Between Two Opinions...

 There are many decisions we must make in a day. Some smaller than others, and some that could affect our entire future.Sometimes we make decisions unknowingly, or just react from our opinion of things before we have the Lord's mind on the matter. As God's people, we should always base our opinions and decisions directly from God's Word and His commandments if we are to see true Revival.

I Kings 18 finds Elijah the prophet being sent to the wicked King of Israel, Ahab. Elijah was accused by Ahab of troubling Israel, because he had spoken by God's commandment, that there would be no rain for three years. This was  judgment toward Israel because they had stopped following God and were now worshipping Baal, the false god.Elijah said in verse 21, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him NOT A WORD."Does this not sound like the shape of our country and God's people? Ungodly leaders that blame 'right-winged' leaders for our troubles, and Christians that say we are God's people, but we appear to follow the ways of this world's god? In order for us to see real revival, we HAVE to make a choice. God says in Luke 16:13"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. ye cannot serve God and mammon (man)." We have to make a choice as to whom we will follow and obey. James 1:8 says, "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 4:4 also tells us "that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? "

Elijah challenged the followers of Baal to a contest to see which God would answer their prayer and sacrifice by fire. Elijah had to repair the altar of the Lord that had been broken down BEFORE he could offer the sacrifice (vs.30). The altar was where they sought forgiveness of sins to have fellowship with Him. We have to have our personal altar repaired before we can obey and sacrifice, and see God's fire fall.The altar was made of stone, signifying it was built upon Jesus,(Matthew 16:18).Our forgiveness of sin is through the Saviour, our Rock, alone.Verse 32-35 of the same chapter say that he filled 4 barrels with water and soaked the altar with it three times. The water is a type of God's word. If he did it three times (for the trinity), then it would have been a total of 12 barrels all together. 12 in the Bible stands for perfection. We need to be "soaked" in God's PERFECT WORD, Psalm 19:7.Daily prayer and reading of the scriptures is when the Lord speaks to us.How can we be used, or know God's will for us if we neglect to do so? "Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read;" Isaiah 34:16a. "Pray without ceasing." I.Thess. 5:17. May the Lord help us to purpose as Daniel that we will come before him daily in prayer to seek His face. Hebrews 10:22a, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...".

Lastly, after he repaired the altar, he prepared and offered the sacrifice. THEN the fire of God fell. Elijah was obedient to the commandment of the Lord and God showed Himself mightily to His people that day.He repaired what was broken between God and Israel. God honors faithfulness & obedience. "To obey is better than sacrifice," I. Samuel 15:22c.  Hebrews 11:6a says, "But without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please him...". After we get our hearts clean from sin and back in fellowship with Him, then we can obey and serve. God's fire fell, which showed He was pleased with Elijah and HIS power was on him. Israel saw this and said in verse 39 "..the Lord , he is the God..". When we walk with the Lord and obey Him, others can see His power in our lives.We are a walking testimony and proclaim Him to be Lord. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Matthew 5:16. After, the sacrifice was accepted, God sent the blessing. Elijah said "....there is a sound of abundance of rain." (vs.41)

If we are to see the blessing of "rain", or revival in our homes, churches, and nation, we must choose to repair our altar, obey, and proclaim the name of Jesus. As Joshua said. ".....Choose ye this day whom ye will serve...AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD."

Revival Round-Up

I'm tired. I'm tired of just the same old thing when it comes to going to church, coming home, daily routine, and not seeing the Lord move. I'm tired of the state of our nation as a whole. Sinfulness, Godlessness abounds, and the Lord's people living as ungodly as the world. I'm tired. I in no way, shape or form, believe I am better than anyone. I know ALL of my failures, sins, and short-comings and I'm tired of them too, really most of all! The Lord has laid something on my heart that I need to share with all of you.

It's time we, YES I SAID WE, as God's people, do something. It's time to change this parched wilderness we are quickly becoming. We are supposed to be living on "HIGHER GROUND,"and most of us are barely treading water. What is wrong with us? We are supposed to be working to grow the Lord's kingdom, and we're seemingly only seeing "stalemate" instead.This DEFINITELY is not the Lord's fault, IT IS OURS! We need to do business with God. WE NEED REVIVAL! Yes, I said WE AGAIN! Trying to change our nation, towns, churches, and homes, WILL NOT HAPPEN, until WE change.

My blog is mostly aimed at ladies. We know that in God's true Word, the KJV, it clearly states that women are not to be preachers. That's not demeaning AT ALL TO US! It is part of God's perfect order for the home found in Gen 3. We have jobs to do that only WE CAN DO, that the Lord wants us to take care of that the men can't! But this does not mean that we cannot work WITH them! Didn't God take a rib from Adam's side so Eve could stand WITH him, side to side? They were "fruitful and multiplied" and grew the human race, and we are to do the same with our husbands to grow the church! Didn't the early pioneers who headed out west to GROW our nation do the same? The women worked side by side with the men in the fields, plowing and sowing. They were the original Cowgirls, hence the title of this post. They helped round-up the cattle and get the job done. We need to look to their example today. These early families were mostly Christian, or at LEAST God fearing, according to documented history. Today, Satan is working double-over time to destroy and attack the home. Several friends and family I know are going through this . It has broken my heart like you would not believe!
 I am asking for you to consider all of this. I feel the Lord would have me to start a group called Revival Round-Up among God's women. We ALL need to search our hearts and lift them up to the Lord as in Psalms 143. The whole psalm is about turning our soul and being to the Lord for help. We need to confess OUR sins and turn to God in repentance. "If MY PEOPLE, (not the lost), which are called by MY NAME, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; THEN will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14. THIS IS IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM A CLICK! I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR! GOD KNOWS MY HEART! I am asking all of my sisters in the Lord to join in this group, not flippantly, but with a burden as well. I am asking you to commit to pray for revival in our own souls, our homes, our churches, and also our nation everyday.I am sure if the Lord has dealt with me about this, that I am not the only one that feels this way. Only when Esther and the leaders of Israel in her day, took a stand for the Lord, did God bring them revival and Jerusalem was rebuilt. Our homes and nation need rebuilding like NEVER BEFORE! We need her same attitude of "if I perish, I perish!" Esther 4:16. Then, I want all of us to share how God is moving. Sometimes we NEVER hear how God IS blessing to know how He is moving. I want Revival Round-up to be a post for listing your burdens and praises! We all need to encourage one another, Galatians 6:2 &3. The group is listed on Facebook as Revival Round-up. I need to hear from you to be added, as it is a seperate group page that was made, and that's how they are set up through Facebook.(It is definitely not a pick and choose thing!)Even if you aren't on Facebook, and want to be included, email me at stndn4jesus@sc.rr.com and you will be.

Psalms 85:2-6 "Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of they people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath; thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? WILT THOU NOT REVIVE US AGAIN;THAT THY PEOPLE MAY REJOICE IN THEE?" 

What are YOU lookin' at?

Many things in our daily lives fight for our attention, whether it be our jobs, children, or different problems that may arise. If we aren't careful, they can begin to take the main focus of our time and thoughts. We begin to spend all of our efforts on attending to them and often times the Lord comes in last place, when in fact, He should be the main person we are looking at.As Christians, we need the Lord to guide us in every aspect of our daily lives. From the smallest decision we make, or may even the biggest trial of our lives, we need His direction. How can we know what we are supposed to do if we are not looking to Him?

We need to look over our problems to what he has called us to do. One of the most famous portions of scripture is Matthew 14: 22-36 when Peter walked on the water to Jesus. They disciples were sent before Jesus to the other side of the sea so that He could be alone to pray. They obeyed and went, but suddenly found themselves in the middle of storm. The Bible says that the winds were contrary, or against them, and the waves were tossing them about. No doubt, they were struggling to keep the boat afloat! Then, in the fourth watch of the night, they saw Jesus walking on the water to them! Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a trial right after you obeyed the will of God for your life? You have done nothing wrong, but everything seems to be going wrong?That's what happened to the disciples. The Lord SENT them. They had obeyed, and now they seemed to be in trouble! These are simply trials to strengthen us. I Peter 1:7 says,"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, thought it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Isn't it interesting that the Lord chose PETER as the one to pen this verse? ;)  But notice that Jesus came to them in the fourth watch of the night, this is the darkest hour of the night, just before dawn starts to break! Jesus was walking on TOP of the water! Rest assured, that in our darkest hour, Jesus will come to help us, for we are His children, and He is always on TOP of things! Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

We need to be looking to Jesus so we can hear Him speak to us.The Lord will not only come to help us, but He will speak encouragement to our hearts. He told them to "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." Peter still had doubts to the One speaking those words. Have you ever been so turned around that you didn't know if that voice from within ,speaking to you, was your own thoughts, or those of the Lord Himself?He asked the Lord if He could come out, in the storm, on the water to Him, to make sure it was him. The Lord said, "Come." We are ALWAYS WELCOME to come to the Lord, into His throne room, for we have access as His child, (Heb 4:16.)We can come to Him in prayer to confirm His voice as He speaks to us.

Lastly, we need to keep our eyes on His Word to stay afloat. Peter stepped out of the boat on faith. He started out right, with His eyes on the Lord, and trusting in the word He had just spoken to him. He was walking, by faith, on the PROMISE of the Lord to him. When the Lord told him to come, that let Peter know he could make it.Only when he put his attention back on the storm itself, did he start to sink.The Lord has promised not to put more on us than we can bear, (I Corinth.10:13.)We can stand, like Peter, on the water, which is HIS WORD, and walk with our eyes on Him. We need to purpose in our hearts to not let circumstances or fear get our attention. It may not be easy, but through faith, it CAN be accomplished. Think about Noah-he was promised to be saved alive in the ark, even though he and his family heard the destruction crashing in around them. The only thing he had to go on was God's promise,or His word (Gen 6:8-22) and a window (Gen. 6:16) to look up out of, which was in the top of the ark, pointed directly to God. They were the only things the Lord provided him, because they were ALL he needed!

As we endeavor to walk here for the Lord, in the path He has chosen for us, may we keep our eyes on Jesus to stay focused on what He has called us to do. Let our eyes see when He is speaking to us, and let us LOOK to His word for His promise, so our faith will be strengthened. So, what are YOU lookin' at?