April 2010
Entering the Cloud
By Heather Adam
On the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloudThen Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Exodus 24: 16b, 18
God speaks. The Word is called the Word because God is talking. Of course, child of the Living God, you can hear Him. You wouldnt be reading this if you werent listening and desiring more of Him. You are at this point in your relationship because Hes brought you to this place. You can hear Him. Lets move past that point.
Hearing the LORDs call is separate from entering the cloud. You might be like me and say to yourself, Ill just listen to Him from outside of the cloud. Instead of entering the cloud, I went to the tell me whats in the cloud class and the no need to be afraid of the cloud class. After graduating from those, I joined the following clubs: Raise your hands to sky fellowship and the Group who professes the Name of Jesus, but I never went into that cloud.
I dont really know what my hesitation was, other than my fear of losing control. The cloud would envelope me and I would be lost in it. What will happen to me? Id whisper like I was a little girl. Yet, if I really was a little girl, Id run into the cloud. Thats the way little girls respond to the call. They run and sing and Go! It was the big girl, the girl who wouldnt obey without an explanation, the girl who stood outside of the cloud defining the terms, who was pretending she didnt understand His invitation.
All the while I heard the voice of the Shepherd. Hes tender. He led me across the path of one disciple after another, each changed by having entered the cloud. I met a few disciples who looked just like me and were so very familiar, another form of His urging. I collected stats: nobody was ever sorry for having gone in. That was good to know and kept me busy. He responded to all of this with understanding and kindness.
Thats when I went in. He wooed me. I went into the cloud because I desperately wanted Him. God puts that desire in your heart. I understand that ache and its the love offering you take and place at the feet of Jesus.
Four submitted seconds and I ceased to exist.
Four submitted minutes and I understood I would never go back to the way I was.
Four submitted hours and I would see everything in my world differently.
Four submitted days and I would begin to have the heart of Jesus for the lost.
Forty submitted days was His present to me, a taste of how it will be when I see Him face to face and the work is over. The forty days makes me smile and gives me courage to endure.
I encourage you to go into the cloud at His invitation.
June 2010
Daddys Little Girl
by Lea Pickard
The first time that I saw you
You smiled and I smiled too,
I knew that you were special
And I could count on you.
You killed the spiders quickly,
Chased the monsters all away,
You held me close on rainy nights
And knew just what to say.
The teen years made me change so much
Somehow you stayed the same,
No matter what I said or did
Your love for me remained.
Days turned into weeks,
And weeks turned into years,
You were there to help me grow
Through laughter and through tears.
When it seemed that I was all grown up
Somehow, someway you knew,
My friends thought I was on my own,
Yet I still needed you.
I know that youre that special man,
My hero in this world,
Near or far, no matter what
Im still Daddys little girl.
May 2010
No Pain, No Gain
By Gail Chastang
Luke 12:11-12, And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, dont worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.
In Luke 12:1-12, Jesus was speaking out against hypocrisy. He told the crowd that there would come a time when things they tried to hide or cover up would be revealed. He also told them that if they were to deny Him as the son of God, they could be forgiven. But He added that for them to blaspheme the Holy Spirit was unforgivable.
We learn from what Jesus said that life is about more than accumulating material goods to put on a good front. Many years of my life were wasted as I stayed mired in denial. I was dying inside. I became spiritually bankrupt. I kept telling myself that accumulating more stuff would make me a better person and make me look better in the eyes of others, or so I thought. I had lost sight of my relationship with God and what really matters in life, but I just didnt have the willingness to do whatever it would take to change. I was willing to sit in my pain rather than to make an effort to improve the quality of my life and my attitude.
In His teachings, Jesus said that living the good life has nothing to do with monetary wealth or material things. I know today that being fulfilled starts from the inside out, by reaching out to God, taking His hand, and never letting go.
Its having that one-on-one spiritual link to God 24/7. Its about sharing the good, the bad and the ugly with God each and every day that I draw breath. Its about being grateful and thanking God for everything in my life, even when I dont particularly feel grateful. When we go to God in prayer with our problems, He responds by opening our eyes to what we need to change. He also helps us to adjust our attitude toward the problem.
Growth and change are painful, but Ive always heard the saying, no pain, no gain. Yet sometimes I expect a quick fix even from God. I want Him to fight my battles and deal with whatever it is that Im either in denial over or dont want to do myself. I get lazy, ungrateful, and too into my own head and self. I want my own way, and my struggles, insecurities and fears to go away so I will quit hurting. But life doesnt work that way. Sometimes I have to walk through the darkness before I see the daylight.
I know that God is with me always and will be my constant companion through lifes dark moments. All I need to do is to start each morning by thanking Him for another day and a new opportunity for growth, ask Him to guide my actions throughout the day, and thank Him at the end of the day.
Psalm 23:1-6 (A psalm of David):
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.