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Comforted and Comforting

COMFORTED AND COMFORTING

Humdrum days can hum with praise,
lonely time becomes sublime
when, by God’s salvation blest,
Jesus comes to give me rest.

Come to me, my honored Lord,
Come my Savior, keep your Word.
Come to strengthen in the Way,
be my Comforter throughout the day.

Body frail, but Christ won’t fail.
May I cheer those who come near,
praying for the needs around,
for the grace in Jesus found.
(~ Rhiannon Weber ~) 


When doubt and worry come your way, 
break free in praise and don't delay.
turn self aside and fix your gaze,
on Christ alone our hands we raise.


Don't look to outward circumstance,
to troubles, cares of happenstance.
Give thanks to Yahweh in it all 
He's there to catch if you should fall
(~ Linda Rose ~)


Matthew 5:4

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

John 14:15-17

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Romans 15:3-5

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus

2 Corinthians 1:3-6

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

(Consolation: The giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering.)

Do I Have Me a House?

This morning when I had my prayer time with Abba, I was led to read 2 Samuel 7 and 2 Chronicles 6

I will put up these scriptures that spoke to me as I was hearing Abba say, “do I have me a house?” Follow along and we will see how all this unfolds.

2 Samuel 7:5-10;12-14

Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar? Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.


Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

2 Chronicles 6:7-9; 18-21

Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:


Not withstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name. But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

(It is quite the revelation that Solomon would make this declaration. If the heavens could not contain Him how much less a house for Him he was to build? Although this had been revealed he knew it was Yahweh’s will. His people needed something they can see and take hold of which would contain that of Abba’s presence in a tangible way. Unlike His followers today who have the deposit of His Spirit where our daily walk in Christ is one of faith, which is the assurance of things hoped for and the EVIDENCE of that which is unseen.)

Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee: That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

As you have read we see a HOUSE that David wanted to build for Yahweh and yet it was not for him to build but rather his seed and heir Solomon. We see a physical house that was build for Yahweh with His blessings. Much of what we see and read about in the Old Testament are the physical representation and blue print to what He purposed to bring about in Spirit. This was done through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

Matthew 12:5-7

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Matthew 24:1

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.

Jesus also gave a clue as to how He wanted the temple of Yahweh to be.

Matthew 21:12-13

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them. It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Though this was a physical temple He went into we can see how this applies to our own temple. He had not yet died and risen for that which was physical to be a place not built with hands.

This is the hebrew word for house taken from 2 Chronicles 6

G3624

οἶκος

oikos

oy'-kos

Of uncertain affinity; a dwelling by implication a family; home, house (-hold), temple.

Just by it’s definition we see what Father’s purpose is to have such a house. And who is that house? The very body of Christ of which we are who do His will are a part of. A house, dwelling, home and temple not made by hands is the ultimate intention and eternal purpose for those whom He has called and fore ordained.

Acts 7:47-49

But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

1 Corinthians 3:15-19

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

2 Corinthians 6:15-17

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Ephesians 2:20-22

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

So what can we conclude about what has been interpreted as the “church?”

Quote

The English language was first spoken on this planet as a Germanic dialect, known as Old English or Anglo-Saxon, which began to be spoken in northern England some years after the Anglo-Saxon conquest of that island starting in 449 AD. The earliest written Old English, however, did not appear until approximately 800 AD.


If we allow 50 years for the conquest to have its effect on England’s native dwellers, that means sometime around 500 AD, the people in northern England started referring to a building erected for worship as a cirice, later, chirche, and finally, a church.


It is extremely difficult to understand how this word which was not spoken anywhere on earth until 400 years after the New Testament was written and cannot be shown by a single citation to have been a word known to first-century people—how this word could be the definition of a first-century word, yet, that is what thousands of people today believe and teach! Asserting that "church" is not a building, we have teachers who continue to use the word " church," which designated the buildings of the people of northern England!

Premise 1: Most of us teach "we speak where the Scripture speaks and we are silent where the Scripture is silent."

Premise 2: The Scripture speaks the word "assembly, group, gathering." It is silent regarding the word "church."

Conclusion:


Those who teach the word "assembly, group, gathering" are honoring the Scripture’s voice and silence; those who teach the word "church" are rejecting the Scripture’s voice and silence and honoring in its place the voice of the 6th century people of northern England!

Three facts need to be realized:

(1) While the King James Version makes useof the word "church," the New Testament as written in the first century, uses that word nowhere at all on any one of its pages!

(2) Anyone who consults an English dictionary will see that the word "church" has several definitions, all of them different. That means the word is totally inadequate for expressing the nature or essence of a group of Christians who are functioning according to the first-century-pattern of teaching and worship.

(3) Since there are somewhere around twenty words used by Scripture, God must have thereby intended to emphasize the many-faceted nature of a community of Christians instead of restricting that nature by the use of one word; and wouldn’t it be logical to expect that those who are concerned about God’s way of doing things would adopt the same usage?

(This article by Don Reb first appeared in Firm Foundation, June 3, 1980).

(Comments)

We believe that the foregoing article has an important message that should be thoughtfully considered by those who wish to develop proper Scriptural concepts. One questionable part of the article, however, is its failure to recognize that many Bible students hold that the word ekklesia is not to be interpreted primarily in terms of its secular and political use by the Greeks. Rather, it is to be seen in light of the LXX or Septuagint (the Greek translation of the OT which was widely used by Jews in the Greco-Roman world), where it referred to Israel, the people of God. Just as the people of God in OT times were called the ekklesia, so the people of God in the first-century (the Christians) were called the ekklesia, or the community, of God.

We agree that since "church" has an ecclesiastical connotation today and fails to precisely reflect the meaning of ekklesia (thereby encouraging questionable concepts of the body of Christ), we might better translate the Greek term with such words as the following: assembly, congregation, company, gathering, group, or community. Notice the following expressions referring to God’s people, all of which use ekklesia in the original:

• " My community" (Matt. 16:18).
• " The assembly of God" (1 Cor. 1:2).
• " The company of the living God" (1 Tim. 3:15).
• " The congregations of Christ" (Rom. 16:16).
• " The assemblies of the saints" (1 Cor. 14:33).
• " The community of the first-born" (Heb. 12:23).

When we use these synonyms in place of "church" we can capture something of the meaning that the New Testament writers were trying to convey. There was nothing of sectarianism or denominationalism here. Other references to the body of Christ show that the New Testament writers freely used expressions that were not sectarian. Notice some of these:

• "the household of the faith" (Gal. 6:10).
• " the household of God" (1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:19).
• " Christ’s body" (1 Cor. 12:27).
• " the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12).
• " a temple of God" (1 Cor. 3:16).
• " the temple of the living God" (2 Cor. 6:16).
• " a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2:21).
• " a spiritual house" (1 Pet. 2:5).
• " the people of God" (Heb. 4:9; 1 Pet. 2:10). " the brotherhood" (1 Pet. 2:17).

In each case, the term was not mean to be exclusive or sectarian, but simply descriptive of a relationship or position that believers enjoy. Nor were the terms given to officially denominate (give a proper name to) the people of God. The Lord’s body has no exclusive title as religious organizations do. Our Lord’s community is not "denominational" in nature!

Let others use " church" or any other term they wish. Let the " Lutheran Church," the " Catholic Church," the " Methodist Church," the " Presbyterian Church," and the " Pentecostal Church" use the term. Let the " Baptist Churches" and others employ it. But let us seek to be as Scriptural as possible and convey truth even in what we call ourselves!

Richard Hollerman

http://www.truediscipleship.com/bsub/subjects15.htm

So, what house are you? Do you connect your very temple in which Abba alone is to reside to that of a building ie a church? I don’t read anywhere in the new testament about the importance of a building or specific place where His people were called together to worship. What constitutes an assembly or gathering is this.

Romans 12:4


“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:”

1Corinthians 12:12


" For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”


1Corinthians 12:13


“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

Matthew 18:19-21

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them

There may have been places where the first century believers gathered, but I don’t read it as being a particular place of worship. IN fact when they got too comfortable in one place Abba allowed persecution to arise which scattered His people for His Word to be spread throughout the regions and places where they were scattered. What I do read are those of His people who gathered together in each others homes, broke bread and shared all things in common.

No title or name just His Body who meet in so in so’s house in Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, etc.

Romans 16:4-6 (King James Version)

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches (gatherings) of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church (gathering) that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

1 Corinthians 1:10-12

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Colossians 3:15-17

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to that which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

I sure don’t see this being practiced in the “churches,” do you?

Surely not! They are segregated having their own creed, doctrine and beliefs. This was not the spiritual blue print Abba had in mind for His people. Yes, we are called to SEPARATE, but what is that which we are called to separate from?

2 Corinthians 6:16-18

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

There are more of these I could put up, but you can do your own search.

I end with this question ---------> WHAT HOUSE ARE YOU?

<3

Linda @->--

Prodigal by Voo

PRODIGAL

I LEFT MY HOME SOMETIME AGO

SO FOOLISHLY, SMUG AND VAIN

AND ALL I'VE THOUGHT OF SINCE I LEFT

IS GOING BACK HOME AGAIN.

I LEFT MY FATHER'S LAVISH MANSION

TO KNEEL IN THE MUD WITH THE SWINE

I HUDDLED AND FOUGHT FOR A BIT OF CORN HUSK

ON WHICH I WOULD HUNGRILY DINE.

SOMEHOW I THOUGHT THAT THINGS WOULD GET BETTER

AS I MADE MY OWN WAY THROUGH MY LIFE

WITHOUT HELP OR HAND FROM, GOD, SON OR MAN

BUT ALL I FOUND OUT THERE WAS STRIFE.

MY FATHER GAVE ME A GREAT INHERITANCE

AND I SQUANDERED AND THREW IT AWAY

ON PLEASURES AND LEISURES AND THINGS OF THE WORLD

AND SHAME IS ALL I HAVE TODAY.

HOW COULD I BETRAY MY FATHER'S TRUST?

HOW COULD I TURN AND LEAVE?

HOW COULD I LAUGH AND DANCE AWAY

AND LEAVE HIM THERE TO GRIEVE?

I NEVER PLANNED TO DO IT

I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD

TO BACKSLIDE WAS A FOREIGN THOUGHT

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD.

I WONDER WHAT HE'D SAY TO ME NOW

IF I GAVE HIM AN OVERDUE CALL

HOW CAN I TELL HIM THAT I HAVE NOTHING LEFT

BUT LOST EVERYTHING IN THE FALL.

PERHAPS HE'LL LET ME SLEEP IN HIS BARN

AND THROW ME SOME CRUMBS EVERY NIGHT

PERHAPS HE'LL SCORN ME AND SCOURGE ME WITH WHIPS

AND TELL ME TO KEEP OUT OF SIGHT.

I WONDER WHAT MY BROTHER IS DOING

HE'S PROBABLY ARRAYED NOW SO FINE

EATING AND DRINKING AND TAKING HIS EASE

AND OWNING ALL THAT WAS ONCE PARTIALLY MINE.

MY FATHER PROBABLY LOVES HIM SO

AND HATES MY VERY NAME

HE PROBABLY LAVISHES HIS PRAISES ON HIM

AND NEVER WANTS TO SEE ME AGAIN.

WELL, TELL ME WHAT I HAVE TO LOSE

I'M SICK AND GASPING FOR BREATH

I FOUND THAT THE HEALTH AND THE WEALTH OF THE WORLD

WAS JUST EMPTY, DISILLUSIONING DEATH.

I SEE THE EDGE OF MY FATHER'S ESTATE

THE WHEAT FIELDS AND CORNFIELDS SO GREEN

I SEE THE GARDENS OVERFLOWING WITH PRODUCE

IT'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT I HAVE SEEN.

THERE ARE THE HORSES I USED TO RIDE

THERE COMES THE FATTED CALF

MY HUNGER KNAWS WITHIN MY FLESH

LIKE IT'S TEARING MY STOMACH IN HALF.

MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND IS WORKING THE FIELDS

MY BROTHER IS PICKING THE FRUIT

BUT WHERE IS MY FATHER AND WILL I SOON FEEL

ON MY POOR RAGGED BACKSIDE.....HIS BOOT?

AND SUDDENLY I SEE HIM THERE AT THE DOOR

AND OH, I MUST HAVE BLINDED EYES!

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S A SMILE ON HIS FACE

AND IT LOOKS LIKE HIS ARMS ARE THROWN WIDE!

ONE STEP AND TWO AND NOW I AM RUNNING

AND MY FATHER IS RUNNING TOWARDS ME

ONE KISS, ONE EMBRACE AND NOW I AM WEEPING

AND MY FATHER IS WEEPING WITH ME.

" KILL THAT FATTED CALF!" SAYS HE

TO THE SERVANTS AS FEAR FLEES AWAY

"LAY ON THE TABLE A FEAST FOR A KING

AND TELL ALL, COME TO OUR HOLIDAY!"

NOW MY FATHER TAKES ME IN HIS ARMS

THE PLACE WHERE I KNOW I BELONG

HE PLACES HIS ROBE UPON MY TIRED SHOULDERS

AND SAYS TO ME SOFTLY "YOU'RE HOME."

by Voo

when I first came to know the Lord

The Prodigal Son Story (Luke 15:11-32

The Narrow Road (New song ~ Re-recorded on Sun /10am pst)

(Sun ~ 10am pst)I re-recorded the song and took out some of the extra echo. I, along with some other trusted ears found it a little too obtrusive. I hope and pray this brings encouragement to those of you on this long hard narrow road that will bring us to Abba's High Places beyond this temporary fleshly existence)




I carry this baggage of fleshly sorrow
a warring of carnal desires
yet by His grace His Spirit guides me
through fiery trials such faith requires


Fear and cares creep in to trap me,
where sin and doubt seek to intrude
At times I feel I can't go on, will I fail Him?
till these vain imaginings are taken captive to His truth

(Chorus)

It's a long, long, hard road. I get weary from all this heavy load. Lord, Lord You say, " drop it all at Your feet. Your my strength and a shade from the HEAT." Oh the battle, battles gettin mean and fierce. Your wounded child despised and mocked, my heart is pierced. I fall down, down bloody on this rocky ground. This Way of pain, tears and loneliness, but in You i'm heaven bound.

Along the narrow way I stumble,
finding the turf so sharp and rough
no one can take this journey for me
tis mine alone, as I scale the bluff

One step at a time maintaining balance,
focused ahead as I see the prize
eternal treasures await my arrival
where in His Presence, He'll wipe every tear from my eyes

(Chorus)

It's a long, long, hard road. I get weary from all this heavy load. Lord, Lord, You say, " drop, it all at Your feet. Your my strength and a shade from the HEAT." Oh the battle, battles gettin mean and fierce. Your wounded child despised and mocked, my heart is pierced. I fall down, down bloody on this rocky ground. This road of pain, tears and loneliness, but in You i'm heaven bound.

Written by Netty Daniel and Spiritsong
composed and sung by Spiritsong

<3

Linda @->--

Abba Father Disciplines those He Loves

Yesterday afternoon I had the opportunity to sit down and record the new song, The Narrow Road. In all honesty when this song was given to both myself and Netty, I struggled and had little desire to do anymore with it. Not the song itself but any music for that matter. The thought of doing anything met with a lot of resistance and I couldn't understand why I was feeling this way. IN fact the last two songs were very difficult to record. I didn't have a peace about putting them up.

When I talked to Abba about it, what He revealed wasn't easy for me to accept at first. It was very painful because of some doors I had opened up that He did not intend for me to open. The fault does not lie with those who were used to bring me to this compromise and the direction Spiritsong was forging headlong into, but my own blinded disobedience. When I look back at how Abba blocked and strongly hindered me from the new direction I thought He was allowing me to go into with the music, I was too filled with pride to see it. This was my KICKING hard against the goads.

A goad is a stick with a pointed piece of iron fastened to the end of it. This instrument is used to prod the oxen on when they are plowing. When a stubborn ox attempted to kick back against the goads (pricks), he would actually wound himself. The proverb was often used to teach the lesson that it is foolish to rebel against a powerful authority. Any attempt to do so would result in much greater difficulties..... And hurt it did!

Because of my stubborn disobedience, Abba Father prodded me to take down the two songs I recently recorded called, Against a Thorn and Invisible People. The way I went about doing these songs were not HIS Way. And being they are HIS songs, whether I receive the words and music or the music to songs given to another, if they have the taint of mans hand and the flesh upon them it deeply grieved His Spirit in me. When He revealed that it really HURT, but I KNEW it to be true! Some may not understand this kind of spiritual discipline, but when you desire to yield fully to His Spirit and no longer live in such a way that coddles and makes excuses for your own fleshly desires than you welcome His discipline.

Psalm 94:11-13 11The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. 12Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; 13That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

Proverbs 15:9-10 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves Him who follows righteousness. 10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die.

Hebrews 12:5-9 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

I asked Mike and Netty to pray with me about the Lords heavy dealings with the music of Spiritsong and how I have so grieved Him. The tears and inner grief came pouring out in repentance. At first I wanted to lay it all down, but that was only self pities attempt to sabotage what Abba was trying to teach me about the true call to His music that has come out of my worship, prayer and fellowship time with Him throughout my walk. A call To not separate the gift He gave which included the guitar and His songs to be used in perfect harmony and/or to take what He gives in Spirit to be a work of the flesh for my own selfish gain.

Prior to my calling for prayer, I did receive the melody to the Narrow Road song, but the spiritual flow was NOT THERE, especially what "I" was attempting to do with the chorus. I had to stop because I KNEW if I proceeded to go through with this song without His anointing and KNOWING that I have had with MOST of the songs He has given, it would have to be given up and sacrificed like the two previous songs I recorded. The next morning after praying with Mike and Netty I went in the back room to pray. I felt the Spirit move me to get my guitar to worship Abba. I sang to Him about two songs and then out of nowhere I began singing the chorus to the Narrow Road. I thought to myself, "wow Lord, You are giving me this melody that brought such joy and excitement to my Spirit."

When I played the verses and chorus together, I noticed it had the feel of another song that was quite different from the verses I had gotten the melody to. "LORD, what do I do with this?" ..."Play it together and you will find that though they be vocally challenging, the two will compliment each other."...... I found the chorus to be a DEEP cry of ones heart while journeying on the long hard narrow road. Especially when you meet up with the constant battle of your flesh and those outside demonic forces that work at trying to get you off that road to the road of compromise or broad road leading to destruction. I was so excited with this break through that I couldn't wait to give Mike and Netty a call.

As I was attempting to work on a blog the phone rings. When I answered I hear Mike on the other end with his greeting, LOL! He had gotten a word for me that he read later on in the day after we all prayed together. He knew immediately after reading this word it was for me. But before He could get it out I told him what happened. What a time of rejoicing and praise to our Abba! \0/ This is what Mike shared. I was going to put up a post about my call to obscurity that would include this word he shared, but it just wasn't coming together. Spirit had this post in mind in it's place all along.

<3 I LOVE YOU, ABBA! <3

The following quote was taken out of “Renewed Day by Day” by A.W. Tozer

What we do for God must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit, and we know and accept the fact that we may have little praise from men. But what we do accomplish for Him as a true spiritual work done with eternity in view, will have His praise written across it! Most of us have never heard, or do not remember, the name of the humble sixteen year old girl, whose singing ministry brought such spiritual results in the Welsh revivals with Evan Roberts. This quiet, humble girl would sing the gospel songs and much has been said about her spiritual gift, the Spirit-given ability to glorify Jesus Christ as Savior when she sang.

Not too much has ever been said about her voice, but the record is clear that she was a gifted soul–that the Holy Spirit seemed to be singing and moving through her yielded expression. Evan Roberts would then rise to preach and there was little left for him to do. He said that he would quote from the scriptures and add an exhortation and the people were ready to come to Christ. She had melted them with the warmth and the power of the Spirit! Oh, what we would be tempted to do with her ministry today! We would put her on a coast-to-coast network tour, show off her talent–and spoil her!

Thank God that they knew better than to start writing her life story. She was a beautiful example of the humble use of our spiritual gifts for the glory of Jesus Christ–a simple Welsh girl willingly controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit!

I believe this pretty much speaks for itself. You see ABBA is a JEALOUS Father over His children. I have known this calling for some years now that has come under a lot of attack as our adversary attempts with every effort to exploit this gift and make what Spirit has given, the Way He has given it to be tarnished, tainted and to remove the purity of Spirit in the songs He gives that reflects my spiritual journey in Him. I pray it will NEVER be "I, me or my" when it comes to His music and my own walk with Him, but CHRIST ALONE! Abba got me up at 3am to type all this. I have some places I have to go to around noon with my daughter and hope to download "The Narrow Road" (I recorded yesterday) sometime this afternoon.

I just want to briefly share how the recording came together. I practiced playing the song a few times before recording it. It is VERY rare that I can record a song all the way through without making mistakes and starting all over again. Well, this song happened to be one of those rare songs that I did only ONE recording all the way through. : ) \0/ I am very thankful for Abba's grace, help and anointing with this song. Usually recording the first track of the song all the way through becomes the greatest challenge and the vocal harmonies, dubs and echoes are the easiest part of recording for me. Well with this song it was reversed. LOL! It took me quite some time to layer the additional vocal tracks and yet WHAT JOY it was putting it all together HIS WAY!

........STAY TUNED IN to Spirit and check back later to hear the new song which is a new chapter of my walk in earnest through faith, and by His grace setting my heart, mind, eyes and ears on Jesus the author and finisher of His faith in me by staying on the Narrow Road.


<3

Linda @->--

Link to Obstinate Fence Dwellers

This is an excellent message about the obstinate fence dwellers. There is MUCH to be learned by the practical consequences described that will also be the judgment and wrath of Abba Father for SO MANY pseudo obstinate "  Christian"  fence dwellers who are church goers and non church goers alike, if they do not repent!

 http://besanctified.blogspot.com/2011/03/story-about-obstinate-fence-dweller.html

Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard (Audio allegory)

This book (audio book) is like Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress only in that they are both allegories that give a wonderful overview and perspective of the Christian life. But Hinds Feet in High Places has much more heart, and I found it to stir the heart and soul in deep ways. It is the story of Much-Afraid leaving the Valley of Fear that she has always known, and embarking on a journey to become new creation.


The thing about this book is that it talks about the deepest longings and fears of our hearts in following God--following Him when we can't see ahead of us, when we feel like we're going in circles, when we feel like He is not taking us where we want to go, and how following Him can mean laying down the deepest desires of our hearts just because God asks us to, and we know Him to be good and loving.


I enjoyed this book immensely, and found it both challenging and filled with grace; which is a rare find in Christian books which often offer only one or the other. All in all this is a love story between Much Afraid and her God; a God who calls her to a path that is filled with sorrow and suffering that take her to a deeper place of dependence on him, and also a God who is there the instant she calls for Him.



This is a book that I will probably read every couple of years, as I am at different places in my own journey, and will always see something new that I didn't see before.(Review by Bethany McKenney)

I hope you take the time to listen and enjoy this audio allegory read from the book "Hinds Feet on High Places." Abba used this book to show me so much about my own fears and insecurities. He also used this book to deliver me from smoking years ago. It is a CLASSIC and one I hope you come to appreciate and treasure in your deeper walk with Abba Father as I have.




 <3



Linda @->--

A Sneak Peek of a New Song in Progress

As my walk always reflects the music that Spirit gives it has been put on my heart to write about the Narrow Road. This was a joint effort put together by Netty and myself. She wrote the verses and I tweaked and changed the wording to a few of the verses so they will flow into a song. I was given the words to the chorus.
 
I carry this baggage of fleshly sorrow
a warring of carnal desires
yet by His grace His Spirit guides me
through fiery trials such faith requires

 
Fear and cares creep in to trap me, 
where sin and doubt seek to intrude
At times I feel I can't go on, will I fail Him?
till these vain imaginings are taken captive to His truth

(Chorus)
 
It's a long, long, hard road. I get weary from all this heavy load. Lord, Lord You say, "  drop it all at my feet, I am your strength and a shade from the HEAT."  Oh the battle, battles gettin mean and fierce. Your wounded child despised and mocked, my heart is pierced. I fall down, down bloody on this rocky ground. This Way so lonely, but in You i'm heaven bound.

Along the narrow way I stumble,
finding the turf so sharp and rough
no one can take this journey for me
tis mine alone, as I scale the bluff

One step at a time maintaining balance,
focused ahead as I see the prize
eternal treasures await my arrival
where in His Presence, He'll wipe every tear from my eyes

(Chorus)
 
It's a long, long, hard road. I get weary from all this heavy load. Lord, Lord, You say, "  drop, it all at my feet, I am your strength and a shade from the HEAT."  Oh the battle, battles gettin mean and fierce. Your wounded child despised and mocked, my heart is pierced. I fall down, down bloody on this rocky ground. This road so lonely, but in You i'm heaven bound.



.........stay tuned for the melody to come by Spirits leading.


 
While we are on the subject of the narrow road, I wonder if there will be a can or two of beans waiting for me along the Way?

http://besanctified.blogspot.com/2011/03/price-of-can-of-beans.html    ...... leave a can of beans on this dusty trail, will ya?

<3

Linda @->-- 

Dumb Sheep?

 

DUMB SHEEP?

 Have you ever heard the term: "dumb sheep"? Being a city boy, I can't really say whether or not sheep are actually "dumb", but the image they call to mind is a group of little, white, fuzzy (and witless) animals that do nothing all day but graze on soft rolling hills of green... just waiting to be eaten by Wile E. Coyote!

     
The Bible refers to Christians as sheep and in many ways we are just like those little animals: we must be led from place to place and, being defenseless, we must completely trust in Another, the Good Shepherd, for protection.

     
But, did you know that BLIND faith is very bad thing? Solomon said: "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going." (Prov. 14:15) Luke said the worshippers at Berea "...were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11). Who were the Bereans " checking-up"  on? The apostle Paul! Paul had been teaching that this Jesus was the promised Christ and that He, of necessity, was to have died and rose again. Remember, the Jews had been expecting the Messiah in the form of a king.

     
As the Berean believers, we should not automatically accept everything we hear from the pulpit, or from any other "authority", as fact unless it agrees with the authority of scripture.

     
Real Christianity is not blind devotion to a Jim Jones, "creed" or cause; it isn't naive trust in the unreliable. It is, rather, OPEN-MINDED devotion and commitment to and personal relationship with Jesus Christ Himself.

     "
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let ALL thy ways be established." (Prov. 4:26-emphasis added.) Solomon here tells us to consider ALL our ways (not just those of a "spiritual" nature). We are to exercise good judgement, common sense, and seek wise counsel when needed in handling the everyday affairs of life. We need not be an easy "mark" for those willing to prey on the unsuspecting.

     
Jesus Himself said: " Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matt. 10:16)

     
Dumb sheep? Not a chance!

-Al Stephens

       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have heard that cliche as well. As far as a sheep's nature coming from one who has made their calling and occupation as a literal shepherd over sheep, that I do not know. Much of what I read here resonates with my Spirit for those who are Truly of HIS FOLD.

John 10:1-4

 ¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

 ²But he that entereth in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep.

 ³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

 ⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know His voice.

The sheep of His fold don't get caught up in the biblical evolution that has crept within Christianity for millennium. WHY? Because such practices contradict His word, example and voice for His sheep to pick up their cross, deny self, follow Him and LISTEN to HIS voice!. Here is a link that expounds on this very important subject. http://besanctified.blogspot.com/2011/03/biblical-evolution.html

As a side note: It is said that sheep are dumb and will follow one another off a precipice, so there is a balance here. If the sheep take the prodding and discipline of Yeshua our true shepherd, then we will be kept from the pit falls that surround us. If one wanders away from the Shepherd as others follow, then they become  DUMB, FOOLISH,and easy prey. Out from under the protection of Yeshua the Shepherd of His flock and the Head over His Body.

<3

Linda @->--