The Performer

"I will cry unto God most high; unto God who performs all things for me." 

Psalm 57:2

The Lord has opened the door for me to do a special musical presentation or "concert" on Oct. 30th in the evening.  I've not been able to post many blogs lately because of seeking His guidance and working with Him on this, as well as still being in physics class. 

This opportunity is way "out of my comfort zone."  But I know that whatever He requires of me, He will enable me to do.  And that's where today's verse fits into our post.  : ) 

When you think of a concert, you automatically think of a performance by someone on a stage.  Right?  Me too. 

But my prayer for this upcoming event is that it would not be a concert by me, a "performer,"  but rather a special time where we can all come together, "in concert," to have our hearts blessed by our Heavenly Father. . .and that Jesus would be lifted up.  Anyone can be a performer, but it takes the hand of God upon a person's life to make them a blessing to others. God is The Performer, not me.  :)

Jesus said if He be "lifted up," He "will draw all men unto" Himself.   He was lifted up on the cross at Calvary, and my prayer is that He would be lifted up next Sunday evening, so that others will be drawn to Him and see that He can meet all the needs of their hearts.

Please pray that He

would use me as

simply the

paintbrush in His

hands to paint a

beautiful picture

of His Son. 

For His glory!  

On the way home from class today, He reminded me of a poignant moment nearly 15 years ago, when I stood by my sister's casket and told my former piano teacher, "I can never play the piano again.  How can I play from a heart that is broken??"  She said, "Ahhh, you have all the more reason to now."  At the time, I really didn't think that I could ever "play" again.  My heart was crushed. But by the grace of God, and through His healing comfort, He has brought the music from a much deeper place. 

After all, we'd never enjoy the sweet juice from a grape if it had never been crushed, right?

What an honor and privilege to be used by Him. I'm still just a lump of clay in His hands!! 

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for this opportunity You have given to me.  The gifts that You give us are not to be kept to ourselves, hidden from others, but rather they are to be shared.  As a river keeps flowing, sharing its goodness, we are to do the same.  If we do not allow Your gifts to flow through us, then we will become stagnant and useless.  Please be glorified in and through me.  May Your will be done.  For Your Name's sake, and for Your glory. 

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Where You Are

The blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are:  and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. 
Exodus 12:13

How many times have we heard or read that verse, and just skimmed right over those three words, "Where ye are."  ??   The Holy Spirit gave me a "pause here" moment a while back when I read that verse, and it made an impact on me.  Seems like I had never noticed those words, "Where ye are," and I've missed the importance of their meaning. 

Haven't we all felt at one point or another in life that we'd "do better" once we "got out of this situation" or "if only our circumstances were not so bad" we'd be different.  ??   

"Deliver us from this, Father, so that we can be free
to serve You (in the way that we think's best.")
(ever felt that way before?)

We need to realize that no matter where we find ourselves, God wants us to NOT WAIT "til things get better."  He wants us to become fully dependant upon Him, right here, where we are ~ the way we are!  

Sure, we all would like to have a fresh start, and a clean slate.  But the chance to "start over" doesn't depend upon OUR circumstances changing.  It does, however, depend on one "Thing," and that is the shed blood of the Lamb of God.

                                                

God told the Israelites to apply the blood upon the houses WHERE THEY WERE at the moment, not where they were GOING to be in  a year or so.  And that's what He wants us to do today.  Whatever our situation may be today, we shouldn't wait for "things to change" or for "God to move us out of this circumstance" before we come to Him through Jesus. 
    

              

 There is power in the blood of the Lamb.  Because Jesus willingly paid the price for our sin by shedding His pure blood in our stead, we can be reconciled to God from right where we are. 

We can come to Him, serve Him,
and grow "right where He's planted us."

Whatever you're going through, don't wait for things to change.  Go straight to the Savior...the Lamb of God!  The answer to your need is found in the precious blood of the Lamb.  He is the only One Who has the power to change our circumstances, when we fully rely and depend upon Him.  The One Who passed over the houses that had applied the blood of the lamb on their doorposts is THE One Who wants to transform your life.  What are you waiting for?  :)

Just as I am, without one plea,

but that thy blood was shed for me,

and that thou bidst me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

A.S.K.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

  Matthew 7:7

Been thinking about the progression of Ask, Seek, Knock in the above passage of Scripture.  Can you see it too? 

A.    Ask.  When we're lost, and not sure which way to go in order to get to our destination, we generally ASK someone who does know the way, in hopes of them sharing their knowledge and pointing us in the right direction.  

                        

S.  Seek.   This is after we've ASKED for the directions, and now we're on our way. . or as Strong's puts it:  "to go about, endeavor. . . " 

      

K.  Knock.  The final step.   First we were lost, and then we asked for directions; after that, we began to seek (or "go about") on our journey to our destination.  Now we've arrived, and we just have to "knock" on the door. 

The next verse says, "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."  This makes sense, doesn't it?  In order to receive, you must first ASK.  Then what will we do with the directions we've received?  We will seek to follow them, right?  We better seek, or that's the end of our quest.  When we continue to seek (and endeavor to follow the directions), that's when we will FIND what we were looking for:  which is our destination.  Once we arrive at our destination, we must not just stand there, on the outside, but we must KNOCK on the door. . .and God says it will be opened unto us.  Even after seeking and getting closer to our destination, once we arrive, we must still knock on the door.   This implies a continual process, a gradually "getting closer" to our destination, until it's opened to us.

 

           

The gradual process of Asking, Seeking, Knocking, requires increasing faith on our part.  I can finally arrive at the door, but become afraid to go ahead and "knock on that door," because of a lack of faith.  I might begin to worry, "What will happen?  Will He even open the door?"   I wonder how many times I've arrived at a door that I sought, but because of a lack of faith, I never knocked, and that's why it was not "opened unto me."



Doubt keeps doors closed.

We can be "lost" in so many different ways.  Of course, to be lost in the ultimate "spiritual sense" is to be headed in the wrong direction~our final destination will be eternity in hell, forever separated from God, if we're lost in our sin.   Are you this person, lost and on the road to hell?  You must ask someone who knows THE way to get to heaven, and do it now, before it's too late.  Jesus said, "I am THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life, no man comes to the Father, except by Me." John 14:6  Since Jesus is THE Way, Seek HIM.

          

Even for us who are already saved, there are times when we can feel as "lost as ever."  Maybe we need guidance regarding an important decision, or just with the challenges that life can bring.  Let's remember to A.S.K.    Ask God.  He certainly knows the answer, because His way is always best.  Seek His wisdom, seek His way, continue on "going about" His business in your life.  Soon you'll have the destination in sight, and don't stop there.   Go on and knock.  He will open the door of opportunity for you.  

                    

God the Father has already opened the door of heaven to us through His only begotten Son's shed blood on the cross.  Surely He will continue to open the doors of increasing wisdom, strength, comfort, understanding, knowledge, opportunity and spiritual growth on our behalf . . .if only we'll just A.S.K.

What "Door" are you seeking?  I pray you've already sought and found THE Door---the door to heaven:  Jesus.

                           

                              

Have a wonderful week everyone!  Thank you all so much for your thoughtful comments. . they've been such an encouragement to my heart, as always! :)

Love and prayers for all of you.  

Heavenly Father, we thank You for always answering our prayers. . . You've said no good thing will You withhold from those who walk uprightly.  Please enable us to let go and quit trying to walk uprightly in our own strength. . . but to just allow YOU to live and breathe through us.  Touch others' lives through us this week, Father. . in a mighty way.  Equip us with Your strength, Your power, Your wisdom, Your love and understanding, and enable us to be on guard, for our enemy seeks to devour us.  We thank You for the privilege to A.S.K. You for whatever we need. . and that You have promised to meet our every need, by and through Christ Jesus.  In His name we pray, Amen.