Emptiness!

How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. Lamentations 1:1,2 NIV (read the entire chapter)

Many of us know how we feel when we reach the end of a drink and there is nothing more to replenish it. Remember when kids–who emptied the bottle of pop or juice–after the last swallow– would turn it upside down and shake it–disappointed by its emptiness.

How many people remember a piece of cake or pie–the last piece–and they thought they would have an opportunity to eat it, but when they went to get it–it was gone; someone else had those same thoughts. And because our taste buds were ready for that–something–nothing else will pacify it.

When I look around our society, I feel the emptiness–the void–that keeps encroaching and widening by hatred and bigotry, divisive because love has left the scene and the emptiness it leaves is felt by the multitudes.

Dare I look into a person’s face walking the street and see the emptiness in their eyes where hope no longer has a place to hide deep in their soul. Blank stares are met with wonder–how did we get to this place?

“Where am I and what am I doing here and does anyone care that I am empty and need to be filled beyond capacity with love–God’s love–overflowing so light can be seen again, dispelling the darkness that pervades my soul?”

There is more than one person, wandering aimlessly in our midst–trying to figure out what happened and why they have no joy or peace. The answer is really quite simple. Our soul longs for the direction and instructions from God because apart from Him, there is no joy or peace. When the love of God ceases to exist within, other foul spirits take up residence and cloud our minds and soul, keeping us from the inviting light of love, leading us to think the darkness is how it should be, but oh how empty it leaves us!

So, in our midst are multitudes of people who thought that ignoring God’s Word and rejecting His love would bring them a measure of happiness, but when they gave into the fleshly dictates–discovered just how empty they were.

When people are empty–they try anything to fill the void–they turn to drugs and alcohol, arrogance and deceit, manipulation and lies, bigotry and hate, perversion and subversion–anything–to make them feel whole again, except–a visit to the fountain. At the fountain of love where Jesus waits–to fill us so we’ll want no more–there is peace and joy and we can have our fill and return again and again, never having to know emptiness again, but will we go?

What the soul craves is not the dictates of this world, but the promise of eternity and how to enjoy life where we are. Come to the fountain and be filled! Come to Jesus, right now, repent of everything that’s not like Him, and allow to Him to replace all the earthiness–desires of the flesh–with Love!

There is no one like Jesus who can fill us till we want no more and never have to thirst again or know emptiness that debilitates and destroys. Hallelujah!

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Connected Spirits!

“For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11 NIV).

For those who think of Holy Spirit as a “ghost” with negative connotations, think again. The Spirit of God, Holy Spirit, who was promised by Jesus to be our comforter, counselor, and teacher–who is the direct connection to the Father–with our spirits and is living within each person who has “received Him.” This is how we identify those who are His and know we are connected–one with the other–when we meet. Now, the Word tells us that Holy Spirit is the free gift–not the forced gift–who is available to every born-again believer and that our bodies are the temple where He dwells.

Is the temple clean and free of debris? Or is our temple a mass of filth where Holy Spirit is choked out and quenched, prevented from doing His job because of what we do?

When we pray, and allow Holy Spirit to pray on our behalf, the direct connection is made and our answers are directed Holy Spirit who imparts them to us, but if we are not listening, we miss what God has for us.

Our spirit being (we are three-part beings: spirit, soul, body) must be attuned to Holy Spirit so we can hear and obtain and achieve all that God has for us to do. We, of ourselves can know nothing apart from what Holy Spirit tells us–pertaining to the things of God–so we must be connected in order to accomplish! Now for those who do not understand what is being said, I suggest you become acquainted with The Word. We have a soul (some say our consciousness) which will be judged. We have a spirit which will go back to God when we die, and we have a body which houses our spirit. Since we are spirit beings–connected to one spirit or the other (Holy Spirit or demonic spirit), we need Holy Spirit to stay on the path that God has established for us and to achieve all He has planned for us.

Verse nine in this same passage of scripture reminds us that, “eyes haven’t seen, nor ears heard of all the great things He has in store for us” and we can only obtained when we are connected. Are you connected today?

Father, in the name of Jesus, create in us a desire and a willingness to receive Holy Spirit right now and allow Him to lead us in all things so we might please You.

Spirit Truths!

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15 NIV).

Which spirit is governing your life today?

We often get confused with the discussion of The Spirit (depends on who is referencing this), Holy Spirit, and spirits to the point where we have an entire subculture of people engaged in the study of the paranormal and ghosts. From a biblical perspective–we all have a spirit, a soul, and a physical body which houses our spirit. The bible–God’s Word–tells that our spirit and flesh often battle against knowledge and instruction by Holy Spirit. When we die a physical death–our spirit goes back to God from which it came. The soul of a person which must be saved–our thoughts and actions comprise our soul–will be judged for eternity’s selection. The physical body–goes back to the dust from which it came. That’s for our bodies.

In the earth realm, there are spirits–demonic spirits–directed by Lucifer himself–who engage the minds of people and influence their behavior and that behavior is contrary to everything God has said. How do we know? The evil that exists in the land did not “suddenly appear” as some would believe. It was planned by the one who knows evil intimately and hates God and everything that God loves. And anyone who doubts God, disbelieves in God, or is in opposition to God, is subject to be influenced by the enemy. However, they are not necessarily the targets; Lucifer (Satan) already has them enlisted in his army. The targets are those who profess a belief in God, try to live godly lives as God would have us to do, but are just vulnerable enough to believe a lie if it is couched in enough truth, to make it appear true. 

Look at the conversations Satan had with Jesus–and he knew who He was. “If you are…” And Satan will make promises that he cannot fulfill, but he will also set us up to fail and then laugh at us and our stupidity.

Spirits do influence us–whether we realize it or not–but to make sure we are not being influence by demons; make sure what your thinking aligns with God’s Word in totality, not just a superficial understanding that leaves out the core of truth.

When we have received Holy Spirit–we no longer have to be afraid, and we are not subject to being enslaved by the demonic spirits that seek our destruction and eventual death. It is Holy Spirit’s role to guide us into all truth, to bring back to our remembrance of all we have been taught (pertaining to righteousness), and to show us things to come.  He authors (by permission of the One who sent Him) our visions and creativity and encourages us to run this race with patience–keeping our eyes on the prize–living with Jesus at our end.

For God has said, “I have not given you the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind.” So, when people are afraid–what spirit is at work? When people cannot love–what spirit is at work? When people lack the inner strength to keep moving forward because of who He is, not us–what spirit is at work? When people are incapable of thinking rational thoughts–what spirit is at work?

A person doesn’t need to be an Albert Einstein or rocket scientist to draw accurate conclusions with this. We simply need “to know” The Word so we can never be deceived by the demons who plot our destruction. If what is happening around does not align with God’s Word, know who is at work, influencing the behavior you see.

Give us understanding today, O God, that we are never again deceived by the spirits at work in our land. Open our hearts to receive Holy Spirit and all that He will do to keep us focused on You and Your Word.

Waiting

How many times have you had to wait–for someone, for something? Learning to wait is an exercise in building character. How does it work? When we have to wait, we learn patience; while we are exercising patience, we learn to utilize the time for which we wait, constructively and productively. What happened with you the last time you exercised patience? Did you learn from the experience that not everything will always go the way you want it to go? Did you learn that people will not always do what you expect them to do, when you expect them to do it? Or did you learn that looking in a mirror is always a good place to start looking for ways to change how we wait with patience? :In our patience, possess we our souls.” While this is a hard-won lesson to learn, we must learn it lest we miss great opportunities to do great things while we wait for the promises of God to manifest themselves. “Wait on the Lord.” He will bring to pass.

On That Day

Without a conscience–the soul has no chance on That Day. When we leave here–the earth realm–our spirit goes back to God, our bodies return to dust, and the soul is preserved for judgment on That Day. Seek God and invite the Holy Spirit in to dwell within the temple (your body) so that a conscience is developed and a soul is saved on That Day–for all eternity. Help us Holy Spirit to hear Your sweet, gentle voice so we may give a hearty praise unto The Lord–always! Glory to God!