Fields Filled with Praise

Be praised for all Your tenderness
by these works of Your hands
suns that rise and rains that fall to bless
and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat
and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the colour green
that fills these fields with PRAISE

~From The Color Green by Rich Mullins

Some days I really miss Rich Mullins and his barefoot gypsy heart after God...he was such an incredible poet and psalmist and just my sort of a bit of an odd fish:)

This morning I was delighted by the greening of the city, and decided to take a wee drive out west into the edge of the Flint Hills before I started my work day..the landowners have started the spring burning, and the fields are a patchwork of leftover autumn purple copper golden brown tallgrass, burnt black fields and the brilliant spring green of the ones that have already started growing back from the burn. I Praise God for giving us the incredible gift of appreciating beauty- and the beauty of his creation to appreciate:)

Here is my favorite spring song, the one quoted above...it fits today perfectly!!







The Color Green Lyrics:

And the moon is a sliver of silver
Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a Carpenter's shop
And every house must have it's builder
And I awoke in the house of God
Where the windows are mornings and evenings
Stretched from the sun
Across the sky north to south
And on my way to early meeting
I heard the rocks crying out
I heard the rocks crying out

Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise

And the wrens have returned and they're nesting
In the hollow of that oak where his heart once had been
And he lifts up his arms in a blessing for being born again
And the streams are all swollen with winter
Winter unfrozen and free to run away now
And I'm amazed when I remember
Who it was that built this house
And with the rocks I cry out...

(chorus)


Amen!!

This song is from Rich Mullins EXCELLENT CD A Liturgy, A Legacy & A Ragamuffin Band and is available for purchase on Amazon as either an mp3 download or CD

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY

Sunrise in Pitlochry Scotland

What a glorious day to draw waters from the wells of salvation with JOY!!
I'm not much of a cross person usually,although I do understand the importance of what happened there, the death means nothing without the resurrection. That is the main reason why I like the Celtic cross (as in the photo)- although there are different symbolisms attached to it, to me the circle represents the resurrection and Eternal Life:)
Want to hear a wonderful Resurrection Day truth from the Word? I love this passage from Romans Chapter 8~ This is a big chunk..so take it one or two verses at a time...
Romans8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
~when a person is born again, their spirit is made totally new, old things have passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17)..your outsides are still the same, and your mind will and emotions need some work, but your SPIRIT is totally new..(continued in V 11;)
Romans8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
~I know, sometimes it doesnt seem this way, but if you start with that truth..that IS truth, then you can stand against sin and all things that pertain to death (sickness etc) in your life much easier:)
Romans8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
basically - we cant do it by following the Law..being good, or anything else JESUS did it for us!

Romans8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
So once you realise who you are IN CHRIST, things get much easier. Its important to allow the Word of God to show you who you are so you can be spiritually minded- to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind"(Romans 12:2). The Word is God's mirror to show us who we are...you cant see your spirit in an earthly mirror, but you can in the Word! For a start, do a study on all the verses you can find with the words "IN CHRIST" and "IN HIM"...2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Romans8:8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
So see, if you are born again then YOU ARE NOT IN THE FLESH BUT IN THE SPIRIT...but as Paul says in Galatians, it is still up to us to walk in the Spirit- Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
Romans8:10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
If you have made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life then THE SAME SPIRIT THAT RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD LIVES IN YOU!! And takes hold together with you against the flesh to "GIVE LIFE" to your mortal body...in other words to help you live in the spirit, free from sin and sickness and death!!
Isnt that amazing? This is really what baptism symbolises...we died with Jesus when we made him Lord of our lives and are RESURRECTED with him as we walk in the Spirit with Him....this is what the prayer in Ephesians is talking about, and I am praying this for every believer reading this blog:
Ephesians 1:17-21 For I always pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the deep and intimate knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints His set-apart ones (THATS YOU IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN!!),
And so that you can know and understand what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named-above every title that can be conferred, not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.
Amen, so be it:)
Andrew Wommack has some great FREE audio teaching along these lines:
Spirit Soul & Body Did you know you have all three? And there is a difference between your soul and spirit?? very GOOD basic teaching covering the concepts I have written about above:)
ETERNAL LIFE isnt just living forever in Heaven, its here and now too:)

Sparkling

Photo:Glen Nevis, Scotland 2005

Every now and then when I am studying the living, active breath of God (aka the Bible;-) I am delighted to stumble upon something that reminds me how intimately God knows and loves each one of us personally...

I have always been a "sparklie" person-its one of the ways I express joy! I learned a long time ago that a well placed heart-felt smile can make a big difference in a stranger's day, even without a word- and I try to put the heartfelt part into my eyes with a special sparkle that has the love of God in it. Last week there was this Hebrew word I kept running across in my studies:

נָהַר transliterated "naw-har" which means river, & then by association it means to sparkle or be radiant

Psalm 34:5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.

both ideas come together in the Amplified translation of Jeremiah 31:12~

Jeremiah 31:12 (Amplified Bible)
12They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion and shall flow together and be radiant with joy over the goodness of the Lord--for the corn, for the juice [of the grape], for the oil, and for the young of the flock and the herd. And their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall not sorrow or languish any more at all.

I have also always loved the way God uses water as an illustration in his word... "with Joy shall ye draw waters from the wells of salvation", "with You is the Fountain of Life" and the one that speaks to me continually is Jesus talking about the Holy Spirit in John

John 7:38 (Amplified Bible)
38He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.

I have felt the wonder and delight of this river flowing through me, and at the same time the amazing feeling of flowing IN it...I remember being in a huge congregation of worshippers all singing in the spirit and having that feeling of flowing together in the Holy Spirit river.

When I saw this word and these two passages this week, it was like God added just a little extra dimension to the river...it was now not only a river, but it was a SPARKLING river of joy...and I felt this great big Father God hug-like he was delighted with ME as much as I was with Him.

sparklie..thats how it made me feel;-)

Blood Bought Church REJOICES!!

Talk about JOY!!

I first heard this amazing song in 1985 at Kenneth Hagin's Campmeeting. Ray Gene Wilson sang it several times over the course of the week.. the Joy of the Lord just erupted all over the entire auditorium every time he sang it and I cant remember anyone sitting still:). I remember dancing through the aisles with my 11 month old son Matthew in my arms..I probably should have been tired when it was over, but somehow that Holy Ghost JOY anointing kept me from wearing out:)

The song, written by Nancy Harmon combines powerful lyrics with strong joyful southern gospel music...its just amazing. I wish I could find a recording of Ray Gene Wilson singing it (If anyone knows where I can get one please let me know) but this version by Jessy Dixon is good as well...enjoy!!:






Blood Bought Church
They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for joy,
they shall cry aloud and be free
They shall glorify the name of the Lord,
it's the blood bought, the church, the redeemed

Oh, pick up your heart, oh, Zion of the Lord,
let the earth ring forth with His praise
All His children rejoice from the islands of the sea,
it's the blood bought, the church, the redeemed

Chorus:
And we are in that army of the Lord,
we've been washed in the blood and we are going forth
There is nothing that can stop this mighty moving force,
with a shout of praise a two edged sword

Every stronghold of bondage must fall beneath our feet,
Every prisoner held captive must be free
For our deliverance has come through the power of the son
It's the blood bought, the church, the redeemed

Let the earth be silent all winds cease to blow,
every created being fold your wings,
For there's a new song being sung with a new melody,
it's the blood bought, the church, the redeemed




Jessy Dixon's recording of this can be found on his album I Saw the Light (click link to be directed to product page at Amazon.com:)

Talk to Your Soul

Guess what? Your SOUL-your emotional realm-is not the boss! If you are a born again child of God, your SPIRIT- the "new man" (Rom 8, 2 Cor 5:17,Eph 4:24,Col 3:10) inside of you that has been reborn into the image of God and is 100% wall to wall Holy Ghost-is the boss, in Christ Jesus:)

Paul prayed in his letter to the Ephesians (a letter to the church, and that includes us too:) for them to have "the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you," (eph 1:18 amp). We need to renew our minds to the truth of who we are because of who He is within us!

There is no reason for a Christian to EVER be depressed-but that doesnt mean we dont feel depressed sometimes. It also doesnt mean we need to feel guilty for feeling that way..it just means its time to talk to our souls!!

When my soul is tempted to be depressed, or to throw a self-pity fit, I just grab hold of it spiritually by reading Psalm 103 out loud-sometimes REALLY LOUD- and it always works!!

Psalm 103
A Psalm of David.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.[a]
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
18 To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Some good teachings in this line:

Spirit, Soul & Body by Andrew Wommack

Victim or Victor by Keith Moore

Both of these are available for FREE download via the links above

Don't Blame God- its Not His Fault

"O give thanks unto the LORD;
for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever."

You can find this exact phrase or a
very close paraphrase in ALL these places:
1 Chronicles 16:34
2 Chronicles 5:13
2 Chronicles 7:3
Ezra 3:11
Psalm 100:5
Psalm 106:1
Psalm 107:1
Psalm 118:1
Psalm 118:29
Psalm 136:1
Jeremiah 33:11

While working today Ive been listening to a great Bible teaching by Andrew Wommack-"God is a Good God" -that starts by examining our misunderstandings about the sovereignty of God...we have so messed this about! I have friends and family who are mad at a God that they are trying hard to believe doesn't exist and the root of this anger is a direct result of this "tradition of man" that has so permeated Christian teaching.

The series I was listening to is no longer up on the website, but here is a previous one that Andrew Wommack did: "The True Nature of God"

Keith Moore also has a series on the goodness of God available at no cost here: "God is Good"

Here are some of my favorite books by Andrew Wommack:

That's My Boys

Im a grandma! My son, Matthew and his new baby boy Aidan Daniel, born this morning at 7:54am. We are all totally chuffed to welcome this delightful 'little fire' into our family..mother & baby are doing well, and dad is recovering, lol