I’M SHARING TODAY’S PODCAST WITH THE INDICATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WHAT I’M SHARING IS A PROPHETIC INSIGHT FOR THOSE LISTENING OR READING REGARDING WORLD HAPPENINGS AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CRUCIAL PROJECT,

I found my life barraged and pressured by distractions of all kinds.

Now, this is not an unusual pattern.

DISTRACTIONS COME TO STEAL OUR PASSION, OUR PURPOSE,

GOD’S PROMISES, AND HIS PROVISION.

I have a scripture and a strategy that I use when distractions come to derail my focus now that really helps to keep me on track and focus on what’s in front of me. This can apply to everything from work, house cleaning, Counseling, writing and ministry, right down to sticking with the list for the grocery store, and not adding extra cheese and crackers and other goodies in the shopping basket!

WHEN NEHEMIAH WAS REBUILDING THE WALL,

distractions came in the form of men calling out to him, high up on his ladder, to come down to discuss “their” important matters. These men presented concerns and rumors they feared to be truth, and, they were persistent and insistent that he come down and address the matters with them immediately!

Nehemiah responds plainly,

"I cannot come down, I am doing a great work."

THERE ARE MANY DISTRACTIONS BEING HURLED AT THE BODY OF CHRIST CONSTANTLY.

So what do we do?

We look those distractions square in the face and we say,

"We cannot come down. We are doing a great work."

End. Of. Story.

WE HAVE NO TIME FOR DISTRACTIONS.

THERE'S TOO MUCH ON THE LINE.

There's restoration to be done, broken down walls and broken down people to be filled back up, truth to be told, healing to be performed, love and justice to manifest and so on.

AND WHILE WE ARE DOING THESE ASSIGNED BY THE LORD TASKS,  (because if they’re not assigned by the Lord then we’re basically doing our own thing, not his important work), while we are doing the assigned things from the Lord, we pray. 

And by that I mean, we dialog with God our Father, and praise, and tell Jesus about the gratitude that we have for His life that He poured out for us, and speak back to Him the words He taught us in the 4 New Testament Gospels. And we also allow the Holy Spirit of God to have access to our hearts, bringing a sweet exposure and conviction where we might need to have our hearts cleaned up and "grown up" further in the way God has mapped out for those He loves so very much.

When we do these things in reverence and determination as we work,

You will find that we do not have time for distractions.

WHEN GOD SPEAKS AND WHEN WE FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS,

and when the Holy Spirit is busy working in the dry and hard places of our souls, as we do that in our work, every single day, we do not have time for other distractions!  We. Cannot. Come. Down.

WE CANNOT TAKE TIME TO BE PULLED INTO CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE WICKED, "weasely", and filled with all kinds of narratives that have nothing to do with what God has and IS doing right now right in front of us in our daily lives.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE NOT TO BE INFORMED AND...

...that we are not to be advocates for godly truths. That is part of rebuilding walls that have come down in our society. But getting into non-ending dialogs and basically verbal fights with people who just want to prove a point is literally drawing us into distraction and frustration.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

It’s a Reality and Intense Fight for Good Over Evil!

Listen ever so closely to these mighty battle strategies against distractions!

Now my beloved ones,

I have saved these most important truths for last Instructions.

Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-your union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you.

 Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser!

Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. 

For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.

Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you’re protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all glorious and godly things and will rise victorious.

- Ephesians 6: 10-13

FRIENDS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GOOD AND EVIL!

We are doing a great work!

We are obeying God!

And, let’s hope that we aren’t doing it with haughtiness or an attitude of being a little better than everyone else in the way that we serve God! No way!

Someone whom God has called to rebuild or to restore and to do every day jobs, understands that the distractions of ego or the distractions of frustration, often create breaks in relationships, breaks in friendships and it kills the opportunity to have peace with God fully.

SO FRIENDS!

REFOCUS.

Do not negotiate with distractions.

Simply move on and put your hands to the great work before you.

Humbly. Purposefully. Without an attitude of needing to prove you’re heroic.

WE WORK, WE SERVE, WE LOVE AND WE FIGHT,

with our eyes focused on the One who rides at the forefront of our battles.

He’s there day and night, radiating comfort, wisdom, and grants discernment for every challenging situation that you and I will face.

MY FINAL PRAYER FOR YOU AS I CLOSE OUT TODAY’S PODCAST,

is from Hebrews 13:21

“May God Equip You With All You Need For Doing His Will.

May He Produce In You, Through The Power Of Jesus Christ,

Every Good Thing That Is Pleasing To Him.

All Glory To Him Forever And Ever!

Amen.”

STAY STEADY ON WARRIORS. 

WE CANNOT COME DOWN TO NEGOTIATE WITH DISTRACTIONS.

WE HAVE GOD’S WORK TO DO.

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By Mary Lindow

This message just"might" hit close to home.  

I have been thinking a lot this week about arrogance and those finger pointing individuals who enjoy belittling others and simply love to be plain old snarky. Just look at the headlines of newspapers, Internet news and gossip columns! With the stroke of a key or two, words written imply things that can break hearts, ruin trust, hope, National Security and relationships.

THERE IS SUCH A HARSH STING TO THE HEART  

WHEN THE CRUEL WORDS OF SOMEONE ELSE INTENTIONALLY 

DOES A VERBAL SLAP DOWN OR SHAMES YOU.

Usually it occurs when THEY believe that THEY are absolutely right or have "superior" knowledge, and that others are the "lesser" and are the "wrong- big- dummies".

This mean and sour arrogance, which uses power to belittle or harm others, is something that crushes and cripples hearts and dreams. It's a secret and deep seething storm inside of the soul of those who feel they have rights and superior thinking that justifies weaponizing words. Yes... Weaponizing! 

Words can deliver pinpoint missiles of pain, threats, ridicule, humiliation, subtle undertones of condescension but can also deliver payloads of healing, warmth, gratitude, encouragement, and above all, Hope.

As a believer, our faith should not be arrogant, nor should a person of faith belittle others! We should never use our faith or intelligence to pretend that we are superior or more informed than others! NO! NEVER!

Belittling is a form of bullying! It's when someone makes you feel as though you are little, minuscule, not good enough.

Proverbs 11:17 says,"Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel".

Arrogance is the opposite of humility, and humility is supposed to be a Christian virtue.  Jesus Christ who, in coming into the world and living and dying alongside of us, lived out what humility is.

You will never reach the place of honor or full use by the Heavenly Father, (and can actually be disqualified from many opportunities) until your insecurities and need to needle, belittle, compete with, or shame others is addressed, repented of and buried! And, when mentioning, reaching a place of honor I'm referring to this as honor before the face and rule of God.

If your goals in life are to have men honor you first...

...You will be one who certainly tramples others with your words.

Those who have the sickness of pride in their hearts, speak of others weakness and sins with contempt, irritation, frustration, or judgment. Pride is crouching inside of your meanness and belittling of the struggles of others.

It's cowering in your jokes about the "craziness" of your spouse, the mocking of that "too sensitive friend". It may even be lurking in the prayers we throw upward for our friends that are "subtly or not" often tinted with the color of exasperated irritation.

Listen to Proverbs 15:4 from The Message translation.

"Kind words heal and help;

Cutting words wound and maim."

Sometimes, we use sarcasm to voice harsh, or cutting words we otherwise would not say, often intentionally hurting others. Once the pain is inflicted however, we retreat, saying, "Oh, I was just kidding!"  But the sting of those words hurts so much that those we have injured, withdraw.

Our words don't feel like jokes at all.

Jesus' words should be a warning to those of us who are tempted to use sarcasm as a weapon:

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken". -Matthew 12:36

SARCASTIC REMARKS USUALLY SEEM LIKE NO BIG DEAL  

TO THE PERSON WHO MAKES THEM. 

BUT TO THE RECIPIENT, THOSE WORDS MAKE LASTING IMPRESSIONS

THAT SCAR TO THE VERY CORE OF THE HEART.

Many times, sarcasm shames a person, causing them to feel belittled and unworthy. When shame takes root in the heart, it can cause disastrous behavior, because the person now feels worthless and seeks desperately to find anything that will make them feel otherwise.

Shaming others is a serious offense with serious consequences. 

Jesus said, "Your very words will be used as evidence against you,

and your words will declare you either innocent or guilty." 

 -Matthew 12:37

Are your words kind and constructive? 

Do they desire to seek peace and unity, or are they driven by your fleshy desire to sting, aggravate, retaliate, tease, belittle, control, alienate, shame and manipulate through sarcasm? YES ... alllll of those HURT PEOPLE!

The enemy is camping out at the gate of your every relationship. Children, spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, parents, co-laborers and more. He is lurking around every corner, seeking to find that one open crevice where he can enter. If he has been entering in and camping out in your home or relationships through the use of sarcasm, it's time to boot this verbal enemy out and lock the gate behind him.

Die to your need to be snarky and always the one with a chirpy sarcastic comeback! Allow Christ to show you His ways that love, peace and compassion can be the source of every word that proceeds from your mouth.

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another,

because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

Humble yourself then! Bow low under God's mighty hand,

that he may use you to the fullest at the proper time.

-1 Peter 5:56

Prayer of Brokenness and Confession

(I Highly recommend praying this out loud.) 

Holy and All seeing Father God,

I confess now to You, that I do not always love my neighbor.

I confess that I have despised others, even to the point of hatred.

I confess that I have been hurt by others.

I confess that forgiveness and reconciliation at times are just impossible for us.

I realize that I have spoken words that have broken people or have humiliated them and although asking for forgiveness, they have distanced themselves from me, and rightly so because they don't want to take any more of my unkind words.

Father I ask you to heal them from the things that I have said that caused broken and crushed spirits. 

Restore them; bring them Friends that will treat them kindly.

I know that nothing is impossible in You.

So, I come to You, seeking healing and wholeness for myself.

Heal whatever is inside of me that needs to speak poorly of others, or to speak down to others.

Show me the parts of me that are insecure or needy. 

Help me, whenever possible, to live in peace with others, to seek reconciliation and healing and forgiveness.

For Your Son Jesus came and lived among us, and was betrayed and denied, abused and put to death.

Yet, He rose again, and came with the message of peace to those who had denied Him and abandoned Him. 

Oh Father! May I walk in His ways and model His kindness in my speech and actions.

I pray this in Jesus' loving name.

Amen.

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~ By Mary Lindow 

"Save me, O God! The water is up to my neck;
I am sinking in deep mud, and there is no solid ground;
I am out in deep water, And the waves are about to drown me.
I am worn out from calling for help, and my throat is aching. I have strained my eyes, looking for your help." ~Psalm 69:1-3 

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN THE HEARTS OF GOD'S PEOPLE! 

Many believers have gone through pain and devastation because of betrayal and disappointment in those with whom they have at one time “walked with” in the Lord. 

“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;  Then I could bear it.
 Nor is it one that hates me who has exalted himself against me;

Then I could hide from him.
 
But it was you, a man my equal,
 My companion and my acquaintance.
 We took sweet counsel together,
 And walked to the house of God among the people.”
~Psalm 55:12-14 

 LEVELS OF SEPARATION AND DECEPTION 

Church leaders and members or friends often separate. Their unresolved issues and wounds infect others around them. With their tongue and pen, (and Facebook posts) their resentment and bitterness spread in uncontrollable proportions.
Christians in other ministries and relationships receive the bad report and often, they don't even know the people involved but - because they have leaned their ears to hear the suggested and well-placed evil reports, the conversation poisons them like toxic waste in their soul. If unchecked, this becomes a hideous, malignant cancer-like cell eventually damaging their mind and above all, their spiritual discernment.

“Who is wise? He will realize these things.

Who is discerning? He will understand them.

The ways of the LORD are right;

The righteous walk in them, But the rebellious stumble in them."

~Hosea 14:9 

The age-old serpent, the ultimate enemy of our souls, has not lost the art of deception even after centuries! He, even now, can cause God's people, including the sincere ones, to miss the mark if they are willing to only hear one side of a story! 

THE GREAT “OCCUPY SOMETHING” MOVEMENT 

The “frenzied entitlement culture” we are seeing hold their protests as a result of selfishness and feeding upon fear, have begun to reach a newly fevered pitch. 

People are “herding” their way into public venues to protest Whatever they may be angry at in the moment, and mostly remaining ignorant as to what or who is really driving and orchestrating the events, reflects the hardness of heart and disrespect for the needs and lives of those around them, 

This type of behavior is a prime example of even how believers have become “selectively “ hard of hearing when it comes to serving one another, or encouraging one another, or having patience with one another!  

One moment we are asking for forgiveness and prayer, and in nearly the next breath, slanderous retorts are spoken out in anger and those driving the malicious train, mean to use others as their well placed pawns of destruction.

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, Fighting and slander,

Along with every form of nastiness." Ephesians 4:31

Once bitter words are spoken or written, they cannot be retracted. Sadly, those who often shout the loudest about being maligned are often the perpetrators of assassinating the characters of those whom have been in disagreement with them or who have possibly warned them about a need for a course correction.

“He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,

And whoever spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18

TODAY MANY THINGS HAVE DEGENERATED INTO BLURRED INSIGNIFICANCE  AND UNCERTAINTY. 

The beauty of what God's purpose in His people really is meant to passionately reflect is - missing. Things that are now being said and done do not mean what they did mean originally in His Word. Twisting of truth to fits one’s own idea of God’s will has become acceptable and is often left unchallenged. So many spiritual and scriptural terms are put into motion, but they are not in the same dimension and point of view, which are in the Divine plan! 

The tragedy is that so many well-meaning believers have gone on with the outward appearance of searching for the will of the Lord, and yet they fail to see that the power of His radiant life is missing! 

The Apostle Paul warned us in his letter to Timothy about this…. " This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come… ...Having the form of godliness (true religion) but denying the power there of. "

MY HEART IS BROKEN TO SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE HAPPENING ALL AROUND US 

So much is falling short of its original blueprint. There is so much labor and "rallying" being pumped out there into the minds and hearts of people and it is being poured into the “Self Promotion Machine" more than any time in the history of God's people! Yet the toil is ending in heartbreaking disappointment!

Saints, only those devoted to humility and honor can be saved from this deadly poison that lulls those longing to be entertained and pampered into apathy and spiritual powerlessness! 

God's faithful people in this hour should seek Him and that which is upon His heart. What the Lord is doing in this era is so different, and we should be sensitive to Him! 

He is looking for His “People of the Secret Place” in which the power of resurrection may freely function. 

The Apostle Paul said "according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:20b). 

These “People” will have to be men and women who have “seen”! They shall be like "a voice in the wilderness". 

IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT GOD MUST DO A FRESH THING WITH HIS FOLLOWERS. 

And that actual “thing” is that He is drawing them to seek the Lord Himself and His recognizable presence! Away from the throng,
nearer to the Word, bowed in repentance and prayer. 

The Psalmist said, "When You said oh Lord, Seek My face; My heart said unto You, Your face, Lord will I seek." 

WILL YOU SET YOUR HEART TO SEEK HIM? 

Oh that God may find His Davids in this crucial hour that will set their faces towards Him at the command of His voice! Without it, the Human race will continue its fall and decline into further confusion, tragedy, and self-preservation. 

“Man’s goings are of the LORD;

How can a man then understand his own way?” ~ Proverbs 20:2 

It’s easy to say, “give your cares to the Lord and trust Him” when everything in life seems to be going well.  It’s easy to say, “I trust you Lord with everything I own” when bills are paid on time and when you just got a promotion at work. 

However, if God striped you of everything you own; If God told you to leave the very job that’s paying your bills, will you trust the Lord enough to do it?  Will you trust God even when you don’t understand; even when life hurts?  

If God told you to leave the familiar and enter the unfamiliar, will you trust Him? 

For many of you, God has done just that.  

He has taken you from what’s “oh so familiar” and redirected your paths into the unfamiliar.  You don’t understand what’s happening in your life; what to do or where to go.  The only thing you know is that the Lord gave you a word (instruction, a promise, vision, etc.) and the only thing you have to hold on to is that word. 

I understand the feeling; you’re not alone.  

THERE IS ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU TODAY. 

Many things happen in our lives that we will never be able to explain or understand because God is orchestrating the events of our lives “behind the scenes” (read Job 1-2). Moreover, we cannot detect God physically (through our senses) and we cannot comprehend His plans. 

“But the hour cometh, and now is, When the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: For the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: And they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

~ John 4:23-24

Therefore, since we cannot rely on our perception or our reasoning we must turn to something else that is more reliable if we are going to be able to remain calm in the midst of turmoil, to find rest during the storms of life we must rely on God’s knowledge instead of our own. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.”

~ Isaiah 55:8-9 

LET US RUN RIGHT NOW TO THE THRONE OF GRACE AND MERCY!

Now! While our hearts are freshly tenderized and troubled over the recent events in the earth!

Here is something to remember.  Man is fallible; we fall short and at times we’re unable to keep our promises.  Man can give you instructions that are misleading and imperfect. 
With God, none of these things are possible. God keeps His promises, God gives you right instructions according to His perfect will and He won’t mislead you.

No matter how much you don’t understand life as it is right now; no matter how uncomfortable it may seem or how hard it gets, don’t give up. 

If God is with you -  the same God who spoke life into you, the same God who IS and knows the beginning and the end, the same God who knew you before the foundation of this world -is with you, then ask yourself who or WHAT can stand against you.

CONSIDER THE SOURCE AND SEEK TO BE OBEDIENT TO THE LORD

Even when you don t understand what God is doing in your life; don’t worry about “this or that” because God has provisions for you.

There is the safe voice of the Father calling us. Let us respond with ears to Hear and hearts that obey.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

~Hebrews 4:16

Duplication and sharing of this writing is permitted provided

that complete article podcast link and website information

for Mary Lindow is included. 

Thank you. "The Messenger" 

2017

www.marylindow.com

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By Mary Lindow

I was packing up a box for shipping in the mail and had turned it over to be sure that I had used enough sealing tape to secure the contents in the box. As I began to apply the sealing tape, my eyes were drawn to the simple statement printed on the bottom of the box put there intentionally by the company that manufactures the packing boxes.

It read;  " T H I N K   B I G   -  A C T   L I T T L E "

RIGHT THEN THE LORD SPOKE TO ME IN GREAT INTENSITY.

He gently said, "Child, the past mentality and insidious mind set of many in ministry has been the direct opposite of the statement; "THINK BIG - ACT LITTLE." Man is still obsessed with power, control, and is driven by the desire to be the biggest and the best. This has crept into the church through a message of self-gratification, and an implied sense of "you deserve it" spoken through many who don't THINK BIG about the consequences of their words!

So many believers think that they have a right to "Big things" but want it all to happen through others doing for them honoring them, and therefore their concern and "actions" in considering others service and faithfulness is minimal.

The current attitude heaven is hearing from among not only many disobedient believers but also sadly among many who think they are in the "forefront" of the wave of My Spirit is in fact, a reversal of the statement, Think Big Act little.”

THINK LITTLE...ACT BIG!

This is the mindset of the selfish and those trapped in patterns of deceit and personal denial!

AS LONG AS WE DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO EXAMINE OUR OWN SOULS,

Which we well know, can be very wicked, we never think about how our “ACTING BIG” and “all anointed and all powerful” and how "on the cutting edge" we might be!

THE LORD INSTRUCTED ME WITH A FIRM BUT GENTLE WARNING,

about those who are trying to "re-package" the same old way of doing things the way they want it done in a different box or presentation.

It's like the statement "THINK LITTLE - ACT BIG."

PUSHING AWAY THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DANGEROUS.

The Lord is in this present hour is granting us much precious time to deal with the hidden sins and iniquities that are well fed and functioning in each of our lives. Ministry leaders, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, sheep. Sadly, many seem to believe that if they just “THINK LITTLE -  AND - “ACT BIG” well, others will be really impressed with the BIG Show and BIG Presentation and we won't have to think about or question our motives and manipulations as to why we need to keep feeding the “BIG ACT!”

GODLESSNESS IN THE LAST DAYS

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power.

HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, (men as well!) who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

2 Timothy

MANY TIMES THE BODY OF CHRIST IS FOUND TO BE CHASING AFTER MIRACLES AND SIGNS AND WONDERS…

…In order to get a new thing to happen in your church or community. It is THINKING LITTLE. You have trained yourself and others to pursue God, only if blessings and miracles occur. But when hardship and testing and refining occur it's easier to “THINK LITTLE” about these.

Why?

THE FLESH HATES DISCIPLINE AND TRUTH!

With every wave and Dimension of Glory the Lord releases, there is always the crowd of the 5000 looking for a good free meal, a good public speaker, and a few miracles. These days toss in a "new groovy worship ministry" and you've arrived!

HOWEVER! When the real work of God is getting close, the numbers drastically reduce and those who are not willing to extort others or use others for fame and gain, become again, like a Gideon's army. Rugged, broken, obedient, and they THINK about the BIG THINGS God can do, but “THEY ACT LITTLE” or small and humble.

Philippians 2:3

Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others.

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

BEWARE OF THOSE WHO SHOUT TOO LOUDLY;

"HEY! WE HAVE A BIG THING HAPPENING!"

“And you need to come and uh… well, if you really want in on it, don't think much about the fee of $200 or more to attend what God is doing!"

DID THAT POKE AT YOUR SOUL A LITTLE BIT?  WELL GOOD!

WE ARE IN A SEASON WHERE MONEY CHANGING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD'S ANOINTING IS GOING TO BE DEALT WITH. 

Just after this paragraph is a small list of a few other things the Lord has asked me to bring a gentle warning about. Things that He is going to allow His exposure and His Holy fire to touch, if they are not personally dealt with through our own choice in repent humbly to Him and to others we are supposed to have some kind of accountability with.

(You are accountable to someone other than yourself aren't you? ( hint ) That may be a mentor, a prayer group, a couple or two, maybe a husband and wife together. But we all must have someone that we share an account of our lives with.

HE IS GIVING ALL OF HIS PEOPLE, SHEEP AND LEADERS ALIKE…

…TIME TO THINK - AND ACT.

 -  GENTLE WARNINGS FROM THE LORD  - 

1.) Key Leaders need to become tender towards those in their service.

Sharing with them as co-laborers and hard workers, fair and even above and beyond, financial support, honor, and deep respect.

1 Peter 5:3

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

Romans 12:3

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

2.) Many in ministry settings embrace too quickly, those who "appear" to have a large ministry influence and grant them levels of authority without knowing what their home life is like, what their accountability levels are, and how they appropriate ministry funding they gain through travels, conferences or support. THE LORD URGES THOSE WHO ARE PASTORAL TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY EMBRACE

AND BRING INTO THEIR SHEEPFOLD. PASTORS ARE JUDGED MORE SERIOUSLY.

James 3:1

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Psalm 101:7

I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence.

3.) The Lord warns about slandering others in ministry or in the general Body of believers, publicly as well as in private settings. Shaming others is usually a form of control and can often be used to hide behind, rather than to lovingly confront, a situation.

MANY BOOKS AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. 

THEY WILL SLANDER, LIE, AND EXAGGERATE STORIES ABOUT HOW THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THOSE MEMBERS IN IT HAVE

"DONE EACH OTHER WRONG."

This will be a total turn off to the generation that is watching those who are to be modeling grace, patience, kindness, and self-control. The Lord warns that once the doors of your mouth begin to slander and shame others He will expose and do unto you what you have done unto others.

Hebrews 4:13  "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Leviticus 19:16

"Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

Do not act as a merchant toward your own people.

Do not try to get ahead at the cost of your neighbor's life, for I am the LORD.

2 Timothy 3:3 - "They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; They will be cruel and have no interest in what is good."

YOU SEE, WE ARE TO THINK BIG ABOUT THE LOVE OF GOD

AND ACT LITTLE, ACT SMALL …

…ABOUT OURSELVES.

Humility brings honor and favor.

Deceit brings Judgment.

THINK BIG...

...ABOUT THAT.

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by Mary Lindow

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The words, When Harsh Winds Blow- Chaff  Must Go, have been playing themselves 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 rather unwavering 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 bare 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. As 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 is removed.

(Yes you can say "ouch" right about now!)

CHAFF MUST GO! 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.

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.

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45

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

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" of our soul to be Tornadoed -bitterness and exclusive rights abound!

Huffiness, abrupt harshness and passive aggression 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!

A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. John 6:18

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 reveal 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 a 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 it, 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 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, 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.

BRING YOUR HEART UNDER HIS LORDSHIP

James then gives us the blueprint for drawing near. 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"?

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 and they will vacillate between faith and unbelief. 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.

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 me, myself, and I. 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.

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. 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, 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 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 unwelcomed guest who decides to stay for a very long time.

BUT, REJOICING 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, 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 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. And as this cycle of separating Chaff from our lives reoccurs many times in our lives 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.

"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." Psalm 57:1

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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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