By Mary Lindow

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IT’S A STRANGE AND TWISTED WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN

Many well meaning people try hard to give pep talks, cheery texts and even send emails with profound  topics or inspirational contents all in the hope of giving a bit of relief from the ever increasing “noises” of an uncertain world.

“ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

WHAT DO YOU FEAR?

This is not always an easy question to answer right away. Emotions and physical reactions to the question begin to swirl and elevate stress levels when anxiety creeps in.

And, fear is a terror that can paralyze anyone if enough of it is allowed to enter our minds. And that is exactly where it first penetrates our peace. In the Mind.

Fear

noun

Fright, fearfulness, horror, alarm, panic, agitation, trepidation, dread, consternation, dismay, distress; anxiety, worry, angst, unease, uneasiness, apprehension, nervousness, foreboding;

WHEN WE FEAR WE MAKE POOR CHOICES

If you are afraid or “fear” being misled by someone, you will limit your intimacy or openness with him or her. Many believers in need of healing emotionally from harsh or indifferent parenting tend to keep deep relationships or friendship at arm’s length in order to maintain a sense of control or privacy for themselves.

This can become a form of “selective hearing or selective listening” if the individual feels that they need to remain aloof and frosty in order to gain the respect or validation that they feel that they need to exist.

The problem with this cycle is that is creates a private  “terror” of not having a solid place of safety with a few dear and treasured people, flawed people… but those willing to also be vulnerable and open.

Psalm 27:1

“The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?”

Every situation, location, and relationship of our everyday lives is in some way broken. As fallen creatures, the best we can ever do in this life is to know how to live in this broken-down house/earth suit that’s our current address. And, nothing and no one but God himself, in the fullness of his time, can change where we live. So as we experience the reality of life in this house, sometimes it will leave us confused and overwhelmed.

Sometimes it will leave us hurt and angry. Sometimes people will give way to envy because the house or “life” of someone living nearby seems far less broken. Sometimes we just get weary of the stress of it all and long for a house in perfect repair.

YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE

In those moments, those days, those seasons, remember that you are never on your own. The Master Builder has given us a copy of his renovation manual, the Bible. It will help us to understand why things are as broken as they are. It teaches us how to live well even in the midst of the brokenness. And it will explain the only way in which repair can ever happen.

Just never forget that the Designer himself has moved into the house with you. You’ve not been left alone. You can rest assured of his presence and his wisdom. His grace has blessed you with both of these.

However, He must be fully welcomed and invited into all of the “locked and hidden access areas” that others are not often trusted to enter into.

He who offers you such grace and guidance will never ask you to do what you are not fully capable of doing by God’s grace and ever present Spirit. He will not demand things of you that are beyond your abilities. Our Lord is tender and kind. He knows who you are and he knows where you’re living. He knows how hard it is to live in your broken-down house because in the flesh he lived here himself.

The Lord invites you to walk away from trying to figure it out on your own and he welcomes you to sit at his feet and learn the simplicities of living; things so full of meaning that you will see your world in a completely new way; things so practical that you will never live the same way again.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

Philippians 2:3

TAKE A LOOK IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR FOR ONE MOMENT

Have you recently made decisions about who you will share with on any level such as giving, talking of dreams, sorrows, losses, major life events, and then afterward - pulled back only to run to either another source for additional validation or to agree with your choices or decisions? Or, have you reacted to some of the counsel or responses you have received by testing those whom you have shared with by removing your favor, kindness or former warmth from them?

These actions are often made rapidly when we are fearful or fear being wounded, and shift us into a place of survival and self-protection.

They can also isolate us from a loving, safe and healthy “corrective course” or direction away from fear and its tentacles.

FINDING THE PLACE OF SAFETY AND ACCEPTANCE

When we step into the hand of God we find the place of acceptance, and safety and an opportunity for service. It is the place of real authority, as well as of hiddenness.

God only works with those who are in His hand and those who do not keep jumping out of it, attempting to either control their own fears, but instead, often try to control others around them due to being fearful of the choices others make possibly affecting them.

Both greatly hinder the ability to trust other godly people and above all, to trust the safety of letting God do His job, while we rest in His hand.

The more we lie sheltered there, the more surely will He use us down the road. And it will be alongside others who freely share all that they have, without fear. Just as you will learn as you let go, and allow the Father to build a “Safe House” out of your life in His presence.

May the Lord do for us according to His word.

He said, "I have put My words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of My hand."

Charles Spurgeon spoke such a beautiful statement and I want to share it with you here.

“The shadow of God is not the occasional resort,

but the constant abiding- place, of the saint.

Under His shadow we are to feel that we are at home,

and then He will make Himself at home to us by becoming food unto our souls,

and giving spiritual refreshment to us while we rest.”

NO MORE HOOPS TO JUMP

When this is learned and treasured, you will then not withhold from or test others with rules or regulations set up to certainly fail them. We ruin great friendships or opportunities when we expect from others total vulnerability and openness and then only give part of what we have and who we are back in return.

Colossians 3:12

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Perhaps you are waiting on Christ, desiring His company, and while you are thinking these thoughts you are asking, "Will He ever direct His full gaze upon me? Will He ever speak loving words to me? Will He ever let me sit at His feet? Will He ever permit me to lean my head upon His shoulder?"

COME AND STEP BACK INTO THE SHELTER OF HIS HAND.

Though you might shake like a leaf in a strong wind. Come! Sometimes those who come trembling are those who are aware that they are the lowest and the Creator the highest. When finally admit that our own self-esteem is less than nothing and is total vanity, then Jesus is the more good and lovely in our eyes.

Let your humility of heart, and your sense of hollowness, as a replacement for disqualifying you, be a sweet instrument for leading you to receive more of Christ.

“Before his downfall a man's heart is proud,

But humility comes before honor.”

Proverbs 18:12

The emptier I am, the more room is there for the Lord

The more I lack, the more He will give me.

The more I feel my weakness, the more shall I adore and bless Him when He makes me whole.

You’re never in a better place than when you give up on you and begin to trust in what is certain.

The life-shaping wisdom of the One who created you - in the first place.

“After all, every house has a builder,

But the builder of everything is God.”

Hebrews 3:4

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You!

Copyright  2013  " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

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By Mary Lindow

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THE SPARROW IS A CLEVER LITTLE BIRD

In Psalm 84 David describes his longing to be with the people of God and in the actual moment that he wrote this, he was a wanderer; he was a fugitive.

He was not able to be in a place where he could have fellowship with God or other people, and this is when he wrote Psalm 84.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,  Lord Almighty!

2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;

My heart and my flesh cry out
 for the living God.

Have you ever felt this way or longed for fellowship like David wrote about with the Lord? His word so clearly express what it meant to David.

Then, he remembered one of his bird watching experiences. He remembered how at one time when he was in the house of God, he looked up toward the altar and he noticed some movement. When he looked closer, he found a sparrow building her nest, so he wrote in verse 3:

“Even the sparrow has found a home,

And the swallow a nest for herself,

Where she may have her young—a place near your altar.”

“Lord Almighty, my King and my God!” he said. “I wish I could be like that sparrow.

I wish I could be like that swallow that is able to build its nest at the very altar of God.” What David is saying here is, “Can you think of anything better than to have your home in the altar of God in the sanctuary?”

This is something so very precious to me because I am always so tremendously interested in nurturing and loving my family that I cannot pass this over.

Did you notice this swallow chose the altar of God to build a nest for her family?   She could have chosen any place to build a nest, but she chose the altar of God.

Yes! The sparrow is a clever bird.

BUILDING YOUR NEST IN THE SANCTUARY

I believe that things are put here for a reason and for instruction; so I am going to suggest that if you want your family to be all that God wants it to be, build your nest, metaphorically speaking, at the altar. Build your nest in the sanctuary because in the sanctuary is the answer to every question that you have. And I hope that you understand that I am not talking about a church building! I am talking about your fellowship with God. There must also always be room in your nest to include those with broken wings, or who have been abandoned or left as orphans.

A SPARROW IS VALUABLE

One more lovely thing about the sparrow. The sparrow is a valuable bird. I am sure that some people might question this statement! But it is a valuable bird, indeed. Some may say, “But not to man”! It is Valuable to God though!

I am sure the Lord did some bird watching as he travelled to places with his dear friends, but this particular instance that He records is in the temple.

As He went into the temple one day, He saw a whole bunch of sparrows, (remember that we are talking about a small bird) with their legs tied together, and they were being sold for a sacrifice in the temple.

In Matthew, chapter 10 notice what Jesus has to say about sparrows.

As He looked at those sparrows, He said, in verse 29:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?”

That was the least expensive offering that anybody could make.

If we were to stop there, we would say what we ordinarily say, “What is a sparrow? They are not worth anything at all,” but the Lord said, in the last part of verse 29:

…and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father knowing about it.

That is how valuable they are. Not one sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing about it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU SEE A DEAD SPARROW?

Do you just kick it out of the way and go on?  Often we see someone much like the little dead sparrow, wounded or suffering from the cruelty of others too busy to really care about a “broken wing” or perhaps a broken heart.

So many are busy licking their own wounds and getting on with their own lives, that they are unaware of the “sparrows” that God has placed in their midst. Those who need to be invited into a place of “Sanctuary”.! Do you treat your employees like this or a friend who has been through a season of sorrow or loss?

Do you find yourself simply walking past the Wounded or “dead Sparrow”? That would be a normal reaction, but evidently when the Lord saw the sparrow that fell very differently.  He said,

“MY FATHER KNOWS ABOUT THAT SPARROW…

…And my father cares about it.”

Then notice what He says:

Matthew 10

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

A SPARROW IS SO IMPORTANT TO GOD,

…that it doesn't fall to the ground without God knowing about it, and you and those whom He has placed around you to radiate truth and hope to are of more value than many sparrows.

In Matthew, chapter 6 I think that Lord has done some bird watching and might want us to do some as well!

He said:

Matthew 6:26-34 (NCV)

26 Look at the birds in the air. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds.

27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves.

29 But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.

30 I clothe the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even surer that I will clothe you. Don’t have so little faith!

31 Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’

32 The people who don’t know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them.

33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.

34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

A very well spoken and eloquent preacher said one time,

“There is never a sparrow that dies but that God goes to its funeral.”

This really touched my heart and impressed me. Not a sparrow dies, but that God goes to its funeral.

THE NEXT TIME THAT YOU SEE A SPARROW…

…Remember that God is paying attention to that little sparrow. God is interested in you and He is interested and concerned about me as well! Remember that God cares about you so much more than even that sparrow and that He wants to draw you closely into a safe place of Sanctuary with Him! A place of safety and peace, where you can rest and learn about His love for you, for your family and those dear close friends and perhaps a few lost or weary lonely souls that He has sent to you.

HE HAS MUCH TO TELL YOU REGARDING ALL OF THE PLANS THAT HE HAS FOR YOU!

“Settle into the nest…

…And Rest!”

God is waiting to speak and meet with you!

“The Lowly Sparrow”

~Author Unknown

I am only a little sparrow!

A bird of low degree!

My life is of little value.

But the dear Lord cares for me

He gave me a coat of feathers

'Tis very plain I know:

With never a speck of crimson.

For it was not made for show.

But it keeps me warm in winter,

It shields me from the rain.

Were it bordered with gold and purple

Perhaps it would make me vain

I have no barn or storehouse:

I never sow or reap:

God gives me a sparrow's portion.

But never a seed to keep.

If my meat is sometimes scanty.

Close picking makes it sweet:

I have always enough to keep me.

And life is more than meat.

I know there are many sparrows:

All over the world they're found:

But our heavenly Father knows

When one of us falls to the ground.

Though small, we are never forgotten-

Though weak, we are never afraid.

For we know that the dear Lord keeps

The lives of the creatures He made.

I fly through the thickest forest,

I light on many a spray,

I have no chart or compass,

But I never lose my way.

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You!

Copyright  2012 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

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By Mary Lindow

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“Let the wise listen and add to their learning,

And let the discerning get guidance.”

Proverbs 1:5

DISTURBING DAYS

It doesn’t take a genius mind to know that we are in some terrible times here in the earth! Wars wars and more threats of wars! Economic pressures, ungodly rulers, missiles aimed and ready to blow up other countries, child abductions and murders are on the rise and we have had odd and bizarre weather patterns! And these events all can occur in just one week’s worth of change!

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.

John 10:5

And a stranger will they not follow,

But will flee from him:

For they know not the voice of strangers.

HEARTS OF BROKENNESS

The days have seemingly turned darker, uncertain, and frenzied as media reporters shell out the hyped newscasts of doom and despair. And although much of what is being reported may be actually happening, it is intentionally ratcheted up to keep viewing polls well oiled and operating.

751 All of the noise pollution and the droning voices of the media personalities can weary and weigh down the heart of those who have a compassionate and sensitive spirit or heart.  And. Often through all of the pressure filled “minute by minute live” reporting, people can become restless and fearful, anxiety ridden, and heavy laden with so much hitting them.

Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down,

But a good word makes it glad.

IT IS A CRAZY WORLD WE LIVE IN AND IT’S NOT GOING TO GET EASIER AS CORRUPTION AND WICKEDNESS CONTINUE TO PLAY TOGETHER!

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Although we are not to be totally ignorant of what is occurring around us and live in recluse 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 spiritual device deep in our spirits that longs for the “Home of Heaven”.

No more tears, no more night, no more longing to fully be-long! 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.

It’s the living here now that is so like rough grit sandpaper to our nerve endings!

2 Timothy 4:18

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack

And will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.

To him be glory for ever and ever

Psalm 61:3

For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me,

A strong tower against the adversary.

We are in much need of a directional adjustment as believers right now, a redirecting of the compass, 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 is hidden in our own hearts. We must hear that Magnetic pulling voice of the Holy Spirit, and obey it without turning left or right.

Deuteronomy 5:32

So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you;

Do not turn aside to the right or to the left.

The Spirit of the Lord is calling out to His people in this very very serious and crucial moment to allow Him your ears that hear and your eyes that see to discern where the compass for your soul is located! It points to a dwelling place of Divine Rest and Protection.

752 There is a hidden deep place of safety only revealed to those of pure motive and clean hands.

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.  Run to the 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.

1 Peter 5:7

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.

Come to the simple place. Huddle into the shadow of My Wings for,

I AM the Refuge for the child that heeds My voice and runs to Me, abandoning self made plans for protection and self-preservation.

I AM your shield,

I AM your Fortress.

But you must come to the Refuge with no agenda in your heart or a Message on your lips. You come to the Resting Place of Safety from the Storm to WAIT, Ponder, Rest and rethink your Life call.”

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

Let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

That those who love your name may rejoice in you.

CONTINUAL SAFETY

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 safety of the Presence of God.  Training our spiritual ears to hear the voice of the Father is a lifetime guarantee of knowing when the storms or troubles will arise and is a promise for direction to a place of Divine Protection and direction whenever needed.

Psalm 16:9

Therefore my heart is glad

And my tongue rejoices;

My body also will rest secure

Rest Child of God. REST!

752 It is the hardest thing for 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 IS A REFUGE FOR THE WEARY

Dear child of God!  There is no judgment or shame there.

It is a restful place of learning to take up an easy yoke and a light burden.

Perhaps right now…. as you listen to this  audio podcast or read this…

…You might just sit back and “Enter in to the Refuge of God”.

Lay down the weight of worry and frustration. The anger at life all bottled up in rage and gloom!  All you need to take with you into the shelter is a willing heart. Ready to trust the Divine Protector and Provider.

Enter…

…Into His Rest.

Psalm 33:22

May your unfailing love rest upon us,

O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed

provided that complete article and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You

Copyright © 2012 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

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By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit

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As the days begin to change and the seasons take their course, so am I also beginning to adjust the path you have been treading out.

“I have been keeping track of all of your sorrows,

Collecting them and all of your tears in a bottle.

I have written down your tearful sorrows…

…In My journal.”

Psalm 56:8

MANY HAVE PASSED YOU BY ON THE ROAD OF SORROW THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO BEAR,

too busy to stop and comfort, too concerned about what others might think of your condition. Others are only focused on their own forms of grief and have yet to learn to comfort others in their weariness and tiredness.

I HAVE ENCOURAGED ALL OF YOU WHEN OTHERS ARE HAPPY, BE HAPPY WITH THEM!

If they are sad, share their sorrow. (Romans 12:15) Even the Samaritan, one least likely to reach out, stopped and cared for the man battered, hurt and sorrowful left on the road.

Many who claim spiritual piety and goodness, turn their heads and hearts when they see another brother or sister aching in sorrow or tragedy.

Let it not be heard about you my child in the heavenly realm, that you protected your own comforts or your own position and turned away from a brother or sister in their prolonged agony.

I HAVE BEEN TESTING THE HEARTS OF MANY WHO LAY CLAIM TO A WILLINGNESS TO DO ANYTHING I ASK OF THEM,

but sadly then “pass on the other side" in order to avoid involvement with what "appears to be" one who is struggling or failing. As you do to others, so in your time of need will it be done to you!

I YOUR FAITHFUL REDEEMER HAVE HEARD THE HEART WRENCHING CRIES FROM YOUR PRAYERS

and I am even now giving you strength and empowerment to stay firm and continue to believe that I will restore all to you that has been shattered, stolen, or shamed!

"It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ has commissioned us.

He anointed us!"

2 Corinthians 1:21

I HAVE ANOINTED YOU EVEN IN THIS SEASON OF SORROW!

And I will bring a fresh and pure expression of Godly living and giving into the earth through those we who see that they are being prepared as good Samaritans and who themselves are also being cared for by others who require nothing in repayment.

Many are hearing my voice calling to them to bring relief to those who have been faithful in obeying my voice,but have been persecuted heavily for doing so!

OBEY MY COMMAND QUICKLY! ACT NOW!

Bless them, help them heal, providing for them like I would! You will be greatly rewarded for this effort.

“As you give them even a cup of cold water in my name,

You have done it for Me!”

Matthew 10:42

As you have been faithful to believe that I have better plans and a better way than the schemes of men, Very soon I will wipe away your bitter tears and despair.

You have begun to understand what it is to fellowship with My sufferings!

In the days ahead, you will also share in the first fruits of harvest.

"God, who has called you into fellowship

with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

1 Corinthians 1:9

COME JUST A LITTLE NEARER TO MY HEART NOW.

THE NIGHT IS NEARLY OVER.

You will see that the time of sorrow and weeping will pass, and a breaking through into the greater plan for you is in motion. I have been into the future for I AM all that you will need.

YOUR ONE SIMPLE ACT OF OBEDIENCE SETS INTO MOTION

WAVES OF MY REDEMPTIVE GRACE AND PURE HOLY CLEANSING.

The Nations are waiting for those who will only speak out of clean motives and pure hearts. I have prepared you for this time in the earth and I will fulfill all I have planned concerning you.

ENTER IN BY HUMBLING YOURSELF FURTHER

BY DOING SIMPLE ACTS OF MERCY AND SELFLESS GIVING.

Remaining anointed…

… Even in times of sorrow.

Heaven is Watching You ©

Prophetic Song of the Lord

The spontaneous prophetic music and lyrics that you are about to listen to were not edited in any way and were left just as they originally were expressed.

You are hearing the prophetic words and music exactly as they were recorded and might even hear my voice falter at times because of the strong presence of God touching me as well while recording.

Those who stood faithful in intercession while I recorded made it like heaven on earth as they bathed the studio in the beauty of prayer and in the honoring of the Presence of the Lord.

May the Heavenly Father sing and rejoice over you as you sit back and listen!

If you are reading this message and are not listening to the audio podcast,

Please click the link to “Soundcloud” to hear the Prophetic Song of the Lord – “Heaven is Watching You” ©

http://snd.sc/OCCHtN

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You

Copyright © 2012 "

THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

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By Mary Lindow

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The question is often asked, "What is the reason for the weak spiritual lives of so many Christians?"

This is an excellent question and it is amazing how little the church responds to Christ's voice, which is ever calling out! How little the church is what Christ wants her to be!

What really is the matter? What truly is needed?

Many answers will be given but there is one answer that includes them all. each believer needs the full eye-opener of a personal Christ as a spiritually internal, “living inside of me”  Lord  and as someone who was a satisfying portion.

When the Lord was here on the earth what was it that distinguished his disciples from other people? I think the answer is that Jesus took them away from their fishnets their busyness and their homes. He gathered them around himself and they knew him.

He was their Master, and he guarded them, and they in turn followed him. What is supposed to make the difference today between Christ's disciples-not those who are just hoping to get to heaven, but those who are Christ's wholehearted disciples-and other people? I think it's this. When Jesus was upon the earth, he was able to keep the disciples with him for three years day after day. Now that Jesus is in heaven, and he is able to do what he could not do when he was upon the earth - to keep in the closest fellowship with every believer throughout the entire world. Imagine this!

You might know the verse in Ephesians: 4:10

“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might  fulfill all things.”

Why was our Lord Jesus taken up to heaven?

Away from the life of earth? He ascended to heaven because the light of the earth is confined to localities, but the light of heaven has no limits, no boundaries, and no localities. He was taken up to heaven so that in the power of God the ever present omnipresent God, that he might be able to fill every one of his followers on earth and be with every individual believer in a personal way.

This is what my heart wants to experience by faith. It is a possibility, it is a promise, it is my birthright, and I want to have it! By the grace of God, I say to Jesus, “Jesus, I will not rest until you have fully revealed your self fully to me.”

How did the disciples get their burning hearts?

Remember that day that they were on the Road to Emmaus? It was through the way in which Christ opened the Scriptures to them. He made it all look different and new, and they saw what they had never seen before! They could not help feeling how wonderful and how heavenly the teaching was!

Many Christians have discovered that the best time of the day is when they can read and pore over their Bibles, and they love nothing more than to find a new spiritual insight. Just like a person who mines diamonds rejoices when they have found a diamond these individuals delight when they get some new thought from the Bible, and they feed upon it.

Yet, even with all of their interest in God's word and with the joy that is stirred in our hearts, when we return to work or attend our daily duties, we find that there is still something missing in our lives.

From time to time…

…We must leave all the many and unique blessings that Jesus gives us,

and come to the one blessing that outshines all of them.

The blessing that Jesus makes himself known, that Jesus is willing to make himself known to us!

If I were to ask you, “Isn't this exactly what you and I need, and what many of us have been longing for?” I am sure you would answer, “Yes! This is exactly what I want!”

Listen to this poetic verse.

“Oh, the peace my Savior gives!

Peace I never knew before,

And my way has brighter grown,

Since I've learned to trust him more.”

An individual in the midst of great trouble and difficulty wrote this poem.

She stated that it brought wonderful comfort and strength to her.

However, how can a person maintain peace in his or her life? It was the presence of Christ that brought the peace; therefore, peace must be sustained through the continual presence of Jesus.

Remember that when the storm on the Sea, was threatening to swallow up the disciples, that it was the presence of Jesus himself that brought the peace.

Do you want peace and rest?

Then you must have Jesus himself.

We talk of purity, and we talk of cleansing. We also talk of deliverance from sin!

Praise God, for the deliverance and the cleansing, when the living Jesus comes and gives us power and strength. It's there that we find that we have that resurrected Christ who sits on the throne, who is making himself known to you and I. This is the secret of purity and the secret of strength.

Perhaps some of you may be now asking,

“How will Christ revealed himself to me? How will he come?” That is the secret no one can know, it is the one that Jesus keeps to himself. It will come in the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember the disciples on the road to Emmaus?

They had a sudden revelation of the living risen Christ!

The Scripture says, “Then they knew Him!” He revealed Himself, he showed Himself fully to them, and then he vanished from their site! Was that moment of Christ visiting them revealing Himself to them worth much? It was over in a minute, yet it was worth heaven, eternity, it was everything!

From that time on Christ's disciples were no longer to relate to him in an earthly way. Thank the Lord that Christ now reveals Himself to each and every one of us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, how He does this is a sacred thing between Christ and each individual believer. Take this as an assurance, “their eyes were opened, and they knew Him,” and believe that this was written for you!

You might be able to say that I have experienced a sad heart at times.

When I mourned that I did not know the living Christ. And I have had times when my heart is slow to believe and have struggled with my lack of faith, and I also know this stage of a burning heart in what I experienced and the  great times of joy and blessedness.

If you can say these things you will come to a place where you have a satisfied heart.

You will have a heart that has been made glad and will last until eternity!

You will have a heart that cannot keep and hold its joy but is poured out on other believers and shared, just as the disciples ran back to the believers in Jerusalem and said, “It is true! Jesus has revealed himself! I know it! I feel it! It has been made personal and real to me, alone!”

Dear child of God.

I'm sure you are asking but how would this revelation come?

Jesus will tell you. Just come to him and say a simple childlike prayer. You need to come to Jesus yourself. What I share with you here today is finished! I have pointed you to the risen One. Now you must step into the presence of the Holy One and begin to crying out, saying, “Oh my precious Lord and Savior! I have come to you and fully abandon my dreams my will, my hopes, and my sorrows.   I have come so that I might have this blessedness with me at all times.

Dear Jesus!  I want you completely the fullness of all that You are. I want to know you personally and completely. Not just simply by hearing the experiences of others. No Lord! I want to know that I can have your blessed presence surrounding me at all times because I am your child and I have been set free from my own condemning self-hatred, religious thinking, performance-based actions, and fear of not measuring up.

Jesus! Help me! Be my portion forever!”

Is this possible? Can we always be thinking of Jesus?

Thank God you don't need to be consistently thinking of him. You may be the manager of a grocery store and your whole attention may require you to carry out the business that you have to do. While you were thinking of your business, Jesus will be thinking of you and He will come in, and if you listen to Him he will take charge of you.

When I was holding my new Grand-daughter just today, (5 months old) I was thinking about when an infant sleeps in his or her mother's or grandmother’s arms, he or she lies there helplessly. He or she hardly even knows it’s mother or grandmother, he or she does not think of her, but the mother and grandmother does think of the child. And this is the great mystery of love.

Jesus waits to come to me in the fullness of His love.

And when He is allowed possession of my heart, He gathers me into those Divine arms and tells me, “My child I am the ever faithful one, I Am the mighty one, and I will remain with you. I Am watching over you and will keep you every day.”

Oh I can hear many of you saying, “Oh, if only I could believe that, if only I could believe it is possible to have Jesus constantly taking and keeping charge me every hour and every minute!”

But you see this is exactly what He said to you. He said these words,

“For low I am with you always”.

He meant it in the fullness of His divine love, and He is longing to show himself to you and to me, as we have never seen Him before.

“Your heart says this is too good to be true,

And that is just too wonderful to be possible for you.”

Still you do admit that it is an amazing way to live!

Oh you fearful one, mistaken one, and anxious one!

I am bringing to you God's promise; it is for me and for you.

Jesus will do it! As God, He is able, and Jesus is willing and longing, having been the crucified one to keep you in perfect peace.

This is a wonderful fact…

… And it is the secret of unspeakable joy.

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Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You

Copyright © 2012 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

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