatural revelation as they see that they are called by Heaven as “The Servants of Blessing.” They will operate in a restored life of purity in motive, in worship, and in honoring one another in Christ. Simply honoring each other without keeping lists of how much has been given or shared!
“All the believers were one in heart and mind.
No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
But they shared everything they had.”
Act 4:32
THERE WILL BE SHOUTS AND TEARS OF JOY
There will be shouts and tears of joy as heaven moves upon the hearts of wise, kingdom minded saints, who have been given grave responsibility over heavenly blessed currency. These sober truth-seeking saints, will hear the voice of the Lord and will not be moved by flashy pleas for glamorous support and promises of free gifts in return! No! They will be led by the counsel of the Holy Spirit to be vessels that release a steady flow into the hands of those ready to only build with the name "Jesus" on the final product.
“Joseph TROUPES”
I am impressed by the Lord as I write that there are even those who have a “Joseph Troupe” type of calling that will actually store up investments and actually be teamed up by the Lord with missionaries, food banks, and other sent ones. The Joseph gifting will bless the harvest call on many seasoned and faithful servants of God who have been in places of preparation for further ministry to the Body of Christ globally.
HAND PICKED "PEOPLE APPOINTMENTS"
There will be specific "people appointments" from the Father in heaven and through His Holy Spirit, He will bear witness in the hearts of those called like Joseph, to assist their Godly assigned brothers or sisters in Christ in the touching and training of believers in many nations. Discipleship will once again become a key component with those who have the apostolic heart to mentor and direct others into the field of harvest.
HEARTS OF KINDNESS - COMPASSIONATE ADVISORS
These wise ones have known the false and greedy appeals for more coffers of religion to be filled and are no longer swayed nor fleeced by them. They will become hands of blessing, hearts of kindness, and I am again impressed by the Spirit of God, that they will also be compassionate advisors to those who have poured out all they have upon the spiritually hungry without taking much for their own care and rest. They will also be given great discernment regarding whom they are not to pour into in the next season of Kingdom work.
A PLACE FOR “JOSEPH GRACE”
A Godly voice of wisdom will be heard from the Joseph-hearted saints and they will prepare fiscally, medically, and recreationally well-designed plans for those needing such tender care. It will be as if the Father himself brought heaven to earth in the form of a heavenly Joseph appointed employer, providing a salary for the employee as God establishes a different way of sending laborers into the harvest fields of service and places He commissions them to go. They will go with a foundation of “Joseph grace” undergirding them financially, relationally, and more importantly, in humble fervent prayer as co-workers together.
“Joseph, called by the apostles "Barnabas"
(Which means "Son of Comfort"), a Levite born in Cyprus,
Sold a field that he owned, brought the money,
And made an offering of it to the apostles.”
Acts 4:36-37
REBUILD A NEW "HOUSE OF WORSHIP"
Allow the Father to do his work of re-construction without hindrance or fear! He will rebuild a new "house of worship" within each of His people who allow Him to walk into each room of their hearts and tear out the old and embedded dirt, grime, and of staleness of passive and fearful living. Accusing and harsh judgments, disrespect for others devoted time and critical attitudes will be purged again and again in the hearts of believers who have yet to see through the eyes of Christ those whom He lovingly calls beloved and faithful, even though viewed as awkward or fragile in the eyes of the immature or worldly heart.
Psalm 31:23
“All who belong to the Lord,
show how you love him!
The Lord protects the faithful,
But he firmly rebukes
everyone who is proud.”
THE MOST EXCELLENT ETERNAL BLUEPRINT
It is the day for each member of the Body of Christ to think of itself as one Godly unit, ready to honor and edify each unique Master plan of the King. It's the hour where building upon egos, smug thinking, and entitlement only invites the demolition of the Spirit to go to work until the knowledge of humility and eternal reward are viewed as the most excellent eternal blueprint!
"Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts,
Try to excel in gifts that build up the church."
~ 1 Corinthians 14:12
A PROMISE FOR REST
Rest will be essential for the retention of peace and clarity in this next year.
As the training in humility and “gentleness of heart-expanded compassion” are applied in our lives as friends of the King, our souls will cease their strivings from the driven goals we set out to accomplish.
We will learn to listen to the wisdom and warnings of others in simplicity and humility. And, in gentleness we will sincerely approach one another as dear Jesus does. Although He is the wisest among us, He puts no heavy yokes or shameful modes of performance upon His children. He simply yokes them to Himself in a promised rest when they yield humbly.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
For I am gentle and humble in heart,
And you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29
Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed
provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank you! Copyright © 2013 " The Messenger " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Thursday Aug 30, 2012
Thursday Aug 30, 2012
By Mary Lindow
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The question is often asked, "What is the reason for the weak spiritual lives of so many Christians?"
This is an excellent question and it is amazing how little the church responds to Christ's voice, which is ever calling out! How little the church is what Christ wants her to be!
What really is the matter? What truly is needed?
Many answers will be given but there is one answer that includes them all. each believer needs the full eye-opener of a personal Christ as a spiritually internal, “living inside of me” Lord and as someone who was a satisfying portion.
When the Lord was here on the earth what was it that distinguished his disciples from other people? I think the answer is that Jesus took them away from their fishnets their busyness and their homes. He gathered them around himself and they knew him.
He was their Master, and he guarded them, and they in turn followed him. What is supposed to make the difference today between Christ's disciples-not those who are just hoping to get to heaven, but those who are Christ's wholehearted disciples-and other people? I think it's this. When Jesus was upon the earth, he was able to keep the disciples with him for three years day after day. Now that Jesus is in heaven, and he is able to do what he could not do when he was upon the earth - to keep in the closest fellowship with every believer throughout the entire world. Imagine this!
You might know the verse in Ephesians: 4:10
“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fulfill all things.”
Why was our Lord Jesus taken up to heaven?
Away from the life of earth? He ascended to heaven because the light of the earth is confined to localities, but the light of heaven has no limits, no boundaries, and no localities. He was taken up to heaven so that in the power of God the ever present omnipresent God, that he might be able to fill every one of his followers on earth and be with every individual believer in a personal way.
This is what my heart wants to experience by faith. It is a possibility, it is a promise, it is my birthright, and I want to have it! By the grace of God, I say to Jesus, “Jesus, I will not rest until you have fully revealed your self fully to me.”
How did the disciples get their burning hearts?
Remember that day that they were on the Road to Emmaus? It was through the way in which Christ opened the Scriptures to them. He made it all look different and new, and they saw what they had never seen before! They could not help feeling how wonderful and how heavenly the teaching was!
Many Christians have discovered that the best time of the day is when they can read and pore over their Bibles, and they love nothing more than to find a new spiritual insight. Just like a person who mines diamonds rejoices when they have found a diamond these individuals delight when they get some new thought from the Bible, and they feed upon it.
Yet, even with all of their interest in God's word and with the joy that is stirred in our hearts, when we return to work or attend our daily duties, we find that there is still something missing in our lives.
From time to time…
…We must leave all the many and unique blessings that Jesus gives us,
and come to the one blessing that outshines all of them.
The blessing that Jesus makes himself known, that Jesus is willing to make himself known to us!
If I were to ask you, “Isn't this exactly what you and I need, and what many of us have been longing for?” I am sure you would answer, “Yes! This is exactly what I want!”
Listen to this poetic verse.
“Oh, the peace my Savior gives!
Peace I never knew before,
And my way has brighter grown,
Since I've learned to trust him more.”
An individual in the midst of great trouble and difficulty wrote this poem.
She stated that it brought wonderful comfort and strength to her.
However, how can a person maintain peace in his or her life? It was the presence of Christ that brought the peace; therefore, peace must be sustained through the continual presence of Jesus.
Remember that when the storm on the Sea, was threatening to swallow up the disciples, that it was the presence of Jesus himself that brought the peace.
Do you want peace and rest?
Then you must have Jesus himself.
We talk of purity, and we talk of cleansing. We also talk of deliverance from sin!
Praise God, for the deliverance and the cleansing, when the living Jesus comes and gives us power and strength. It's there that we find that we have that resurrected Christ who sits on the throne, who is making himself known to you and I. This is the secret of purity and the secret of strength.
Perhaps some of you may be now asking,
“How will Christ revealed himself to me? How will he come?” That is the secret no one can know, it is the one that Jesus keeps to himself. It will come in the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember the disciples on the road to Emmaus?
They had a sudden revelation of the living risen Christ!
The Scripture says, “Then they knew Him!” He revealed Himself, he showed Himself fully to them, and then he vanished from their site! Was that moment of Christ visiting them revealing Himself to them worth much? It was over in a minute, yet it was worth heaven, eternity, it was everything!
From that time on Christ's disciples were no longer to relate to him in an earthly way. Thank the Lord that Christ now reveals Himself to each and every one of us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, how He does this is a sacred thing between Christ and each individual believer. Take this as an assurance, “their eyes were opened, and they knew Him,” and believe that this was written for you!
You might be able to say that I have experienced a sad heart at times.
When I mourned that I did not know the living Christ. And I have had times when my heart is slow to believe and have struggled with my lack of faith, and I also know this stage of a burning heart in what I experienced and the great times of joy and blessedness.
If you can say these things you will come to a place where you have a satisfied heart.
You will have a heart that has been made glad and will last until eternity!
You will have a heart that cannot keep and hold its joy but is poured out on other believers and shared, just as the disciples ran back to the believers in Jerusalem and said, “It is true! Jesus has revealed himself! I know it! I feel it! It has been made personal and real to me, alone!”
Dear child of God.
I'm sure you are asking but how would this revelation come?
Jesus will tell you. Just come to him and say a simple childlike prayer. You need to come to Jesus yourself. What I share with you here today is finished! I have pointed you to the risen One. Now you must step into the presence of the Holy One and begin to crying out, saying, “Oh my precious Lord and Savior! I have come to you and fully abandon my dreams my will, my hopes, and my sorrows. I have come so that I might have this blessedness with me at all times.
Dear Jesus! I want you completely the fullness of all that You are. I want to know you personally and completely. Not just simply by hearing the experiences of others. No Lord! I want to know that I can have your blessed presence surrounding me at all times because I am your child and I have been set free from my own condemning self-hatred, religious thinking, performance-based actions, and fear of not measuring up.
Jesus! Help me! Be my portion forever!”
Is this possible? Can we always be thinking of Jesus?
Thank God you don't need to be consistently thinking of him. You may be the manager of a grocery store and your whole attention may require you to carry out the business that you have to do. While you were thinking of your business, Jesus will be thinking of you and He will come in, and if you listen to Him he will take charge of you.
When I was holding my new Grand-daughter just today, (5 months old) I was thinking about when an infant sleeps in his or her mother's or grandmother’s arms, he or she lies there helplessly. He or she hardly even knows it’s mother or grandmother, he or she does not think of her, but the mother and grandmother does think of the child. And this is the great mystery of love.
Jesus waits to come to me in the fullness of His love.
And when He is allowed possession of my heart, He gathers me into those Divine arms and tells me, “My child I am the ever faithful one, I Am the mighty one, and I will remain with you. I Am watching over you and will keep you every day.”
Oh I can hear many of you saying, “Oh, if only I could believe that, if only I could believe it is possible to have Jesus constantly taking and keeping charge me every hour and every minute!”
But you see this is exactly what He said to you. He said these words,
“For low I am with you always”.
He meant it in the fullness of His divine love, and He is longing to show himself to you and to me, as we have never seen Him before.
“Your heart says this is too good to be true,
And that is just too wonderful to be possible for you.”
Still you do admit that it is an amazing way to live!
Oh you fearful one, mistaken one, and anxious one!
I am bringing to you God's promise; it is for me and for you.
Jesus will do it! As God, He is able, and Jesus is willing and longing, having been the crucified one to keep you in perfect peace.
This is a wonderful fact…
… And it is the secret of unspeakable joy.
*****************************************
Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You
Copyright © 2012 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com