Blessed Are The Merciful

Today, after a day of fasting (prayer in the morning) I feel great.  I thank God for the health You give me, O Lord, our God. 

 The Lord God is my strength. (Habakkuk 3) 

your blogger

daybydaywithjesus.com

 The verse that comes to mind are the words of Jesus in the beatitudes: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." Paul goes on to explain how we love: "No one who loves others will harm them.  So, love is all that the law demands." (Rom. 13:10 CEV)   "Love does no harm to a neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (NIV Rom. 13:10)  John, the "disciple who Jesus loved" gives us the bottom line on how to live in this world, "Dear friends, let us continually love one another, because love comes from God." (1 Jn. 4:7a ISV) 

Intimacy With Jesus

My goal for fasting today is to be more intimate with Jesus....  

And He will give me the desires of my heart.  

(Image: gci.org)

The goal of my fasting today is intimacy with Jesus.  Friday March 14.  It does help to set aside a whole day devoted to Him.  I praise God, and thank Jesus for making it possible.  

During fast days, in fact all the time, I try to avoid the spirit of the world as much as possible.  I don't do tv.  Never have really.  I also had the internet turned off at my house.  I don't like to spend mindless hours surfing the web anymore.  I do subscribe to 3 news sites to keep up the the prophetic events on the horizon, especially the mid east.   We are so right there at the end of days.  We can see it all around us.  All the signs are coalesing even as we speak. Please check out my blog: World War 3 Nuclear Attacks.  www.worldwar3nuclearattacks.blogspot.co.nz   I do love to travel the world with my daughter. I always stand in awe of God.  To see His power and magnitude revealed in His creation inspires me. Yet, seeing the hardness of human hearts denying the Creator and Lord Jesus saddens me deeply.  Jesus loves the world.  And so many are perishing....   God have mercy.  Jesus, raise up workers for Your harvest.  

This verse from the Prophet Isaiah ring to me.
 Isaiah records:  FOR THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AS HIS FORCEFUL HAND WAS RESTING ON ME AND AS HE WAS WARNING ME NOT TO LIVE THE WAY THIS PEOPLE WERE LIVING.... DON'T FEAR WHAT THEY FEAR, OR LIVE IN TERROR.  THE LORD OF THE HEAVENLY ARMIES- HE'S THE ONE YOU ARE TO REGARD AS HOLY.  LET HIM BE THE ONE WHOM YOU FEAR, AND LET HIM BE THE ONE BEFORE WHOM YOU STAND IN TERROR."  (Is. 8:11-13 ISV)  I think we call all learn a lesson from God's command.  God, help us to obey.

 Devotion to my First Love, like Mary of Bethany, is what I want.

(Sid Hemmingmoore)

Coming back to Him, again, and again, and again...  That's what the whole book, Song of Songs is all about on a spiritual level.  I love that book.  Of course we know what it's about on the physical level... totally hot.

 Last night I went to see the "Son of God" movie.
 I cried as I saw Jesus calling Matthew.

(Image: patheos.com)

 I  I sat in awe as I saw Him, Jesus, raising the dead, and healing the sick on the big screen.  I loved Jesus even more when I saw Him take up His cross, the Fathers will, to die for my sins.  The movie is Biblically accurate for the most part.   Makes me appreciate Jesus mercy, grace and forgiveness even more. 

The Martha- Mary Paradox

Martha was the best hostess in all of Israel.... but Mary's devotion to our Lord was even better.  Martha's home church is unrivaled.  It was Jesus base of operations when He came to Jerusalem.  And yet.... .Mary her sisters time with our Lord was even better by far.

The Martha - Mary paradox is something I suffer from.  We can read about Martha and Mary with Jesus in Luke's gospel.  Jesus loved them so much.  Jesus would stay at Martha's house.  She would take care of all feasts for Him.  Mary, her sister, was a less energetic woman.  She just sat there with Jesus.  To all appearances she wasn't doing her fare share of the work.  Mary just  loved sitting at His feet, listening to Him, knowing Him, adoring Jesus of Nazareth.  He  raised their brother Lazarus from the dead.  Lazarus walked out of the tomb after 4 days when The Resurrection and the Life, Jesus, called him out of death. 

But what is the paradox?  

(Image: adifferentwayofseeing.wordpress)

 The tension between Martha's service  and Mary's devotion.  Martha was awesome.  The most wonderful host in all of Israel. Her home was Jesus home base in Judah.   But, one day, Jesus told her the truth.  Mary was even better!  But all Mary did was sit there with Jesus.  Jesus explained to Martha that Mary had chosen something even better; simply sitting with Him.  Amazing.  

The truth is all of our service only can flow from our 'sitting at Jesus feet.'  We cannot even do service without being intimately united to our Source, our Master Jesus. It is impossible.  Jesus says so Himself.   Jesus explaines: "STAY JOINED TO ME, AND I WILL STAY JOINED TO YOU.  IF YOU STAY JOINED TO ME, AND I STAY JOINED TO YOU, THEN YOU WILL PRODUCE LOTS OF FRUIT.  BUT YOU CANNOT  DO ANYTHING WITHOUT ME."  (John 15 CEV)

 In a sense I think we all are caught up the Martha - Mary  paradox.  The tension between service,  verses simple love and devotion and time loving our Lord.   I've had to learn this one the hard way over and over again for 20 years.  I constantly have to return to sitting at Jesus feet.  I know that without Him I can do nothing.  Not even draw my next breath. Jesus has told me I'm a Mary. Even though I'd like to be able to do everything like Martha.  I try, but soon realize I can't.  However, I can do something even better.   I love to worship our Lord Jesus.   I'm a widow.  He is my Husband now.

The classic example of this paradox is the church at Ephesus. (Revelation 2:1-7)  Jesus sent a letter to His followers in Ephesus. He commended them.  Their service was impeccable, like Martha's!    Tragically, they had lost their First Love.  Yet, we cannot do service without being intimately united to our Master.  It is impossible.  Jesus says so Himself. 

How can we get our First Love back?  Jesus tells us in Revelation 2:7.  We need to remember Him, and how much we loved Him at first, and turn back to our Lord.  It's that easy.  I think worshiping Him is one important key.  What is worship?  Simple love, communion with God. I like to worship Him by singing, and dancing, and walking and talking with Jesus Spirit.  He returns the love.  I'm sure there are other ways to worship too, gratefulness, contemplation, Bible reading, even serving can be a form of worship. 

 Prayer and fasting is one powerful way to come back to Jesus even more fervently.

Prayer is simply talking to God, Jesus.  Fasting is our total commitment to seek His face. We humble ourselves when we fast. In fact, in the Old Testament humbling oneself was is the same as with fasting.    May we all seek His face, love union with Jesus, even more.  Amen.   

God promises:  IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND HEAL..... (Chronicles)

Years Ago I Discovered Mary of Bethany in the Bible

20 years ago I was so weakened I couldn't  even get off the couch.  jESUS healed me and He has given me my strength back.  All praise to Him.  

 Years ago this body was so depleted of any vital energy I could barely drag myself around.  This state seemed to go on for years.... I could barely move.  I had terminal cancer.  The doctors poisoned me to the edge of death with their chemo (chemical) therapy for a whole year. Not to mention radiation, 2 surgeries, and invasive procedures  also seriously weakened my body.  At the end of that year I was reduced to a human being being trapped in a body that was too weak to get off the couch.  

 Ultimately Jesus had mercy on me.  In an instant He blew cancer out of my body.  He poured into me His living hope.  Then, over the years, in ups and down Jesus has strengthened my mortal body.  I'm actually living on borrowed time.  I pray that I please HIm and use this time wisely to tell of Your mercy, grace, and forgiveness Lord Jesus.

At my lowest is when I discovered the Bible.  I couldn't do anything else, but Jesus Holy  Spirit empowered me to read and understand His Word.  All praise to Him.  I could lay there for hours and read about Jesus.  How He loved the people and wrought miracles.  I could almost see and experience being with Him as He walked the hills of Galilee, and stood on the shore of Lake Generesett.   Messiah's  love for me revealed in His death, burial and resurrection blew me away.

My heart was broken though.  I still had my 2 small children who I love dearly.  I didn't have the strength to even go outside and watch them play.  I couldn't take them to soccer, or to the park.  All the other mothers were doing beautiful gardens and great days with their familys.  Not me.  I was just praying that my children wouldn't run into the street and get killed.

That's when I discovered Mary of Bethany. 

(Image: lavistachurchofchrist.org)

We read about her in the Gospels. (Luke and John) I was just like her.  All she did was sit at Jesus feet, listening to Him.  That's all I could do in life.  One day Mary's sister got angry at her.  She demanded that Jesus make her stop just sitting there with Him, and get up, and get to work.  Because Martha could do everything.  She must have been very strong, healthy, and efficient.  Mary, it seemed was just the opposite.  Like me.

Well, I expected Jesus to tell Mary to get up and get to work.  He did just the opposite.  To me, He said to Martha,  OH MARTHA, MARTHA, YOU ARE SO BUSY, TOO BUSY... SO WORRIED ABOUT ALL YOU DO.  AND YOU KNOW WHAT MARTHA, SOMEDAY IT WILL ALL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.  BUT WHAT MARY HAS CHOSEN IS THE BETTER.  IT WILL NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER.  (This is my paraphrase of what we read in the Gospels)

So, I realized, that laying there on the couch, reading about Jesus was the most important thing in this world.  I could do something of eternal value.  It made me so happy.  Whenever I felt so sad, I would just read those words Jesus said, and He would make me happy again.

I'm Living On Borrowed Time

20 years ago I should have been dead.
I would have been happy, I would have been in heaven with Jesus and my loved ones who went before me. But, my children would have been crushed, my Mom devastated, and my husband Dale, burdened beyond what I can imagine.

  But the  Lord had mercy on my babies and He instantly cured me in a moment of time.  

All praise to Him, cancer and death blown out of my body, and Jesus' living hope poured in.  
For 20 years it's only Jesus wings of grace that has carried me.  All of my many mistakes, faults, and sins He has generously forgiven.  His love and power of mercy, grace, and forgiveness is unfathomable, like a mighty river of God's love blown into the universe 2,000 years ago on the cross when He cried, IT IS FINISHED- PAID IN FULL.  Jesus has instructed me that for the rest of my life He has called me to tell of His mercy, grace, and forgiveness in my life.  I'm a widow.  Jesus is my Husband.  

Breakthrough

The Next Day: Breakthrough

(Image: docstock.com)

I love Jesus so much. 

 Today is anew day or new beginnings.  He has moved mightily and removed many hindrances in my life.  The miracle of prayer and fasting.  God in heaven hears and answers our hearts cry.  He moves heaven and earth to help us. 

It saddens me that the Body of Christ disvalues fasting to seek God.  

When we seek Him with all our heart, He moves powerfully, beyond human comprehension.  Lives changed, souls saved, nations rise ..... The important ministries in the Bible all start with prayer and fasting in my personal opinion.  Paul, Jesus, Paul's  missionary outreach of bringing the Light of Messiah to the nations, Ezra's  resettling  of Jerusalem.  NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.    

(drpauldordal.wordpress.com)

So, What's different this morning?

I can worship and love and appreciate Jesus more deeply and fully this morning.  An oppressive force that was preventing joyous, intimate worship of and with My Master and Beloved Jesus has been removed.  What were those negative forces?  Myself, being too busy taking care of everyday life. Now my focus has changed back to Jesus, my Master, my Husband.  How I love Him.  Another distraction was my contractor not fulfilling his work.  Last night he came over, ordered my carpet, and got back on track to getting this house fixed up and beautified.  My contractor is back on track.  Only God could do that for me.  This is divine intervention,  answered prayer.  I will now have a house of beautify to worship and serve my Lord in.  The third roadblock was I wasn't inspired to write the course proposals for the Resident Study Program, for Koinonia Institute.  Now, this morning, God has put it into my heart to get with it.  The Holy spirit is giving me ideas for exciting Bible classes again!  

Jesus has answered my prayers in a powerful way once again!  All praise to Him Who sits on the throne.  DELIGHT THYSELF IN THE LORD, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART. (Psalm 37:4)

So, what was  the bottom line? 

 I believe it was an oppressive spirit, a demonic type of stronghold or hindrances in the heavenlies to the work of the ministry and to the joy of the Lord.  Jesus has broken through once again!  All praise to God.   FOR OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE RULERS, AGAINST THE POWERS, AGAINST THE WORLD FORCES OF THIS DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES." (Eph. 6:12 NASB)  Daniel found this out in his 3 week fast! 

(Image: colindye.com)

 Now, I have the joy of the Lord back again.  Thank-you Jesus.   To me, the joy of the Lord is deep, intimate worship with Jesus.  Worship, simply loving Him from the depths of my heart.  Singing, praising, dancing, and talking to Jesus in the privacy of my own home.  Being moved upon by the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus is what I mean by worship.  God has restored my love for Jesus even deeper.  My wandering love has returned wonderfully to the Only One Who Is Worthy!  There is nothing better in this world.

Wednesday afternoon 3/12/13 Fasting Schedule

*12:30 pm: 1.5 cups electrolight water

*1:30 pm:  Back from errands.  2.5 cups home made veggie broth.  Added greens, spinach, kale, chard to the broth.  Yummy.  A shot of hot sauce spices it up!

*  1:45 pm:  I'm very hungry.  The broth helps.  Going outside to sun and get fresh air, read a health magazine.  Most importantly; talk to God in nature, His creation.  The creator loves His creation, and I do to.  I try to understand Elohim, our Creator God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit better through their creation.  THE HEAVENS DECLARE HIS HANDIWORK.. (Psalms)

* Up to 4:15 pm:  3 cups green drink and 4 cups broth.  a sick friend came over.  I anointed him with oil and prayed the prayer of faith.  I hope, pray and expect Jesus will heal him.  He has dark blood in the stool, lower vitality, lower brain function (energy).  Also, his stomach hurts.  It sounds like colon cancer to me.  I didn't tell him.  I trust Jesus to heal him.  My husband passed away about 5 years ago with colon cancer.  God have mercy on him.  Will see him in heaven some great day!

* 4:45 pm: Second coffee enema for detox.  I had originally wanted to do a 3 day fast, however, with this degree of hunger I will have to limit it to 20-24 hours.  Then do another 24 hour fast Friday as I have committed to with Jesus, and Ron and Marci Matsen of KI Resident Study Program/ RSP.

* Up to 7:30 pm: 4 cups broth, 4 cups green drink powder.  Met with my contractor, crisis situation rectified. Will not be taking him to court.  Praise God.  I can relax now.  He is back on track to get to work.

* 7:45 pm: Break fast; bowl of homemade veggie soup.  Successful 22 hour fast approx.  Praise God.  WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

* 8:00 PM: Cabbage salad, Vinegar and oil dressing Newmns, 2 eggs boiled.  1 lithium orotate, digestive enzyme, 4 senna, 2 fish oil, 2 garlic tabs.  Ahhh, to settle back and watch chuck Missler read and teach on the great Isaiah scroll.  Nothing can be better!  PTL