To Flourish In The Courts Of Our God

For me, and for that matter everyone living, there are many things on the plate for this morning, later today, and the evening. It was no different than yesterday's bill as it will not be for tomorrow's. To be alive is to have a full plate on any given day, at any time during the day. At least that is the way I see it and I do not think I am to far form being TDC on this matter. My prayer is that I can clearly see which morsel on the plate in front of me is appropriately beneficial and therefore worthy of my pursuit.

Now at play is a choice. To know me is to know that "choice" is a topic which comes around often when I am sharing my thoughts. That is because we humans have multiplicities of opportunities to choose and that is major on the spirit and flesh list ... for whoever. Well maybe not for a zombie ... technically a zombie is no longer human ... BECAUSE IT HAS NO CHOICE!

Anyway, to the task at hand, I wanted to journal about last night's assembly at Global Harvest Church. It was amazing on so many levels. By the way I used the word "assembly" rather than "gathering" because it is significant which one I use. I learned a

lesson this past week while at the Contending As One conference in Cartersville, GA. Both words are equally useful and rich in meaning. However one can occur without the other just as one can not occur unless you first have the other.

Let me explain. It seems that each of us carry a part of a whole when it comes to God's purposes. It does say in the scripture for us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together which paints a picture of getting together for fellowship, study of the word, and ministry through Holy Spirit to each other. Here is my explanation from my new found understanding. When we gather it is much like pulling the bagged parts out of a box containing a bicycle and laying those parts out side by side to make sure each part needed is present and accounted for. You can stop there with just gathering the parts but if you do you will not have a working bicycle you just have the "gathered" parts. If you choose to take the next step and "assemble" the parts at some point you end up with a completed and useable bicycle which was the intended purpose of the gathering. Last night at GHC the parts were gathered and assembled!

 During the music with singing last night I got a picture that a portal had opened and that Heaven had come to Earth in the room. I spoke into the mic something like this ... " A portal just open and there is an exchange going on ... Heaven is coming into this room right now! God's Kingdom has come here in this place and now here it is as it is in Heaven ... Right now it is on Earth as it is in Heaven!"

After the service as we worked putting equipment away, Pastor Dan Taylor came over to me and said something like this: " I wanted to tell you personally that during worship I saw this room begin to break away from the earth and rise up toward Heaven while at the same time I saw Heaven begin to open and come down toward this room and then the two met and Heaven filled the room and surrounded us! It was at that very point I heard you say into the mic "Heaven is here now!" We both rejoiced at the goodness of God for Holy Spirit had confirmed the event of Heaven and Earth blending in that space and time!

Psalms 92:12-15 reads:

"The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

So I being today in my old age am praying for clear vision as to what is to be pursued today from my plate and fully expect it to be fitting for the day as Holy Spirit assembles my part into the purposes of God for this day at this time and in the space I occupy.

RH

Upside Down And Backwards

I and my wife, Denise, have been on a journey together for going on 45 years. In itself our marriage has been an awesome adventure. Denise and I are so opposite form each other and as a friend pointed out this weekend I must have been drawn to her for just that reason and truth be told I have to admit the little lady has help a lot in shaping who I am today ... the good things one might choose to see in me just to be clear.

Anyway about the "journey", at least the chapter of it that occurred this weekend, February 5-7, 2015, which is what this post is suppose record. The chapter is full of the usual stuff of life and then the not so usual stuff of life. There was the natural and then the supernatural.

This past Thursday through Saturday noon we spent in Cartersville, Georgia. Now this is not our first time to be camped out in this north central Georgia Town. It is our second visit. The first had us on an assignment by Holy Spirit to hear of deep spiritual roots from the past that sprang froth out of this historic area. Our second visit was connected to the first. Denise puts it as being layers being applied one to another.

Both assignments have to do with God's purposes for America and our part in the unfolding.

If you have trouble grasping the concept of someone being on assignment from God for a single individual or nation, or nations, then I suggest you read the book of Acts, in particular the account of Ananias who was assigned by Holy Spirit to pray for Paul of Tarsus, and then the account of Peter and his afternoon vision / dream given him to prepare him for Heaven's assignment to go to the home of Cornelius, a Gentile, to pray those of that household would receive Holy Spirit and there witness a sovereign move of God that revealed He intended to and had already included the nations in what Holy Spirit was releasing into the Earth at time.

Anyway, back to this weekend, I could take some time here and write of what was encountered but honestly I do not know if I possess the capacity to do it justice. What I will do is journal a single end cap Holy Spirit put on the whole event.

The Contend As One Conference ended promptly at noon Saturday. Denise and I said our goodbyes to our close friends Dale and Pat, whom we met on another assignment of a few years ago when on a trip to Ireland, and were on the road headed home with some planned stops along the way. A beautiful day for a drive too! Perfect weather for a February in the South.

Denise had the iPad out plotting our trip as I was navigating to our first stop. She made remark about the strangeness of the map lay out on the iPad. By this time we had stopped to get something to drink for the road. So cutting the engine off I looked over at the iPad and saw what she was talking about.

The image of the map displayed had Atlanta as the hub but every thing around was not correctly oriented. What I mean to say is that where we were on the map, Woodstock, was showing as North East of Atlanta rather than South West as it should have been. The road numbers were the same but every town, city, land mark was backwards, not the letters, the locations.

Denise expanded the view so we were looking at the South East Region states. Tennessee was south of Atlanta. Florida was North of Atlanta, Birmingham was East of Atlanta as was Jackson. However, Savannah was West of Atlanta as was the Atlantic ocean. You get the Picture.

We set there for a few minutes talking about how crazy this was while several times Denise closed and reopened the app only for it to reopen in this, as she put it, Upside Down And Backwards configuration of the South East Regional States.

After the third time we decided that we could proceed ahead and move in a southward direction on Hwy 92 as we knew this would get us going in the right directions toward home.

Then as we were still looking at the screen there was a flicker and then the map actually flipped right to left! The content was now back showing landmarks, cities, towns, in there correct locations!

Now in that very moment I heard in my spirit something like these Words: "Though America has appeared to be turned upside down and backwards I will turn and flip and set back in right order America."

We had spent the weekend in an opened Legislative Assembly of the Ekkclesia, this was our assignment to be a part of that body of representatives to pray, intercede for America and then to agree and align with God's purposes to come! For it to be on Earth as it is in Heaven!

I believe that our iPad's glitch was arranged by Holy Spirit as a visual reminder and a personal prompting to speak out loud, to declare, what was accomplished by this open Assembly's simple trust and obedience to come before God at the designated time and place to pray, intercede, agree, and align.

As we turned southward headed home I spoke out loud with authority what I had heard Holy Spirit give to say. So to document clearly I close this journal entry with a version of that declaration:

"Though America has been Upside Down and Backwards by choice I have heard the remnants’ cry and will turn and flip America back to My purposes and America will fulfill the rightful and legal Destiny I have spoken!"
  

Afternoon Thought

There are times I "hear" my own thought and when this happens I then "listen" to my thought. What I mean is there are times I know a thought has not originated with me but it is in me. Some would say the "small quite voice inside me" is talking or something like that.

Truth is, each of us have this experience often but what it boils down to is a choice to "hear" a choice to "listen".

At some point this past week I either read or heard about an elderly Asian gentleman walking with his twenty something grandson on a very noisy street. The two were walking along this major thoroughfare passing people engaged in life. Automobiles, sirens, people talking, shouting, babies crying, a type setting each of us have experienced.

As the two walked along the grandfather suddenly stopped and began to look all around. The grandson paused in his steps, turned toward his searching grandfather who exclaimed to his grandson, "I hear a cricket!"

For a moment or two the grandson just stared at his grandfather in total disbelief. He then replied what most of us would have I quite imagine, "I can barely hear you above all this noise but did you just say that you heard a cricket?"

The old man responded with a confident nod and an equally confident, "Yes."

The grandfather backtracked a few steps and turned up an alley the two had just passed. He began to turn over cardboard boxes, lift up papers, looking for the cricket. While doing this the grandson was following, wearing on his face a grin that was more of a smirk. After walking a good ways into the alley, the grandfather came upon a medium size tin can and with the toe of his shoe pushed it aside.

There fully exposed was a small cricket! The smiling grandfather bent down and caught the cricket in his hands and held it to his grandson who just laughed out loud. Placing the cricket back on the pavement, the grandfather walked back toward the street again followed by his now amazed grandson.

The two resumed their trek on the major street. They had not gotten far when the grandson touched the old man's arm stopping him and said, "Grandfather", tell me, how is it that you heard that cricket above all the noise but no one else did, including me?"

The grandfather took the younger’s arm with his right hand while holding out his left arm toward the grandson with his left hand extended palm up and said, "Give me some coins."

The grandson looked puzzled as he reach into his pocket for a all the change he had and placed it his grandfather's palm. At this the old man took a few steps forward and motion for the younger to follow him. After a few more steps the old man took the coins and tossed them high up into the air letting them all fall to the sidewalk.

All those in close proximity quickly stopped, turned toward the sound of the coins, and looked down for them.

The young man without understanding looked at his grandfather who said to the stunned Youngman,

"Grandson, the reason you and all these others did not hear the cricket is because you only will hear and respond to what you have trained your ears to listen for."

Very often the small voice is speaking but our heart and our attention is set on something or someone else.

Anyway, my thought was this afternoon: "It is not so important to lead people into church as much as it is important to lead people into the Kingdom."



 

Below I have shared a link that I hope you the reader will take time to view. You may or may not be interested after looking at the link but I hope you will take that look. Most likely you know that Adrienne is my daughter but then there are some who may happen upon this blogg that did not know this bit of information. If you know my daughter personally you have an opportunity to get to know her heart a bit more. If you do not know her then this is an awesome introduction to someone who is walking out her destiny. Being her dad I most often see her with her long blonde hair caught in the wind as she is riding her bicycle with all her 7 year old legs can muster! Even then she was full of adventuresome energy always covered in a grace that carried her safely. Not afraid to try and willing to stick with it until whatever it was accomplished. Most of the time it was an action that spoke volumes of who she was destined to be and I am so proud of her ... blessed to see with these father's eyes the beautiful, graceful, and anointed vessel of honor who carries the presence of the Uncreated One in our midst.https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1857600301/even-a-sparrow

Upon Pondering Recent Rise Of Persecution Of Christians

Sometimes I just have to write out my thoughts and feelings. Well here goes!

When before in time has Darkness pushed harder against Light?

Where, upon this globe, whether flattest plain or raised mount,

leafy forest or foamy fount,

ever has rawest Evil lay such violent siege

upon bastilles of the just; strong high towers of the right?

Now a full front charge from Hell’s emboldened thieves!

 

Who of any past generation has been a witness? Either strong or faint?

Why now the dragon’s rising flight but for an unholy obstruction,

Leviathan unleashed fiery breath bent on complete absolute destruction?

Of all who embody the sacred trinity faith hope love.

A coming against Adam’s sons, Eve’s daughters, no matter if sinner, or saint,

To vanquish once and for all a gentle dove.

 

What action now, by royal ambassadors, are Heaven and Earth to see?

Hope’s illuminated stand or a coward’s flee?

Truth given a voice found in solidarity through Redeemed’s loud out cry,

Confronting Gates of Hell manifested in misleading words from Lie?

Or a muteness as Darkness tauntingly ask: “Can you not hear the timely towing of death’s bell for all keepers of the faith?”

 

Hear this Darkness, we in Light are no longer waifs!

Fear this Hell, I AM is Light displayed through His Only Begotten!

Those not found in The Light of Eternal One are already forgotten!

　

" Planted "

I like to think of myself as strong, self sufficient, able to stand on my own. A lot of that has to do with certain life experiences from my childhood I had to overcome and by my late teens to early twenties I had found ways to stand strong, that is, not be intimidated by others to a point that I totally would shut down. By my late twenties I had gained an attitude that I was not going to be pushed away, denied, or discounted. I was going to push back, stand my ground, and show that I had value, something to bring to the table! I am now in my mid sixties and have unlearned a lot over the years. The thing that I unlearned the most is that true strength comes not by standing on my own, alone ... but depending on another to help me not just stand but walk and sit when necessary. My pride was my source, my arrogance my shield, my education my armor, and my physical strength my sword. How foolish of me! In truth I was planted by Eternal One and all the processing of life directed by Holy Spirit. This brought me to the revelation of truth ... joy is my strength; joy comes only via one source; it is not internal but external. I had nothing to do with where I was planted! I had nothing to do with processing life, Eternal One planted me with purpose, from design, created exclusively for the pleasure of Eternal One. Holy Spirit producing that fruit from me is my joy. The following is from Spurgeon's Morning And Evening and caught my attention so that I could not wait until tomorrow to blogg about it ( it is the reading for the 13th not the 12th of August ). This spoke to me about myself a volume in a matter of a few seconds it took to read, hence my attempt of a blogg above. Please read this and my you be blessed as I was. R "The cedars of Lebanon which He hath planted." — Psalm 104:16 Lebanon's cedars are emblematic of the Christian, in that they owe their planting entirely to the Lord. This is quite true of every child of God. He is not man-planted, nor self-planted, but God-planted. The mysterious hand of the divine Spirit dropped the living seed into a heart which He had Himself prepared for its reception. Every true heir of heaven owns the great Husbandman as his planter. Moreover, the cedars of Lebanon are not dependent upon man for their watering; they stand on the lofty rock, unmoistened by human irrigation; and yet our heavenly Father supplieth them. Thus it is with the Christian who has learned to live by faith. He is independent of man, even in temporal things; for his continued maintenance he looks to the Lord his God, and to Him alone. The dew of heaven is his portion, and the God of heaven is his fountain. Again, the cedars of Lebanon are not protected by any mortal power. They owe nothing to man for their preservation from stormy wind and tempest. They are God's trees, kept and preserved by Him, and by Him alone. It is precisely the same with the Christian. He is not a hot-house plant, sheltered from temptation; he stands in the most exposed position; he has no shelter, no protection, except this, that the broad wings of the eternal God always cover the cedars which He Himself has planted. Like cedars, believers are full of sap having vitality enough to be ever green, even amid winter's snows. Lastly, the flourishing and majestic condition of the cedar is to the praise of God only. The Lord, even the Lord alone hath been everything unto the cedars, and, therefore David very sweetly puts it in one of the psalms, "Praise ye the Lord, fruitful trees and all cedars." In the believer there is nothing that can magnify man; he is planted, nourished, and protected by the Lord's own hand, and to Him let all the glory be ascribed. Psalm 104:16 Day 14

Oh I Want To See Him

Earlier today a longtime friend of mine, Rev. George Arnett, from Southeastern University days, posted on FB, as I read his shared thoughts something begin to stir in me that later surfaced as a memory of a song form even further back in time when I and Denise were freshly transplanted from the Methodist Church into the Assemblies of God. Now, that is another story for another time, back to the memory and song. At first I began to sing the refrain over and over in my head, “Oh I want to see Him, look upon His face, There to sing forever of His saving grace; On the streets of glory let me lift my voice, Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.” The song, Oh I Want To See Him, written by R.H. Cornelius in 1916, was one of my favorites old hymns during the years we were at Huffman Assembly of God in Center Point, Alabama. Denise and I had experienced nothing like those meetings before in all our years of growing up in the Church, she Methodist and I Southern Baptist. I did a search for the song on-line and found it. Grab my guitar and began to play and sing it my style. I was really not prepared for what occurred next. I had a vision. As clear as I can see the monitor screen in front of me as I type now I saw Brother Charles Greenaway on a street dancing to the rhythm of “Oh I Want To See Him”. I was not even prepared for my response to that vision. Looking on that and seeing the joy on him reminded me of the very small window here on Earth I had to sit under his ministry. Taken by the sense of "belonging" like I have never felt before I wept and laughed at the same time! I love my AG influence. I can never call it a heritage, not really, because I did not grow up in that movement. But influenced I was and still am and I am very thankful for those years and those whom Father had cross my and Denise’s path and us theirs. I embrace the AG as I do the Baptist and the Methodist history my wife and I have. God was in it! Over all I have come to understand that the Body of Christ is diverse and yet it is one. How wonderfully rich I and Denise are today because of those dear saints, many having gone on before us now, whom Holy Spirit used to build us up, equip us, and send us out. And the list of friends … so diverse, each one so wonderful. I believe that as Father created each of us He made each a unique instrument to release a certain sound needed to fully express His composition for His concert eternal. You and I, each of us, have a place and a part in His exquisite symphony orchestra formed for the express purpose of releasing our God given sound within that compiled assembly called the Church as He conducts and directs each movement He has composed. Traditionally there are four movements to a symphony piece. I believe you and I are now just over the threshold into the fourth movement. The sound we were destined to release is for that movement. So, Look to the Eastern sky … and watch ... He is coming to the finale. Maranatha. Here is the song: Oh I Want To See Him As I journey through the land, singing as I go, Pointing souls to Calvary—to the crimson flow, Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within; But my Lord leads me on, through Him I must win. Refrain: Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face, There to sing forever of His saving grace; On the streets of glory let me lift my voice, Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice. When in service for my Lord dark may be the night, But I’ll cling more close to Him, He will give me light; Satan’s snares may vex my soul, turn my thoughts aside; But my Lord goes ahead, leads whate’er betide. When in valleys low I look toward the mountain height, And behold my Savior there, leading in the fight, With a tender hand outstretched toward the valley low, Guiding me, I can see, as I onward go. When before me billows rise from the mighty deep, Then my Lord directs my bark; He doth safely keep, And He leads me gently on through this world below; He’s a real Friend to me, oh, I love Him so.