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Take It!

How much can I take?

I can’t take it any more!

Take your stuff and go.

I don’t have to take this mess!

 

Seems to me like we have issues with taking.

 

Have we not been commanded to take heart, take heed, take up our cross, take up our armor, take His yoke, take communion?

 

We see our sisters and brothers in the Bible instructed to take the blessing, take a journey, take a wife, take the rod, take provision.

 

God calls us to TAKE so that we have what we need. It is HE who calls us to pick up, to put on, and to lay hold of. Since the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, He’s set aside a special lot that’s ours for the taking. He wants you to take so that you are fed, take so that you can serve, take so that you can advance His kingdom of heaven here on earth. He calls us to take so that we can show Him honor by taking what He’s given and giving a portion back to Him.

 

Are you willing to take what’s yours?

 

Your adversary certainly doesn’t mind coming to take from you. He comes to steal from you, to kill you and yours and to destroy you. Even the blessings that God has ordained to overtake you, your enemy seeks to take those too.

 

And while there are very specific things, which we’ve been cautioned not to take, I trust that we, true disciples will take heed and obediently take only that which has been set aside specifically for each of us. Taking out of malice, greed or revenge will only lead to our own destruction.

 

The Word illustrates example after example of obedience then blessing in the taking.

 

And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.”

 

So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Joshua 6:2, 20

 

Jesus took upon himself our sickness, infirmity and disease so what we may have life more abundantly.

 

Jesus took children and blessed them and healed them.

 

Jesus took his disciples, led them, and instructed them.

 

Jesus took food, blessed it, multiplied it and nourished his followers.

 

Jesus took a towel and girded himself as he was preparing to serve.

 

The incapacitated man took up his bed and walked.

 

Mary took precious oil and anointed THE ANOINTED ONE.

 

What will you take?

 

When you do take, what will you do with what you’ve taken? When we take in obedience, it isn’t merely for our own benefit but to be a blessing to those whom we’ve been called to assist.

 

Do you have the strength and courage to take what is rightfully yours?

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

 

Just as in the days of John the Baptist, men were so eager and excited to go after the kingdom of God, Jesus likened them to those who would besiege a city and take it by force.

 

Where is that zeal today? Where is that hunger? Have we lost our passion for pursuing what is rightfully ours as children of the Most High?

 

Jesus offers an olive branch, but you must take it

Jesus offers salvation, but you must receive it

Jesus offers His guidance but you must follow it

Jesus offers provision, but you must lay hold of it

Jesus offers liberty but you must digest it

Jesus offers peace, but you must embrace it

Jesus offers but intimacy you must behold it

Jesus offers but love you must cherish it

Jesus offers victory but you must apprehend it

 

Go Ye, and take what’s yours!

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
Happy to connect with friends sharing the Good News #lifegivinglinkup, Mommy Moments, Purposeful Faith, Grace & Truth

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Lift Up Your Head

As I was driving the other day, I saw a man walking with His head slung so low, he looked like the headless horseman. It immediately made me think, “LIFT UP YOUR HEAD!”

 

 

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Psalm 24:7

 

Then I began thinking about various trials I have faced this year; things that could have caused me to hang my head low, things that could have caused me to believe that the King of Glory was nowhere in the vicinity.

 

But God! Through it all He was indeed the lifter of my head.

 

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Psalm 24:9

 

Mentioned twice nearly back to back in this chapter so God wants you to get this. These verses were most likely sung by the choir as the ark was carried into the temple.

 

Let it be your song too friend. Do not be disheartened. Do not be dismayed. While the trials you face may be difficult, while we see our world being ravaged by darkness, death and destruction, be of good cheer. The kingdom of God is at hand. Lift up your head.

 

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Luke 21:25-28

 

Just as the gates were lifted and flung open to receive the King of Glory, lift your head, and open your heart to receive ALL that Jesus brings when he comes into your midst.

 

When Jesus comes into the atmosphere He brings:

 

Hope

Healing

Deliverance

Liberty

Favor

Blessing

Love

Joy

Peace

Security

 

[bctt tweet=”Friends it is not enough to just welcome Him into the door of your home but you’ve also got to welcome Him into your heart.”] Allow Him to walk through every crack, crevice and recessed corner of your heart. Even the Pharisee welcomed Jesus into their home, but a true disciple welcomes Him into their heart.

 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Revelation 3:20

 

So lift up your heads and open your hearts, for the King of Glory stands at the gate, ready to enter.

 

Will you receive Him today?

 

As always, I pray that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?

In the 1966 hit record, What Becomes of The Brokenhearted, Jimmy Ruffin sings:

The fruits of love grow all around

But for me they come a tumblin’ down

Every day heartaches grow a little stronger

I can’t stand this pain much longer

I walk in shadows

Searching for light

Cold and alone

No comfort in sight

Hoping and praying for someone to care

Always moving and goin’ to where

 

Jesus was sent to heal the brokenhearted. He opened the scroll and read of himself saying:

 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted” Isaiah 61:1

 

Jesus doesn’t want you living the above lyrics to the song. He gave his life that you might do the opposite. He wants you to be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that give fruit and are prosperous. He’s come to heal your heartache. He wants you to come out of the shadows and into his marvelous light. He is a comforter. He cares for you and wants you to cast your cares on him. He wants to lead you in paths of righteousness for his namesake. Line for line, Jesus is the answer to what becomes of the brokenhearted.

 

What becomes of the brokenhearted?

 

When their hearts are opened, they are healed.

 

I had a gaping whole in my heart. A space carved out with my mother’s name on it. I tried to fill that space with many things but they never quite seemed to fit: too big, too small, wide angles, sharp corners. They just didn’t fit. But thanks be to God he is a father to the fatherless and a mother to the motherless.

 

What does he want you to do in order to heal your broken heart?

 

RECEIVE

 

Open the door to your heart so that you can be healed, whole and loved.

 

Walking into a grocery store with my 4 year old was torture as the Valentine’s ‘eye noise’ was unbearable. He asked me, “Mommy why do they have Valentine’s Day everything? Mommy it’s too much cookies and candy and balloons.” I told him he was right that I love him and his siblings and his daddy so much everyday that we didn’t need to buy pink cookies to let them know we love them.

 

And the Father loves you more than that. He doesn’t have to dangle trinkets in front of your face that you’ll eventually discard. But every day he sees you, chooses you, knows you and calls you. Today, respond to him. He’s wooing you. His love is magnetic; it just draws you in. Don’t try to repel it, but like the strength of a neodymium magnet, be drawn in and fused together.

 

If you are brokenhearted for whatever reason, it will hamper your ability to love unconditionally. For more on agape love click here. Your capacity to love agape is only unleashed when you’ve 1st received from Him who loved you 1st. You cannot give that which you do not have. So Jesus is simply waiting for you to say yes. Perhaps you’ve said yes to let Him be your savior but have you said yes to receive his unconditional love for you? He is down, on bended knee. Imagine him as he was when he washed the disciples’ feet. He was modeling for us humility, servant hood and above all love.

 

If we are to experience the fullness of his resurrection power in our lives, we must accept that we are loved by him. We have been crucified with him yes. Now we have new life all because he loved us and freely gave himself for us.

 

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

 

If you receive his love for you, won’t you tell him today. Below in the comments you can write your response to receiving his love. If you have challenges receiving his love, you can share that too so I can pray for you. If all the Valentine’s hoopla causes you more pain than joy, share that too so I can pray for you. In fact, right now I reach out to you with a big virtual hug. Can you feel it? The Lord’s got a hug waiting for you too.

 

 

In The Secrets of the Secret Place, Bob Sorge says this of our communion with the Lord:

He initiates, we respond

He gives, we receive

He impregnates, we bring to birth

He leads, we follow

He loves, we reciprocate

He rules, we reign with Him

 

Lord, I say yes. I open the door to my heart. I come running to you. I love you Lord.

 

To God be the glory for all that he has done.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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