You Are More

I share these wonderful life-giving morsels as encouragement to others to press in and listen to the most amazing love that the Creator wants to bestow on you.

I also believe that when we are given such life-giving words that we are commissioned to share the encouragement with others to benefit the body.

These treasures of word have shaped my understanding of who HE is and who I am in Him. This is all a part of the study of His character and nature. The ever-present indwelling Holy Spirit. The ongoing discourse has increased my trust and faith, leading me to His Word and back. In so doing, I believe it serves as an inoculation of sorts against enemy assault and has helped greatly in discernment. Even more, through these life-giving words, the Lord and Papa God and the Holy Spirit continue to invite me to step up and further in, go deeper, look at everything from a higher Kingdom perspective. AND, to know and believe that the Word, Papa God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are who they say they are to each of us. The more faith, trust and obedience we operate from, the greater flow of the Kingdom in and through us which creates Thy Kingdom come, they will be done on earth as in Heaven!

The sampling of dialog has been recorded on sticky notes, journals, notebooks, the back of recipe cards, used napkins, and yes, my hand. Each morsel is presented here, though not in particular order of importance or relationship to one another. I trust He will connect each for you in your own heart and spirit as you drink it in.

Putting it together in one place is a way to honor Him and to and share the richness of the kingdom heart of God towards His children.

And so, we begin on the never-ending journey on the path that leads us Home to Him.

You are more amazing than you even know.

This I heard while showering one morning, the sun streaming through the perspiring bathroom window.

Wow, what an amazing way to start the day!

Thank you, Papa, I breathe as I come up for air from under the spray of scalding water.

I muse about the kind and not so kind things I have heard said to me, and the not so kind words I have spoken over myself in the last week.

This declaration from the still small voice of God is a balm to my spirit and soul.

As I repeat the phrase, I sense it soaking into the pores of my damp, slightly chilled body as I start to pat dry.

I smile a little at my reflection in the mirror.

In what ways do you believe I am more amazing than I know? I ask in earnestness. This past year's lesson has been on humility, so I gingerly test the water.

As I dress, I hear soft assurances of His perception of me. And so it goes throughout the day.

I am thankful to serve a just and loving God who knows exactly what to impart any minute of the day to move me one step closer to the throne.

Mark 1:11 And there came a voice from Heaven saying this is my son in whom I am well pleased.

I am restoring to you and your daughter everything the locusts have stolen. We are redeeming time.

This lovely word arrived on a chilly winter evening as I was driving home from work. When something of this nature hits the consciousness, it is time for a spirit happy dance.

I repeated it over and over all the way home and then for several months every time I got into my vehicle to drive home from work.

Amazingly, I started to see the results of being in agreement with the Lord. This realization helped me to become bolder in my prayers by first asking what Papa God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were praying for me and others I love. And, what the Trinity wanted me to pray for others.

This greater understanding did away with any fleshly prayers and opened my spirit to hear and be obedient in the ways I prayed for others and myself. The outcomes are amazing as well as I continue to walk through.

Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Be exactly who you are. Be everything I created you to be. Use all of your skills, talents, abilities and gifts for ME.

In modern society, there are competing demands for time and attention towards things that are of the world. The enemy will attempt identity theft to camouflage and steal our God-given identity.

We are each created in HIS image, not the image of how someone else thinks we should be or look, or how the enemy says we should be or do. Papa God created each of us to uniquely fulfill the purposes He designed us for. Everything comes from Him and we are designed to use everything given us to glorify Him. He does not make cookie-cutter people.

When we are aligned with who God created us to be and our Kingdom identity we are partnering with God for His purposes. The enemy will do his best to tear that down. We must ever guard and walk in our true identity to preserve and further develop our depth of understanding of who we are in Him, as well as to continue to bless the people He brings to our path.

We are always in school with the Lord, if we allow ourselves to be. He wants to teach and refine us, to spend time with us and love on us every minute of every day that we welcome Him.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Psalm 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Come to Me.

I have come to love hearing these words from Papa. At first, I had no clue what it meant.

In His goodness and graciousness, He welcomes each of us to come to Him with and for anything – big, small, complaint, praise, worship, silence, burden, joy – He wants us to share everything with Him. And, because of Jesus in us, we can lay all our burdens, cares and worries at the foot of the cross.

It is very simple, but not always easy.

He wants to share our laughter, wipe our tears, have us crawl up in our Daddy God's lap and sit.

He created each of us for relationship with Him. Remember Adam and Eve?

As humans, we tend to make what He asks of us very complex. I guess this is a learning opportunity for each of us.

I am so glad my Papa wants my company, and cares about everything that is important to me. And wants me to live a life pleasing to Him and follow Jesus, so that in the end also, He will say, Come to ME.

Another twist is when Jesus says come. Step out on the water and come. Come to Me in faith and trust. Fix your eyes on Me and come. We must keep our eyes on Him or we start to sink.

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Come up higher.

Just as when we are practicing diligently to make the team, or move into first chair clarinet, Papa God invites us to come up higher to receive the gifts and blessings He has for us.

Each level has its blessings and gifts. We are welcome to stop at any point we want. If we want more of Him, then we need to continue to fight, pray and praise to come up higher.

Our willingness to put forth the effort to meet Him in the higher places of relationship and understanding of His character and nature create the atmosphere for Heaven to come to meet us as we stretch upward!

Exodus 24:1 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

Revelation 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Love is MY glory in you.

I remember when I heard this message from my Heavenly Father. Isn’t this about the best thing you could hear any day?

There was a time in my life that I did not believe I was able to adequately and appropriately express love to others. I felt awkward and stumbled over my words.

Gradually, I allowed His demonstrations of His love for me to translate into His love for others through me. What a tremendous difference the shift makes. Where we are inadequate, He is all-sufficient. Where we are awkward, He is gracious.

He is so faithful to answer our prayers. His version of what we believe we are asking for is so much better than what we can ever dream or imagine on the front end!

John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

You are great and mighty in ME.

When I heard this loving directive, I felt a little like, who me? And then I remembered that Papa God sees each of us through Jesus. He sees us as we are created by Him.

He sees us as He knows we will be as we continue to allow Him to hone and refine us into a wonderful reflection of His image.

The words He speaks to each of us are carefully chosen and exactly perfect for just that time and what we are learning and becoming.

I also find comfort in knowing that I do not do things on my own and by myself. As I partner with the Lord, where I am weak, He makes me strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Job 23:6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

Luke 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

Psalm 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

The most important thing in your life is your relationship with ME.

This sounds like a simple statement, doesn’t it? However, there are many layers to digest of the fuller understanding.

We all know that our relationship with Father God is primary. He created us for relationship and fellowship with Him.

The next layer is that under the New Covenant, the relationship with God is attained through a relationship with Jesus. There is a contingency. Receive the grace and mercy of Jesus’ love and have a right relationship with Him, and you have access to the Father.

What components are involved in participating in a primary relationship with Jesus and God?

Spending time alone with God; understanding His character and nature; being still in His presence; listening; journaling your concerns, His answers; making a clean and healthy house for Jesus/Holy Spirit to live; studying the Word; doing the Word; practicing spiritual disciplines; allowing fruit of the Spirit to develop; letting the love, strength, goodness, mercy, blessings, peace flow through you to others.

These practices, consistently included daily will develop the close relationship that you and Papa God desire!

Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

You are helping ME.

Oh my, what a humbling phrase to hear. But, just what I needed at that moment to slightly shift my perspective on the situation.

I had cried out, Jesus, I need your help here. And, then the response from Him, You are helping ME.

How often in our egocentric and busy lives do we revert to the lower level? Looking at the present circumstances, rather than the bigger Kingdom picture of what is REALLY being done, who for and why? Or moving out on our own agenda, then calling Jesus in to do the fix?

Certainly, we are encouraged to come to Him and ask for all things, help with all things, and having faith for all things, knowing He is our help in trouble. The caveat here is to be in alignment with His purposes, Kingdom purposes. Yes, He saves us from the clutches of our own folly, and from the clutches of the enemy ready to pounce. However, as we mature in our faith, trust and walk with the Lord, our heart desire is to love, worship, honor and give glory to the Lord in all things.

Take time today to explore the areas where you are spending time and awaiting an answer from the Lord. Is this in alignment with scripture? Is it pleasing to the Lord? Does it serve the last, lost, least?

Ezra 5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

Walk in MY strength.

While I was Department Chair of a huge allied health department, including numerous faculty, I often felt there were more needs and more to do than I could possibly attend to, even with sterling