How would you feel if someone came into your home and did whatever they wanted to do, without your permission? YOUR home, not their home. A place where you made the sacrifices to own it – you paid for it, you were responsible for it, you cared for it. You lived in it. Your children were raised in it. You reached out to your neighbors in it. So what if you allowed someone to come into your home to use it, and instead of respecting your guidelines for the home, they disregarded what you wanted, and did the opposite?
When God gave Moses instructions for the first tabernacle, He was very specific with what He wanted. The word tabernacle means “dwelling place”- it was a portable tent, but it was a place for God to live near His children. God was specific about His dwelling place -from the exterior walls to the Holy of Holies, God knew what He wanted. Moses knew what God wanted, and Moses, out of respect for God, gave God exactly what God wanted for His home. At the end of Exodus we read over and over, “as the Lord commanded Moses.” In the last chapter, we see that once the house was built according to God’s instructions, that His presence came and filled the tabernacle. Moses and the people had honored God in their hearts and it showed in the honor they had for God’s house.
We need to have the same honor for God. We need to honor His guidelines for His home. When we do, God’s presence is with us. His glory is experienced – not because of the tent, but because we respected HIM by respecting what belonged to Him. It is my desire to show God honor in His church. I want to find out what He wants and then give it to Him. I care about my relationship with God, because I love Him. I want Him to have what He wants, because I love Him. I want Him to be able to do what He wants in His house, because I love Him. I believe the result is knowing Him and experiencing His power and presence! There is nothing greater than knowing God.
It’s the beginning of a new year, a time where many of us are reflecting on 2011 and setting goals for 2012. For the Christian, our lives are surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, so when we set goals, we don’t just consider our plans, we look to God for His plans. Many Christians are coming together to fast and pray to hear from God for 2012. Jerry and I will be connecting with www.awake21.org.
I like to observe from people. I learn a lot by observing. I’ve noticed that some pray to ask what God wants but don’t stay around long enough to really hear Him. Some stay in His presence until they get an idea of what God wants and then start working on their own strategy to give God what He wants. Others get on their knees and refuse to move until they hear what God wants and how He wants it done. I think the ones that truly love God with all their heart are the ones that have stopped living for themselves and live to give God what He wants.
To me, love is shown when we put the other person first. If we love God with all our heart, His words are our sustenance and we can’t live without hearing from Him. It doesn’t matter how much it costs us. It doesn’t matter what people think. It doesn’t matter how much time it takes. Life is not living unless the One you love has what they want. So this January, my husband and I will be joining many others in putting God first with prayer and fasting. You are welcome to join us at www.awake21.org.
What I love about people is that when we worship together, we create an atmosphere for God to envelop. Our combined love for Him and for each other provides an open place for God to saturate with His presence and power. God’s anointing fills our hearts and rolls into our corporate setting when we gather with the unified purpose to honor Him as our Lord and our Life. God longs to be the one to make us whole and complete. God wants to meet with us. God wants to reveal His love. God wants to perform the miracles that we need. When we come together to express our love and reverence for who He is, we experience Him. I love people and I love when we come together for a common cause – to meet with our Father.
John 14:17 “The Spirit of truth….He dwells with you and will be in you.”
I love that because people contain the Spirit of God, they also contain the power of God.
II Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”
So when I encounter another believer, I see them as a container of the Spirit of God. I see God in them! How incredible is that?!!!! The power that raised Christ from the dead is within them! The power that created the universe is in them! How powerful, how valuable, people are.
The Bible says that we make up the body of Christ. Jesus is the head. We are His hands to do what He wants to do. We are His feet to go where He wants to go. We are His mouth to speak what He wants us to speak. How great it is to be living on the earth with YOU. How great it is to be the body of Christ with YOU, and to be a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
When we worship together, the combination of hearts, creates a beautiful harmony of God’s love and power. The corporate anointing, when we are all focused on glorifying God, is tremendous!!! I love being part of the church. I love being part of you.
One thing I enjoy about people is the love that we share. Giving and receiving love is one of the greatest treasures that life has to offer. There is a joy in giving love. There is a joy in receiving love. Receiving love gives us strength, support and pleasure. Receiving love confirms our value, our destiny and our core values. Receiving love can help us through difficult times – times of loss, times of regret and times of transition.
Giving love is also fulfilling. When we give love, we release God to move through us. When we give, we are open to more of what God wants to do in us. When we give, we are acting according to the nature that God has placed inside of us. It will pull on God’s life, favor, and anointing. It opens up the windows of heaven to equip us with what we need to do great things for God, loving all kinds of people in all kinds of circumstances. What a blessing to be able to give love and to receive love from others!
