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Apr. 8, 2008 - 3-24-08
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For everything in the world-- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father, but from the World. The world and it's desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever!" 1 John 2:15-17
Ooooh Ooooh Ooooh, I had such a REVIVAL this past weekend! When I tell you about it, you won't believe it. But let me start at the beginning.
As you know I went on vacation Thursday morning and came home yesterday. We packed a lot into 4 short days. Day one, Scott, the boys and I went to the hospital in Gainesville to see my dad. He is doing GREAT! My mom took the boys and Scott to lunch and I spent over an hour by myself with my dad. I brought the photo album I made them for Christmas and it was a wonderful way to get the conversation flowing. We then spent the night with my mom and it was so much FUN!
Friday morning found us off to Atlanta and arrived in time to spiffy up at my FIL's hotel room which was near the church where the wedding/rehersal was taking place. I found out that I was to be the wedding coordinator the next day. (Imagine my surprise) I was the one zipping gowns, poofing hair, fixing bra's, putting out fires as they freaked out. (smile) I also found out that I was to be the MAIN photographer?! It was a total surprise to me. I will post the pictures for you to see. Some turned out great (thank you Lord) some did not? I did my best. (sigh)
Saturday morning (wedding day) I woke to the stomach flu. I didn't know what to do as the wedding was an HOUR from our hotel and I couldn't imagine being away from a bathroom that long. But I asked Scott to take the boys to his dads room and to give me some time. I spent that time in the Word and cried out for restoration for the wedding..., He was FAITHFUL! The wedding was just BEAUTIFUL! (I also called Christa and asked for prayer, thank you my friend)
However, at 4am the next morning we woke to Colton moaning and the projectile vomiting all over our hotel room. So you might ask..., how was this wonderful?!
Well unfortunately, I have been so BUSY being BUSY that I've not taken the time to spend with my Savior that I should. But you know when I am empty of myself and don't know where to turn that is when I need and WANT Him the most. I spent HOURS in the Word. I was sharing with friends that I went from having a "drought" experience to a FEAST! I poured through 1,2 & 3rd John, Jude and I'm several chapters into Job! Not just quantity but Quality. His Word was like Ice cold water on the hottest day. It was all HIM! As though, something within me woke up that had been napping with short bursts of wakefulness...., even in the sickness I felt such EXHILARATION!
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in Him. For everything in the world-- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father, but from the World. The world and it's desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever!" 1 John 2:15-17
It would take too long to share with you the exact steps and timing but in a nutshell, the Lord showed me that I had allowed my heart to get pulled into the things of this world. The part of the verse that says, "The boasting of what he does" jumped out and slapped me right upside the head!
I have been so EXCITED about the PPEA (the local support group I am a part of) that it had become an idol. I just love it..., everything about it! I have people e-mailing me their idea's and sharing their excitement and before I knew it this became my IDOL, more important than my Lord. (sob) I shared a couple of weeks ago that I have been so busy that I was coming to my quiet time full, but what He showed me this weekend was that I was busy with things that were not eternal. Don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful ministry and I am very excited to be a part of it, but I don't want to be excited about anything more so than my Lord!
As I repented he said,
Mary, blessed is woman whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For He wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also HEAL! Job 5:17&18
Is that just PRECIOUS! He was comforting me even as He rebuked me!
This went so well with another verse He had given me earlier in the week:
Mary continue in him, so that when he appears you may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming! (1 John 2:28)
Then this last verse blew me away.....,
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What he trusts in is fragile, what he relies on is a spider's web. He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold. He is like a well watered plant in the sunshine, spreading it's shoots over the garden, it entwines it's roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones. But when it is torn from it's spot, that place disowns it and says, I never saw you. Surely life withers away". Job 8:13-18
I heard His voice say, "Don't you see Mary, it's not because I am some mean task master that I have to gently rebuke and re-route your heart back to me, but because "I" know that the enemy wants to cause division. It brings him joy to see God's children running amuck, chasing after the wind. Those lies bring about what the verse above says. I don't want your life to wither away. I want you to experience ABUNDANCE and COMPLETENESS, WHOLENESS AND PURPOSE and apart from me that can't happen!
As if I need another reminder Job 8: 9b- "Our days on earth are but a shadow".
Let me close with this beautiful Word from the Lord...,
"Yet if you devote your heart to Him and stretch out your hands to him. If you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand FIRM and without fear." Job 11:13-15
