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)

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Thank You!


Copyright 2022 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

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And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts

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I KNOW SUFFERING IS EXHAUSTING AND PAIN HURTS! That is why it is called pain and suffering. If there were an escape a person of great wisdom and insight would have done it already!

By Mary Lindow

SUFFERING AND SORROW ARE A PART OF LIFE

Knowing this, however, doesn’t make it any easier to cope when you find yourself in the midst of the deepest, darkest trials of faith, and mentally anguish and strain.

Don’t you wish Christianity could make you exempt from suffering? That would be great, but as most of us have learned, following our faith doesn’t give us a free ride.

We catch as much trouble as unbelievers—often more.

The difference, of course, is that we can turn to Jesus when things go wrong. Unbelievers might argue that we’re only turning to our imagination, but we know better.

At some time in your life, however, suffering will hit you so hard that you won’t be able to do any of those things, and that dark time will probably visit you more than once.

“Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright,

for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.”

Psalm 112:4

WE ALL WANT THINGS WE DON’T GET.

Maybe it’s a person you’re sure would make a perfect spouse, and the relationship crumbles apart. Maybe it’s a better job or promotion, and you don’t make the cut. Or it might be a goal you poured your time and energy into, and it doesn’t come to pass or others sabotage it all.
All of us have prayed for the recovery of loved ones who were ill, but they died anyway.

It takes real spiritual maturity to stay faithful when things go wrong, but severing our relationship with God punishes us, not him. It’s self-destructive behavior that can put us on the path to a miserable life. The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) teaches us that God always wants us to come back to him.

Whether your problem is discouragement, illness or aging, sometimes all you have left is Jesus.

When you’re angry and bitter, you can still cling to Jesus in the midst of your tears. You can grab onto him and refuse to let go until he brings you through it. You’ll find, to your surprise that he holds on to you even tighter than you hold on to him.

JESUS UNDERSTANDS SORROW

He knows about being hurt. He remembers the terrible moment on the cross when his Father was forced to abandon him, because he was filthy from taking on our sins. Jesus won’t let you go.

And as you age and start down the path from this life to the next, Jesus will take your hand to guide you. He appreciates all that you have done for him through the years, but what he has always wanted most is your love.

So there you are in the middle of one of life’s train-wrecks-dazed, wounded, wondering what shoe-or bomb-will be dropping next, and up walks Job’s comforters.

We all remember Job from the Bible. A rich, powerful man, a great father and good in every way was Job.

Then, in a series of overlapping upheavals, he lost everything and everybody except his wife-who turned out to be a whole lot less than sympathetic in her changed status.

Battered Job ends up sitting alone on a pile of dirt, scratching his boil-covered body with some broken pottery.

WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH POOR JOB.

Life drags us through some tough times of loss that make us feel every bit like Job. Caught in a vortex of pain, and wondering if we’ll ever make it to safety.

And, boy, do we recognize Job’s so-called friends who showed up to by all accounts offer support and comfort. As they sat with Job in his misery, they took turns playing a self-centered, self-righteous, can-you-top-this game of knowing for certain that every bit of Job ‘s disaster had to be his own fault or a lack of trust in God. They weren’t sure how or why because Job seemed so decent, but deep down, they insisted, he just couldn’t be all he pretended to be.

THIS IS FAMILIAR TERRITORY

You get fired, and friends smirk knowingly when you try to explain the political nature of the event. Your child gets into difficulty-well; you know the kind of comfort you’ll get from friends about that. (It probably started sometime during potty training.)

Yet others try to “help” you with what I call “prayer lecturing.” While praying “for and with you” they let you (and God) know just how lucky you should be to even have running water, had a meal that day and more! Not really comforting in any way, and very very short on compassion.

Yet, from the story, it’s clear that Job was completely innocent.

Dreadful things do happen to completely innocent people, good people.
Because of their opinion of Job’s guilt, history has bestowed his friends- (and their current replicas) – the label, “Job’s comforters.”
So-called friends who add to a suffering person’s anguish by piling on false charges of blame and guilt and harsh reprimand for daring to show sadness or agony.

You may never have met anybody like Job, but you’ve met his comforters on more than one occasion. They seem to be everywhere.

WE CAN CHARGE SOME OF IT OFF TO JEALOUSY

Job had everything a person could dream of wanting-and then some-so jealousy was never more than a stone’s throw away. The green-eyed monster is a little more subtle with people living everyday, typical lives, but jealousy doesn’t need much ground to take root and grow with vigor.

WE DON’T WANT TO ADMIT BAD THINGS MAY HAPPEN TO US!

If bad things happen to people who don’t deserve them, they could happen to anybody, including me. If I don’t want bad things to happen to me, (who does?), I have to persuade myself and everybody around me that the victim’s actions caused the problem. If blame can be assigned, then I’ll be safe as long as I’m good.

In other words, if I can claim that the cause of your problem is something you do that I don’t do, then what happened to you can’t happen to me. There is, of course, no logic to this, but it brings some shaky comfort to frightened hearts.
We see this thinking at work when people stare numbly at adversity and ask, “What did I do to deserve this?” Sometimes the answer is, “nothing.”

HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF "WHY ME?"

And it doesn’t have to be bad; you could be excited from something wonderful. Most often then not, I ask myself this after something I am looking forward to goes wrong.

Even at times when something goes wrong I lay awake at night and my thoughts wonder to what previously occurred. I am sure everyone does it at times, wishing for another try or chance.

You may lay awake thinking about your suffering, part of life’s suffering is misery’s shadow persisting/hanging on; not only do you suffer but you have to think about suffering.

I can’t prove this with statistics or find it any book I know of, yet I would say that more people either come to the faith or fall away because of this reason above all; the disturbance of suffering.

YOU SEE GOD USES TIMES OF SUFFERING…

...TO TEACH AND GROW US.

If you allow yourself to recount your sufferings, did you not learn more about faith while suffering then any other time?
 It has been said that; “Blessings are God’s whispers, he speaks in our conscience, but shouts to us in our suffering.”

“O my Comforter in sorrow,

My heart is faint within me.”

Jeremiah 8:18

Suffering becomes the only way to realize our hollow spiritual self. Pain is unmasked, and every person knows when something is not right when they are hurting. Pain insists upon being attended to.

So when you travel down this line of thought you come to the idea, why do I or someone else suffer when others don’t?

I KNOW SUFFERING IS EXHAUSTING AND PAIN HURTS

That is why it is called pain and suffering. If there were an escape a person of great wisdom and insight would have done it already. Yet Discipleship demands such trials to compel us towards renewal.

Read Hebrews 2:10

“God, for whom and through whom everything was made,

chose to bring many children into glory.

And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering,

a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.”

The real question is what to do when life has just punched us a good one, and Job’s comforters show up at our door.

Nobody says we have to let them in.

And certainly nobody says we have to entertain them.

And, most positively, nobody says we have to believe them.

“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives,

So also through Christ our comfort overflows.”
2 Corinthians 1:5

We can sort out the who’s-to-blame-for-what after we get some solid ground under our feet and a little energy back into our lives.

But we still won’t want Job’s comforters anywhere around us…

...We will want people who care.

"Compassion"

To me not to be kind
 is evil of the mind.

No need to pray or preach,

Let us our children teach
 with every fond caress,

Pity and gentleness:

So in the end may we
God’s Kingdom cause to be.

Author - R.W. Service

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 © 2021 " THE MESSENGER "

Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts and Blog Materials.

THANK YOU!

Please go to PAYPAL to donate 

or support this ministry; 

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

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UTTERLY HOPELESS UPSIDE DOWN WORLD?

F E A R   IS   A   L I A R !   HOPE IS A FORTRESS!

Mary Lindow

DO YOU FEEL AS IF THINGS ARE UTTERLY HOPELESS

AND COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN RIGHT NOW?

Maybe you have you been in that scary place before. Most people, if they are being transparent and honest will admit to times of experiencing hopelessness and feeling alone and afraid.

Friend.

You aren’t without hope,

You aren’t hopeless,

But you ARE helpless!

God has allowed this time and position of helplessness and complete dependency on Him, and you are helpless to help yourself.

We struggle to gain back some measure of control over our lives when this pressure is upon us, but our personal pride (that we didn’t even know that we had) is being crushed, and the only thing for us to do is to surrender!

NOW YOU MAY FEEL HOPELESS, BUT REALLY…

…IT’S THE CONDITION OF HELPLESSNESS THAT IS CAUSING YOU PAIN.

God wants you completely dependent on Him, and He will keep you a “prisoner of hope” until you are.

OH HOW WEARY YOU ARE OF THE AWFUL REFINER’S FLAME AND THAT SEEMINGLY ENDLESS TWEAKING OF YOUR ATTITUDE!

“Okay, God, you can stop now!" you scream.

But He doesn't stop.

You're caught in a prison of hope and He will not let you out until He is finished with what He began in you.

There are times during the process of pursuing heartfelt dreams and callings in life that you might feel that your "hope" seems to have been locked up in a prison. You can't seem to make your dreams come true, and yet, you find it impossible to stop believing in them!

YOU CAN'T GO FORWARD ANY FASTER THAN GOD WILL LET YOU,

and yet, you sure don't want to return to where you once were before you were overshadowed and given a "life vision" with a promise from God!

GOD JUST WILL NOT LET YOU GIVE UP!

During this time you might feel like saying,

"Okay God, this is enough! I don't want to hope anymore!

I am tired of being like an egg in an incubator with this promise!

I want out of this prison of hope!"

IT'S DURING THIS TIME THAT YOUR DREAMS FEEL SO VERY REAL TO YOU,

YET TO OTHERS THEY DON'T!

There is a big conflict between what you discern in the Spirit and what appears to be moving so slowly in the natural, and that grates at our souls!

We feel like we are on a Ferris wheel.

You have your “up times” when you can see your dream's fulfillment far into the future, but you also have your “down times” when you can't see anything and everything seems to have crashed into a messy heap.

YOU THINK TO YOURSELF,

“AM I CRAZY TO THINK THAT GOD COULD USE ME? NOW?

IN THIS TIME?"

The enemy comes in like a rushing flood and you begin to doubt, causing anguish to your soul.

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN GOD IS DOING HIS GREATEST WORK IN YOU!

This is when the refining process REALLY hurts, because He is getting down to the very core of your soul, to the deep regions of your heart.

HE IS DEVELOPING THINGS IN YOU

THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU LACKED.

THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU NEEDED.

You think, "Okey Dokey God, this is deep enough!"

But, every builder knows you must dig down deep to lay a proper foundation first, before you start to build upward. And the greater the height of the structure, the deeper the foundation must be.

YOUR FORTRESS OR PLACE OF REFUGE IS TRUSTING IN A LOVING GOD.

Trusting Him in spite of all the reasoning of your mind, in spite of the circumstances that surround you.

YOU WERE CONTENT TO GIVE GOD CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE UNTIL HE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE, YOU DIDN’T LIKE.

You were happy to surrender all to Him, until He decided to give your promotion to someone else.

You believe in His sovereignty, until His sovereign will conflicts with, your will.

Then you are sure He has made a mistake!

You want to run from Him, but He is your refuge.

How do you run from your refuge? How do you run from the only one who really loves you or understands you?

The answer is . . . you don't.

SO, RETURN, MY FRIEND, TO YOUR FORTRESS,

AND REMAIN A PRISONER UNTIL HE IS DONE WITH YOU - UNTIL HE DECIDES THAT YOU ARE READY FOR ALL THAT HE HAS FOR YOU.

Zechariah 9:12 says,

“Return to your fortress! Yes!

You prisoners who have hope!

Today I declare that I will return double what has been taken from you."

PROPHETIC WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

The Spirit of God says,

“Even now I announce to you that not only will I restore to you all that has been taken from you, but I will give you double for all the trouble you have endured."

He says, "Don't stop now . . .

…Keep trusting me, because I can see your future and it is very blessed.

Keep walking with me and keep trusting in me and I will give you rest."

“Come to me all who are weary and burdened,

And I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28

Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed as long as the complete message, podcast location and website information for Mary Lindow is included.


Thank You!

Copyright © 2021

"THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow


www.marylindow.podbean.com

  www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

Read Full Post »

I HAVE AN UNUSUAL STIRRING IN MY SPIRIT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT AS I WRITE THIS MESSAGE.

The Lord is revealing a sound in the earth coming from the hearts and deep cries of so many of His people right now. 

By Mary Lindow

I HAVE AN UNUSUAL STIRRING IN MY SPIRIT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT AS I WRITE THIS MESSAGE.

The Lord is revealing a sound in the earth coming from the hearts and deep cries of so many of His people right now.  Perhaps it might even be yours as you read. There is a cry of hunger for His sure, safe presence in difficult times and in changing times.

A NEED FOR “QUIET”

The world and it's voices of influence, humanistic subtleties, and constant technology and it's sounds bring about an overload of weariness to all people, and there is a greater need for a place of rest for the warriors of truth who are very aware of the pressures that have not stopped mounting for many years now.  

THERE IS MUCH TREACHERY OCCURRING IN THE EVIL PLANS OF DARKNESS AND THE PEOPLE HELD CAPTIVE BY IT THESE DAYS!

It can bring a real sense of despair, broken-heartedness and shock when you encounter this type of thing and when it attempts to destroy your hope and confidence in what the Lord Jesus has set you apart for to express in His Power and in His name.

WHY OH WHY ALL THE DELAYS?

I don't know fully why it seems as if good people who are sincere and pure hearted seem to go through more persecution and repeated difficulty than those who seem to be the ones perpetuating the majority of it!!

SO MANY RIGHT NOW ARE NEARLY AT THEIR WITS END WAITING FOR GOD TO RELIEVE THEM OF SORROW, DISILLUSIONMENT AND BATTLE FATIGUE!

“My soul faints with longing for your rescue,

But I have put my hope in your word.”

Psalm 119:81

FEAR NOT! THE ENCOURAGER HEARS YOU!

“You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;

You encourage them, and you listen to their cry.”

Psalm 10:17

WHAT IS THIS VERSE SAYING TO YOU AND I RIGHT NOW?

It is saying that the Lord Himself will encourage us!

That is why we must continue to fight for that place of Divine “refuge!”

That “get away from it all” place of craving and longing for His comfort.

He knows our hurt, our loneliness, our scorched and heart torn issues! He understands how agonizing and bled out we can get when it seems as if battle after battle we begin to wonder if something might be wrong with us!

“Hope delayed makes the heart sick,

But when dreams come true, there is life and joy.”

Proverbs 13:12 (NAT)

NOTHING CAN SATISFY DRY LIPS LIKE WATER!

We are in a time where no persons opinions, no one’s books, no one’s TV shows are going to satisfy that craving, that need for a thirst quenching drink of companionship with God.

We long to hear words from someone that tell us everything is going to be all right! That our children will be safe, our homes protected, our basic needs provided! And yet! Nothing “out there” satisfies us fully!

YOU SEE DEAR BELOVED ONE… 

…The season of great hunger for the simple walk with Jesus has blossomed!

Only time spent with him like a dear, dear friend will fill the gaping ache you have.  He will speak, He will comfort and He will show you what is true and what is false in the days ahead if you will return to that PLACE of companionship with Him. Away from the opinions of men and the noise of this life. 

“Every word you give me is a miracle word-how could I help but obey? Break open your words, let the light shine out, and let ordinary people see the meaning.

Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything.

Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you.”

Psalm 119:129-131 (The Message)

~ A PROPHETIC WHISPER TO YOUR HEART FROM THE SAVIOR ~

“ To know of my ways, you must know ME!

To Know Me, you must spend time with ME.

To spend time with Me, you must purpose, to put aside the lists of things you have to do, before you can spend time with Me.”

“Order you days first in My Presence, and watch the desires of your heart be fulfilled.  Man and his counsel will always fall short of the full truth of My Wisdom. I have blueprints and a Master plan for so many things yet to build upon in your life.” 

“Come. Let us talk again together.”

“You are the temple, the house of My Holy Spirit. I desire to build you up in spiritual strength as you walk in prayer conversations with me. “I will fulfill your longing for peace and direction as you step up again into a heavenly trust and rest.”

“People will change, man will fail you, friends will turn, if they are not seeking My Voice above the clamor of the day. And you My child will fail others, if you listen to your own voice of reason and intelligence.  As you turn to Me, you will see My compassion poured out upon you and you will then have My power of pure godly compassion and Wisdom driven grace to pour out on others.”

“I too, long for you as well!  Seek Me-with all of your heart, your longings, your heartaches, your dreams. And I will be there with arms of strength to rescue you from Despair.”

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

-Jeremiah 29:13

“The LORD is good to those, whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.”

-Lamentations 3:25

Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed as long as the complete message, podcast location and website information

for Mary Lindow is included.


Thank You!

Copyright © 2021

"THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow


www.marylindow.podbean.com

  www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

Do you or a loved one need prayer?

There are faithful intercessors around the world who are
ready and who are prepared to pray for you.

 Please send your Requests to:

GlobalPrayerRooms@protonmail.com

If you have been impressed by the Holy Spirit bless Mary by 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.

Read Full Post »

By Mary Lindow

DEAR FRIENDS OR READERS. THIS IS MOST POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST SUCCINCT WORDS THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN TO ME TO SHARE THIS FAR IN MY LIFE WITH HIM.

WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH AS MEMBERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

IS DONE BY THE POWER OF GOD,

AND BE EVER SO CAREFUL! KNOWLEDGE CAN BE MISTAKEN FOR MATURITY.

The Times are RAPIDLY Changing, and I know that for me, it will require a different strategy to handle them and that I must be willing and able to walk out the days ahead. It seems as if I identify with the prophet Jeremiah more often now than ever before. And so, I am CHOOSING to adjust the way of delivering my portion of what the Spirit of God would give me, as He leads me. Daily.

I AM IN WORDLESS, TEAR-STREAMING GRIEF over the rapid forms of meditation, eastern mysticism, competitive daily trendy "prophetic" articles/words (advertisements!) -and outright fear mongering one moment and then "hysterical" any moment breakthrough messages, (both which, recycle over and over, that are sweeping into the Body of Christ.

Facebook posts are loaded like a buttered baked potato with a big scoop of sour cream, and belch out sarcasm; shaming, smug and rude "thumbing the nose" at any warnings or loving corrections, and the devouring and public slandering has become unbearable.

WHEN PEOPLE REFUSE TO LET GOD BE THE JUDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, when they inject their own standards to oppose His, these people who are "usurping" assume a sovereignty or power that belongs only to God. They choose to undermine God’s order, in order to demand their own, and in doing this, they hope to avoid the pinpricks of their conscience. After all, "if it's legal" then it must be right! Right?" No. God’s law is not so easily escaped or fanned away as an old dusty list of metaphors.

CONCEIT AND PRIDE ARE THE GREATEST ENEMIES TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH!  Newly "acquired knowledge" or notoriety often leads to pride rather than wisdom. There is no more certain way to fall into sin and self-deception than to allow pride to lead us into putting confidence in ourselves rather than God. This kind of pride always leads to destruction, because it robs us of God’s power to stand against temptation!

WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH AS MEMBERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS DONE BY THE POWER OF GOD. AND, KNOWLEDGE CAN BE MISTAKEN FOR MATURITY.

True knowledge is designed to bring us TO maturity.
When we parade our so called freedom before others in an effort to reveal how much we know, we reveal our immaturity and are treading on dangerous ground! Knowledge put on PUBLIC display leads to heartbreak and divisive scattering...

The Western Style "First World Church" is caught up in so many identity crises! And, with the many pushing movements and meetings, the voices crying out and weeping in the places of preparation (the wilderness) saying, "You! Yes YOU! Prepare the Way of the LORD!... ...straighten out those crooked, twisted paths!" -are suddenly being told to step back into a place of silence and travailing prayer, determined to lean in closer to THE Voice that is small, still, and sure.

ONLY TIME SPENT WITH THE LORD, like a dear friend, will fill the gaping ache you have. He will speak, He will comfort, and He will show you what is true and what is false in the days ahead if you will return to that Place of companionship with Him. Away from the opinions of men and the noise of this life. As you turn your heart and hopes towards him you will see compassion poured out upon you and you will then have his power of pure godly compassion and “wisdom driven” grace to pour out on others.

SPEAK TO HIM WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART,
YOUR LONGINGS,
YOUR HEARTACHES, AND YOUR DREAMS.
HE WILL BE THERE WITH ARMS OF STRENGTH
TO RESCUE YOU FROM DESPAIR."

“A Prophetic Word”
Can you not hear my voice speaking to you clearly?
Has it become clouded with the cares of this life and the voices of men articulating what they “think” is my voice?

My time for you to hear the truth is never when man decides it. The world screams that all the chaos and change is turning and twisting men's hearts away from me. But when I speak and when I move and I am lifted up, men's hearts ache for me!

There is a greater power in my silence then there is in the shouting of mankind saying that I do not exist!
It is folly and foolishness to think that man can try to silence or attempt to erase me!

I am preparing for myself a bride. Not a foolish, emotionally lovesick self-seeking bride! No I am seeking and preparing for myself a mature godly gathering of those who will become one and unified with and in me. I am the one that is shaping and fashioning this bride in the refining fires that are currently burning across the earth.

Men may try to redefine me, say that I do not exist, they may attempt to twist words that I have spoken in order to fit the base agenda in their own souls, but all the while I am shaping and fashioning and preparing for myself an army and a bride that will not be defeated in the days to come.
Adjust your thinking child!

I am not a God to be dictated to or to be demanded of!
I am one to be approached with brokenness and humility! Those who have a contrite heart and a right spirit are the ones that I will answer.

There is a time coming when I will sweep away and clean up the false examples of prophetic ministry claiming and declaring things that have nothing to do but glorify the flesh.

If a person's heart is not right with me, no matter what they declare, decree, or shout, it will fall upon ears of deafness in heaven. I desire truth in your inward parts.

Let me reduce you to love.
Stripping away title, presumption and secret desires for notoriety. In order to be like me you have to live like I did in the earth. I served mankind and was spat upon. I spoke truth and I was mocked. I challenged the proud and religious thinkers of the day and they desired to silence me and kill me.

I am calling you my people to become honest in heart, broken and humble before me, and with willing and heart to serve me, and those that I send to you. It is not their external condition that you are to judge, nor categorize.
Your job is to share my life my light and my love with them. And in your example of how you treat them is how I see you treating me.

Show no favoritism but humble yourselves in my site and do the work of my servant.

Yes, the days are changing and the mandates for your life are becoming more defined. Bow before me and reconnect your heart to truth and simplicity and the grace of knowing that you were purchased with a life poured out so that you might live life to the fullest.

"It is necessary for him to increase and for me to decrease."
-John 3:30

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed provided
that complete source, and website information
for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You
Copyright © 2020 " THE MESSENGER "
~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com

https://marylindow.podbean.com/mobile/

Do you or a loved one need prayer?

There are faithful intercessors around the world who are
ready and who are prepared to pray for you.

 Please send your Requests to:

GlobalPrayerRooms@protonmail.com

If you have been impressed by the Holy Spirit to assist and bless the needs that Mary has, helping her to meet other administrative needs such as website 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!

Read Full Post »

By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit

If you ask the true "heart determined" believers 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 in a state of real Desperation For God's Help!”

HERE IS THE SPIRITUAL INSIGHT THAT THE LORD WOULD HAVE ME SHARE WITH YOU.

In the past few years many have seemingly "gotten" all that they thought they wanted. Lots of new stuff, bigger houses, hefty stock increases, and for some, that "greatly awaited moment" of climbing the mountain to the top of the heap to be "up there with the big dogs." Their inner thoughts exclaimed, "I am now someone that folks finally appreciate and take notice of!"

AND NOW... SUDDENLY!
THE BOTTOM HAS FALLEN OUT OF MANY OF THESE EXCITING MOMENTS!

Friends are scattering, you struggle to get your bearings. Telephones and emails and fax machines fall silent. NOBODY wants to identify with YOUR pain or loss. It just MIGHT rub off on them! Or better yet, it might even expose their slippery slope at the moment!

WE ARE IN THE HOTTEST REFINERS FIRE TO DATE!

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! 

Read Full Post »

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

https://marylindow.podbean.com/mobile/

Read Full Post »

By Mary Lindow

As I sit here in the outdoors this evening enjoying an unusually cool and brilliantly moonlit sky, I am stirred to speak openly and transparently about the things that God is not only dealing with in my personal journey with him, but also some of the trends and presumptions that occur in the world of “Christendom” when it appears and feels as if the Father God is far off and seemingly unresponsive to the cries of those desperate for relief and merciful compassion.

Through his own personal agony, King David came to a new understanding of what it really was that God required from man.

ENMESHED INTO DECEPTION 

God is not interested in our outward sacrifices or "offerings."

This does not necessarily mean that God never requires outward forms of worship or expression or observances. Many lines of Scripture prove that at times he does. But it does mean that these are not the things that he requires first. If our religious practices contain nothing more than outward actions and performance, then God takes no pleasure in them.

God always looks underneath what goes on outwardly, and looks to the motives and the attitude of the heart. What does he look for there?

 David tells us in Psalm 51:16 -17

“For you delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; you find no pleasure in burnt offering. 

The sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.” 

BROKEN AND CONTRITE

These are not common words to our ears these days! 

Just what does it mean when God asks that we have a broken spirit?

 Does he want us to be beaten down and humiliated? 

I am sure that this is not his plan. So? What IS a broken spirit? 

It is an “inner self” that has come totally to the end of it-self. It makes no claims, and offers no arguments. All independence, all self-will, self-promotion, all self-righteousness have been pruned away.

Such a spirit simply turns and trusts completely upon God, not trusting in his own skill, merit, popularity, or ability to influence. This one who has willingly allowed the disciplining of his soul knows that he or she must only trust in God and his unrelenting mercy.

If we will ALLOW Him to guide us, HE knows how to produce this brokenness of spirit in each of us. Just remember, he treats us as individuals. And he would never abuse our individuality. He uses just the right amount of intensity needed to accomplish his desires, that we would relinquish our mistrust in his plan and fully step into total abandonment, willingly accepting his plan.

“For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” 

-Lamentations 3:33

AFFLICTION IS ALSO KNOWN AS - “DISCIPLINE” 

If there was ever a man who had to face affliction also known as “discipline” - it was David. I am amazed that he never became bitter. He even admitted that it did him good! God allows us to come under afflictions/discipline, not because he is mad at us, nor because he has rejected us. It is actually a demonstration of his faithfulness.

When he sees us taking a wrong turn that will lead to our own harm and damage, he allows difficulty and affliction/discipline to turn us back to the way that leads to peace and blessing.

When I say affliction, I am not accusing God of bringing about harsh and devastating blows in order to knock us down and break our arms in the process.

No! No! No!

In Psalm 119:67, 71, 75 it says:

 "I used to wander off until you disciplined me;

 but now I closely follow your word.

My suffering was good for me,

for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair. 


You disciplined me because I needed it.

WHEN WE ARE "THROWN A CURVEBALL" 

How do we respond when we are "thrown a curveball" and everything we carefully planned out and prepared for suddenly takes a turn we did not expect?

David did not view afflictions/disciplines as disaster. He saw it as a form of correction - something to adjust his life. He was saying, “Before I was afflicted/disciplined I went astray and I suffered for it. Now I've learned my lesson! It pays to obey your word!”

ARE YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULTY, LOSS, OR AN ADJUSTMENT? 

May I caution you? Don't fight back! And whatever you do, do not argue with God! Admit that God is dealing with you and allowing an affliction/a disciplining, a difficulty or disappointment, to address major issues of stubbornness, lazy spirituality, dependence upon others for water from the word, and more than often - a sour and willful independence that does not like accountability in every area.

ASK HIM, "WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE DOING?" 

“God? Am I off the pathway that you have planned and have willfully gone my own way?”

The Lord is seeking, looking, longing for you to turn away from things that are harmful and to bring you back to things that are in his purpose and plan.

If we are willing to learn from these afflictions/disciplines, there will come a time when we will indeed look back with gratitude for the things we have learned and matured in.

My dear friends, we were not created to serve ourselves or to meet our own needs. Whatever we need, the Lord will see to it that we get it, as we move along the pathway that he has chosen. You may be asking the question, “Why is it so hard for me to hear from the Lord at first when it comes to difficult issues and decisions?”

We must understand we cannot instantly “unlearn” what we have lived our entire life.

We must as the Scripture says be "transformed" from who we are to what we want to be.

We need to understand with our whole heart that we were intended to be godly in every way. In our relationships with others, and above all, in our relationship with God the father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. If one is out of order then both will be.

But! As a dear brother in the Lord by the name of Larry Reese says, 

“We are not to fear the passing of time or fear that we are wasting time by spending time with the Lord, searching out his word, and being still in his presence.

You will never lose anything by doing these things!”

TRENDS, BLOGS, AND COMMENTS

It's no secret that social media has become quite a form of communication! One of the problems that can occur when “listening” to trends, blogs, and commentary from others is that sources quoted and information gathered might well be skewed to interject thoughts and opinions into the minds of those who never think for themselves.

Believers in Christ are not to be uninformed, but they are to be wise about what they “ingest and digest” when it comes to the lifestyle of a Christian.

Do not rely upon the wisdom of men to help you to ultimately reach the destiny that God himself paid the price for. He is not an ego- driven maniac looking for his entourage of followers to validate his importance!

He "paid it forward" so that we would have the opportunity to walk upon a pathway, although narrow, that leads to purposeful living and a fruitful reaping of productivity that will only advance us into further opportunities to speak of hope and a purpose for others.

BEWARE OF FALSE HUMILITY AND UNDERTONES OF DISDAIN 

If there were one thing that sickens the heart of God it would be underhanded and slippery craftiness oozing from those who resist the full aspect of allowing God to create in them a clean and contrite heart.

It always amazes me how individuals that need notoriety and a place of “mystical” influence seem to be able to cunningly discredit good and godly saints around them who have perhaps lovingly warned them about deceptive practices or micro-management control issues, knowing that they risk the loss of relationship when doing so.

It is as if these individuals secretly feel entitled to sidestep the issue of preferring your brother or sister, and humbly listening to their insights and observances.

Equally amazing, are those who listen to only one side of a conflict or disagreement, and then spiritualize-away the facts that harm or discord has happened.

And so, the Lord allows the difficulties and afflictions to come and expose the areas of favoritism, embracing the “new and exciting”… 

…Rather than the narrow and at times - dry pathway to mature godliness.

 There will always be among us, those claiming to have “THE” word of the hour, the “message of the forefathers”, and on and on the platitudes and justifications are listed to justify the mocking and putting down of the simple and unique message of self-abandonment.

LISTEN FOR THE SOUND OF MERCY 

Listen to the “tone” in the voice of those addressing the crowd, the congregation, or perhaps a small study group. False humility has a highly "honeyed" pitch of barely restrained condescension, laced with heavy doses of unsolicited advice and counsel.

Rarely will individuals who have an exaggerated view of their own importance allow others to warmly and intimately engage in transparent communication and dialogue regarding the unique and yet equal calling and gifting of each child of God. 

NOW IS THE TIME -- THE TIME IS NOW! 

These words have been spoken out from the Lord over the lives of many who seemingly can hardly lift their heads due to delays, betrayals, losses, and a deep, deep internal anguish. It seems as if God sees greater fruitfulness when we are at the bottom of the proverbial "barrel"!

Those who are forever wishfully proclaiming that the “bad times are over and good times are ahead” are sadly attempting to override the ache of the soul when it longs to return to the comfort zone of self indulgence.

“But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless!” -Jeremiah 7:8

Know this. To avoid the chastening and bruising of our souls is a guarantee that not only will you cause devastating and brutal pain to others, but also most importantly, you shall grieve the Holy Spirit.

I ENCOURAGE THOSE OF YOU READING AND LISTENING,

TO TEST THE FRUIT OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE

A SPECIAL AND MYSTICAL "IN" WITH THE LORD.

The Lord is not one who neither “excludes” nor leaves the broken out in the cold, nor does he invite into his inner courts of wisdom and revelation, those who would use it to their own personal advantage or fame.

IT IS TIME. NOW IS THE TIME! THE TIME IS NOW!

It is time to face the chastening of the Lord in the light of the purpose he has behind it. Growing up and maturing finally in the things he has been dutifully prodding you to do for a long time now.

PROCRASTINATION  FELLOWSHIPS WITH SLOTHFUL AND SLOPPY APPROACHES

 TO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND WITH MANKIND.

For once and for all make the decision to not blame-shift or deflect onto others what God is dealing with in the wickedness of your own soul.

Now is the time to be willing to lose your life, to be afflicted -- yes even to the point of having the Lord remove and expose those who have become disobedient, self-promoting, and abusive in the circles you walk within.

 “SEE TO IT that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8

OPEN YOUR EARS 

The Lord is speaking! Listen!

He has wisdom to impart to you that may well save and instruct others who might fall into foolish behavior. It is not about your comfort, your "wants" nor even your dignity! It’s about a willingness to be the servant of the Savior, and to emulate His example.

He Is Speaking....

...But are we listening?

“The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,

To know the word that sustains the weary.

He wakens me morning by morning, Wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”

Isaiah 50:4

Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed as long as that complete source,

website and podcast information

for Mary Lindow is included.

Thank You

Copyright © 2019 THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow

www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

https://marylindow.podbean.com/mobile/

Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts, Blog Materials and soon coming "Mentoring Moments" Video teachings.

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: 

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By Mary Lindow through the Holy Spirit


Preface:

The Lord was tremendously intense with me about the preparation and study that went along with the prophetic insights and words intermingled with this message. I would like to encourage you to read it all thoroughly and to not only skim through it quickly.

This is an hour when the Word and the Spirit are being brought together to demonstrate the ultimate power of Christ!

In His Shadow, Mary 

 "A PLACE AT THE TABLE"

A PROMISE FOR THE DISPLACED AND BROKEN HEARTED"

A Prophetic Insight

By Mary Lindow

"Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons. 

Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate endlessly at the

King’s table, even though he was crippled in both feet."

- 2 Samuel 9 vs. 11b-13

Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy and completed, to perfect her by the washing with water through the word, and to establish her to himself as an exultant church, without imperfection or wrinkle or any other defect, but holy and guiltless.

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church for we are members of his body. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5: 25b 32

MEPHIBOSHETH: MEANING "ONE WHO SUFFERS SHAME"

The name was a joining by two members of the family of Saul - his son and his grandson. Let's look at this man Mephibosheth.

His life is a picture of a life of disaster, disappointment, and anxiety.

You think you have troubles?

In reading the story we already know that Mephibosheth is motherless and fatherless, because he is under the care of a nurse.

2 Samuel 4:4 also says that at the age of five his father, Jonathan, David's best friend, was killed in battle along with Jonathan's father, King Saul. To add injury to insult, we are told that when Mephibosheth's nurse heard the news of the murder of Jonathan and Saul, she panicked as she ran from harm's way. And in her running, the nurse dropped the child - causing him to become crippled. So the baby prince who was in the line of succession to the throne became a crippled beggar living as an orphan in hiding.

What should have been a life of wealth became a life of misery, tragedy and heartbreak. While his family was being assassinated, murdered, and banished, his future, as a king would never be fulfilled.

AND MORE THAN THAT, MEPHIBOSHETH WAS PERMANENTLY SCARRED!

We can relate to Mephibosheth's being a victim of sad circumstance. Perhaps you can even testify to being victimized by other's mistakes for yourself. Like Mephibosheth who trusted his nurse, some of us can relate to being dropped by those in whom we've placed our trust.

We're living crippled lives because a person in whom we loved and gave our hearts to...has dropped us.

JUST LIKE MEPHIBOSHETH WE KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE DROPPED BY SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TRUSTED.

Our lives are still suffering from the crippling effects of those disappointments. Everyone has been "dropped" in some way. And if you haven't, you will be. Some are still so proud in heart that they never admit to any weakness and therefore shame those around them who stumble their way to the cross of redemption.

It's no wonder that we are afraid to trust againbecause we've been lied to or used as scapegoats for the escape of others who hide their sins and egos behind loud opinions about how others should behave or...might have done better in the way they have handled the things that have happened in their life's journey!

MANY ARE AFRAID TO TAKE CHANCES BECAUSE OF PAST FAILURES.

Many more are afraid to follow their heart because the plain idea of making one more mistake sends shivers through them. We can't handle another anguish. Sometimes it feels as though we are hanging on by a fine thread.

If God is a merciful God, we wonder when we're going to start seeing the mercy. Our words echo the psalmist as our soul cries out,

"Lord, have mercy on me!" "Have mercy on me, Lord"

BUT THE THING IS, THERE IS MERCY...  ...IF YOU WILL SEE IT.

If you will allow that mercy to saturate your soul. If you'll see that you have an important role to play in that mercy. In fact, "mercy" is really the only reason that you and I are existing today, whether you know that or not.

You are here today because at some level - consciously or subconsciously - you know that God has been and is merciful to you and you are expressing your appreciation for that mercy. You are here today because you know that despite the hurts that have been inflicted upon you, you want to trust, you want to go on, and you want to find hope.

THE TRUTH IS THAT THERE IS BOTH A BIT OF MEPHIBOSHETH AND 

A BIT OF KING DAVID IN ALL OF US.

And, perhaps a bit of King Saul's fear of the loss of power, position, and need for control and honor. That is, we have been hurt, but we have also been healed.

We have been helped, and we also have opportunity to help others. We really have received mercy, and we can offer mercy as well.

WHEN MEPHIBOSHETH WAS CALLED INTO DAVID'S PRESENCE, HE WAS TERRIFIED!

Why shouldn't he be? As the grandson of dead King Saul, Mephibosheth was an heir to the throne that David now possessed. So his first thought was that the king would kill him because he might see him as a threat.

Secondly, Mephibosheth has experienced little in his life that would make him believe that something good could happen to him, so he expected injury. His own words were, "What is your servant that you should look ona dead dog such as I?"

Then King David sent and brought him out of the house: Mephibosheth must have been terrified when messengers from David knocked at his door and demanded that he come with them to see the king. In the back of his mind he must have constantly anticipated the day when David would do as other kings did and murder every possible enemy to his throne.

UP TO THIS POINT MEPHIBOSHETH AND DAVID NEVER HAD A RELATIONSHIP AND IT WAS BECAUSE MEPHIBOSHETH WANTED IT THAT WAY.

HE AVOIDED DAVID OUT OF UNFOUNDED FEARS. BUT DAVID REMOVES THE FEARS OF MEPHIBOSHETH.

Verses (7-8) So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."

Then Mephibosheth bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?

Mephibosheth didn't feel worthy of such generosity. He considered himself a dead dog, meaning a worthless and insignificant person.

All the years of hiding from the king and Living in fear and poverty made Mephibosheth thinks of himself as Worthless.

THE OFFER OF MERCY

David didn't want to add to Mephibosheth's Misery. David offered mercy.

Mephibosheth - in his amazement and skepticism - is restored.

No, he didn't retrieve the ability to walk. Mephibosheth's weakness did not vanish. The end of the scripture is clear about that. "He was crippled in both feet."

But he was given a place at the table of the king.

This goes far beyond giving Mephibosheth what was rightly his!

THE HONOR OF A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KING

David gave Mephibosheth the honor of a close relationship withthe king. The miserable, unfair, undeserved events of his past didn't change. But he was re-established within the kingdom and given an opportunity to live out the rest of his life with dignity.

Because David - the King - was merciful.

DAVID KNOWS THAT HE HAS BEEN AN OBJECT OF GOD'S MERCY IN HIS LIFE.

That he has already been delivered from extreme circumstances and from ...his own unpredictable behavior.

David is merciful, because he has received mercy - a melody that will continue throughout David's entire life, even when David didn't deserve mercy. And - on another level - David knows that, as he acts as the status of king - also by God's anointing, and not his own skill - that he must model the mercy of God within the kingdom.

BLEMISHES OF THE "CRIPPLED" BRIDE

Just like in Ephesians 5 are the blemishes of the "crippled" bride...she is much like Mephibosheth.

Hiding, fearful! And....the King of our souls, Jesus...restores and cleanses us...brings us to His table as His Bride, and covers our lameness, our disfigurement underneath the linens of the bridegroom's table where no one dare point out our imperfections.

We are perfected BY His Mercy! David knew that human beings and a society that exist without forgiveness and mercy are already doomed to self-destruction by their bitter doubt.

JESUS DIED FOR THIS VERY REASON. SO THAT WE MIGHT MODEL HIS KIND OF GUTSY FORGIVENESS AND MERCY.

AND SO THE STORY FALLS TO US AS EMERGING LEADERS IN THE KING'S KINGDOM!

We who are like Mephibosheth who have been injured by dreadful circumstances and by careless people; and we who are like David, have the opportunity to be instruments of mercy.

We who are like Mephibosheth and David who have received mercy; and we who must decide if we will live lives of resentment because of prejudiced facts or ...live lives of gratitude because of undeserved and unexpected mercy.   The story falls now to us.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE. 

AS WE HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED,

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN DELIVERED.

Remember, David - the King - had to decide if his kingdom would be one of dread or grace. David had to decide if his realm was going to be established on grounds of vengeance or the refinement of mercy. In being an instrument of grace, David is setting the stage for his great, great, great grandson Jesus, who will be the ultimate expression of mercy to all of us.

In the entire history of humanity no one was more misunderstood or viciously abused than David's ultimate successor, Jesus. Yet no person was ever more merciful.

AS HEIRS OF DAVID AND CHRIST IT IS NOW UP TO US TO PUT INTO PRACTICE THE VERY TREASURE THAT DAVID HONORED IN THIS STORY.

Loyalty, respect, unwavering love, and the well being of others.

Like David did for Mephibosheth, God has honored and blessedus with the promise of eternal life, inviting us to dine at His table, in His kingdom eternally. Also, God does this, not because of any goodness upon our part, but "because of Jesus."

THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY 

AND WHY WE ARE PART OF THE BRIDE OF JESUS CHRIST.

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BROKEN.

And because He has restored - and is restoring - US by His mercy, He invites us to His table, we MUST look around to see who else needs a place at the table, on His behalf! Not out of our great "earned reputations" or past accomplishments! No!

We as models of the Fatherly and Motherly compassion of a heavenly King invite others, to the table of "covering" and honor. We bring mercy, expressed with "tender hearts."

The best person to want to be like is not always the strongest or the best looking!! When we become like Mephibosheth, we can truly understand mercy and grace.

BEING LIKE MEPHIBOSHETH MEANS:

1. Realizing that the king sought me out.
2. Understanding what I deserved from the king.
3. Acknowledging the ones who brought me to the king.
4. Humbling myself in the sight of the king.
5. Rejoicing in the words of the king.
6. Accepting the provision of the king.
7. Adjusting my life to the requests of the king.

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me again the joy of your salvation,

And make me willing to obey you.

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 © 2019 " THE MESSENGER "

www.marylindow.com

www.globalprayerrooms.com

www.marylindow.podbean.com

Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful  And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts and Blog Materials.
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

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