Wednesday, February 28, 2018

To Abide


Abide, such a gentle word that inter-connects with reside.
For if we ”reside in Christ” it means we constantly abide.
You find your thoughts remain focussed on Jesus every day.
You start your morning with thoughts of Him and you pray.

As you focus on Christ, the more the Spirit shows the way
Listen to the Spirit’s voice, you learn new things every day.
You agree to abide in Chris, for is a restful place to be.
Suddenly your eyes are open, the needs of others you see.

Abiding is residing close to the one you love and serve.
His Spirit gives you confirmation, suddenly you observe
Needs not met, a hurt not healed and grief so defeating.
Abiding is not just “resting,” it is also openly “trusting”.

Jesus said to take His yoke upon us; His burden is light.
But that only occurs when we tell “self” to take flight.
Putting others first, and giving God the reigns to lead.
For an oxen’s yoke is useless if they will not concede.

The Spirit is the “Driver” in our life, He leads the way.
Since abide also means “to submit to” we need to say:
“Lord I want to abide in You while I work for You today.”
It is not a sitting, resting action, but a desire to obey.

Think today of abiding as making a conscious act.
You will find you begin to pray as you start to interact,
God’s love will come shining through, not up to you.
Rest in the knowledge that the Spirit is coming through.

Remember that “yoke” that two oxen used to carry?
After a while they were used to it, and did not tarry.
They received much praise when they pulled in unison.
They did not feel the yoke upon them, it was a lesson.

  • Thought: We will feel deep rest inside ourselves when we abide in Christ, because The Spirit will give us confirmation when we are working in Unison with Him. ~ A TED Tal
  • Further Thought: Men are often blamed because they refuse to ask for directions when they are lost or do not know the way. That is not the case with the Holy Spirit, we just have to pray.
  • ABIDE is an Old English word signifying progressively: to await, remain, lodge, sojourn, dwell, continue, endure. It is spoken of in the Old Testament and in Hebrews 12. 
  • Acts 20:23 ~ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 
  • John 14:23 ~ Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 
  • John 14:26 ~ But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

If Only

If only I had known the heartache you were bearing.
If only we could become more open in our sharing.
If only I had prayed and asked the Spirit to use me.

I could have prayed for you, for the Spirit to heal your bruising.
I could have reached out more, focus my thoughts upon choosing.
I could have been discreet, and asked you, rather than excusing.

Things I saw as “unsettling” were merely symptoms of your pain.
Things between us were not close, I was not really looking again.
Things the Spirit wanted to teach me, things that I desire to attain.

A much closer walk with God, to pray, and have Him talk to me.
A “Hot Line” to Heaven, so when we both share I can really see
A friend I love so much, who is hurting yet does not want to be.

The focus of attention, yet does really need to focus upon Thee.
The child of God who has lost her way, trapped, no longer free.
The pain you feel is the pain of one who is lonely, lost at sea..

For I pray to God for words, that will bring you back home to Him.
For a child of God who is lost, just does not know where to begin.
For the weight of unconfessed sin is clearly an anathema so grim.

Now clearly you need to repent, and don’t forget, He is waiting too.
Now is the accepted time for the Holy Spirit will readily show you.
Now is the beginning of all things new, He has work for you to do.

  • James 1: 21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his own way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
  • Proverbs 6:23 ~ For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”