walking in the Spirit

this is where i have been for the last few weeks or so. life is incredibly busy ... i'm teaching two post graduate courses at two colleges, preparing for the upcoming Cleansing Stream retreat at which i am one of the speakers (on freemasonry!!), and trying to keep up with all of the demands of full time ministry. people are struggling. i have heard little from my son since he left with milly. i have been doing all i can to walk in the Spirit ...

there are many Scriptures to support what i am going to write, but i do not have the time this morning to link to them. i'll come back later to do all the linking.

the foundational teaching of the Cleansing Stream Seminar is teaching the church how to Walk in the Spirit. Based upon Galatians 5 and Romans 8 for a start, the growing Christian is taught that we must crucify our flesh and walk according to the Spirit of God.

Once we are able to truly give the Lord control ... to surrender our lives to His perfect plan for our lives, we are ale to live in that secret place ... the strong tower of the Lord ... the peace that passes all understanding. the joy of the Lord becomes our strength. it's a beautiful place.

the Lord allowed me that awesome revelation in a powerful way the day that i pulled robby's bail. i had a client show up at my home later that evening... it was his regular time but he had not been scheduled. i was really out of it. sad. crying. afraid. since he was going through something far worse than i, i 'sucked it up' and went down to meet with him.

well, God does meet us when we crucify our flesh, because then we are 'in the Spirit' and able to hear His voice. the fact that i had been fasting for a week didn't hurt either. so i find myself telling this precious man that although he finds himself in a place that appears to be a set back, that God knows all ... that He may be taking him out to do the work in others, and in him. That God is in control. He knows all. Nothing surprises Him. Not 'their' actions. Not our actions. and ... He is able to bring all things togther for all of our good. He is interested in our eternal future ... our character ... our likeness to Jesus.

ding
ding
ding
in my own heart

i could release my son, his girlfriend, his career, his school, his safety, his future ... and our relationship.

i've had a sense of peace for the last two weeks that is beyond understanding. and joy. and strength. and purpose. and trust. and ... well, it is well with my soul. why? because my soul (and body) is securely tucked in under my spirit, which is hidden with Christ in God. yoked up with the Lord ... easy and light.

sigh

it is a beautiful place.

so my question is ... why do we struggle to stay o u t of that place? are we nuts? why do we fight the Lord's work in our lives when we know it will bring us into perfect peace? i speak to myself as much as i ask others.

i think of you ...

when i read today's Scripture ...

Romans 10:15 ...it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

thanks so much to those who have held us up in prayer during this trying time. it has been a journey for sure and i'm so thankful for those who have walked it with me. i know that God will be glorified in this process ... and that we will all end up more like Him in the process.

thanks friends.

Scriptures ... hanging on them today ....

Zephaniah 1:7
Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

Deuteronomy 31:8
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you."

i pray that i will be able to form a sermon around these Scriptures tomorrow. this has been an incredible time for me. how He has proved Himself faithful to me emotionally when i but submit my Spirit to His and crucify this screaming flesh!

anybody know any good time management courses or books? lol

a day i thought i would never live through

thanks so much for your prayers, from the bottom of my heart.

i thought i was going to die last night. my heart was so heavy and broken. bill was really getting scared.

then one of my clients came. i did not have him scheduled, but it was our usual time. well, i sat and talked with him and God really intervened through this man's struggle. i found myself talking to him and God was talking to me ...

He showed me that this does not surprise Him and thus, He is in this with robby, milly, bill, and i. He wants them both for His kingdom and He is capable of holding them and bringing them there. i immediately had such peace, it is amazing.

the kids came this morning and removed all of their stuff. and although it broke my heart to see robby carrying his things out, i was able to have such peace. finally, as he came for the last load, he was by himself. calmly, he came to me and said ...

mom, i'm not leaving you. i'm just leaving here. we can't all live together, but i still love you. i'll see you next week for school. i'll call you. i love you.

i told him that although i thought he was making a mistake, that i still respected his right to make it and that i would be here for him if he ever needed me. he will always be welcome here.

he gave me a hug.

i'm positive the Lord is working in him. i'm not happy with the way i have dealt with milly and one day soon i will have to apologize when things calm down.

i'm so thankful that the Lord continues to deal with me in His mercy.

oh Lord, bless them ... have mercy on me.

amen.

they are moving

finally, things came to a head and milly has been asked to leave. unfortunately, he has chosen to go with her. it makes me sad, but it is probably the best for evening involved.

:(

i will update later, when i get myself together.

my heart is breaking.

Zephaniah 1:7

This is on my daily Bible Verse today:

Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

*sigh* this really speaks to me today...

ooooo ... i'm on a roll

i will teaching the material from my doctoral dissertation next week at the Bible College associated with our Church.

since i have to present the students with a textbook, i have been preparing the material to publish. they will get a simple copy of the first edition ... and i cannot tell you how excited i am to edit this again.

woooooowwwww, God did an awesome job of writing this book! can't wait!

great quote

"It takes guts to go and tell a complete stranger that something is seriously wrong with you but it takes a really tough old bird to then go forward and fix it because doing so often changes every aspect and every relationship in your entire life. " Hey Jules