Abandonment

| November 12, 2015

Dear Servant,

Humans fear so many things. When sin entered the world the peace of living daily with me was shattered and fear began to reign in men’s hearts. One fear that spreads like a cancer is fear of abandonment. You have seen it on this earth, a child abandoned by its parents in a trash can, at a hospital or police station. Left alone to die or for others to care for it, but cut off from those who should have cared for the child.

I am a parent. I chose to reveal myself to you most often. I will never abandon you. I will never leave you, I will never forsake you. You are my child, bought by the blood of my son. When Satan comes with those fears of being abandoned, do not believe him. I will always be with you, no matter who else may forsake you.

Here with you always, I AM

Verses for thought: Deuteronomy 4:25-31, Nehemiah 9:29-37, John 10:1-18

Dependence

| November 10, 2015

My child,

One of the great struggles you have in following me is dependence versus independence. Your culture teaches you that one of the highest values in life is independence. Being completely free from having to depend on anyone for anything is the unspoken goal. The problem is my kingdom teaches utter dependence as one of the highest values. Remember my son teaching his disciples near the end of his time on earth? He said to them, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

My Son’s teaching is as true today as it was the day he spoke it. Apart from me there is no life, no fruit, no peace, no hope, only a spiritual desert. Yes, it is hard for you to put aside your culture and embrace dependence. It is hard to quit believing the lies about your self-sufficiency. But until you lay aside this worlds culture and embrace your dependence upon me, you will continue to be cut off, barren and unproductive in my kingdom.

Your Source, I AM

Verses for thought: John 15:1-17, Psalm 71, Mark 9:14-29

Practice

| November 8, 2015

Dear Servant,

It is a generally accepted truism in most human performance activities, like sports, that you only play as good as you practice. Time spent with the instrument, getting each note right, time spent with the coach, mastering each skill until it becomes second nature is what will allow you to perform when the lights are bright and the pressure of the performance rises. While you may perform adequately on previous practices for a short while, it will show in the long run. You will only get out what you put in.

Your walk with me is so similar. The time spent in prayer, listening, fasting, reading my word and just being in my presence is your practice for living in this world. When you face the challenges of a sinful world and you have walked with me on a consistent basis, it is so much easier to act like a citizen of my kingdom. I will not say that you do not feel the pressure or face an onslaught of your opponent, but when you have put in the time with me, you have the depth in your spirit to face what comes. Likewise, when you halfheartedly acknowledge me and only set aside a few minutes of worship on a Sunday, you will fail to live a life that resembles my son. Yes, I will forgive you, but you will not go forward in your walk with me without putting in the time it takes.

Desiring daily to walk with you, I AM

Verses for consideration: Psalms 68:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Luke 5:16

God of All

| November 6, 2015

Dear Servant

Yes, I am the God of all people. I know there are many who do not acknowledge me or even believe I exist, but I am their God too. I made them, provided my earth for them and they will ultimately answer to me someday. Imagine a passenger on a plane who suddenly claims that the pilot does not exist and they are the master of their own fate. Does this claim change the fact they, as well as everyone else, are at the mercy of that pilot to reach their destination?  To simply assume that because they deny me, somehow they will not answer to me is foolishness. It is like a man who ignores the “bridge is out’ sign and thinks that he can drive without consequences. My word teaches that I have placed the knowledge of myself in all mankind and have revealed myself through my creation. Though they deny my existence they have not changed the truth nor have they altered the judgment to come. I am the only God that has ever been or will ever be, and all mankind will stand in judgment before me.

God of all people, I AM

Verses for consideration: Romans 1:18-20, Revelations 20:11-15

Father

| November 4, 2015

Dear Servant,

I know you have seen it before, the joy of the father who hears an infant speak his first words. The child utters “da da” and the father’s heart fills with joy. No one who sees that moment stops to question the child’s understanding or motivation. No one points out the fact that the child was coached by the mom and dad for some time before the words come out, the fact that the child is only mimicking what he has heard. No, all that hear those first words of that child only think of the love, joy, and utter miracle that having a child brings. No one at that moment analyzes it, they simply enjoy the magic of it.

No child of mine comes to me with full understanding of what it means to be my child. Much like a little baby they say the first words of faith, whether they are 7, 11 or 71 years old. They are experiencing a world I have opened for them.   I have breathed faith into them and they begin relationship with me. They do not understand my love, sacrifice, commitment, rather they are just enjoying the moment of life in me. Certainly as they grow, develop deeper faith and understanding they will come to appreciate so much more of what relationship with me means, but until then, we will bask in what is simple and beautiful, I am Father.

Father, I AM

Verses for consideration: Matthew 11:25-30, 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

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Unnecessary

| November 2, 2015

Dear child,

You are completely unnecessary for any plans or works of my kingdom. You do not bring anything that I do not already possess. All material wealth you bring I already own. All words you can say about my kingdom and work, I have already expressed better and more completely through my Holy Spirit. No matter how much effort you put in, it is meaningless compared to what I can do. Even if I needed human performance or help, I have countless others I could call on who would do just as good a job if not better.

Does this sound harsh to your ears? I receive no material benefit from my love for you.  Rather my pure love is poured out on you with no thought of return. Do not fret that you are “unnecessary”.  You are so much more, you are loved!

Loving you, I AM

Verses for consideration: Romans 5:6-11, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Treasured

| October 31, 2015

Dear Servant,

Many in your day collect antiques. They look through attics and scrounge through the trash, looking for a prize they can put on display. Some of those antiques have been poorly treated, in rough condition, far from the intent of their maker. Despite the marks, they are proudly displayed because they are beautiful in the eyes of their owner.

You bear many marks from living in this sinful world. You bear the scars of man’s fallen nature and you have suffered the cruelty of sin. You have also brought marks on yourself  from your own sin and rebellion. Yet I proudly call you my child, claiming you in front of the whole world. Is it because of the marks of this world? No, it is because of the marks on my son. He suffered and bears the scars of sin. His suffering is beautiful in my sight because of the treasures his suffering purchased for me.

Dear Servant,

Many in your day collect antiques. They look through attics and scrounge through the trash, looking for a prize they can display for all the world to see. Some of those antiques have been poorly treated, some are in rough shape, far from the intent of their maker. Despite the marks, they are proudly displayed because they are beautiful in the eyes of their owner.

You bear many marks from living in this sinful world. You bear the scars of man’s fallen nature and you have suffered the cruelty of sin. You have also brought on yourself marks from your own sin and your own rebellious ways. Yet I proudly call you my child, claiming you in front of the whole world. Is it because of the marks of this world? No, it is because of the marks on my son. He suffered and bears the scars of sin. His suffering is beautiful in my sight because of the treasures his suffering purchased for me.

Proudly displaying my treasures, I AM

Treasuring you, I AM

Versus for consideration: Galatians 6:16-18, Romans 3:21-26

Present

| October 29, 2015

Dear child,

While I relish the dedicated times of prayer and worship, when you read my word and seek my guidance, I want you present with me all the time. My gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift of constant presence. I am with you all day and every day. No matter the circumstance, no matter the situation I am present with you. I am available for a conversation at any time. You can “hang out” with me while waiting for your car to get fixed. We can talk in the back of the taxi on your way to the store. We can spend a few minutes over a cup of coffee and even in those important meetings, you can whisper your requests to me and I will hear them.

The dedicated times are a delight, and my son set aside time without distraction to seek me, but I want you to spend all your time with me, no matter what else you may be doing. Live in my presence every day, all day.

Present with you, I AM

Verses for thought: John 14:25-31, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Trustworthy

| October 27, 2015

My son,

It is always a struggle to trust me and my goodness. The sinful world you live in always seeks to lead you astray. Satan will always whisper in your ear that this time I am leading you down the wrong path, that this time I am leading you to disaster when the path you want is obviously the path of ease and comfort. To practice faith is to trust in my goodness when you cannot see the future. I have promised in my word that my plan for you is for a future and a hope. Certainly that means eternity with me in heaven, but it also means a life growing in me on this earth. Yes, I did ask my son Jesus, to sacrifice his life for yours and so many others. I will ask you to sacrifice your dreams, ease, comfort, wealth, etc. for my kingdom. In so doing I will still provide you with goodness. Oh, it may not come in the form of comfort and ease you desire on this earth, but I am trustworthy. Put aside your desire and follow me.

Trustworthy, I AM

Verses for consideration: Romans 8:18-21, John 14:1-4, 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Servant

| October 25, 2015

Dear Servant,

What does it mean to be my servant? My son (who took on the form of a servant, even though he was The Son) said it so well when teaching his disciples. He told them that in my kingdom the first shall be last and if you want to be the greatest in my kingdom, you must be servant of all. He explained how this world’s system is built on positions of authority, power and prestige, but my kingdom is built on humility, service and sacrifice. Not only did he teach these truths, he modeled them for his disciples and the rest of the world to see.

Will you be a servant? Will you set aside the rights of being a son or daughter and instead put on the humility of a servant? Will you sacrifice comfort, peace, ease, power and prestige to be my servant in difficult places? Will the day’s journey find you not in lavish palaces, but in shelters with the poor and needy where you serve them instead of expecting them to serve you?

A Savior who Sacrificed for you, I AM

Verses for thought: Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 20:24-28, 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, Matthew 25:31-46

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