Desolate sanctuary

 https://youtu.be/_v3-H46we4k

Daniel 9: 4-19

 I was trying to pick just one verse to write down here from Daniels prayer, but I can't because it's all so good , and needs to be read, meditate on them,  and then let your heart cry out to God.

Wow,  It is not a coincidence that I stumbled upon this song after reading the prayer, the Desperate heart felt prayer of Daniel in chapter 9. If you have not read it, I urge you to read it and take it VERY personal as Daniel did. It would be a mistake to read this without deep personal feelings and repentance.

 Daniel was crying out to the Lord. He had a deep concern for his nation and his people. This is how our prayers should be. With true compassion for others. 

 All through this prayer David used the word "we."  It's so easy to blame others and excuse our own actions as christians.  But sadly, we look alot like the unsaved.  Daniel was a righteous man. Yet he confessed his sinfulness and need for God's forgiveness. Instead of looking for others to blame, ask the Holy Spirit to search and reveal the changes He is wanting from us personally. Then confess them to God. 

Daniel begged for mercy, not for help. He knew that his people deserved God's wrath and punishment. God sends his help not because we deserve it, but because he wants to show great mercy.  As christians, we have to stop settling for soothing messages, or making God into who we want Him to be.. Sometimes the truth hurts, and we would rather hear words that soothe. We can't continue to avoid making the painful changes that God's word calls us to do and be.  God has given all of us a choice. Obey him and receive blessings, or disobey him and face the consequences. If God would refuse to help us because of our sin, how could we complain? But when he sends mercy when we deserve punishment, how can we withhold our praise and Thanksgiving?

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Thy Kingdom Come.. Francesca Battistelli Rita Springer

 https://youtu.be/1BdbUSA71rE

Matthew 5: 3-16... Matthew 6: 9-14

" Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure and heart, for they will see God."...  

What a gift in this life to experience and see God in things.  Knowing that God doesn't miss a thing that is happening. That His will, WILL BE DONE on this Earth regardless of what we are going through, and it is a sad looking world.  

 But what are we doing as followers of Christ? It's not our belief in God that makes us a Christian. It's our commitment and obedience to Jesus Christ. Being the salt and the light in this world, or stop complaining.  

All the crud that is being pushed on us and our children. This world is pushing every immoral thing they want to on us. Why aren't we pouring out our salt, and being the light that isn't hidden? There are so many opportunities. So many open doors.  Are we the light at our job, at the gym, in a supermarket, in our retirement? Kingdom minded people. Matthew 10: 7..  When Jesus came, he already began his kingdom on Earth in the hearts of all his followers. One day the kingdom will be fully realized. Then all this evil will be destroyed and all people will live in peace with one another.

So for now, we should be affecting others in a positive way. If we look, and act like the world, we are worthless. To be a witness for Christ sometimes isn't always talking about Him, it's just being.  The world is watching. They are hungry for answers, and we have the Truth inside us. Don't shut your light out from this world. We should be shining more than ever. Illuminate the darkness. 

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Rattle... Elevation Worship

 https://youtu.be/4rzhPg9697k

Dry bones hear the word of the Lord, LIVE!

Ezekiel 37: 4-6

 The dry bones represent people's spiritual dead condition.  Verse 14, he put his spirit into us. 

 What do we look like to the world? Dead, or alive.

 Oh the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is not far off. Hes right here even as I write. Hes a part of me. Everything I say, do, look at, eat, drink, listen to,  He's with me because Hes in me, and we should never forget that.  May He be glorified in and through our lives.

Some people tell me, "oh you're obsessed."  I never have a response to that statement, because I really don't care. I'd rather be obsessed with Christ than anything else.

 I read in a devotional the other day that our relationship with God should not just be about him, but the total being of our life inside and out, is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God. God in spirit, in us, Acts 17:24-28.

Colossians 3:23, Paul wrote, " And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus".... So for the "ALL" of my life, there is nothing wrong with being obsessed. He is my life. 

John 15: 4-11....  Dear God, may our abiding awareness of You continually be pushed to the forefront of our lives. That nothing can stop the bubbling up and out of all you are. So while I have this gift of life, I pray to make an impact for Your kingdom now and to come. In Jesus mighty name I pray,  Amen. 

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

No one ever cared for me like Jesus. Steffany Gretzinger

 https://youtu.be/wapXZkU-jFM

What a beautiful song....

No truer words for my hearts story. My life will always sing a song....

 A few days before my birthday, and before Father's Day,  I felt down and that's OK. Even though I had a weekend planned away with the family, sometimes thoughts of those that have gone before us to be with the Lord become very strong in wishing they could be with you.  I've learned on my journey here that those feelings will rise up every now and then, and that's normal. It's just how much you loved. The joy of the Lord is always there.  That can't be taken away. Maybe just shadowed every now and then.  Joy is found in God's presence, Psalm 16:11.

  I'm very open with people that I meet. Especially those that I am witnessing to at the gym, or anywhere. I happened to bump into one of my male friends and told him how I was feeling, and it helped him. He's just beginning to get closer in his relationship with Jesus,  and was glad to see that it's normal not to always look like your ok. I think that it's very important to be real with people. Don't put on an act like you always have it together. That helps people who are on the road back to Jesus,  see that it's OK not to always be ok. Jesus is very aware of our weaknesses,  Hebrews 4:15.  One of the shortest scriptures in The Bible even says Jesus wept, John 11:35.

 Well the weekend is over. We had a wonderful time. I get to the gym today and he says to me, "did you meet someone?" I said,  "no why?"  He said, "you just have that full glow again." I laughed and said, "no I didn't. I just think my joy isn't shadowed by my thoughts that made me sad."

 I didn't have to say anymore. He knew where I was coming from. It doesn't take someone to make a person happy. It's an inner fulness that everyone is always trying to plug up with something else, or someone. 

 My prayer is that it will be known to my children, and my grandchildren, and anyone I talk to, that my joy has always been in Jesus Christ. He is everything to me. Nothing will replace that. 

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

With You.... Elevation Worship

 https://youtu.be/1ouhG6iPhxI

 I absolutely love when songs just ring in my head all day long. I know that He is talking to me, and He knows my heart for sure. 

First I want to thank my God for this special day, my birthday. Thank you for knowing when the perfect time was to place me in this world. Thank you for the perfect mom and dad that you gave me. Thank you for the husband that I had, and had 2 beautiful children we raised. Thank you for the family that is growing with the grandchildren that you have blessed me with. All is a blessing and I don't take one thing for granted. Not 1 day that I wake up and have breath, I thank you Father God.

 Truly, the lyrics from this song that say, "let all that I am, be consumed with who You are, and the glory of your presence,  what more can I ask for." ....  What more can any of us want? 

 There is a calmness that is found in Him alone. Spending time in His word,  drawing closer and closer to Him, He speaks very clearly on not worrying about the things we can't control,  Matthew 6: 34

 A lot of us don't really realize how close He is. He is not this far away God that you pray off into outer space. Hes right there, hearing the words before they even come off your lips. The beauty of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7,  Jesus told us this.  That he had to go so that the Holy Spirit could come. What a gift, that I pray each and every one of us can become more acquainted with. It's what He wants.  He wants to be the comfort of our soul. Do you know Him this way? 

 For me, there's no place I'd rather be, than him singing over me.

For Your glory Lord

Kim D

Edge of Heaven.. River Valley worship

 https://youtu.be/ka-mF-1HwF4

As a believer,  I keep the thought that now, any pain and sorrow, is just for now. I believe in every believer's heart there is a longing to be in this place that Jesus has promised us......

 Revelations 22: 14-15, " Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderer's, the idolators and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."

We are here, but living on the edge of heaven. We have the Holy Spirit to lead us each day. To remind us of what's to come. What beauty waits for us. But we can also enjoy the beauty that is here. 

1 Thessalonians 4:7, tells us while we are here, what kind of life a believer should be living. " For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit."

I love life, and I am grateful for everyday He gives me. As I get older, and talk to alot of older people, they bring up the scripture Paul stated in Philippinas 1:23, " I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."  What a beautiful selfless scripture.  We are here to serve our Lord. To encourage those who are looking for answers. Who may not have made a decision to accept Jesus in their life.  But also for those of us who have, we should reflect what the scriptures say. 

 There will one day be for those who believe in Jesus Christ, no more pain, no more crying, and no more sorrow. Revelations 21:4. This is something all believers look forward to. For now, there is work still to do for the coming Eternal Kingdom. 

For His glory 

Kim D

Clean.... Hillsong

 https://youtu.be/pkjyuEUvNOo

 I heard this message the other day and then this song, and I just want to share how it spoke to me.

In Genesis 3: 7, when the eyes of both Adam and Eve were opened from disobeying God, they realized they were naked. So they tried to cloth themselves with fig leaves they had sewed together. Isn't that like alot of us, we try to cover up our own sin, or make excuses why we think it is acceptable and just continue in it.

 Then our all knowing, LOVING God made garments of skin for them to cover with in verse 21.  In the beginning God covered sin with the sacrifice of unblemished animals.  They had paradise in the very beginning.   Everything was perfect, and if Adam and Eve had obeyed God, they could have lived there forever. But because of their disobedience, God told them to leave.

 All of us have sinned and are separated from fellowship with God. But He provides for us a way to Him, and paradise one day forever with Him through the sacrifice and blood of His own Son for us. All we need to do is believe and cloth our heart with Jesus.  But we can't just believe. There needs to be change to enter in.

You see this in Matthew 22, the parable of the Wedding Feast.  In verse 11 you see that the king noticed a man who was not wearing the wedding clothes. He was told to leave.

 This is a picture of righteousness needed to enter God's Kingdom. Total acceptance in God's eyes that Christ gives every believer.  Jesus provides this garment for everyone, but each person must choose to put it on in order to enter the King's banquet, eternal life.  

We can say we believe that Jesus is our Lord and saviour, but does our life reflect Him. Do we continue to be our selfish selves. Living how we please.  God sends us invitations again and again. We can't fool God. One day we will be told to enter in or leave. Are you ready, are you sure? Are you CLEAN?

For His glory 

Kim D

More like Jesus.. Kristian Stanfill

 https://youtu.be/-bKxYbVCXoQ

Reading Ezekiel 43, where God's glory returns to the temple.  2nd Corinthians chapter 6  verse 16 tells us that we are the temple of of the living God.  As I was reading these verses, 10-12 in Ezekiel 43,  where God says to describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins.  To make the design of the temple known to them, it's exits and entrances.....   This made me think of, what do we allow to enter into us, and what needs to go? Since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God.  There's no getting away from what the word of God says very clearly. The basic law of God's temple was holiness.  Thank you Father God for your Son, and for the gift of the Holy Spirit that speaks to us and leads us throughout our day, and to repentance.

 If more of you means less of me, take everything.

For Your glory

Kim D

Always and Only.. Red Rock Worship

 https://youtu.be/AjekAZFqQeI

The heart of my desire is You Jesus...

In Ezekiel chapter 40 you begin to read about the building of the new temple. I always ask God as I am reading, what I consider boring, what is so important about me knowing all of this?  When I got to chapter 41 versus 3 through 4, I kept reading them over and over again.  The inner sanctuary..... He said to Ezekiel, "This is the Most Holy Place." The Most Holy Place was the innermost Room in the temple.  It was where the Ark of the covenant was kept and where God's glory was said to dwell.

 I got up again this morning to read it over again. All that kept coming to me was our heart, and how important that organ is! It's the organ that circulates the blood, the vital CENTER of one's being. 

There is always what I call, a golden nugget, in God's Word, no matter how boring a chapter or 2 may be.  This spoke so loud to me. There are hundreds of scriptures spoken of the heart in The Bible.

Psalm 139: 23  Search me, oh God, and know my heart.... Matthew 6:21  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.... Dt  11:18  Fix these words of mine in your heart...  I don't even know what my favourite one is, but I love this one ..... 2 Corinthians 1: 21  He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guarantee what is to come. For now His Spirit dwells in my heart. My body, but His temple.

 All of this from a few verses of a boring chapter LIT UP , all because I asked God, why do I need to know this?

All for Your glory Lord

Kim D