Monday, July 29, 2013

Traveling Grace

Last time I posted it was The Spirit Of Fear, that I shared. On a positive note I want to share about angels. We are told we have a guardian angel and God sends his messengers, the angles to bring news. There are wars being fought on our behalf in the heavens. At times those angels are answers to prayer. I'm reminded that we are often entertaining angels unaware. Today I want to share a time I said a specific prayer for angels, today our son is alive because of that prayer. Journey with me as I share, Traveling Grace. Angels are there to protect us, sometimes we just need to ask.



                                                                     Traveling Grace


     There are times we all pray for traveling grace and many have seen those prayers answered. One time I prayed a very different prayer for travel.
     It was a normal day at work. I was on break when a call was transferred to me from my office, it was our son Mike. He was several hours away at college. We were excited about him coming home for Thanksgiving the next day. He asked me a strange question, "Can I come home early?" I was a little shocked and told him, "Son you never have to ask, you can come home anytime you want to." We talked for a few minutes and I told him  we would have supper waiting when he got there.
     I hung up the phone and started back to my office. As I went through the door way of the break room, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "Pray for Mike's travel." Down the hall, waiting for the elevator, riding the elevator down to my floor, then down the hall to my desk, I was praying a very different travel prayer. I went back to work and didn't think about it again. After work, I went home and told David and James that Mike would be home for supper.
     As I stood at the kitchen sink, I saw Mike's car pull in the drive. The front door opened, but, Mike only stuck his head in the door and asked, "Who prayed?" David told him, "Son, we have all been praying for you." Mike said, "There was a specific prayer." I told him,  I was lead to pray for his travel after he called and I asked him, "Why?" I knew the prayer had been answered.
     When I left the the break room and began to pray, it was for traveling grace and I was suddenly praying for angels. I had never prayed for angels before, so, I was surprised. I continued to pray angels above and below the car, angels on both sides, and in front and back of the car. The car was encased in angels. Then angels throughout the car, the motor, and the engine were encased in angels. There was a cocoon of angels surrounding Mike.
     Mike sat down at the table and began to tell us about his trip home. "As I started down a long hill, I noticed a car pulling out from a business at the bottom of the hill. I suddenly realized that the car was on my side of the road. I didn't know what to do. If I pulled into the other lane, the other car might pull into his own lane. Should I stay in my lane and hope the other car pulled into his own lane. There was no shoulder to pull off onto, only a ravine. On the left side of the highway was a fence and an incline. Suddenly I jerked the car to the right and heard gravel and then heard nothing. I realized I was suspended over the ravine. The other car, still in the wrong lane, passed by me and continued on. Again, I jerked the car to the left, the car returned to the gravel and then the pavement. As I looked in the rear view mirror, I saw the other car, still on the wrong side, go over the hill and out of sight."
     Realization that the car had been suspended over the ravine, took his breath. Mike took a moment and said, "Thank you Lord for answering my prayer." The Lord said, "Mike, you forgot to pray." To that Mike said, "Thank you for your grace." The Lord said, "Someone prayed for you." None of us had any doubt, the Lord had answered that prayer.
     Today, I pray for traveling grace, but, if the Lord quickens my spirit, there are angels and lots of them. I'm thankful I listened to the spirit that day. We might have had a different kind of travel report , if I hadn't.


(C) Copyright  2013  All right reserved.


Sunday, July 21, 2013

The Touch Of Fear

Over the past several days, reading other posts, fear has come up. So today I thought I would share my experience on one occasion with fear. I can remember a time in my life when fear paralyzed me. So afraid of what was coming, all I could do was scream. Another time so engulfed in fear in the dark, I could not move until the sun came up. God brought me through both of those experiences and gradually taught me about fear and that He did not give me a spirit of fear. When it finely dawned on me that fear is a spirit and not so much a feeling, I learned to stand my ground instead of giving in to the feelings.
When I had to face a breast biopsy, fear came over me but God gently reminded me, only the circumstance had changed but he was still God. and would bring me through whatever I had to face. Everything was fine, but, it taught me a lesson I have never forgotten. Our circumstance changed daily but, HE IS STILL GOD AND HE NEVER CHANGES.
One night the spirit of fear made a visit, I know that it was a spirit that visited me and I rebuke fear whenever it rears its ugly head.
Go with me on another Journey Of Grace, when The Touch Of Fear, came to visit.


                                                                The Touch Of Fear


     Fear = This word in English has two principal meanings; first, that apprehension of evil which normally leads one either to flee or to fight. Second, that awe and reverence which man of sense feels in the presence of God and to a king or other dread authority.
     July 19th, 2012. The heartache I felt, when I learned of the theater shooting in Colorado, just after midnight. A senseless killing. No one in that theater deserved to die, to be injured, or have to suffer the effects for years to come. My heart goes out to everyone that was touched by the sorrow of what that man has done.
     I am reminded this man is not the real enemy. This mans enemy and ours, seeks to kill or destroy, each and everyone of us. He used one of us against another, all the time.It is only the grace of God and the acceptance of Christ as our Savior, that keeps us all from becoming the person behind the gun.
     As I listened to different survivors, one young man really got my attention. Part of what he said was,"I had to wash the fear off of me."I was gripped by that because I do understand exactly what he was saying. I lived under fear for years. A fear that I would drown, or fall from an amusement park ride. I was afraid to take chances. I feared people, rejection, sickness, and most of all I feared being alone.
    To be alone took me back to my high school year. I was terrified being home alone one December day. Feeling I was losing my mind and knew I would never find my way back. It took a doctor that recognized the signs to pull me through.
     Over the years, fear would raise its ugly head from time to time. I had read in the Bible and heard Pastors say, that God does not give us a spirit of fear. When fear would overcome me, I learned to rebuke it and call on God's grace and peace for every circumstance in my life.
     There came a time however that fear became a different realization to me. David was out of town, the boys were gone, and I was alone for the night. I went to bed but left lights on in the house, I didn't want the darkness. Not long after I lay down, I was suddenly startled by a very strange feeling on my right foot. Not in my foot, but, on my foot. I realized my foot was in fear, and a moment later my ankle was in fear, and it was moving up my leg. I know that sounds crazy, but, it was reality for me. I thought, what in the world is going on. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, "That is the spirit of fear touching you." I sat up in bed and said,"Satan, I refuse this spirit of fear. I rebuke you in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ and order you to leave." And then, "Lord, thank you for your peace and grace." I know the blood of Christ covers me, I lay back down and peacefully went to sleep.
     Fear is a spirit that I refuse to allow to rule my life. Will I always be able to resist an attack.? I don't know, I'm not arrogant enough to say, I have it completely defeated. That would open me up for fear to challenge me, but, I pray God will always give me the wisdom and knowledge to recognize what is going on.
   Yes, I do understand how the young man could say, "I need to wash away the fear." I pray those that are in fear because of what has happened in Colorado, will recognize that it is a spirit that is real and torments their lives, and they can call on the God that has defeated the father of fear.


(C) Copyright 2013    All right reserved.



Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Scales Of Grace

     As we watch the news, there are up to date information on trials. Many Judge shows and accusations of wrong doing by someone or a government agency. But I ask "Do we measure wrong the same way God does" I think not. We take offences personally or its against something we believe and we weigh it from that view. But how does God measure the wrongs that are done in this world.  God looks at the heart, we look at the actions, which shows more justice.



                                                                 Scales Of Grace

     How do we measure sin, is it on a scale of 1 to 10? What sin should be least and what sin should be the worst? Many do not look at themselves and admit to their own sin, but, are more than willing to point out those of another.
     Would the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden be the least? After all it was the first, should God have over looked that sin? It wasn't that big of a sin, only disobedience, we all have done that at some time in our life. However, that one bite of the fruit has brought us to where we are today.
     We get angry when someone lies or steals from us, yet, we overlook our own attitudes, or the gossip we spread, saying, "It's only a prayer request". How often do we pass judgement when someone ignores us or speaks in anger? Does murder, rape, and child abuse weigh heavy on the scales of sin? Words said in anger and hate, do they weigh lite on that scale? Where does it weigh, when in anger and fear we lash out at God with words that a Christian should never speak?
     How do we or how should we measure the degree of sin? Should it be on a scale of 1 to 10? There is no scale we can use to measure sin! We can only set a punishment as we see it should be for those convicted of a crime against another. Seems to me we haven't done to good of a job even with that. How dare we be so arrogant and critical of one another.
     What scale does our Heavenly Father use? Does he see the one who was abused as a child and now uses drugs, as one he should over look their sins? Should he say, "It's OK", to the one that has an abortion because of incest or rape?  The one that beats and kills another, is God to over look them too, because of the way they were raised? I'm thankful he is the judge!
     God's scale is called GRACE! The grace of forgiveness. He doesn't overlook the things that have happened to us, or the things we have done, but, we are required with the help of the Holy Spirit to forgive our offenders and ourselves. Then God will forgive us.
     God gave His only begotten Son, to pay the price for our sins. Christ gave His life for you and for me. No matter what we have done, that forgiveness is for each of us and gives us eternal life with Him. Salvation with freedom and peace is offered to everyone.
     When Christ died on the cross, he paid the same price for every sin that was committed, or will ever be committed. The price of death made every sin equal.
 
     Romans 6:23 KJV
     For the wages of sin is death: but, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 



(C) Copyright 2013  All right reserved.