ALL I WANT

ALL I WANT –

These are the words that I have been reflecting on lately

You see – the past few weeks have been filled with ‘MORE’

Praying More …

Reading the Word More …

Meditating More …

AND –

Listening to Music More …

Yet, something is happening in all of the self-assessment and meditation:

I find myself zeroing in on certain verses, and words … on phrases and ideas

With respect to music, that phrase ‘All I Want’ has been a cause of deep reflection

It is a key phrase in a song that keeps showing up in my playlist – Let Praises Rise –

It is not a new song. However, it is a very passionate song performed by a musical assembly & community of artistic individuals – ORU Worship Center.

I’ve listened to this song over and over –

Focusing intently on its message of not wanting anything but the LORD and for Him to be glorified,

I have had to ask myself, ‘Is He all I want? Do I only desire that He be glorified?’

NOW –

I would like to say that I am that spiritual

YET –

The truth of the matter is there are so many other things I often find myself wanting

• I would like for the storms to come to an end
• I would like all that has been stolen to be returned
• I would like to rescue my mom from her current conditions
• I would like to see healing manifest in my life and in the lives of those I love

HOWEVER –

With increasing frequency and intensified desire,

I find the words of that song truly resonating on the inside of me,

“Fill my life ‘til all they see is You LORD … Glorify Your Name”

“Fill my heart ‘til all they see is You LORD … Glorify Your Name”

YES –

If none of those things I would like actually manifest in the manner or timeframe that I would like

YET WILL I PRAISE HIM

ONE DAY –

I will get to a place where it will not take extreme circumstances to get me to this place

I will move beyond a place of visitation to a place of habitation

A LIFE TRULY AND ENTIRELY SURRENDERED

I will be like those heavenly beings around the throne of GOD who cry out continually,

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY – who was, and is, and is to come” Revelation 4:8

THERE WILL COME A TIME –

Night and day, without interruption – where I can sing that song without duplicity,

‘ALL I WANT IS FOR YOU, FOR YOU TO BE GLORIFIED … FOR YOU TO BE LIFTED HIGH’

BUT TODAY –

I will embrace where I am presently

‘ALL I WANT’ is my heart cry today.

I do not know if it will be my heart cry tomorrow,

Or how much of tomorrow it will occupy my inner being

BUT THIS I KNOW …

“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12

EVERY MOMENT –

As often as opportunity and unction arise, I will let praises rise!

I Pray You Have a Tremendously Blessed Evening!

Zenobia

Withholding nothing...

Good Morning!

It’s 2:30AM and I have to be up to get ready for work at 4:30AM.

However, this song was on my heart …

William McDowell ... Withholding Nothing

My prayer for today and this week is that God would have His way in and through me. I give my all, I surrender my will to Your will, O LORD.

Praying that you all have an abundantly blessed week!

‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”’

Isaiah 6:8

the power of holiness

I haven't written in a while ...
Sometimes you just have to pause on 'holy'

There is something that happens in His presence, as we worship.

Understand, we do not move in and out of His presence
For He is Omnipresent ... everywhere, all the time

'If I ascend into heaven, You are there.

If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.'

Psalm 139:8

No, it is my consciousness of His presence that becomes the variable which must be moderated. And as I worship Him, truly worship Him, everything else fades to black.

In those moments of pure worship, His beauty is the only thing which is evident, the only thing which is real and that truly matters.

In that moment, dreams and passions are re-ignited

It is a moment where painful hurts are sometimes unearthed, but where the overwhelming power of His presence makes them of absoultely no consequence as you realize how vast He is and how small the issues of life truly are in comparison.

In that moment, His love is tangible and all consuming.

In that moment, there is a sudden understanding of the concept of peace which passes understanding. It transcends a head knowledge and becomes reality.

In that moment strength is renewed...

In that moment, there is resurrection power and life ...
There exists in that moment, a place for hope to take up residence and to blossom.

My aim is to live, consistently and continually, in that place of surrender...

No Longer I ...

‘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

These are amazing words from a man who once persecuted Christians. Paul had undergone such a major life transformation that he no longer acknowledged himself in the equation. This is the aim for every believer – to be so one with Christ that it is no longer we but He that lives and moves and breathes through us.

A couple of days ago, I wrote about 'Power' and we looked at several verses:

• ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…’ Acts 1:8
• ‘Be ever filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit…’ Ephesians 5:18
• ‘Walk in the Spirit…’ Galatians 5:16

I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit. And, I have been trying with all my might to truly crucify my flesh, be filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. However, if I am honest (and I believe in being as transparent as possible), I have not always been as successful as I would like to be. 


I can mark the day this wilderness journey began – it was November 2005 and I had just come off of a forty-day fast when all sorts of turmoil began. And, it has not stopped for six years. Yes, I have experienced quite a bit over the past few years: incurable illnesses, job troubles, job layoff, concerns for my son (academically and physically), financial devastation, homelessness and family concerns [just to name a few]. But God has been faithful to keep me in the midst of every storm. 

Even still, there have been moments where I simply wanted to scream, ‘I quit!’ ‘But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Rom. 8:11).’ No, I cannot give up the fight even when I desire to. It is no longer I who lives but Christ in me. Christ in me ...


The incredible thing about the Spirit of God is this: Resurrection power resident on the inside of every believer! He infuses me with strength and causes me to rise when I want to lay down and give up. He brings about newness of life, joy in my heart and peace to my spirit - even when I want to sulk. He compels me to move forward despite any obstacle which might present itself.


Be encouraged today:
Greater is He who lives in us than he who is in the world (I Jn. 4:4)
His strength is made perfect in our weakness (II Cor. 12:9)
He is GOD, not only with us but in us!
No longer us but Him, no longer I but Christ ...

Keep Trusting! Keep Standing! Keep Moving! 

bended knee ...

He is Father, but He is the Almighty
He is Friend, but He is the Redeemer
He is Husband, but He is LORD
He is Comforter, but He is King
He is Shepherd, but Omnipotent


He is Alpha and Omega
He is GOD!



He is a Husband, yet unlike any that has walked this earth
He is Friend, yet He alone is worthy of bended knee and true worship
He is Father, yet He cannot be viewed through the lens of experiences with earthly fathers


He is embraced, because He is Emmanuel, God with us
He is exalted, because He is El Shaddai, God Almighty


I can pray in any position, at any time –

Yet, when I bow my knee – 
I express a different kind of  respect, of reverence for my LORD
 
It is a vulnerable position –
I can only see the space directly in front me –
I cannot see anything if I close my eyes or lie face down –
It is a place of humility and surrender


It is a position of trust –
Trust that He is God,
Trust that He is in control,
Trust that He has my back,
Trust that He holds my future and my today.


When I bend my knee, I bend my ‘self’
I acknowledge that I need Him – DAILY
I acknowledge that His ways are higher than my ways (Is. 55:9)
I acknowledge that His plans are good plans (Jer. 29:11)
I acknowledge that the battle is not mine (I Sam. 17:47)
I acknowledge that He is both Savior and LORD

‘Therefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’

Philippians 2:9-11

Every knee bowing begins with every Christian knee bowing.

the powerful one word prayer ... yes

Recently a question was posed: ‘How can a simple, one worded prayer ‘Yes’ offer so much?’

After taking a moment to determine exactly what was being asked, the answer – being much simpler than the actual question – became abundantly clear.

You see, the ‘yes’ prayer tells God we trust Him - unequivocally. It lays aside individual plans and aspirations and demonstrates a complete confidence in the LORD and the truth of His Word. It acknowledges that the plans He has for us (whatever they may be) are indeed good plans – plans to prosper and not to harm us (Jer. 29:11).

The Word says, in Proverbs 19:21 (NKJV), ‘There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.’ The Message Version of the Bible states it this way, 'We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.' The individual who offers a simple ‘yes’ prayer, recognizes the wisdom found in God’s Word and makes a conscious choice to leave the planning to God. The humblest prayer that one can utter, the 'yes' prayer admits ‘His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts higher than my thoughts (Is. 55:9).’

The ‘yes’ prayer refuses to manipulate God. It echoes the words of David found in Psalm 23 ‘Thy will be done’. It willingly allows God to be the Shepherd that He desires to be in our lives. It rests in the truth that, even if we face challenging circumstances and perplexing issues of life, we do not have to fear, for He is with us. He cares for everything that concerns us. The ‘yes’ prayer is a complete surrender, where we voluntarily empty ourselves so He can fill our lives, so He can fill us, with His very best. And doesn't His best powerfully offer us so much more than we could ever hope for on our own?

Will you say, ‘Yes’?