Mary Lindow ~ The Messenger Podcast
fragile heart
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
(28:00 minutes in length)
(PROPHETIC EXHORTATION AND WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN WRITTEN MESSAGE BUT DO CONTINUE IN THE AUDIO MESSAGE FORMAT BEGINNING AT AUDIO PLAYER TIME MARKER 21:38)
By Mary Lindow
The words, “The Harsh Winds of Life” have been playing themselves over and over in my mind.
As I have pondered them and have allowed the Voice of the Holy Spirit to instruct me as to why I have been impressed with this statement, I sense the Lord addressing many deeper issues that are well anchored and maintained within our souls as believers.
HARSH WINDS
These blustery currents in the natural can be devastating to property, trees, and all living-breathing creatures. We have all seen what the devastation of hurricanes and tornadoes can do in a very short amount of time.
Often when listening to the traumatic stories of those who have lived through a nightmarish storm, the realities of what they hold near and dear have been laid bear and brought to the surface. Many weep over the loss of family photographs or tender things like Grandma’s old chipped china and are unconcerned about larger material items, but are deeply thankful for the safety of family members after a traumatic event. Others, are shaking fists at the sky and are enraged that they have been infringed upon during a difficult time, and want somebody else to pay for it!
THE HARSH WINDS OF LIFE BLOW UPON THE GODLY AND THE UNGODLY. NO ONE IS EXEMPT.
There are some of life's storms that threaten to blow away everything we've depended on as well.
Friendships are tested, relationships are strained, and the Lord uses these harsh winds blowing against our lives to remove the crusty chaff that can form and harden around the seed of our lives.
Those who are independent in nature find a bitterness creeping into their attitudes and heart. They feel infringed upon when things are not easily controlled or maneuvered in their favor. And so, the Holy Spirit allows the winds to blow until a conviction penetrates the self centered soul, and exposes the fleshy comfort zone of, ‘My Way, My World, My Rights”!
"No man has power over the wind to contain it;
So no one has power over the day of his death.
And no one is discharged in time of war,
So wickedness will not release those who practice it."
-Ecclesiastes 8:8
HOW LONG WILL THE HARSH WINDS BLOW?
As long as we practice wicked behavior in the eyes of the Lord, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot stop it! He is winnowing us, allowing us to be caught up into the refining wind of the Holy Spirit's conviction so that the chaff and waste places in our souls are removed.
And trust me my friends, anything that you may be hiding or pretending wasn’t “that bad”, that harmed someone else, well God will allow it to come to the light to be either judged or to be cleansed and yes, there may be consequences that you don’t like.
WE CAN’T HARM OTHER PEOPLE, OR ABUSE THEM, SEXUALLY PREY UPON THEM, SPIRITUALLY ABUSE AND DOMINATE OR SLANDER, and then pretend that it wasn’t “that big of a deal”! It’s a huge deal to God and he will continue to pursue us in order to cleanse us if we will allow him access.
(Yes you can say "ouch" right about now!)
CHAFF MUST BE REMOVED. BUT WHY?
Chaff is a waste material plowed into the soil or burned.
Chaff, as a waste product from grain processing, shows us a symbolic use of the idea that refers to something seen as worthless.
Now, this is where we read, "to separate the wheat from the chaff" from
Matthew 3. It means to separate things of value from things of no value.
Another example is in Psalm 1 which says: "Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away".
WE CHRISTIANS OFTEN PRESUME THAT BECAUSE WE ARE REDEEMED THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL SACRIFICE OF CHRIST FOR OUR LIVES, THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EASIER AND MORE PRIVILEGED LIFE.
This is simply not so!
We are given a shield and a holy stamina to withstand the wiles of this world, but no free passes to a life of ease.
THE LORD LOVES ALL OF MANKIND.
He longs for ALL of mankind, (that includes you and I) to come to a place of trust in His way, not “our way”. Fully stripped of self-will, self-gratification, self- justification, and self-focus.
Matthew 5:45 says~
“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
And sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
I KNOW! I KNOW! THIS STINGS!
"But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth." James 3:14
About now, I can hear a few righteous folks saying, "I would never boast about envy! "
Well! Selfish ambition is well hidden in our personal behaviors.
We offer gifts or opportunities for others to be blessed or helped as long as we are feeling in control and benevolent at the time of the offer or good intention.
But when the winds of life shift and the Lord allows the chaff of "waste materials" in our soul to be Tornadoed —bitterness and exclusive rights abound! Huffiness, abrupt harshness and passive aggression (which means getting even) will manifest and expose the soul's clinging nature, which does not want the hand of God striping away any safety veneer that we use to protect our approach to life.
A CHANGE IN THE SPIRITUAL CLIMATE HAS OCCURRED!
John 6:18 says, “A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.”
Jesus allowed the wind to be a teaching point for his disciples.
They had walked with Him, talked with Him and served alongside Him. But trusting Him when the Storms and Harsh winds blew revealed a weakness that we all must look at, and often.
We trust the Lord when things are going our way, but when the Harshness of a storm blows us off the course that we set, many times we run to our own devices or “Plan B”.
SO MANY AT THIS TIME IN THIS DIFFICULT AGE ARE SCREAMING,
“Lord! Don’t you care about me? The winds are blowing, and I am fearful for my life! If you Love me, why are you allowing this horrid event to occur?”
Even Peter in his zeal to get out of the boat and see if it was indeed Jesus calling to him to come, once he was out of the safety of his own control and the winds blew against him, he focused on the wind, and not upon Jesus, who was there the whole time. Peter cries out, "LORD I am perishing! SAVE ME!”
CONTROL IS A DEEP, DEEP NEED.
Perhaps THE deepest need people have, is for control.
When we feel out of control, we experience a powerful and uncomfortable tension between the need for control and the evidence of “inadequate control”.
Without the Presence of God in our lives, we will attempt to control everything, every event, and every person around us in order to attain the sense of order and “identity power” that we crave.
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD
It was James, the brother of Jesus, who wrote to the believers in Jerusalem, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double- minded people!" (James 4:8).
If we draw near to God, he will respond and draw near to us.
Drawing near to God is spending time with Him, worshiping Him, praying and talking to Him, inviting Him into every aspect of our lives.
EVERY. PART. OF. OUR. LIFE.
BRING YOUR HEART UNDER HIS LORDSHIP
James gives us the blueprint for drawing near or “right up close” to the Lord.
If you've committed sin, confess it, get rid of it.
Next, ask the Lord to examine your heart, your motives, and the things that make you do what you do.
Bring your heart under His Lordship as well.
May our actions be manifestations of a clean heart and conscience.
Allow HIM to remove the Chaff, the wasted time controlling things, and TRUST Him to align your life.
Notice that when he writes about this he says,
"Purify your hearts, double-minded people."
WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY "DOUBLE-MINDED"?
Well, a person who is double-minded is drawn in two completely different directions. And so he or she will get nowhere fast because loyalty is divided.
They will vacillate between faith and unbelief.
And, a double-minded person is unstable in all his/her ways and his/her spiritual walk is inconsistent because he/she tries to serve God and his/her own interests, and gamble their life against the Harsh Winds.
We've all learned that this kind of living never works.
YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS.
Friends again I say this under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the master that you serve whether it be hiding something that is a secret sin or offense to The Lord, or things that you are aware of that have dishonored others, they will be brought into the light one way or the other.
If you think you can hide it, if you think you can gloss it over, God will eventually bring it into the light and have you exposed for deception.
Or, you choose to get the help you need and you can humble yourself! Yes, there may be consequences you don’t like, because of your actions and choices.
But repentance and accountability will save your soul. It may not save your marriage, it may not save your ministry, and it may not save your job or your relationships. But it will save your soul, because humility enters, and God can re-create what has been destroyed and damaged.
GOD DOESN'T PLAY GAMES!
No one is going to get very far with God by playing spiritual games.
It will soon be discovered that the only people playing the game with you will be you, yourself, and again, YOU. It's just like people thinking that they can "ride the fence" into the kingdom.
There is no riding the fence; there is no lukewarm support group.
You’re either in or out.
If we really want to know Him, we are going to have to get serious about our relationship with Him.
WE DON’T WANT DIFFICULT!
I will tell you right now, that even as I write and speak these words, I can feel the resistance to pruning and more change in my gut!
Are you in a pruning, shocking, "getting trimmed back" difficult season right now?
Most everyone is!
Feeling like your wings have been clipped?
Are you seeing a pattern of lethargy and a dullness of joy maybe in your daily life?
Don’t waste those struggles friends! Know that God is very... VERY... intentional. And, He has a good plan for all of it.
Every challenge is an opportunity to practice walking one day at a time, with really clear thinking and gratitude, and He is right there, inside you, to help you.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE! WE DON’T WANT DIFFICULT!
But my oh my, I do want to be like Him!
So I’m in surrender-mode now, friends.
I’m saying, “Cut away, Lord. Go deep.”
WHY? Because I want ALL that He has for me.
I want the fruit.
I want all that abundance, and I know it’s waiting for me when this weird and awkward season changes.
THERE IS ANOTHER PHENOMENON I FIND THAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCESS, WHEN THE HARSH WINDS OF LIFE ARE BEARING DOWN.
And, one that I find that is unhealthy to ignore.
The enemy of our soul is observing and is feverishly “taking notes” about this difficult process, and I believe he finds it quite enjoyable; he laughs and ridicules and flings missiles of insults that shout that, "only a loser needs this kind of difficult adjustment ”.
This of course, is a lie but, one which we can tend to believed on a bad day! Listening to the wrong voice can tempt us to believe the blowing away of chaff in our lives is punishment, and comes from God being mad at us.
It can cause us to pull back from deeper fellowship or social engagements (social distancing tools too, like Face Time, ZOOM, integral) these paralyze honesty, transparency and humility.
It can lead to self-hatred, self-protection, denial about how we hurt others with half-truths, and so on!
I AM TRULY BECOMING MORE AWARE IN MY SPIRIT THAT GOD CAN ONLY USE ME—OR “BEST USE ME”, THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP OF HIS POWER AND MY WEAKNESS.
A wise and well-tested man by the name of Alan Hood must have had a few pruning clippers dig into his life at time or two and learned this lesson. He stated,
“To Be Pruned Is To Lose The Resources, Whether Monies or Physical Strengths Upon Which Everyone Around You Measures You As Successful.”
LET’S READ THAT AGAIN…
…S L O W L Y !
“To Be Pruned Is To Lose The Resources, Whether Monies or Physical Strengths Upon Which Everyone Around You Measures You As Successful.”
TRYING TO USE OLD THINGS WHEN GOD IS TRYING TO GIVE US NEW THINGS IS REALLY SUCH FOOLISHNESS!
Psalm 85 talks about Restoration, Re-tooling and Revival.
Verse 8 says,
“I will listen to what God the Lord says;
He promises peace to his people, His saints
—but let them not return to folly.”
I’M TRUSTING THE LORD’S GOOD AND GRACIOUS HAND IN THE PROCESS THAT THE WORLD IS EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
I know God does not intend to leave even a healthy fruit-bearing branch how it is, but He is always after a more abundant harvest for His people.
I don’t get it, I don’t like or want difficult!
But I also don’t want a puny little sick looking basket of bitter, green, unusable fruit out of life!
He will “give the increase” when I reach the end of this seeming devastation of stymied ideas and “put on hold” plans, and let me tell you something crazy, I feel it coming! The increase!
I’m learning to WALK in harmony, in tune with the truth that, “He is dwelling like healthy sap, in me, and will keep sin and despair from having dominion over my life”. (Romans 6:14) YOUR LIFE TOO!
A MOMENT IN HIS ANGER - A LIFETIME IN HIS FAVOR.
God disciplines for a moment when He wishes to get our attention and our lives may indeed become painful for a period, but then comes His favor.
God doesn't delight in either our depression or our damage.
And, when He begins to deal with the chaff in our lives, it is for our advantage, that we may be conformed to His likeness and reflect His holiness.
When we sense God’s disapproval, when it appears He has withdrawn from us, it is only so that we see our utter need of Him.
WHEN LIFE SEEMS TO BE SO SOUR, WHEN EVERYTHING CRUMBLES, then we must remember what we “say we believe”, that God’s favor is with us, because of Christ’s worthiness given to us, because we are adopted and are His - which means, that His favor always wins out over His disapproval.
THIS PICTURE IS PAINTED WELL BY THE WORDS "WEEPING REMAINS FOR A NIGHT."
Weeping and sorrow are pictured as a traveler who comes to stay for a night. The pain and sorrow we feel may seem as though it has moved in with us like an unwelcome guest, who decides to stay for a very long time.
REJOICING THOUGH, COMES IN THE MORNING.
Your “mourning”, will dissipate in the morning”.
Your winter, will melt into summer.
God will replace your sighing, with singing.
Grief, will give way to gladness.
What was once bitter, will be made sweet.
And, what was once a desolate wilderness, will be transformed into a paradise.
LIKE THE FIRST RAYS OF THE SUNRISE WHICH DISPEL THE HARSH WINDS AND GLOOM OF NIGHT,
GOD GIVES US JOY WHEN THE DARKNESS OF OUR PROBLEMS SEEM AS THOUGH THEY’LL NEVER LEAVE.
YOUR CROSS IS HIS GLORY
What is so crucial to understand is that as a Christian, your life will be filled with times of weakness and strength, with want and wealth, with disgrace and honor, with crosses and comforts, miseries and mercies, joys and sorrows, delight and mourning.
As this cycle of separating “Chaff” from our lives reoccurs many times in our lives, and it moves us from the cross to glory.
For your own health and so that you find all your satisfaction in Christ alone, God will send you times of great growth and other times of emptiness.
When the harsh winds blow, know that God desires that you find your hope and comfort by His own fire.
When the balmy breezes come, give Him praise and thanksgiving for the warmth He provides.
Psalm 57:1 says,
"Have mercy on me, O God,
Have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
(PROPHETIC EXHORTATION AND WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE NOT INCLUDED IN WRITTEN MESSAGE CONTINUE IN THE AUDIO MESSAGE FORMAT BEGINING AT AUDIO PLAYER TIME MARKER 21:38)
Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed
provided that complete message, podcast link and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You!
Copyright 2025 " THE MESSENGER " - "THE ADVOCATE OF HOPE"
~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful
And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts
and Audio Messages.
THANK YOU!
Please go to PAYPAL to donate or support this blog:
Donate to the tax-deductible ministry name of:
paypal.me/mlindow (His Beloved Ministries Inc.)
Or You Can Mail a Check or Cashiers Check to:
His Beloved Ministries INC
PO Box 1253
Eastlake CO 80614
United States
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Note: There is a time of prophetic ministry at the end of this message during the audio version of the podcast.
Please Take A Moment to Listen
So That The Holy Spirit Might Speak Over Your Life!
"Choosing The Desert Of Trouble Or The Door Of Hope"
Prophetic Insights and Encouragement
By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit
TODAY’S PODCAST MESSAGE IS GOING TO ADDRESS
ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT MOST CHRISTIANS
ARE A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT.
THEY DOUBT!
Sometimes it comes from being so absolutely crushed that you are afraid to trust or believe in anything.
Or, we create our own false narratives and wonder WHY things don’t happen, and then we doubt that God can get us out of our messes.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT “DOUBT THING” THAT KEEPS BEATING AGAINST THE THIN MEMBRANE OF HOPE IN YOUR THINKING?
WE CAN CERTAINLY SEE TODAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE PUT THEIR HOPE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE OFFERED, looking for a way out of confusion, wanting to know themselves better or to find someone to love or to validate them.
There's Enneagrams, horoscopes, overloads of self-help books/blogs, medications, politicians, gurus and more, and most all of these have failed those hope seekers, or maybe have caused them to flail even further.
BUT HONESTLY...
...MOST PEOPLE ARE SIMPLY SEARCHING FOR THE "REAL DEAL".
They want to see genuine people expressing living and radiant hope.
They want an anchor in Achor (troubled times).
They are attracted to that and yet, the soul does love intellectual reasoning more than humility and yielding to God, the Supreme Guide.
HOPE.
It’s what nourishes life.
It’s the motivator to move us into action.
It’s the promise of tomorrow.
What each one of us needs more of is hope.
What our country and world needs is hope.
Discouragement.
It’s what siphons the joy right out of you!
Discouragement leads to desperation, which leads to feelings of anxiety, dread and hopelessness, which can move people into depression and suicidal thoughts, and those thoughts lead down a path of complete and utter darkness.
Trouble looms large in every face, every place and every happy space.
SO… DEFINE… HOPE!
We often use the word hope as a kind of wish.
“I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.”
“I hope the Broncos win their next game.”
But friends, hope in the Bible, has quite a different meaning.
RAW AND BIBLICAL HOPE IS A CONFIDENCE AND EXPECTATION THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED A WAY FOR A GOOD FUTURE FOR YOU.
God wants to fill every person reading or listening this with hope, that He has a wonderful future planned for you!
Ah…. Ummm...... Really? Does He?
Can God REALLY create “good” out of the trouble you are passing through or that you got yourself "IN" to?
THE WORD ACHOR MEANS TROUBLE.
So very aptly named, the valley spoken about here (Achor- from Hosea 2: 1-8) is the place where a man named Achan, brought trouble on Israel, by willfully going the opposite way and blew off the Lord's plan. So, God sees the sin, and brings it to them through Hosea’s warning.
THE SIN OF THEIR IDOLATRY, their mixtures of spiritual practices and beliefs and forgetting God and their sincere dedication to him, and his ways of doing things. (Read Hosea 2: 1-8 to fully see the raw details.)
YIKES!
These folks were exploring and trusting in things much like many who are probing and immersing themselves into questionable spiritual practices and who distance themselves from the warnings of God today!
God in His grace, in the New Testament freedom of Christ, will put sin to death in your life and my life and also the trouble brought against us from the results of the sin of others.
He prepares the Valley of trouble - Achor, to become a door of hope.
God wants to show you the door…
...Right there, in the midst of this grief or very hard trouble that you are parched and exhausted by.
A door where you see HOPE written on it….
…And you move towards it.
Crawling is absolutely permitted!
Just get moving, and get THERE!
JESUS SPOKE IT CLEARLY TO US WHEN HE SAID, "I AM THE DOOR.
"To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction.
A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy.
But I have come to give you everything in abundance,
more than you expect life in its fullness until you overflow!"
-John 10:9-10
THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION, OF TROUBLE AND DEFEAT WILL BECOME THE FIRST POINT OF YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE DOOR OF HOPE.
You let go of the dragging baggage of woes and stop chewing on the dust.
You admit your secret idolatry of pessimism and stubborn defiance to yield to the probing of your heart, admitting that you account to no one but yourself.
You put down the whip of control and anger and take up the walking stick to lean upon while you humbly limp towards the door of Hope.
That's a valley of trouble my friend.
But, listen closely!
THIS DOOR OF HOPE THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED THERE STRATEGICALLY PLACED IN THE MESS, DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.
WHY? Because it’s appointed by God Himself.
It opens up new opportunities for you; even those that were lost will be restored to you. It will cause a new song to rise again in your heart.
SO, YOU WEARY, RED -EYED AND CRIED OUT ONES,
PREPARE TO LEAVE THE VALLEY OF TROUBLE (ACHOR) BEHIND,
AND PASS THROUGH THE DOOR OF HOPE.
We Have To Wait With Hope For God!
“Wait with hope for the LORD.
Be strong, and let your heart be courageous.
Yes, wait with hope for the LORD.”
-Psalm 27:14
WE HAVE TO BE COURAGEOUS AND STRONG IN OUR WAITING
FOR THAT DOOR TO BE SHOWN TO US.
The word “wait” is a very upsetting word for many!
We don’t like waiting!
We want things fixed. NOW! PRONTO!
Waiting can make us feel like we are doing something wrong, hesitating, lagging behind.
This isn’t why we have to wait sometimes.
WAITING HELPS US TO MATURE IN CHRIST.
Waiting burns out impatience and defensiveness and impulsive reactions that decide to not deal with our deeply entrenched ruts!
Waiting is better then rushing into something without God’s wisdom and direction.
This door of Hope when there has been trouble, sin, loss pain, cycles of grief, is a sign of God’s tender mercy towards you.
“I will give back her vineyards to her and transform her Valley of Troubles (Achor) into a Door of Hope.
"She will respond to me there, singing with joy as in days long ago in her youth after I had freed her from captivity in Egypt.”
-Hosea 2:15
LET THIS PROMISE BRING REASSURANCE TO YOUR HEART.
Let the past with all its sin and defeat be locked behind you, never to be reopened again.
Leave the Valley of Achor behind.
Let your eyes look ahead.
Walk through the door of hope that God has opened for you!
Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source, podcast and website information
for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You!
Copyright © 2025 - "THE MESSENGER " ~Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
If you have been impressed by the Holy Spirit to assist and bless Mary to minister, helping her to meet needs such as web site and podcast and video teaching costs, or desire to bless her service with Spirit-led Love gifts or regular support:
Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of:
► Personal Checks ► Business Checks
► Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks
To: His Beloved Ministries Inc. PO Box 1253Denver Colorado 80614USA
Or feel free to use our send a tax deductible gift with
Pay Pal paypal.me/mlindow
Under the name of - His Beloved Ministries Inc.
ALL gifts are tax deductible underHis Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.
We are financially accountable
and have been in full compliance since 1985
THANK YOU!
To Learn More About Steve and Mary Lindow Click Picture
Do you or a loved one need prayer?
There are faithful intercessors around the world who areready and who are prepared to pray for you.
Please Click Picture To Send Prayer Requests
Tuesday Nov 12, 2024
Tuesday Nov 12, 2024
By Mary Lindow
BEFORE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN OUR GROWTH JOURNEY, IT’S OFTEN NECESSARY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WE WILL LOSE. Believe it or not, part of the reason we don’t move forward in growth is because we are benefitting from staying where we are—enjoying comfort, security, the illusion of control, or any number of different things.
IN GALATIANS 4:6-8, PAUL TELLS US THAT BUILDING OUR LIVES AROUND THE WRONG THINGS MAKES US SLAVES.
That’s strong language, but Paul’s doing something very strategic here. Paul is alluding to a part of Israel’s story shortly after they had been set free from slavery in Egypt. God raised up Moses and performed great miracles to lead them out of those chains, and the Israelites praised God for their freedom, but it wasn’t long before they began to complain about how they missed all the benefits and comforts of their lives in Egypt. If you remember the story, they were still longing for the “leeks”, a type of onion they liked back in Egypt! They even began to talk about going back! Can you imagine being homesick for a land where you were a slave? Now, that might sound crazy, but, according to Paul, that desire may be more familiar to you than you think.
IF THERE’S SOMETHING YOU NEED SO BADLY THAT
YOU CAN’T IMAGINE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT IT,
THEN YOU ARE A SLAVE TO THAT THING.
You have given up your freedom. You are bound to it.
It could be a possession, a relationship, a title, or a reputation.
RIGHT NOW, A RECORD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE JUST ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS FROM A SECULAR VIEWPOINT, ARE SEEKING COUNSELING, AND PSYCHIATRY!
They can’t seem to get a handle on all of the traumatic events and all of the things going on in our society. They are double minded, often by assuming that There is a way to quickly assuage the back-and-forth cognitive dissonance of mankind when horrific events or evil events taking place.
Many are finding out now that in fact, they are deeply entrenched in great fear and great rage.
AS A CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR, BUT ALSO AS A MINISTER OF CHRIST’S MOST POWERFUL TRUTHS, and one who flows in the gifts of the spirit, here is what I have found out throughout many years of working with people who have gone to psychiatrists or psychologists, who have no biblical base or depth in what they do. It’s purely clinical. It’s therapeutic study that goes through the steps of addressing the mind and possibly medically. But the spiritual depth is empty because they don’t know what to do and many don’t acknowledge God, because they themselves feel the mind of science, the mind of humanity is created to be probed and trained like a behavioral science.
When you use psychiatry and psychology and loading people up on antidepressants or anti-anxiety medicines without addressing the spiritual void as well as poor diet, you’re basically putting a Band-Aid over a very deeply rooted problem. (I am not saying that there are not times there are medications needed for things like brain injuries, or those who need to have a chemical imbalance corrected, but the trend is just give somebody an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication and “they’ll feel a whole lot better”, rather than addressing what is causing the upsetting and the triggering to throw the adrenaline glands into full panic mode, or depression mode!
I believe dietary care and proper supplementing have done tremendous things and have seen it in the lives of many clients. I have a few wonderful naturopathic Christian Doctors who I have referred people to and they have seen tremendous results as well. Of course you have to stick with it. There’s that thing called discipline. It’s not a “quick pill” that you immediately feel better with! It’s a steady, working towards caring for your temple, your body, your brain, your cell structure, with proper nutritional supplements, as well as getting off of stimulants like tons of sugar and poor oils and bad nutrition.
ONCE AGAIN WE’RE ADDRESSING A CORE ISSUE AND THAT IS WE WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM “QUICKLY” WITHOUT THE DISCIPLINE AND YES, A LITTLE BIT OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT IT TAKES TO GET WELL.
NORMALLY, WHEN YOU’RE COUNSELING PEOPLE AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU LOOK FOR THE ROOT OF A FEW THINGS. Bitterness, the pride of life, and, if they were physically, verbally/emotionally or sexually abused. There are other variables. For instance, if someone has had a head injury or those who have had PTSD disorder from experiencing a traumatic event. But, without the core foundation of knowing that God wants to restore his people and wants to restore ALL people, if they will let him, and using that as the ultimate guiding source, a lot of psychology leaves people simply with coping mechanisms, but rarely feeling deep joy, and a sense of humility.
My heart goes out to these people because they just found out that the god of science once again has failed them.
BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN GIVEN A NEW IDENTITY IN JESUS, those chains have been broken and there is a new path paving the way to our freedom. And though it’s a clear and seemingly simple idea, it’s not always easy in practice.
It’s one thing to get you out of slavery,
but it’s another to get the slavery out of you.
OUR TENDENCY AND FLESH NATURE…
…is to continually return to what has seemingly provided comfort, security, and safety, yet all the while turning our backs on the journey to wholeness and freedom that God desires for us. in other words, we return to familiar patterns.
But there’s some good news for us today!
God is a loving father!
IMAGINE A FATHER WATCHING HIS YOUNG TODDLER TAKE THEIR FIRST UNSTEADY STEPS. What does he feel? How does he react? Is he impatient and frustrated that his child doesn’t go further? Does he explode in anger when his child’s knees become unsteady and they fall to the ground? Do you think you’d see extraordinary disappointment in his eyes as you hear him shout, “Why aren’t you walking already? Look at your older brother! He can run laps around this house! Why can’t you get your act together?”
No way! Not in a million years would you expect that kind of reaction. Why not? Because a loving father celebrates the baby steps no matter how small they are. He knows those steps are the beginning of a long journey to becoming a mature adult. He’s patient with the progress and celebrates every victory, no matter how short-lived.
In the same way, your heavenly Father longs to see you move forward in your spiritual life. He loves and celebrates your baby steps.
HERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO REFLECT ON TODAY.
What is it I am getting from staying where I am?
And, is there something I am too scared to lose?
AS YOU BEGIN TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, ASK GOD FOR THE GRACE AND STRENGTH YOU NEED TO TAKE A SMALL STEP OF TRUST TODAY. Then take time to thank God for his patience and forgiveness that meet you every time you stumble back to that old life and old way of thinking.
WHEN JESUS INVITES US TO FOLLOW HIM AND LIVE A NEW WAY OF LIFE AS A PART OF HIS KINGDOM, HE INVITES US TO TRANSFER OUR TRUST. He invites us to let go of the things we have previously trusted for our security and significance—and to take hold of him as our new source. This “letting go” of our way of life can, at times, feel a lot like dying, like we are losing our life as we know it. It can be scary and even painful to take that step.
EVEN AFTER WE DECIDE TO TRUST JESUS AND FOLLOW HIM, WE WILL AT TIMES FIND OURSELVES CLINGING TO PORTIONS OF OUR OLD WAY OF LIFE. We will catch ourselves returning to those familiar sources of security and significance. And each time we will need to make the decision—again—to let go and take hold of the life Jesus offers us instead.
When you find yourself facing another moment like this, (and you will), remind yourself of Jesus's promise in the passage above. It is through the losing, the letting go, of our lives that we find them, in the deepest and fullest sense.
Jesus invites us to transfer our trust from the old, familiar things we cling to for hope and security to, something much better: Jesus himself.
WHAT AREAS ARE THE HARDEST FOR YOU
TO LET GO AND TRUST HIM WITH?
Often, when we have been reduced by life’s hardships, we measure our ability by our human timeline and arrive at the conclusion that “we can’t”.
Maybe that’s where you are right now.
Maybe all you hear reverberating in your mind is:
“I can’t do this.
I can’t cope.
I can’t manage.
I can’t survive this.
I can’t.”
I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE LESSON OF ESTHER:
The last thirty days or weeks or months don’t rule your life.
They don’t get to dictate your future.
They don’t have a right over you.
You belong to God’s “such a time as this”.
LIKE ESTHER, I HAD TO LEARN THIS LESSON IN MY OWN LIFE.
I had to repent of my “I can’t”. I had to capture that thought over and over again, and make it obedient to Christ. I had to agree with God’s Word that, He who had called me is faithful; He would surely do it.
One of the most well-known—sections of the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’s primer on true happiness or blessedness.
These are often called the Beatitudes.
Here, Jesus describes what happiness is all about. But he doesn’t primarily describe emotions or feelings. Instead, he outlines a surprising way of life—an upside-down existence.
TO BE BLESSED IS TO BE ACCEPTED BY GOD, WHETHER CIRCUMSTANCES SEEM TO CONFIRM OR DENY IT.
By starting his sermon not with a list of “to-dos” but by letting us know who is blessed, Jesus clarifies that those in his kingdom don’t work for blessing but from blessing. Jesus’s disciples don’t have to seek blessing; they are already blessed by God. In kindness, Jesus announces what we are all looking for: joy.
HUMANITY HAS BEEN SEDUCED INTO A VISION OF THE GOOD LIFE BASED ON PHYSICAL HEALTH, AMPLE MONEY, AND MINIMAL CHALLENGES. But Jesus turns it all around, explaining that the most fortunate people are those who are “socially disregarded and recognize their deep need for God”. It’s not that God despises comfortable people; it’s that he knows the benefit of spiritual disruption, especially when those strong assumptions about the good life are dangerous.
In the kingdom of God, the happiest people are oriented around love, not accruing greater possessions or power.
TO WALK IN STEP WITH JESUS IS TO WALK IN THE WAY OF LOVE —a love that seeks to bring reconciliation where there has been fragmentation, a love that rejoices over mercy, not resentment, a love that works to end injustice, refusing to stand by idly. This is the path of life that satisfies our souls.
JESUS CLEARLY STATES THAT THE BLESSED ARE NOT FREE FROM TROUBLE. Rather, they endure trouble as they bear witness to Jesus’s path. The blessed life is connected to the cross. Patterning our lives after Christ, requires the death of our egos, our “false selves”, and the larger culture that rewards self-centeredness.
Yet as God raised Jesus from the dead, so, too, he will raise you and I from the dead. As God vindicated his Son, God will also vindicate those who choose the way of the Son.
SO BE OF GOOD CHEER!
Following Jesus on the narrow path places you among the most blessed people on earth! Oh God, help me see and seek the blessed life of dying to ourselves!
I WOULD LIKE TO NOW SHARE A WORD OF WISDOM AND PROPHETIC ENCOURAGEMENT WITH YOU .
I am impressed to share these words with those of you (which is probably most all of us ) that have been weary and troubled, and still fight with dark shadows that try to come and encroach and upset you, and caused you to feel as if you are alone at times in your life.
Prophetic Word
I Am the spirit of grace
I Am the spirit of mercy, and I Am the one that was sent to comfort you.
The world will forever be in upheaval because mankind constantly fights between truth and disobedience to truth.
There are no gray areas. You are either with me or you are against me.
(He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters. -Matthew 12:30)
Many tend to reside spiritually in areas where they think that perhaps they can slowly choose whether they yield to, me or whether they stand firm in their own desire to be in control.
For those that have harmed you, for those that have wounded you, for those who have misused my scripture and twisted and yes, have at times use them as weapons, I will bring my complete and righteous judgment. I give them time to repent, but with repentance also comes with open admittance to their sin. Men don’t like to hear that word because my word does not feel easy or comfortable at times. Yet I, the spirit of God refuse to enable the flesh of any human.
I am doing a work in you in these days that is creating a greater dependency upon me and a greater gratitude for my ability to move the impossible mountains in your life.
These days on earth are so short when you see it from my viewpoint, yet I am moved with compassion, for I know you feel as if they are moving slowly at times.
Resting in my presence is a balm to a troubled soul.
It causes a reset of all intentions and brings you back to the place of communion with me like Adam and Eve did in the garden before they fell.
It’s in rest.
It’s in reflection.
It’s in rejoicing,
that you re-set.
Come away, my beloved child and rest in my presence on a daily basis finding time for me, to rest in my presence, and you will sense a great calm come over your spirit, soul, and your body, for I am the one who restores your soul.
“A heart at peace gives life to the body…” Prov. 14:30
I bind up your wounds, and I heal your broken heart.
I who began a good work in you…
…I am faithful to complete it to its fullest.
“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]”. -Philippians 1:6
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Find a quiet place and settle in to spend some time being still with God.
Friends. You might have to fight for it, but be intentional to get to the place where you are able to be internally still.
Ask God to make you more aware of his presence.
Ask him to highlight how he has been working in you and how you can actively participate in your spiritual growth.
Finally, thank him for his faithfulness and ask him to sharpen your awareness of his spirit working in you.
Prayer:
God, you are a loving Father.
Thank you for being patient with me as I learn to trust you. Amen
Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed, as long as the complete message, Website, podcast link and information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You! 2024
"THE MESSENGER" - Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
If you would be so kind to ask the Father if you might assist Mary, helping her to meet other administrative needs such as website, video and podcast costs, or desire to bless her service in ministry with Spirit-led Love gifts or regular support:
Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of:
► Personal Checks ► Business Checks
► Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks
To:
His Beloved Ministries Inc.
PO Box 1253
Denver, Colorado 80614
USA
Or feel free to use our send a tax-deductible gift with
Pay Pal paypal.me/mlindow
Under the name of - His Beloved Ministries Inc.
ALL gifts are tax-deductible under
His Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.
We are financially accountable
and have been in full compliance since 1985.
Thank You!
☝︎CLICK TO JOIN KINGDOM PRAYER ROOMS!
Click picture to get to know a little bit more about us
and our heart to serve Jesus.
Friday Sep 27, 2024
Friday Sep 27, 2024
Hello dear friends and those of you that listen to my podcast!
This is a new presentation that I have created and the podcast is going to send you over to links that you can see there in the site that are going to introduce you to four (4) new, small, video presentations that I have been working on producing in order to use these as ways to encourage those who have an interest in the Lord, or those who are fearful, those who need to pray for our nation and more!
These are just enough to get people to relax, calm down, and listen and pray! And! They are there to encourage YOU!
They are there to share.
They are there to bring visual context and audio context to things that people are struggling with right now, so if you want to head on over to those and just click the pictures below, click any picture for something that you have interest or, listen to each of these!
Of course you can watch and listen, and you can copy the links and embed them.
Send them in emails and share them!
That’s what this is about!
The Lord said to go out into all of the world and preach the good news, the Gospel, and that means the good news of Jesus Christ, that he is here to help us and to keep us from being afraid!
If we are afraid we can come to him.
He teaches us how to pray and how not to be anxious, and teaches us how to stand strong under the shadow of his wing!
You know, I have four consistent supporters, and I bless you!
I’ve told you that if things would begin to increase just a little bit I would be able to create some videos, and so I had another $150 come in an offering and of course, I have to pay to park these projects somewhere. You can’t just create them. You have to park them on a site that processes, stores and compresses video.
So! THANK YOU to that individual (you know who you are) for helping me, because this is also preaching the gospel!
Now folks!
Just ⬇️SCROLL DOWN ⬇️
and CLICK one or two of those different videos
and enjoy the beautiful music, the beautiful graphics,
the words, the voiceover
and
I hope they encourage you today!
Have a wonderful, wonderful, day
and be blessed in knowing that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
➡️ My website also is available to watch and listen to these videos
if you just prefer to go watch them all in one location! ⬅️
You can go to
www.marylindow.com
Click the word VIDEO in the menu bar!
What To Do In A World Filled With Fear?
⬆️ (CLICK PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO)
Be encouraged and be fired up with this 1 min 50 second video about standing strong in a sea of lies and deception! Most people are feeling the shift and tension of world events increasing daily and lies are becoming a national phenomenon! Standing for truth doesn’t come easy. People might consider us hopelessly old-school, blind, or call us fools. But in reality, to stand on and advocate for truth is one of the most loving things we can do—because it actually calls people to live in line with reality, and to warn them away from building on falsehoods that sooner or later, will crumble beneath them.
PRAYER: It’s More Than Words
⬆️(CLICK PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO)
The Spirit of God desires not only that we seek Him but that we actually find Him! The humbling of our soul and learning to pray - these are not simply spiritual disciplines or mechanical things we do for the sake of revival. They are heart preparations. The invitation from the Lord to seek His face is not to be taken lightly; in fact, it is a lifestyle!
Prayer For God’s Defense
⬆️(CLICK PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO)
When you feel the pressures of life and injustice surrounding you,
where do you turn for help, for comfort, for hope?
⬆️(CLICK PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO)
Anxiety And Fear Have An Antidote
Whether we are mourning, or fearful, at a loss or are experiencing grief,
HOPE has a name…
Thank you, and I’ll talk to you soon!
Goodbye for now.
Mary Lindow
Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed, as long as the complete message, Website, podcast link and information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You! 2024
"THE MESSENGER" - Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
If you would be so kind and assist Mary helping her to meet other administrative needs such as website, podcast, and Video production costs,
or desire to bless her service in ministry with
Spirit-led Love gifts or regular support:
Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of:
► Personal Checks ► Business Checks
► Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks
To:
His Beloved Ministries Inc.
PO Box 1253
Denver, Colorado 80614
USA
Or feel free to use our send a tax-deductible gift with
Pay Pal paypal.me/mlindow
Under the name of - His Beloved Ministries Inc.
ALL gifts are tax-deductible under
His Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.
We are financially accountable
and have been in full compliance since 1985.
Thank You!
Monday May 06, 2024
Monday May 06, 2024
By Mary Lindow
WE LIVE IN A CORRUPT WORLD and therefore, have the “effects and affects” of that corruption ever influencing, ever tainting and ever wooing the flesh.
Let’s look at the definition of a key word I am going to use in this crucial message. Plumbline: a tool that consists of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope and that is used especially to see if something (such as a wall) is perfectly vertical or in alignment)
A plumbline is a simple but accurate tool used for determining whether or not something is perfectly vertical or upright. The Lord also used, and uses, a "plumbline," His Word, to determine how upright His people truly are in His sight.
How upright they think they are, or how upright they proclaim themselves to be, means nothing to God.
"Behold, I WILL set a plumbline in the midst of My people". -Amos 7:7
A PLUMBLINE SET OUT BY THE HAND OF GOD IS ONE THAT WE CAN ANCHOR OUR HEARTS TO.
It will always, always, ALWAYS, direct us to the truth in a matter; even if it requires pain, loss, persecution and perhaps death in areas we feel we may well have rights to.
It will also be a shield, a balm, a comfort and a teacher to those who will yield to the directive positioning of the Master.
“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumbline.”
-Isaiah 28:17
I am by far not an expert on the subject of plumblines and righteousness, so take what I say in the light of one who at time gropes like a child in the dark, ever reaching for the hand of the ONE to lead me into a safe place filled with His Hope, His Mercy, His Light and Life.
LIFE – DISTRESS - AND PERSECUTION
I have found that in my life, distress and persecution do not feel like God’s care being poured out on me. My heart is not immediately drawn to thanksgiving and gratefulness for the faithfulness of God on display as I cling to the battered pieces that look like potential “rafts” of hope, only to find out that many of them have gaping holes or slow leaks in them.
Rather, it feels like yet another hurt is being permanently woven into my tattered and war-torn soul. It seems as if another mound of questions are piling up and just waiting for an answer and a true solid REAL anchor of hope.
Dr. Diane Langberg, a Courageous, brilliant, humble servant of God and Counselor has deeply impressed me and my approach to caring for and ministering to others. She spoke the following words boldly regarding pain, abuse, and the suffering of traumatic events.
Quoting Dr. Langberg,
"In the midst of the trauma and suffering I have also seen the work of the Redeemer. He fills his people with his life and in ordinary ways, little by little; they bring his hope and healing to a ruined world. Traumatized and caregiver alike are transformed. He works both ways as they bend together to bring his redemption to the ravages of evil. I know this to be true for he has done so in me.
I have learned many lessons over the years. I have listened to countless tragedies. Of one thing I am certain: unless we are gripped by the truths of the Cross of Christ in our own hearts and lives, the hope and power of the Cross will not pass from us to others. We cannot give what we do not have. May love and obedience to the Son of Man so govern our personal lives that he can through us bring his life to this ruined planet." (End of quote)
I CAN REALLY CONNECT TO THE WRITER OF PSALM 42
He said “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” It’s at those very times that the words of the Savior are so important. When we are down and in turmoil.
But, how do we connect the dots between what we know is true about God’s faithfulness and what our hearts feel? When flipped and flung around by the waves, weary from crying and when no answer seems at hand, what IS the answer?
When my circumstances show many foes and tyrants rising up against me and my heart is prone to wander and fear, what hope is there of peace?
When my feelings start controlling my thoughts, how can I rest in God’s promises?
AT THIS POINT… I HEAR THE “GASPS”, and perhaps shocked comments of a few who are amazed that someone who "appears" to walk so fervently and intimately with the Lord would have such difficulties!
Well! Guess what?
I do struggle, I do hurt, and yes I do doubt when I have been side swiped or “rammed” by skilled cons and those who, although may have the appearance of godliness and offered friendship or fellowship, end up having private and evil agendas behind their well placed and planned schemes.
And boy oh boy! Those skilled players know the wicked art of wounding the heart and causing people to reel in pain!
BUT, THERE IS ONE WHO FULLY SEES IT ALL
The main skill in the issue of dealing with life as a spiritual person, is to know how to handle yourself when things not only crush and grind your heart, but what to do with the anguish and toll of their aftermath.
We have to get ourselves into a place where we hear clearly again.
We need have to address ourselves, preach to ourselves, and ask questions about ourselves.
We must say to our soul: "Why are you cast down –Why are you so anxious and lacking in peace?"
We must urge ourselves, and say ‘Hope in God’ – instead of remaining in this paralyzed, aching state!”
AND THEN WE MUST TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER
We must go on to remind ourselves just “Who" God is, and what God is, and what God has done, and what God has promised that he Himself said that He would do.
Having done that we can stand up and sing out strongly, defying the torment of the soul, and resist other people’s wicked tongues and arrogance, and refuse to go along with the devil and the whole world, and say: ‘Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
The hope and promise of the fairness of God’s justice when dealing with the hurtful things and presumptions of others gives me the confidence to know that God will never turn away from me in my need. No matter how they seem to prosper in the short term, wicked men and women will ultimately pay for their sins, in this life or the next. Jesus died to meet my greatest hardships and sorrows for me, and I need to preach this to myself every day.
His power is greater than my weariness and suffering.
The comforting and instruction that comes from simply running to feed upon His word instead of the toxic poison of the replaying of trauma reminds me that what Jesus has done is strong enough for my soul to rejoice in and to be set into a place where it can rest and regroup, gaining a healthy perspective about what to give out to others and what is simply…
…. To be enjoyed by the Lord Himself.
THE NATURAL IMPULSES OF MANKIND ARE SINFUL AND DECEITFUL!
Human willpower alone will never be able to change this.
We need God's help to truly change our hearts.
REMEMBER. You cannot change the heart of anyone else either.
If you try to, you will feel the bite of stinging venom or be laughed out of a room. Only the power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit can permeate and get around the jam-packed hardhearted egos of the self sufficient and bitter.
Jeremiah 17:9 says that the human heart is deceitful in all things and is even beyond cure!
We must be cautious and wise in reproving and warning such types of people about their bad behaviors and wicked actions where there seems to be no appearance or hope of change and where there is danger of experiencing great and heart wrecking retaliation and slander.
THESE TYPES TRAMPLE THE WARNINGS AND URGING FOR REPENTANCE and humbling of the heart under their feet, and turn again and slash at you, despising the warnings that are “tearfully and fearfully” given, and often hurt the persons who give them, either by words or deeds.
"Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.
Don't throw your pearls to pigs!
They will trample the pearls,
then turn and attack you.”
-Matthew 7:6
“GIVE ME THE FACTS MA’AM JUST THE FACTS”
I remember that phrase from a TV show called “Dragnet”. The detective would not allow the details of the case to be skewed by any assumptions or pontificating from those he interviewed. He stoically and firmly demanded only the facts.
And so, here are the “facts” about the heart of a good man or woman.
1.) The good man or woman:
Brings good things out of the good stored up in his/her heart.
And the facts about an evil man or woman.
2.) The evil man/woman,
Brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his/her heart.
For out of the overflow of his or her heart his or her mouth speaks.
-Luke 6:45
THE FRAILTY, BRIEFNESS, AND INSECURITY OF LIFE
The frailty, briefness, and insecurity of life should hold down the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all of our projects and boasting about future greatness and bragging rights! We are always to depend on the will and leading of God.
OUR TIMES ARE NOT IN OUR OWN HANDS, BUT ARE INSTEAD IN THE TIMING OF GOD. Our heads may be filled with cares and plans for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Divine intervention often throws our plans into bewilderment. All we have in mind, and all we do, should be with a humble and deep dependence on God.
It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of trendy “latest happening” things and prospective projects, and it will bring great disappointment and will prove destructive to relationships and meaningful help to others in the end.
“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.
These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”
-1 John 2:16
LISTEN KINDLY - BEFORE SPEAKING YOUR THOUGHTS
People don't need a lecture on the meaning of suffering or to have a barrage of scriptures “machine-gunned” at them as a reprimand for sharing their moment of grief or struggle! (Especially when their hearts are breaking, weary of the battle and if they are fatigued.)
Job could have done without some of the self-righteous answers that came from his “well-meaning” friends. All of the answers could have even been true, but Job didn't need to hear any of them.
He needed their love, not their value judgments.
In fact, it appears as if God judged THEM for trying to offer simple solutions to things that were beyond their comprehension. They had never walked in the loss he was in anguish over.
WHEN WE SUFFER UNJUSTLY WE HAVE A MAJOR CHOICE TO MAKE
How will we respond? We can feel sorry for ourselves (and understandably so, for a while), become bitter and cynical, get drawn into a war of words, or even become mixed up in a major conflict.
On the other hand, we can take our suffering to the cross and allow our pain to draw us into a deeper place of understanding of what Jesus went though in his sufferings.
This does not remove the pain, but does help us to know what to do with our hurt.
THIS IS THE 'FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS (Philippians 3:10), one of the gateways to closeness with God and the release of his power in our lives. The weight of heartbreak shared with a loving friend cuts it in half. When the burden is shared with many friends, we can cope with almost anything.
We never feel more revitalized than when a friend loves us enough to walk with us in our pain. Not lecture us.
The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God". -1 Corinthians 1.3-4
SOMETIMES GOD GETS INVOLVED WITH DIRECT MIRACLES,
Giving supernatural strength to those in need. But for the most part, he depends on us, his people, to do his work in the world. We love each other, work for healing, and suffer with those who suffer.
The next time you see a friend who is suffering, Jesus may just invite you to be the warm embrace! We comfort each other with the comfort we have received in Christ. And when we do, we become the Body of Christ and he receives the glory!
THE BIBLE IS CLEAR!
We are to bear one another's burdens.
We are to comfort others as Christ has given comfort to us.
Your hard time becomes my hard time.
We join hands in the journey.
When you succeed, I succeed.
When you suffer, I suffer. But we do it together. We share it together.
And we do it, not so much in our wisdom or our words, but in our availability, our understanding, and through our presence.
THAT'S WHAT FELLOWSHIP IS ALL ABOUT!
But not “bland” fellowship.
It is CHRISTIAN fellowship. It is the business of burden bearing.
Authentic CHRISTIAN fellowship says that when you need me . . . I'll be there.
Support in suffering is at the core of what it means to share life together in Christ. The word for "comfort” is the same root word as the name Jesus used to describe one of the functions of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Paraclete). “I will be a comforter, one who comes alongside to give help.” And so as God comes alongside you, now you are able to come alongside another. As the Comforter is at work within you, so you also can be of comfort to those around you.
WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS.
To mourn with those who mourn.
To be a follower of Jesus means to come alongside people who are hurting and find ways to help them walk even through the valley of the shadow of death. We are called to do this, as the word of God and care of God is shared with the intention of stirring, plowing up hardened hearts, creating a place for repentance and challenging saints to hope again. I know and believe that as we learn again as believers, to care, to truly listen and to hope fully again, that the sweet and heavy weight of HIS Glory will be made known and will manifest in unfettered and uncontrolled waves of worship and spontaneous adoration of the King of Heaven.
MY FRIENDS IN CHRIST…
…LISTEN TO THESE NEXT WORDS I SHARE WITH YOU VERY CAREFULLY.
Toleration of sin, pretense, and crookedness do not reveal the character of God, even if they bear his name.
Arrogance is never godly.
Covering up sin is never godly.
Abuse of power is never godly.
Shepherds who feed on sheep are abusive.
Leadership that preserves and protects the system, rather than the people, turns the house of God into a safe place for predators.
Exposure brings hope, because it brings the cancer to the light.
To hide sin by cover-up or silent complicity is spiritual abuse.
HE REALLY DOES KNOW WHAT HE WANTS
Let's focus on bowing low and seeking His heart and plans in what matters to Him.
Indeed, HE is the Plumbline.
Jesus demonstrated in the flesh what a human being is to be like who bears God's image. He pursued the vulnerable, protected the little ones, and poured out compassion on the least of these.
Any dismissal of abuse, any baptizing of evil, any cover-up or denial is nothing like Him.
Any discarding of the least of these or trampling of the vulnerable is an assault on God Himself—no matter the spiritual words used as an excuse.
AGAIN, I will share another phenomenal insight from Dr. DIANE LANGBERG regarding this matter.
She said these words in an article;
“You see, this Jesus had a passion for redeeming.
For those who have been abused, and are suffering from its debilitating aftereffects, listen hard.
There is hope for you-hope for healing and transformation. I know;
I come to you from the frontlines and have seen it happen countless times.
It takes courage, hard work, and there is no quick fix.
Such redemption was Jesus' master passion.
This God came to seek and redeem what has been lost. We must acknowledge and tell the truth about these things.
Great damage is being done to God’s sheep, in his name.
He weeps over such leaders and the sheep they harm.
Be watchful.
Recognize coercive and manipulative behavior.
CALL IT BY ITS RIGHT NAME WHEN SOMEONE IN POWER USES SPIRITUAL WORDS AND IDEAS TO SILENCE, CONTROL, AND INTIMIDATE.
Be discerning about those who hold power—including yourself.
Do not be deceived.
May we, with Daniel, call out to God:
“O Lord, hear! O Lord forgive. O Lord listen and act.
For your own sake do not delay, because your church and your people are called by your name” (Dan. 9:19).
SO FRIEND. WHAT HAVE YOU LOST?
Your voice?
The truth, drowned out by lies?
Your life and its vibrancy, its strength, its giftedness?
Your hope?
God has said He is making all things new... and that includes you.
Devastation is, bit by bit, redeem-able. I know. I have had a front-row seat to God's redemptive power in my life, and for the record, one of the people He has done redemptive work in, is me.
My work with victims in ministry as well as teaching in schools has revealed to me who God is. Evil can be transformed in the life in which it occurred. That work is also redemptive in the one who walks alongside the broken vessel. Evil is then twice crushed.
May the Church of Jesus Christ repent of her pursuit of human externals and bend down, listen, and walk alongside trauma, abuse, racism, hatred, and a blind eye as did her Lord. In doing so, we will bring joy to the heart of the Father.
I’D LIKE YOU TO PRAY WITH ME BECAUSE RIGHT NOW,
I am sure that this touched several hearts, and maybe even made some fear come into some of you who are hiding things or who have abused others, and it’s time to come clean.
It’s time to get the help that you need.
So, I’d like to pray with all of you listening today. I ask you to stop and be still.
Position your heart before the Lord as we bring this to him.
Prayer
God, I ask in Jesus' name, that you comfort, strengthen and encourage all who are hurting deeply right now and are going through so much pain and heartache.
Don't allow them to give up in the heat of the battle.
Let them feel your arms wrapping around them and your love overflowing and filling them up. Lord, I will pray often and I know that you will hear my voice, even when I speak to You in my silent thoughts.
To You, I am crying out and my prayers are now before You.
Father, I give to You my problems, I do not want them.
Father, please restore them to You. I know that you have compassion for your children. Father, show them your ways and teach them your paths. Lead them in your truth and teach them you are the God of our salvation and on you we will wait.
Protect them from the evils of this life and guide them through all of their days. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer Father and for considering and for having compassion on all who hear and read these words, and all who hurt, in this troubled world we live in.
Keep them in the center of Your love.
In Jesus’ Name~ Amen
I KNOW THAT THIS WAS MOST LIKELY A DIFFICULT AND PROBABLY PAINFUL PODCAST FOR SOME OF YOU,
BUT IT’S A FREEING PODCAST.
It brings out into the light the reality that we need to speak up when we see harm being done and we need to get help when we have been harmed so that the stopping of the sorrow when the grief in the trauma can begin and a new pathway can be created in our lives. I
I look forward to sharing my next podcast with you! I do want to thank those you are so kind and so gracious.
I have a few very faithful individuals who do support and partner with me to produce these podcasts and I want to let you know I’m always amazed at how many places these go to, because I don’t really do a lot of promoting!
They just get picked up by other podcast groups and it goes out all across the world, so somewhere in this, the Holy Spirit is using it to glorify the name of Jesus, and for that I am so grateful that he would find something in me that is worthy of sharing.
So, thank you again to those of you who help me.
I look forward to being with all of you again and in the meantime, stand firm, call upon the name of the Lord, and tell the truth, in Jesus name.
Goodbye for now!
Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete article, podcast link and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You Copyright © 2024 " THE MESSENGER "
~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com
https://marylindow.podbean.com
Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful
And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts
and Audio Messages.
THANK YOU!
Please go to PAYPAL to donate
or support this blog:
Donate to the tax-deductible ministry name of:
paypal.me/mlindow
mary lindow
@mlindow
Mary Lindow - His Beloved Ministries Inc.
Or
You Can Mail a Check or Cashiers Check to:
His Beloved Ministries INC
PO Box 1253
Eastlake CO 80614
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
By the Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow
"Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him."
Ecclesiastes 8:5-6
NOTE: At the end of this podcast there is a short spontaneous song of the Lord that was recorded in a small studio several years ago. There were other wonderful and gifted percussionists and musicians joining in as the Holy Spirit moved through us all and gave me the beautiful melody and orchestral keyboard accompaniment. My hope is that it will stir your heart to worship and be even hungrier for the Presence of the Lord in your life.
In all of our lives as believers, we face times and settings where there is a feeling of being pulled and tested, stretched, and restrained. Often, during these excruciating events, those who avoid personal character development tend to give unrestrained advice, spiritualized platitudes, and often, trumped up words of so-called prophetic inspiration to help us not suffer so!
As we begin to see the Lord's plan in all of this we also come to understand that if we are not first hearing His voice, His heart, His word in the matters that are straining us, nothing any man or woman says can bring the ultimate light of clarity and release!
WINTER SPRING SUMMER AND FALL
We all face seasons of change that correspond much like the four seasons we observe yearly. Nothing is more surprising than to have an interruption of what we presume to be what is "normal" for an earthly expectation, in one of those seasons.
When a sudden ice snow storm blows in unexpected in the late spring in the Colorado fruit growing regions and encrusts the tender blooms on fruit trees and garden plants, we are devastated by the loss of not only the blooms, but also the fruit it could have produced. It appears as if there has been a cruel storm sent to cause crop failure.
WHAT IS THIS CURRENT SEASON OF DIVINE TENSION ALL ABOUT?
For many who are hearing or reading this message, you feel as if you have experienced a "Crop failure," perhaps several, and just can’t take one more aching disappointment. Many hearts have passed their tender agonies to me on paper, in emails, texts, and through the telephone.
ANGUISH HAS ITS OWN PERFUME
I too have heard the whispers of the voices of darkness try to entice, with wearisome words of worry, paranoia and doubting!
"Give up!" they say! "What good is this time of shaking doing?"
"What possible good can come out of believing that there is something occurring that will bring a fresh advancement when all seems to have stalled or strained?”
And yet, another set of voices would tempt with words of esteem whispering;
"Make it happen!
Proclaim mighty deeds and things to come with fervor, flair and well-honed words of impact!
Use it or lose it!
Promote, push, and publish! It is all yours for the taking!"
BOTH OF THESE VOICES COME FROM THE SUBTLETIES OF THE SOUL AND WELL OILED SPIRITUAL VOICES TRAINED BY THE PRINCE OF LIES AND FLESHLY IMPULSE.
But.
In the midst of these strains and attempts to distract comes a clear undeniable "Divine Tension" that pulls and stretches the heart of the humbled believer.
It calls simply, firmly, and does not lack a depth of confidence and direction.
This “Presence” causes a clash with all that seems to be "the way of man" and will not relent.
THE EARTH IS IN TURMOIL
It doesn't take much to understand that the earth is in upheaval, rivalry, and chaos wherever we look. There is a tangible and penetrating "tension" in the events we are seeing unfold every day. Parallel to this explosion of pure evil and lulling to sleep of many, there is a Divine Course being laid out for those who have come to the end of them.
ETERNITY IS IN THE SIGHTS OF THOSE LOOKING TO A KINGDOM YET UNSEEN.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have been preparing a bride.
This is done only through the shaping tools of heavenly choice.
The chisel and hammer have been at times brutal and unflinching, yet, when the soft hand of The Almighty begins to apply the oil of polishing, He does it with His own hand as well.
He makes it beautiful in His own timing, even though the “Divine Tension” seems as if it might cause us to "snap" under the pressure of His hand, smoothing away the roughness of our thoughts and soul's intentions.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
Yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
HEARING, REFINING, HEEDING
The King of all Glory is training those who have been thrust on the altar of fire to hear from Him as one who strains to catch the song of a bird in distant meadow.
It takes the "spiritual ear" and training it to identify even the slightest note or sound, however distant, and to learn to silence the sounds and voices of distraction until the "honing in" on the sound, the glorious sound of peace, finally directs and sustains us with all that we hear.
And then, having drunk deeply of the Voice of the Beloved and Divine Counselor, quickly, without mental filing way of instructions or overthinking, we move and heed His mapping out of plans for this appointed time.
RISING FROM THE ASHES OF THE REFINING OF GOD
So! Unto those who hear this word from heaven, claiming you are one of Heaven's very own, know that you are being formed and fashioned into sober, clean containers, prepared for infilling.
My Spirit will fall upon those who are not seeking to lay claim to My voice, but instead HEED My voice and SEEK My face.
They shall be examples of purity in My Kingdom and will not strive among the self-promoting and “wordy". The broken will be safe in the arms of these who have passed through the current season of being pulled and tested, stretched and restrained and they will restore the devastated.
My "faithful hearts" will not be compelled to build agendas for Me and My Presence, because I will BE the Presence that creates the Manifestations of Glory and Might in the earth, without the fanfares of men.
YOU HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO DESPERATION IN ORDER THAT I MIGHT RESTORE YOU TO INSPIRED LIVING, IN FULL FELLOWSHIP WITH ME.
Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim freedom for the captives
And release from darkness for the prisoners,
To proclaim the year of the Lords’ favor
And the day of vengeance of our God,
To comfort all who mourn,
And provide for those who grieve in Zion
To bestow on them a crown of beauty
Instead of ashes, the oil of gladness,
Instead of mourning,
And a garment of praise, Instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
A planting of the LORD
For the display of his glory and splendor.
Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed, as long as the complete message, Website, podcast link and information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You! 2023
"THE MESSENGER" - Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.marylindow.podbean.com
If you would be so kind and assist Mary helping her to meet other administrative needs such as web site and podcast costs, or desire to bless her service with Spirit-led Love gifts or regular support:
Please JOYFULLY send your gift in the form of:
► Personal Checks ► Business Checks
► Money Orders ► Cashiers Checks
To:
His Beloved Ministries Inc.
PO Box 1253
Denver, Colorado 80614
USA
Or feel free to use our send a tax-deductible gift with
Pay Pal paypal.me/mlindow
Under the name of - His Beloved Ministries Inc.
ALL gifts are tax-deductible under
His Beloved Ministries 5013c non-profit status.
We are financially accountable and have been in full compliance since
1985 with Clergy Financial Advantage.
THANK YOU! 💟
Sunday Mar 29, 2020
Sunday Mar 29, 2020
By Reverend Mary Lindow
HELLO DEAR CHILD OF GOD,
TONIGHT AFTER SPENDING THE EVENING WITH A VERY DEAR FRIEND IN FELLOWSHIP, COUNSEL, AND A TIME OF HEARTFELT PRAYER, I WAS PROMPTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO WRITE AND ENCOURAGE MYSELF WITH THIS MESSAGE! AS I DID, I WAS ALSO MOVED BY THE LORD TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU AS WELL!
MAY HE “IMPRINT” UPON OUR HEARTS THE MESSAGE OF HOPE, HELP AND THE CLARITY OF THE MIND OF CHRIST, IN SUCH DIFFICULT TIMES OF TRANSITION AND MATURING IN HIM!
SACRIFICIAL THANK OFFERINGS!
He who sacrifices thank-offerings, Honors me, And he prepares the way,
So that I may show him the salvation of God
Psalm 50:23
The soul part of our human make-up will never really fully understand what the Spirit of God can easily explain to those who know the intimate and true heart of the Father.
When the tiring and crushing difficulties in life occur, people often run to the massage therapist, the chamomile tea and so on, in order to obtain a calmness and sense of “sane rest” to help them unload anxiety, heartache or fear.
But here in the verse above, the Lord so clearly shows us something that actually prepares the way, a pathway for our deliverance from all of the crushing blows life on planet earth can bring!
He tells us that if we offer up to Him in the times when we are feeling parched, weary, and just plain scared, - “sacrifices of thankfulness,” - these words choked out through hot tears and anguish, do something to honor God in a way that actually “prepares the way” for the Dear King of Heaven to use as a path or portal to bring us much needed relief, freedom and deliverance!
HAVE YOU EVEN BEEN IN PLACE WHERE EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE IMPOSSIBLE?
(Many of you are there now) - and you have cried yourself to sleep begging God for help and mercy. It is then when you will truly understand why it is a sacrificial offering to God to begin to praise Him, thank him, for what is unseen and needed!
The Mercy of God is much deeper and more mature and rich than any mercy man tries to administer. Sometimes it’s a “mercy” to just not receive it from men! (Joke!)
I HEAR THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGING A CLEAR WORD OF COMFORT AND HELP, to His people who have ears to hear what He is saying to them. Those that are determined to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd and not strange voices.
"And a stranger they will not follow, But will flee from him:
For they know not the voice of strangers." -John 10:5
"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down,
But a good word makes it glad." -Proverbs 12:25
SACRIFICIAL THANKS IS AN OFFERING?
Look at what the word Sacrifice means!
Giving up of something valued:
A giving up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered to be of more value or importance. Something valuable or important given up as a sacrifice
Now let’s look at what Offering means.
: To present something as an act of worship
: Something offered as a sacrifice to a deity
To declare one's readiness or willingness
To utter (as a prayer) in devotion
THERE IS A POWER THAT WORKS IN THE SUPERNATURAL REALM of a man or woman’s heart and the Heart of God that only the act of worshipping, cried out in agonizing surrender and yielding, that tears away the veil of darkness holding back the Fair Face of Heaven.
JESUS HIMSELF CRIED OUT IN SACRIFICIAL OFFERING.
"Not My Will, but Your will be done," and this opened a pathway for the Salvation of our souls forever!
Oh Dear Pilgrim and anxious child of God! Don’t listen to all of the heavy-handed advice of men when the anguish is so deep and the loneliness tries to consume you with the fear of abandonment!
THE LORD IS SHOWING US A PATHWAY TO A GREATER STRENGTH AND MIGHT IN HIM.
Shouting at God isn’t going to bring a cure or answer to your aching need. He can certainly handle us shouting at Him for He is a Father who understands human frailty! But oh! When we begin to lift up our weary hearts and hands to God and begin to thank Him sacrificially, willingly, telling Him how only He can be the Redeemer of our situations, our hurts, our betrayals, our abandonment…something of a "Dynamic release" beings to occur in the realm of God that man will only fully comprehend when he finally and eternally arrives in the Home of Heaven.
NO! IT IS NOT EASY TO DO!
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however,
It produces a harvest of righteousness and peace,
For those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, lift up those arms than are hanging down, Your feeble arms and weak knees! Make level paths for your feet, So that the lame may not be disabled, But rather be healed.”
Hebrews 12:11-13
OUR FLESH CANNOT "REASON OUT" HOW THIS WOULD DO ANY GOOD IN OUR PRESENT DISTRESS!
We want to do something, go somewhere, help the situation, pace the floor...make a phone call!
But Heaven is calling.
Hear what that Divine communication is saying to us!
"Sacrifice offerings to God! Fulfill your promise to the Most High!
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you,
And you will honor Me." -Psalm 50:14-15
WE MUST FULFILL OUR PROMISE TO GOD!
Did you see that? Our promise to serve Him, to love Him, to think of ourselves as obedient children, who heed his voice quickly and remain honest in a corrupt and frenzied world!
He tells us to call upon Him. Call Him...in the day of trouble! He says He will deliver us.
THAT'S WHERE IT GETS TOUGH!!
We ask in pain, "WHEN? HOW? IT SEEMS SO IMPOSSIBLE!"
Well…it is impossible. We will all too quickly find out that we are not "Superman or Wonder Woman!"
All of our gifts, talents, wit and braininess can’t deliver us!
But. Through simple loving, surrendered in sacrificial offerings of thanks to the Master for the joy of being one of His very own, He brings a way of relief and… Release.
WHAT TO DO?
Although we are not to be totally ignorant of what is occurring around us and live in hermit mentalities, the Lord does have a greater plan and focus for us during such tough times.
You and I as children of God will never really feel at home here on planet earth.
We have been Divinely implanted with a homing device deep in our spirits that longs for the Home of Heaven. No more tears, no more night, no more longing to fully belong! We have been walking a pathway of preparation, each of us in different stages of our lives, to transition from this decaying world and body into a heavenly place of resurrection and eternal abundant life.
PRESCRIPTION FOR LIBERATION
It will take repeated “doses” of Sacrificial Thank Offerings unto God, 50 times a day if needed, until the rest and mind-clearing presence of God holds you in the Shadow of the Wing of Safety.
You see dear one, It is the total cure for us! His Peace passes all understanding. And can rule and reign in our hearts, even when the storm is chewing the shutters and shingles off of your house!
WE ARE BEING TRAINED TO TRUST Like never before!
The Father can speak to a boss, a teacher, a doctor, and a tyrant and bring them to a place of peace with you and, a place of favor in the swift blink of a moment in time.
He can move on the hearts of others with such raw compassion that they are compelled by Him to come alongside you and share what they have in prayer, comfort, monetary relief, and counsel, (which by the way…is also often done as a thank offering, offered sacrificially up to the Lord.)
WE MUST START RELINQUISHING OUR JUDGMENTS AND OPINIONS ABOUT THE STRAINS OTHERS ARE UNDER, As well as our presumptions that we “know” what they need or what we project that God wants to do in their lives, and instead, begin to offer up... sacrificially.
Offering up unto God in Thanks for their deliverance…where we again… prepare the way for God to manifest something of magnificent proportions in our own place of need!
A SAFE HAVEN
"For You have been a safe haven, and a place of safety for me, A solid tower against the adversary." -Psalm 61:3
The Spirit of the Lord is calling out to His People in this very, very, serious and crucial moment, to allow Him to bring us to a place of learning what kind of sacrifice pleases Him and bring the Anointing grace of deliverance to our lives, cities and nations.
The Lord is calling out to you and I!
“Come to Me! Run to Me! I know that you are heavily burdened by all of the concentrated pressures mounting around you.
A DWELLING PLACE OF DIVINE REST AND PROTECTION.
It will require you laying down the things that so easily set you off and get you weighed down with concern and anxiety.
Casting the whole of your cares. All your anxieties. All your worries. All your concerns.
Once and for all on Him.
For He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully. -1 Peter 5:7
THE LORD URGES - "COME INTO A LIFE OF SIMPLICITY."
"Come together into the shadow of My Wings for I AM the Shelter and Refuge for the child that heeds My voice and runs to Me, abandoning self made plans for protection and self-preservation.
I AM your Armor, I AM your Defense.
But you must come with no agenda in your heart or strategy on your lips. You come to the Resting Place of Safety from the Storm to WAIT, Ponder, Rest and rethink your Life call.”
THE NEED FOR DIRECTIONAL ADJUSTMENT
We are in much need of a directional adjustment as believers right now as the world turns itself upside down with malice, dictatorships, and political posturing. We need to be certain that nothing of the world and its behaviors are hidden in our own hearts. We must hear that Vigorous pulling voice of the Holy Spirit, and obey it without turning left or right.
"So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you;
Do not turn aside to the right or to the left." -Deuteronomy 5:32
FAITHFUL SECURITY. When we walk in the way of surrender and tenderness with our ears attuned to the still small voice of God, we actually walk in the Overshadowing Security of the Presence of God. Training our spiritual ears to hear the voice of the Father is a lifetime guarantee of knowing that when storms or troubles arise, there is a promise for direction to a place of Divine Protection whenever needed.
"Therefore my heart is glad, And my tongue rejoices; My body also will rest secure."
-Psalm 16:9
HAVE A REST CHILD OF GOD. It is the hardest thing the mind and body to do! Learning to rest when the world is screaming at a fevered pitch, "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW” is a hard learned yet reachable discipline if we will lean into it and ask for God’s help.
Hear the Voice of God calling you to enter into His rest.
It is a place of pleasant simplicity and uncluttered doctrine.
His Presence silences all of the noise of the day and noise of the Head.
HIS PRESENCE - HIS SHELTER, IS A PLACE OF SAFETY FOR THE WEARY
Dear Child of God! There is no criticism or shame there.
It is a restful place of learning and a place to lift up to him the heavy weight of sorrow and to take up an easy yoke and light cargo.
Let’s Pause. Right now...
...And let's begin to offer a sacrifice of thanks to the Lord together.
It is just as if the smell of a fresh bouquet of flowers has released it’s perfumed fragrance into the room we are sitting in and floats up to the heart and face of God.
He breathes these offerings of ours into His Great heart and sees the portal being formed by these offerings where in He can reach down to our pain-filled hearts and give us hope, healing and miraculous direction and freedom form all forms of bondage.
Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete article, podcast and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You! Copyright © 2020 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
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
*****************************************
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/
Thursday Sep 26, 2013
Thursday Sep 26, 2013
By Mary Lindow
David had his Absalom, Paul had his Demas, who abandoned him, and Alexander the coppersmith, who "had done him much harm." Jesus had Iscariot.We know all about Judas, so the story holds no drama for us. We forget that Jesus chose Judas after praying all night. They spent every day together for three years, talking, eating together, and laughing. Jesus sent him out in ministry. Judas shared in the miracle of feeding 5,000 people; his hands took the small, round barley loaves from Jesus and tore off hunks of bread for hungry people.What makes each case of betrayal so painful is that someone who knows your heart—who knows your longings and character—turns from that and chooses to believe you are really dangerous. The mind freezes as it tries to grasp how a friend, someone who knew you deeply, intimately, could turn on you and attack you.The singer songwriter Michael Card vividly captures the agony in one song:"Only a friend can betray a friend,
A stranger has nothing to gain
And only a friend comes close enough
To ever cause so much pain."Betrayal, I've noticed, calls good evil.
It twists a person's true spiritual endowments into something negative, a saintly deficiency or psychological problem. Betrayal causes leaders to not want to trust, to not want to be involved in anything called church, to not be vulnerable, to not open their spirits in worship to God.
Don't give up! You may be tempted to flee, to turn your back on your call.
You are walking where great people have walked before. They are remembered as great because they did not allow the betrayal to stop them. Instead they learned how to turn their pain into greater usefulness for the Lord.
What does it mean to slander?
To make a false and malicious statement that damages somebody’s reputation. To set somebody or something up in opposition to somebody or something else.But another definition of slander is to take about someone with the intent to hurt them.
To whisper and hiss subtle, condescending, suggestive thoughts that someone is ”missing the real deal.”II Timothy tells us that in the last days there will be slanderers and false accusers spreading innuendoes and criticism and reporting things unjustly about others.Scorpions carry poison in their tails;
Snakes carry it in their cheeks,
And slanderers carry it in their tongues.
Character assassination is an intentional attempt to influence the portrayal or reputation of a particular person,
..Whether living or a historical person, in such a way as to cause others to develop an extremely negative, unethical or unappealing perception of him or her. By its nature, it involves deliberate exaggeration or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the targeted person. For living individuals, this can cause the target to be rejected by his or her community, family, or members of his or her living or work environment.
Such acts are typically very difficult to reverse or rectify, therefore the process is correctly likened to a literal assassination of a human life. The damage sustained can be life-long and more, or for historical personages, last for many centuries after their death.
In practice, character assassination usually consists of the spreading of rumors and deliberate
misinformation on topics relating to one's morals, integrity, and reputation.
If the devil has any servants that he values the most, are they slanderers or gossips? I believe they are!Charles Spurgeon said, "A lie will go around the world while truth is still putting on its boots."Think about that!
In Psalm 15 David speaks such a powerful lesson about THE PERSON who can truly ascend to a place of Walking with God in a holy high place.Psalm 15 : 1-5 A psalm of David.
"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong, and casts no slur on his fellowman,who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken."If you will notice…this type of person cannot be shaken.
That does not mean that he or she will not be sorely tested, or at times falsely accused or slandered. It meant that these things would not shake them from the knowledge that they walk with God in His Holy Presence SAFELY and confidently even though pressures and pain attack them!
The Lord is a protector…
…And a refuge from slander and accusations!
"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.
In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men;
in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues."
Psalm 31:19-20
I encourage you to spend much much time in worship and in hiding the word of God in your heart.
These two weapons act like shields to the soul when attacks and false accusations are unleashed towards you. There will always be those who gain power and prestige for a season through the use of slander or subtle suggestions that imply that you have some how “gone off the rails” and have become a lesser saint!The Lord strongly addressed this in the following verses:“Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence;
Whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure."
Psalm 101:5"Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life.
I am the LORD."
Leviticus 19:16Servant of God! DO NOT let fear grip you and paralyze the Lord’s voice calling to you to serve Him freely!No man or woman has the authority to tell you to not speak in the Name of Jesus if you are moving from a pure heart and a pure motive! Of Course…you may thoroughly be discussed behind your back and dissected as to why you speak out or flow in the way the Lord might well call you to do!But remember to be certain it is the Lord that asked you to speak out and then you are able to simply;“Keep a clear conscience,
so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ
may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:16Remember this, obedient child of God:When we are slandered, we answer kindly.
Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth,
the refuse of the world. 1 Corinthians 4:13Love lived out and expressed honestly...
...In the hearts that have felt the sting of slander and yet choose to forgive, do a greater work in the name of Jesus and for His Kingdom, than a thousand voices that may shout against injustice or religious forms and practices.Remember…Jesus Himself endured insults rejection and ridicule.And yet - He finished the course.So will you!Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete Message, website information
and Podcast link for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You!
Copyright © 2019 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com