Friday, January 12, 2007

Why Suffering?

What is the cost of another person’s soul? Less than the cost of mine? What amount of suffering would I be willing to go through to get the message of Life to another person so that he or she could have the opportunity to be saved from eternal death?

God sent His own Son for the very purpose of suffering and dying - for me. Do I think that He would not ever allow me to be bruised?

The question, in suffering, must be: "What are YOU doing here, Lord?" What do you intend to accomplish in and through me? And my response, in suffering, must be: "I am Your servant, Lord. Do in me as You will, not as I will."

In times of difficulty, I must get a word from the Lord – His very specific and personal word to me about what He wants to do through the situation. If I pursue God – and God alone – He will show me the answer. He does not want His children to be in the dark, but in the Light. It is His greatest desire to reveal Himself to us. He is the great Revealer of Mysteries (See Daniel 2:27,28). And a mystery is not something to be hidden, but something to be revealed.

He will throw the devil out, and He will empower me to crucify my flesh – every day. He will accomplish these things in my life as I pursue Him, no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the cost.

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Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Teapot

When I was a little girl – 3, 4, or 5 years old – I sang this song:

I’m a little teapot, short and stout.
Here is my handle – here is my spout.
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout!
Just tip me over, pour me out!


I had no idea how prophetic that little song was. How amazing God is!
All of my life He’s been pursuing me, lovingly guiding me in His direction, all the while asking my permission to get a hold of my handle – my heart – to fill me up with His satisfying holiness, until my life is ringing with shouts of His praise, to baptize me with His purifying fire, to lift me up, and to pour me out. What a beautiful Savior. What a wonderful King. Now my little preschool song is the prayer of my life.

Here I am, Lord.
Get a hold of my whole being.
Fill me with Your incredible Self, until I can’t help shouting Your praises.
Pick me up.
Hold me in Your Hands.
Turn me upside down and pour Your life out of me.

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