The Voice

"What's up?" It sounds cooler than it looks. PN, pastor, has instilled that phrase in my language and now every time I see him, or others, I say it. It's awesome.

Sometimes when I haven't spent quality time with the Lord, I don't feel like spending any time because I know it isn't going to be good due to the continual lack of QT. This AM I decided to read John. It's one of my favorites.

John was sent ahead of the One who was before him. That's a crazy statement. But John knew what he was doing. John was the voice crying out, "prepare the way of the Lord..." quoting Isaiah 40. John was in the desert. There is nothing in the desert, but people were coming and listening to him as he proclaimed the Messiah was coming. He wasn't in Jerusalem inside the Temple, but however many miles out, in the middle of nothing, wearing practically nothing, eating essentially nothing. But he knew. The Lord had revealed to John what was to take place.

When you read what John was quoting in Isaiah 40, it's amazing.

Make straight in the desert a highway for God. every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked place shall be made straight and rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed... What shall I cry out? All flesh is grass. And all it's loveliness is the a flower of the field. The grass withers, and flower fades because the Lord blows upon it... but the Word of God stands forever..."

The Lord seems to be calling us out in the midst of the extreme times.
As I prepare to move to Kansas City, MO, it may seem like the desert because there are no great lakes nor oceans, nothing exciting or worth calling people to come to. But that's just it. There is nothing else but the Lord calling us to the desert and crying out. I will be preparing the way along with 500+ others with the same heart. God is good and I have nothing apart from him. How will I share this with the world? It's a challenge and I am not perfect, but I will try since He has asked me to.

Lord, the One who is before me, raise up your people to prepare the way; let us cry out as you have asked, and assist you with your plans. I have no good apart from you. You are my sustainer. Guide your people as we are in the wilderness. In Jesus name.

Confidence

The fear of the Lord. To tremble at His Word. To revere the Lord and place Him above everything else in my life. Oh that I would not deny Jesus in a time of need. The fear of man- let it be over ridden by my confidence in the Lord.

We have come to Him as a stone that is alive (fresh water pouring out), rejected by men, and I have been chosen by God-- and He sees me as precious.
A spiritual house is being built up-- a holy priesthood being raised up. Those who are firmly grounded in the Lord through His Word in faith, hope, and love.
There will be some who will be disobedient, who know that Jesus is the Corner Stone, yet chose to fear man, the market place, society, social standards... instead of being obedient to Him who chose us.
We, who know Jesus and trust in Him, we shall be the royal priesthood that is raised up to proclaim His name and praise Him.
We get to praise the One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light... we have obtained mercy-- this eternal judgment that has been withheld from us for our trust in the Son of Man who's love is stronger than death and more intense than the sun's heat.
1 Peter 2.4-9

Man, why do I fear sharing this truth? I hate it. My prayer today will be to speak up when it is necessary and not to water down what is truth. How "hardcore" do I have to be? I don't know but there is good within Him, but people have such a false view of this. How can I do my part in bringing out his truth? I can proclaim my heart and how I feel for my boyfriend, but when it comes to God or Jesus it is so different...

I pray for those whom I encounter today. That the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened and their hearts that question God would be answered by all the saints who proclaim truth in Jesus, though me, my boss, and whomever the else is willing to be used.