picturesfromheaven

SWAMP

I'm still on the mountain top from our First Love Conference, and from the conference that Bishop Joseph Garlington put on in Texas this week. The presence of the Lord was so sweet, the glory so heavy and the Word so rich, I am in awe of God's goodness and mercy. So when this word came to me, I knew that it was something that I needed to share. For those of you who are not presently on the mountain top, this word about the swamp is for you. If you know someone who is presently going through difficulties, please share with them. God bless you all.

Picture…a man trudging through a swamp with all kinds of nasty stuff clinging to him. Things like dead bugs, rotten seaweed, and “guck” that is simply indescribable. The scene is very dark and dreary. Then all of a sudden a light from above bursts through the gloom to illuminate the person like a spotlight. The light is so intense that it burns off all of the slime, weeds and leeches that were clinging to the man without any harm to him.

Hear…the Lord say, “I want to show my glory to those who are going through difficult times right now. I know that you would like for me to take those difficulties and dramatically change them to ‘make it all better’. But that will only give you relief for a season; it is not in your best interest for the long run. Please trust me on this. I want you to know way down deep in the center of your being that I really do have your best interest in mind. What you need most right now is to rest in my arms so that I can show you how very much I love you. Let me to teach you how to trust me during times of heartaches and disappointments. I am good, and I am working out that goodness in your life regardless of what it may presently look like. No matter how badly people have hurt you, abandoned you, or failed you, I will not! I want to reveal to you my glory, and when I do, all of the hurt, bad attitudes and negative mindsets that have clung to you through this painful journey will be as nothing. They will dissipate in the light of that glory. But it is your choice; continue trudging through life, or climb up on my lap and allow me to love on you for a while.”

For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
Heb 13:5-6 NKJV

Consider: I gave my life to the Lord as a very young child and have walked consistently with Him for 44 years. Like everyone else who has served the Lord for any length of time, I have gone through a lot in those years. Don’t worry, this is not going to be one of those, “Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen” type of comments. Recently I was talking with a friend about the “good ole days” and how it seemed like there used to be long seasons between battles. Once you made it through a “growing time,” there was months of recuperation and relaxation before you had to “gird up your loins’ to face another struggle. Now it seems like it is just one thing after another. In fact, it seems like you don’t even have a chance to get through one thing before another thing starts. And there are some seasons where you feel like you are getting hit on all sides at once. All I can conclude is that time is short and we need to grow up fast in order to accomplish all that God needs for us to accomplish. It’s not that God has forgotten about us for some reason, or that He likes to see us suffer. If you have had those kinds of thoughts, their origin was probably the “pit.” God has not forgotten you or I, we are just on the spiritual growth, “fast track.” You can complain, agonize and rebel against the season, or you can crawl up onto our Father’s lap and let Him love on you a bit. Let Him wrap His loving arms around you and teach you what to do about the situations you are in. Allow His glory to shine in your times of devotions. Yes, devotions. I know when we are really hurting; the last thing that we want is to do “devotions.” But that is the time that we need it the most. If you hurt too much to speak, just rest in His arms and allow Him to talk to you. Allow Him to talk about all of the “guck” that is clinging to you from the journey. Allow Him to heal you.

Pray: “Lord, I don’t know if I am coming or going, but you know that about me already. So much is going on in my life, so much that is hurtful, so much that is confusing. I really don’t know what to do. So I will just sit here in your presence. I will rest in your love. I will not make any decisions based on my emotions, but will wait on clear directions from you. I love you. It’s hard sometimes for me to say it, but way down deep I know that it is true. I know that I love you and I know that you love me. You are here with me right now, walking with me through this present set of circumstances. I think that there is a lot of slime sticking to me from my attitude and actions during this season. I ask you to forgive me and give me a good washing with your Word. Show me your glory. Help me to walk in your loving grace. I really do want to try to rest in your embrace. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

posted by pastorc @ 2:48 PM