A NEW PENTECOST

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

Under the training pf Christ the disciples had been led to feel their need of the Spirit. Under the Spirit's teaching, they received the final qualification, and went forth to their life work. No longer were they ignorant and uncultured. No longer were they a collection of independent units of discordant, conflicting elements. No longer were their hopes set on worldly greatness. They were of "one accord," "of one heart and of one soul" (Acts 2:46, 4:32). Christ filled their thoughts; the advancement of His kingdom was their aim. In mind and character they had become their Master, and men "took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Reflecting Christ, pg. 42).

You would think that after spending 3 and a half years with Jesus, the training of the disciples would have been complete. But even after all that time--even after having lived with Christ for those 3 years--they weren't ready to finish God's work.They didn't understand Christ's mission or what His kingdom was all about.

They should have known. Christ had told them in many ways. "Blessed are the poor in Spirit," He said, "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Jesus said "the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). But the disciples continued to look forward to an earthly kingdom. They dreamed of national greatness, when the glory of Israel would be restored. They wanted freedom from the Romans, not freedom from sin.

And yet, they came to Jesus--to be with Him and to join in His work. They brought their "cups" for Him to fill, without realizing how much they were holding back. Now before you shake your head, thinking "How could they be so slow?" think of your own track record. We choose to follow Jesus. But we often give Him only a piece of our heart, thinking all the while that we've made a full surrender. We don't know how to trust Him with everything. We're afraid of what it might mean or what He might ask us to do.

Like those early disciples, we need the Spirit's anointing to see what we need most. We need the constant presence of Jesus in our lives. And only the Holy Spirit can make that happen. He is the vital presence of God. Through the Spirit, Jesus lives in us. Through this one gift, He walks more closely with us than if we could walk with Him in person!

Pentecost made the difference for the 1st disciples of Christ. At Pentecost, the disciples pressed closer into God's presence. They humbled their hearts, confessed their unbelief and prayed with an intensity that couldn't be quenched. Day and night, they were consumed with one thought--that Christ would live in their hearts through faith. And the Spirit came in answer to their prayers. His presence burned in their lives. Thousands were converted in a day. The gospel was carried to the world in a single generation!

Do we need a Pentecost today? Pentecost is God's answer for a lack of harmony in our homes and churches. The Spirit brings unity. Pentecost is God's answer for why we continue to fall into sin, again and again. The Spirit brings victory. We need Pentecost today. It is God's answer to completing His work in our lives.

My Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, oh how I need Your Spirit in my life! I am so slow of heart to believe all that You have said and so destitute of Your presence in my life. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I need Him more than any other gift. For I want the life that only He can bring. I want to walk with You and for everyone to tell that I too have been with Jesus! In His name, I pray. Amen.

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COMMUNION WALK II

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).

When I turn on the television, I have a menu of possibilities to fill my mind. Every channel presents people and places to tap into. Then there's Facebook (or Twitter), ipods, text-messaging, youtube (I know I'm just scratching the surface here). Technology brings the world into my home, making it easier to be molded by its values. To think of me first. To focus on pleasure more than on Jesus. To think my worth is measured by my clothes or the car I drive. I may not always realize it, but these channels are training my thoughts and shaping me.

Technology's influence is so pervasive that I must consciously train my thoughts in a new direction. Not just once or twice a week, when I show up to church, or when I sit down with my Bible and breeze through a few verses. As I move through my day, I must intentionally focus on Jesus. One of my favorite author says it so well--"The mind must be stored with pure principles. Truth must be graven on the tablets of the soul. The memory must be filled with the precious truths of the Word. Then, like beautiful gems, they will flash out in the life" (Messages to Young People, pg. 69).

It's deadly to just float with the tide. Communion with Christ demands vigilance, to "reject every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). There's a lot of "stinky thinking" out there, twisted half-truths, ideas riddled with the world's viewpoint. It's easy to get swept away in the current if we're not filling our mind with something better. Without soaking our mind daily into God's Word, we won't be able to tell which thoughts are garbage and which are the beautiful gems. And sometimes, we need to filter out what's coming into our minds. We may need to "pull the plug" so to speak of some of the technology out there so we can "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).

When I began my Communion Walk, I chose to close the doors that bring temptation into my home. My mind is in training. And the time I used up by watching TV or DVD's is now devoted to listening to peace filled music, sermons on Audio-Verse or youtube, by writing to friends. Taming technology has made it possible for me to meet with Jesus through the day. Sometimes it happens when I'm driving on one of my errands or washing dishes (no dishwasher at our house). I praise Him out loud for my blessings or sing a hymn that fills my heart.  Whenever my hands are busy and I'm all alone, I think about what the Lord showed me in the morning, when we were together during our Quiet Time. It's a daily choice to "keep the Lord always before me," and I have a long way to go, but the more I do it, the easier it becomes. My mind is learning to be His mind; it's filling up with His thoughts. And the claws of temptation are losing their grip. But most of all, heaven seems within my grasp. I can almost reach out and touch it because my thoughts are there.

Can you keep heaven in your heart today? "Think that it can be done; believe that it can be done. Act it, and you will find that you are brought into a purer atmosphere; you are breathing the atmosphere of heaven" (Sermons and Talks, book 1, pg. 205). 

My Prayer

Dear Lord, I choose to train my mind to walk the Communion Walk with you. Teach me to keep my mind fixed more on You than in the world, this virtual world that demands so much time. Train my thoughts, train all of me to fasten upon Jesus Christ and His kingdom of truth and righteousness. In Jesus' precious name, I ask this. Amen.

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COMMUNION WALK I

"And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:24).

By faith Enoch "was translated that he should not see death...for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:15). In the midst of a world by its iniquity doomed to destruction, Enoch lived a life of such close communion with God that he was not permitted to fall under the power of death. The godly character of this prophet represents the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall be "redeemed from the earth" (Revelation 14:3) at the coming of Christ. Then, as in the world before the Flood, iniquity will prevail...But like Enoch, God's people will seek for purity of heart and conformity to His will, until they shall reflect the likeness of Christ (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 88,89).

If your church is like mine, you may sometimes sing that old gospel hymn, "O let me walk with Thee my God, as Enoch walked in days of old. Place Thou Thy tender hand in mine and sweet communion with me hold." For 300 years, Enoch maintained a closer walk than any other man before him. And what is even more astounding--he remained faithful in a time when men's thoughts were "only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5).

Consider this snapshot of those dark days--"They sought only to gratify the desires of their own proud hearts, and reveled in scenes of pleasure and wickedness. Not desiring to retain God in their knowledge, they soon came to deny his existence...Neither the marriage relation nor the rights of property were respected. Whoever coveted the wives or the possessions of his neighbor took them by force, and men exulted in their deeds of violence" (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 91). It almost sounds like a commentary on today's news, doesn't it? But these were the times of Enoch who, in contrast, stood pure in faith, untainted by the world's culture.

To stand when all the world has crumbled in the face of idolatry and purity. To follow the ways of God when everyone else did what was right in their own eyes. To seek the Lord in prayer when his neighbors offered incense to a collection of wooden and golden statues. This was the witness of Enoch for 300 years.  How he must have prayed, seeking to know His Father's will. "What shall I do to honor You?" could very well have been the burden on his heart. Constantly, he must have meditated on the goodness and perfection of God's character. And as he looked to Jesus, he became changed into the same image.

When we see such devotion in someone who lived long ago, we might be tempted to think, "That could never happen today!" And most of all, "it could never happen to me!" But even though there's a quite a gap between Enoch's time and ours, we can make the same choices he did. We can choose  to walk in the light of God's Word.  We can choose what we think or talk about. Even if sin bombards us at every step--as it did for Enoch--we can still walk in the atmosphere of heaven. The world's pollution doesn't have to infect us. For Enoch walked with God in a Godless age, and he walked so in tune with heaven that God took him home without passing through death. 

If we seek the Lord with all our heart, we can walk the Communion Walk. We can "seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1). We can "set [our] mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). For we have Christ's promise, "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8). When our heart belongs to Jesus, we shall love to talk about our Savior; our sweetest thoughts will be about Him. Our eyes will be more alive to His presence, our ears more open to His voice. And by thinking-talking-even singing of Jesus, we'll be energized to walk as Enoch walked so long ago. 

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HOW CAN I FORGET?

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us'" (1 Samuel 7:12).

Israel was under the thumb of the Philistines for 20 years. During this time, Samuel traveled from town to town, seeking to turn the hearts of God's people back to Him. After suffering years of oppression, "all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the Lord" (1 Samuel 7:2, NIV). They came together at Mizpah as Samuel had instructed them. "If you return to the Lord with all your hearts," Samuel said, "then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines" (verse 3, NKJV).

But as Israel gathered to seek the Lord, the Philistines misinterpreted this great gathering, thinking Israel was making battle plans. So with a strong force, they took the offense and prepared for war. The news of the approaching army caused great terror in Israel. So they called out to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the Lord for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines" (verse 8).

And so the army of the Philistines advanced against Israel. And though God's people trembled with fear, they hoped that God would deliver them. In answer to their prayers, God sent a devastating storm that threw the Philistines into such confusion, that the armies of Israel took the upper hand and won a great victory. As a result, the Philistines restored the strongholds they had captured from Israel and the nation enjoyed peace from her enemies for many years.

To keep this victory forever in their minds, Samuel set up a memorial between Mizpah and Shen. He called it Ebenezer, "the stone of help," saying to the people,"thus far the Lord has helped us." Throughout the history of Israel, other memorial stones were erected. God commanded both Moses and Joshua to do this, "to build up remembrances" of what He had done.

Too often we forget the way the Lord has led us. As time passes, the memory of answered prayers or victories over temptation fade from our memory. We need a stone of Ebenezer, some kind of tool to remind us that "thus far the Lord has helped us." It doesn't have to be an actual stone or pillar. It could  just be a simple notebook to record our journey with God.

I use several journals as my stones of Ebenezer. In one, I write a daily letter to God, thanking Him for at least 3 new blessings that He gives me each day. In another, I record my meditations as I study the Bible. I also use a prayer journal from time to time. I call them my Communion Journals. They build memories for me of God's grace, keeping fresh in my mind the mercy He's shown, the tears He's wiped away, the fears He's dispelled. Looking back at these journals gives me more courage to keep moving forward in faith.

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BE STILL AND KNOW

"Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still" (Psalm 4:4).

It is the privilege of every Christian to enjoy the deep movings of the Spirit of God. A sweet, heavenly peace will pervade the mind, and you will love to meditate upon God and heaven. You will feast upon the glorious promises in His Word (Messages to Young People, pg. 132).

When I began this new journey with Jesus--in seeking Him with my whole heart--I didn't really understand how to go about it. But somehow, I knew the Bible held the answer. So I began a chronicle, recording the stories of how Bible heroes and heroines sought the Lord. It was a rich study that drew me closer to Jesus.

But one day, as I was reading, I heard the Spirit say, "Meditate on what I show you, and you will learn more." This was new territory for me. I had no problem immersing myself in Scripture or in spending time in prayer. But meditation? I'd never done that before.  I can't remember even hearing a sermon on that topic. But when God points you in a new direction, He's not going to be silent. So, I turned to the Word to discover how to seek Him in this new way.

In the Old Testament, the words meditate or meditation often come from the word hagah, which literally means to ponder, imagine, or converse with yourself. When I ponder, I'm taking time to wonder what God is saying or how to live out His message in my life. 

Have you ever come across a verse in the Bible that stirred you up? I remember the first time I discovered that I was a child of God. I was in high school then and feeling quite a bit like the number zero. I was used to hearing how dumb or how ugly I was. And I ended up believing it. But when I began to read the Bible, I came across these words, "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1) When I read that, something lit up inside. Even though I didn't grow up with a Bible, I knew that God was the King of Kings. And if I was His child, then that made me a princess, someone with great influence and value. I didn't realize it back then, but I was actually meditating. I was pondering what God was saying to me--to me personally. And that knowledge began changing my life. 

Now, here I was, many years later discovering meditation once again. And I began wondering as I read the Bible. I began asking questions about what God said, not to doubt what was written, but to question my place in the verse or story. Am I acting in the same way as the Pharisees? Is my faith strong enough to move mountains? Would I have turned away if Jesus said, "Come, follow Me"? What kind of excuses do I make when I hear Him calling? The answers to these questions aren't found within a gospel story or a single verse. They're discovered by meditation.

In many places, the word 'meditate' is translated as 'commune' or vice versa. In the King James Version, today's key text says, "Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still" (Psalm 4:4). But other versions, like the New American Standard and the New King James, replace 'commune' with 'meditate.'  They're so closely connected that you can't separate communion from meditation. They're vitally linked together in building intimacy with God.  I'm discovering that when I meditate, God speaks to me--not merely through the words on the page, but through His still, small voice. Quite often, He shakes me up or gives me exactly what I need right then. Or He points me to other places in the Bible that answer my questions. And I end up digging much deeper into the Word of God. 

When you meditate on Scripture, God moves into your life in a more powerful way. It's hard to put into words, but I believe His presence becomes more real to you. You feel like you're in the very atmosphere of heaven. When I open up more to God, and listen more intently to the Holy Spirit, I have a sense like Jacob did after his vision of the angels ascending and descending heaven's ladder. I can truly say, "Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it!" (Genesis 28:16). 

"God bids you fill the mind with great thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires us to meditate upon His love and mercy, to study His wonderful work in the great plan of redemption. Then clearer and clearer will be our perceptions of truth, higher, holier, our desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought. The soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought will be transformed by communion with God through the study of the Scriptures" (God's Amazing Grace, pg. 34).

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LISTEN AS A DISCIPLE

"The Lord God has given me the tongue of disciples, 
that I may know how to sustain 
a weary one with a word. 
He awakens me morning by morning; 

He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple."

(Psalm 119:32, NAS)

Christ was continually receiving from the Father that He might communicate with us. ‘The word which ye hear,’ He said, ‘is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me’ (John 14:24). ‘The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister’ (Matthew 20:28). Not for Himself, but for others, He lived and thought and prayed. From hours spent with God, He came forth morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others. His words were given Him fresh from the heavenly courts, words that He might speak in season to the weary and oppressed (Christ’s Object Lessons, 139).

Before I gave my life to Jesus, I hated Monday mornings. I woke up with a list of all the stuff I had to do running in my head. Breakfast, laundry, getting lunch ready before my husband headed off work. And before I knew it, I was plowing through the list, without hardly taking a breath for God. But since I've been seeking Jesus in a new way, I find my 1st thoughts are of Him. My mind and heart turns to Jesus before my feet even touch the floor. 

When you wake up to the Spirit's call, He wakes you up to listen. For many years, I thought of communion with Christ as something I do--how I pray, how I study, how I memorize the Bible. But communion is really about a conversation with God. It's listening to Him in His Word, it's talking with Him in prayer. Either way, I'm turning to Jesus, to sit at His feet and listen. 

What does it mean to listen as a disciple? Is it different from listening to a friend? Usually when I talk with my friends, I share what's happening in my life. I listen to find out what's important to them. Is it any different with Jesus? I hear what's on His heart. But then, God turns listening on its ear. He shares what's important for me, not merely what's important to Him.

When I listen as a disciple, I also listen as a student. A disciple is someone in training who's learning from a wiser or more experienced teacher. But the goal is more than knowledge. For the Savior tells us, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40). So, the goal of listening to Jesus isn't mere information. It's transformation! I listen to be like Jesus. The words on the pages of my Bible come to life as they meet the hunger in my heart. I reach out to God, He reaches out to me. And in between, His knowledge brings me Jesus and His life-giving power. But only when I enter His presence and take time to listen.

When Peter, James and John went on the mountaintop with Jesus, they beheld Him in all His glory. We catch a glimpse of that glory when we sit at Christ's feet. But before we open our mouths like Peter--hardly knowing what we will say--we need to first listen to the Savior. You might be eager to talk first (like Peter) or to do big things for God. But before you head down the mountain or say one little word, listen to what our Father says. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:5) 

Those last 2 words say so much, don't they? Hear Him. Be quiet just now and listen to Jesus. As you read your Bible, listen for the Spirit's voice. He has a personal message for you in His Word. He wants to give you the life in that word. So before you jump up and race into your day, take time to linger and listen. What is God saying to you today? What is His deep purpose in what you just read? 

My Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, open my ears that I may behold wondrous things in Your Word. Slow me down to listen to all You want to say to me. Incline my ear to fully enter Your presence as we talk together, you and I. And may I say like Samuel, "speak Lord, for Your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:9). In Jesus' name, I ask this, Amen.

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MISTAKEN IDENTITY

In 2006, a horrible head-on collision claimed the lives of 5 young people. When the paramedics arrived on the scene, Wendy's purse was found lying next to Linda's broken body. In the chaos that followed, everyone assumed that Linda was actually Wendy! For the next 5 weeks, no one realized the truth! Even Linda's family believed that their daughter was dead. But it was an amazing example of mistaken identity. 

God understands what the families of those 2 girls were going through. For centuries, He's been a victim of that too. The devil has fooled millions into thinking that either God isn't real or He's someone you can't trust. How can we really know Him?

Can you find out what God is really like? 
"I will give them a heart to _____ Me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God" (Jeremiah 24:7).
God is eager for you to know Him, but we can't love someone we know little about.

Where can you go to find God? 
"Since the creation of the world His [God's] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things He has _____, even His eternal power and Godhead" (Romans 1:20)
"The earth is full of the _____ of the Lord" (Psalm 33:5).

"The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green--all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and His desire to make His children happy" (Steps to Christ, pg. 9).

What does the Bible tell us about God?
"Hear O Israel, the Lord our God: the Lord is _____" (Deuteronomy 6:4)
"The grace of our Lord _____ Christ, and the love of the _____, and the communion of the Holy _____ be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Bible doesn't prove that God exists. It proclaims Him! Every Bible writer had confidence that God was with us. And unlike all the countries around them, they believed in only one God--a Triune Godhead--consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each One is a distinct Person with identical thoughts, feelings, and actions. And each One loves you with an unconditional love!

How does God work together in loving you?
"For God so loved the world that He _____ His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called _____ of God" (1 John 3:1).
"But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ _____ for us" (Romans 5:8).
"It is the Spirit who gives _____" (John 6:63).

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together to draw you into the family of God. Each One has a specific role in God's plan of salvation, but each loves you with the same love and devotion. Jesus took your place on the cross. The Father draws you to unite your life to Theirs through that sacrifice (see 2 Corinthians 5:19). And as we reach out to accept the gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit gives us new life. He gives us our Father's heart.

What does God want you to know about Him?
"The eternal God is your _____ and underneath are His everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27).
"In Your hand is _____ and might; in Your hand it is to make great  and to give strength to all" (1 Chronicles 29:12).
"O Lord, You have searched me and _____ me...You understand my thoughts afar off and are acquainted with all my ways" (Psalm 139:1-3).
"The Lord is _____ and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy" (Psalm 103:8).
"No one is _____ like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any Rock like our God" (1 Samuel 2:2).

This is just a small peek into the face of God. He is a holy God, who will never do anything wrong. He is all knowing and all powerful. But most of all, He is a God of love and mercy. You can turn to Him in any crisis, knowing that He'll be there for you, with exactly what you need. And no matter how many times, you may mess up, He is always there with open arms, ready to welcome you back home! 

Where can you find the best picture of what God is like?
"In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son...who being the brightness of His glory and the express _____ of His Person" (Hebrews 1:2,3).
"Jesus said to him,..."He who has seen _____ has seen the Father."

Jesus is the answer to the case of God's Mistaken Identity. Through the centuries the image of God has been distorted by Satan. And though the prophets have described Him again and again, it wasn't enough to remove the distortion. So Jesus came to earth to solve the mystery. He came to demonstrate the incredible love of God--found in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As you read the gospels, you will come face to face with God. You will see that God loves you with an everlasting love that will never let you go (see Jeremiah 31:3).

An excerpt from Bible #4 Guide in "The Living Way" Bible Course. For a complete, full-color copy of your own, please send $1 to Living Way Ministries at our home address. 

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A NEW MARRIAGE

I ran in search of exciting things, 
where I was in full control.

I had no hunger for what Christ brings, 
of the life He could bring to my soul.

I turned on the TV and watched instead 
all the sit-coms, the games and the shows,

not realizing that my heart was dead, 
so in need of the joy God bestows.

But one day, I heard Him call me away 
from the pull and the world and its sin

to a marriage where I would always stay 
and He would dwell within.

As I feast my eyes upon the love 
that He has lavished on me,

I'm drawn to only Christ above 
and I long for His purity.

My tastes are changing every day, 
not by force but through His love.

And the world can't make any headway, 
for my thoughts are on Him above.

Now, I feel the touch of His gentle hand 
as I walk serene by His side.

And He speaks to me of His love firsthand. 
To me--His adoring bride!

I sit at His feet to hear His heart, 
how His heart is beating for me.

So I've given Him mine and we'll never part

for His love has set me free!

© By Susan Gilmore

THE FATHER'S HEART

"I meditate within my heart and my spirit makes diligent search" (Psalm 77:6).

On the last day of campmeeting (a week long spiritual retreat), I heard a soul-stirring sermon on how Jesus can be formed within, "the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). The pastor gave a very simple message saying, "You must be born again" (John 3:3). But then, he added something I've never heard before--when we experience the new birth, Jesus doesn't merely give us a new  heart. He gives us His Father's heart! One that's filled with tenderness and love. One that rejoices when the lost sheep is found. One that goes looking for him in the night. The Father's heart can be yours and mine. Is it something we really want?

It's not a question we often ask, is it? If you're like me, you may delight in studying the Bible and other inspiring books. You may love spending hours at your computer or with a concordance propped up in your lap. But quite often, our studies don't take us deep enough into the Word to discover the Father's heart.

In my new journey with Jesus, I've discovered a way to do this. As I meditate on what I read in the Bible, He's opening my eyes to see what He sees. And it's radically changed how I approach Jesus and the study of His Word. I read with greater reflection now, asking myself questions as I go. But perhaps, it's not really me who's asking. I tend to think it's the Holy Spirit who's planting these questions in my mind.

One of the recurring questions He asks me is "What is My deep purpose for you today?" You see, you and I make plans of our own. Sometimes we make lists of things we want to accomplish. We go to work. We go to school. We hang out with friends. But as Jesus walked with His Father, He made no plans for Himself. Every day the Father revealed His plans and Jesus simply followed where His Father led. He said, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do" (John 5:19). "So should we depend on God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will" (Desire of Ages, pg. 208).

But God's "deep purpose" involves more than what I simply do each day. It's about who I am or what needs to be deep inside. I remember one morning reading Psalm 101:2, "I will walk wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart." As I read those words, I could see the many mistakes I've made at home--the angry words I've said, the times I'd jumped to wrong conclusions, the time I'd wasted. How could I possibly walk in my home with a perfect heart when I'm so flawed?

But it was those words that began my conversation with Jesus, not as a justification of my sin, but as someone desperate for answers. How could I really do it?

As I waited on the Lord, praying for direction, the Spirit gently asked me another question. "Who is perfect in love and righteousness? Is it you?" And then He brought back these words to my mind, "As for God, His way is perfect; the Lord's Word is flawless; He shields all who take refuge in Him" (2 Samuel 22:31). That's how the light turned on. It was a new step in communion with God. As I spend time with Jesus, He becomes my refuge. And His presence that is formed within is what enables me to walk within my home with a perfect heart. 

My natural heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). If I listened to my heart, I'd think everything was A-OK when it really isn't. But when I give myself to Jesus each and every day, I have my Father's heart. And He shares with me just what I need and how we can walk together.

Because I'm taking time to meditate--to ask these questions along the way--I'm able to hear God more personally. I'm able to ask questions I'd never ask myself. Now on the surface, it may look like God is only pointing out my shortcomings. But it's much more that that. Because the revelation He's giving me leads me to pray more fervently, to pray specifically, and to be more open to my great need. And  I think it's turned my Quiet Time with Jesus into a conversation more than just a monologue. And that alone has brought us into deeper communion with each other. For me, that's the real remedy. For communion gives me my Father's heart!

"Will you carefully search your heart and see what you indulge in and cherish that displeases Jesus and keeps the door of your heart shut against the dear Savior? Is pride or love of the world or selfishness in your heart shutting Jesus away from you? Go alone and pray for grace, over-coming grace. Die to these sins and make the happy exchange for Jesus, His presence, His love, His power" (Youth's Instructor, 10/1/57).

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No One But YOU!

"Whom have I in heaven but You? 

And there is none on earth that I desire but You!" 

(Psalm 73:25)

The women of Samaria came with their pots to Jacob's well. Though they filled them to the brim each morning, the water was soon used up or evaporated under the sun's burning heat. But one day, when the sun had reached its zenith (not the normal hour for drawing water), one solitary woman came to the well. Sitting there was a stranger who offered her something better. Jesus offered her a drink, one that would fill her so completely that no ordinary water would satisfy her again. It was Living Water, a taste of the Lord Himself! Jesus knew that one sip would be enough. For it would change her thirsting heart into a well, bubbling over with salvation and bringing everlasting joy.

When you come with your 'water pot' to Jesus, He'll do the same for you. He'll give you Living Water for your dry and thirsting soul. And your well will never run dry because you'll always want more. And even if your love for Jesus is sweet, you'll never be satisfied til you see Him face to face.

The more I am with Jesus, the more I want Him. Isn't it the same when you're in love? When my husband and I were dating, we saw each other every day. Before I went to sleep at night, we spoke for hours on the phone. We shared love letters each morning, sharing our love and prayers. But it still wasn't enough! We longed to be husband and wife, so our love could be closer and more intimate. Shouldn't it be the same with Jesus? Heaven is too far away! We can't wait til then to enjoy sweet communion with our Lord!  Our hearts must embrace Him here. We must keep Him always before us, always in our thoughts, always in our prayers.

When we taste Christ's Living Water (in the Bible), nothing will be more important that this! He won't be a stranger at the well. He'll be the love of our lives! We'll want our water pots filled to the brim. So I come to the well each morning where He fills me up, "good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over" (Luke 6:38). Only then can I become a well of life, a source of never failing streams, reviving my heart and bringing revival to everyone around me.

The heart that has once tasted the love of Christ cries out continually for a deeper draft, and as you impart you will receive in richer and more abundant measure. Every revelation of God to the soul increases the capacity to know and to love. The continual cry of the heart is "More of Thee," and ever the Spirit's answer is "Much more!" (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pg. 20).

My Prayer

Dear Father, Fill my heart to overflowing today. Give me that water so I can be Your fountain springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14). May your water fill me up and spill over the brim, so I can refresh others around me and bring them to Your well. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

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A NEW BETHEL

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11).

This past summer has been the happiest one I've ever had. All I could think of was how close I was to Jesus and He was to me. My heart often sang with the words, "the Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad!" (Psalm 126:3) How could I hang onto this wonderful sense of being wrapped in the presence of God? 

As I knelt quietly in prayer, the answer came. "Remember Bethel," the Lord said to me. "To remain in My joy, you must come to Bethel." I picked up my Bible and reread the familiar story. Jacob ended up at Bethel after stealing his brother's birthright and blessing. Esau swore to get even and Jacob was now running for his life. What guilt must have dogged his every step! Every sound must have put him on edge, thinking Esau was lurking near. Jacob felt so utterly alone. How could God help him now? Just look at what he'd done!

But during the night, Jesus came close to His wayward son. As Jacob lay on the ground, with a stone for a pillow, he saw angels moving up and down a celestial ladder. Jesus stood at the very top. And in a clear voice, He spoke to Jacob, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac...Behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you" (Genesis 28:13-15). 

In the morning, Jacob woke up but the memory of the dream remained. "Surely the Lord is in this place," he said, "and I did not know it!" Then Jacob took the stone he'd used for a pillow and set it up as a pillar. It stood as a memorial for his encounter with Jesus. In the years ahead, Bethel reminded Jacob of the peace and assurance he found there. Without the stone pillar, Jacob might have forgotten what God had done. But his memorial was a constant reminder of where he'd been and what Christ had brought him through. 

After reading Jacob's story, I erected my own Bethel memorial. But instead of a stone, I set up a journal called my "Bouquet of Praise." Each morning, I write a short letter to God, thanking Him for at least 3 new blessings He's given. Some are physical blessings, such as a good night's rest (after having shoulder surgery, this isn't a small blessing). Or I thank Him for family and friends who encourage me when I'm down. Every day I try to think of at least 1 spiritual blessing--like His incredible mercy after falling on my face or giving victory over a weak area in my life. Each day I look for new reasons to thank Him so my praise is fresh like manna.

Over the past 6 months, I've counted over 300 blessings in my life! This gives me confidence when trials come my way, that the Lord wants to bless me. He wants my joy to be full. I'm learning that the more I praise Him, the more praise flows through my day. Communion with God is sweeter, because as I engage in a spirit of praise, I enter into His presence. And in the light of His presence, there is joy, never ending joy!

My Prayer

I praise You, O God, for your overflowing love! Thank you for filling me with the joy of thanksgiving and giving me eyes to see how many ways you love me. Help me to continually offer up the sacrifice of never-ending praise, for You are so worthy! For all my blessings come from You! In Jesus' precious name, Amen.

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BE QUIET AND KNOW

"Now in the morning, having arisen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35).

A quiet time with Jesus is my favorite part of the day. No phones are ringing, no TV blaring. No one pulling on my sleeve. The house is still and I am still with it. Normally, I rush from one appointment to another. I think I get an adrenalin boost from a packed schedule. Life is activity, right? But along with the adrenalin rush comes a whole lot of distractions. My mind keeps in step with my hectic plans and it's not easy to slow down. Living in the fast lane gets in the way. When I finally wind down, it's easier to turn on the TV or plug into the computer than face the quiet alone.

But it's only when I'm still that I can give God my full attention. One of my favorite writers once said, "We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God" (Counsels on Health, pg. 163).

I have a lovely clock in our family room that's made from a shell from the Philippines. It makes a soft, ticking sound when I'm sitting there alone. But I can't hear it when the sirens screech or even when everyone's home and talking all at once. Only when the noise dies down can I hear its gentle ticking. How often it reminds me of Jesus! His voice is the ticking of a clock--quiet, but always there.

Each time I pass by that clock, I hear the lessons of my Quiet Time. The biggest lesson of all is I am here TO BE. Jesus has a work for me to do, but my biggest work is TO BE with Christ and be consecrated to Him. So I'm learning to slow down and quietly wait before Him. For "in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15).

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HE TOUCHED ME

"Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

A casual or healing touch. What made the difference? As Jesus walked through the streets of Jerusalem, He was jostled on every side. The crowds milled around Him so tightly that it was almost like being swept down a river. But when a woman, who'd been bleeding for 12 long years, touched the hem of His garment, Jesus knew it right away. He knew it was more than a casual touch. Someone had touched Him with a deep purpose and had received an answer.

What set this woman's touch apart from everyone else? In her touch was a fervency, a desperate prayer for what Jesus had to give. She touched Him with living faith. The crowd, on the other hand, was satisfied just to be near the famous teacher--to know the thrill of walking into town with the Miracle Man. They received nothing because they asked for so little.

In our journey with Jesus, is it any different? Could we be walking with the crowd, receiving nothing from Christ? Do we talk of Him in a casual way--with words but no heart? Do we pray with intensity, feeling we can't let go until we know Him? Or maybe we rush by so fast, without taking time to listen to what He has to say. We jump in and out of Christ's presence so quickly that He has no chance to give us anything. Much less Himself. The story of the bleeding woman has a deep lesson for us today. It contains this warning--it's possible for you to be in God's presence--to read your Bible and go to church, and yet, receive little healing from the Lord!

"Let us turn aside from the dusty, heated thoroughfares of life to rest in the shadows of Christ's love, and learn from Him the lesson of quiet trust. Not a pause for a moment in His presence, but personal contact with Christ, to sit in companionship with Him--this is our need. Many, even in their seasons of devotion, fail of receiving the blessing of real communion with God. They are in too great haste. With hurried steps, they press through the circle of Christ's loving presence, pausing perhaps for a moment within its sacred precincts, but not waiting for counsel. They have no time to remain with the divine Teacher. With their burdens, they return to their work" (Signs of the Times, 7/6/04).

My Prayer

Dear Lord, slow me down. Help me to linger long with you--enough to hear Your words speak to my heart. Fill me with an intense desire to seek You, Your kingdom, and Your righteousness. In the loving name of Jesus, Amen.

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BLINDERS

November 23, 2012
It's not always easy to keep your thoughts in heaven. We tend to focus on what's in front of us or what we can touch with our hands. This keeps the focus on us rather than on God. But Christ is very gentle as He removes the blinders from our eyes. He never overwhelms us by pointing out everything all at once.
     But there's no two ways about it. The blinders have to go! Otherwise, we can't know God in all His dimensions. We can't see how high or how deep His love really is. When I first accepted Jesus, I thought I had it all figured out. If I could only get rid of my temper, I'd have it made and be ready for heaven! My friends laugh when I say this--they probably learned before I did how foolish this was. For my temper was only one symptom of my heart's condition. What I needed was a new heart.
     When I started out on this new spiritual journey, I think my eyes were skewed again. I didn't realize how empty I was. I thought everything was right between me and God. But I couldn't escape the pull of the Spirit that dogged my every step. Had I lost my first love for Jesus? I didn't really know. All I knew then was a gnawing hunger for Jesus. My heart cried out, "More, Jesus! I need You more!" And slowly, I began to hear the Spirit's answer, "Yes, my child, much more!"
     Once we feel this emptiness, Jesus can fill us to overflowing. It's like the cap on the pitcher is gone and He can just pour in His presence. But as long as we're satisfied with what we have, the best we can do is have Him by the teaspoon. We can never enter into the depth of communion He so longs to give!
     Do you feel like something's missing like I did? Do you hunger and thirst for Jesus? Then this is the evidence that the Spirit is working in your heart. He's taking off the blinders so you can see how much you need Jesus. Because He wants to come in and do for you what is impossible for you to do for yourself--to give you the heart of God!

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WHICH WAY SHOULD I GO? (Bible Guide)

Which Way Should I Go?

If you've ever traveled to a new city or country, you know how easy it is to get lost. Without a map or GPS, you might end up going in the wrong direction. In these tough times, it's hard to know what lies ahead. More than ever, we need something we can safely follow. We need direction.

How will the Bible give you direction?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of _____" (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Bible is read by more people than any other book. It clearly stands alone. That's because it's the only book that comes from God. Listen to what it says--"Holy men of God [who wrote the Bible] spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). Men wrote the words, but it was God who sent the message. So when you pick up the Bible, you're really listening to God speak. He's sharing His heart with you!

Why do you need the Bible?

"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of _____" (John 5:39).

The Bible is filled with amazing prophecies--history foretold and history revealed. It's packed with truth to keep you digging for more. But the real reason why God put this book into your hands is to lead you close to Jesus. In every prophecy, promise and command, you'll find Jesus. He isn't just the author of this book, He's what it's all about. The goal of every LIVING WAY Bible study is to help you get to know Jesus and experience new life through Him.

How can you understand what the Bible says?

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any _____ interpretation" (2 Peter 1:12).

It pays to start in the beginning. And the very 1st step in getting close to Jesus is to let Him speak to your heart. So we have to sit quietly, set aside our own ideas, and just let God speak to us through His Word. We have to become like a little child, ready to learn.

How can Jesus speak to you in the Bible?

"If anyone _____ to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine [teaching], whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority" (John 7:17).

How is it possible for someone to read the Bible and not be changed by what it says? After all, the Bible is God's Word! In the Bible, Jesus offers you incredible love, long-lasting hope, and a new direction for living. But to truly hear God speak to you, we need to know Him. For He is the living Word of God (John 1:14). If you study the Bible because you want to know Christ and His will for your life, you will hear God speak. And you'll know which way to go.

Who will help you discover which way to go?

"However, when He, the _____ of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:13).

The same Spirit that led men to write the Bible will help you know what it says.  When you ask the Spirit to guide you, you'll discover more than you ever could on your own. We can pray like David, who said, "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth" (Psalm 86:11).

How can you be sure the Holy Spirit is guiding you?

"To the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no _____ in them" (Isaiah 8:20).

The Spirit of Truth inspired the men who wrote the Bible. He led the patriarchs and prophets who spoke for God. He will guide you just as He guided them to "live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

How did Jesus study the Bible?

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in _____ the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:27).

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus met 2 very discouraged disciples. Both men were filled with despair. All of their hopes had vanished at the death of Christ. They had nowhere to turn (or so they thought). But as Jesus talked with them, He gave them a Bible study. He shared verse after verse until they understood His mission, why He had to die for the sins of the whole world. When we study the Bible as Jesus did, comparing one verse with another, "here a little and there a little" (see 1 Corinthians 2:13, Isaiah 28:10), we will have a clear picture of God's love and His plan for our life.

How will studying the Bible help you?

"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a _____ for my path" (Psalm 119:105).

"Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do ______ know" (Jeremiah 33:3).

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have _____" (Romans 15:4).

There are many benefits to studying the Bible. God will guide you when you don't know what to do. You'll learn new things about His plan for your life. But most of all, you'll experience the hope and comfort that only Jesus brings.

Excerpt from Bible Guide #1 in "The Living Way" Bible Study Course. For a complete, full-color copy of your own, please send $1 to Living Way Ministries at our home address.

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