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2 episodes with my rights
2 episodes with my rights
By Mary Lindow The words, “The Harsh Winds of Life” have been playing themselves over and over in my mind. As I have pondered them and have allowed the Voice of the Holy Spirit to instruct me as to why I have been impressed with this statement, I sense the Lord addressing many deeper issues that are well anchored and maintained within our souls as believers. HARSH WINDS These blustery currents in the natural can be devastating to property, trees, and all living-breathing creatures. We have all seen what the devastation of hurricanes and tornadoes can do in a very short amount of time. Often when listening to the traumatic stories of those who have lived through a nightmarish storm, the realities of what they hold near and dear have been laid bear and brought to the surface. Many weep over the loss of family photographs or tender things like Grandma's old chipped china and are unconcerned about larger material items, but are deeply thankful for the safety of family members after a traumatic event. Others, are shaking fists at the sky and are enraged that they have been infringed upon during a difficult time, and want somebody else to pay for it! THE HARSH WINDS OF LIFE BLOW UPON THE GODLY AND THE UNGODLY. NO ONE IS EXEMPT. There are some of life's storms that threaten to blow away everything we've depended on as well. Friendships are tested, relationships are strained, and the Lord uses these harsh winds blowing against our lives to remove the crusty chaff that can form and harden around the seed of our lives. Those who are independent in nature find a bitterness creeping into their attitudes and heart. They feel infringed upon when things are not easily controlled or maneuvered in their favor. And so, the Holy Spirit allows the winds to blow until a conviction penetrates the self centered soul, and exposes the fleshy comfort zone of, ‘My Way, My World, My Rights”! "No man has power over the wind to contain it; So no one has power over the day of his death. And no one is discharged in time of war, So wickedness will not release those who practice it." -Ecclesiastes 8:8 HOW LONG WILL THE HARSH WINDS BLOW? As long as we practice wicked behavior in the eyes of the Lord, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot stop it! He is winnowing us, allowing us to be caught up into the refining wind of the Holy Spirit's conviction so that the chaff and waste places in our souls are removed. And trust me my friends, anything that you may be hiding or pretending wasn't “that bad”, that harmed someone else, well God will allow it to come to the light to be either judged or to be cleansed and yes, there may be consequences that you don't like. WE CAN'T HARM OTHER PEOPLE, OR ABUSE THEM, SEXUALLY PREY UPON THEM, SPIRITUALLY ABUSE AND DOMINATE OR SLANDER, and then pretend that it wasn't “that big of a deal”! It's a huge deal to God and he will continue to pursue us in order to cleanse us if we will allow him access. (Yes you can say "ouch" right about now!) CHAFF MUST BE REMOVED. BUT WHY? Chaff is a waste material plowed into the soil or burned. Chaff, as a waste product from grain processing, shows us a symbolic use of the idea that refers to something seen as worthless. Now, this is where we read, "to separate the wheat from the chaff" from Matthew 3. It means to separate things of value from things of no value. Another example is in Psalm 1 which says: "Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away". WE CHRISTIANS OFTEN PRESUME THAT BECAUSE WE ARE REDEEMED THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL SACRIFICE OF CHRIST FOR OUR LIVES, THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EASIER AND MORE PRIVILEGED LIFE. This is simply not so! We are given a shield and a holy stamina to withstand the wiles of this world, but no free passes to a life of ease. THE LORD LOVES ALL OF MANKIND. He longs for ALL of mankind, (that includes you and I) to come to a place of trust in His way, not “our way”. Fully stripped of self-will, self-gratification, self- justification, and self-focus. Matthew 5:45 says~ “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, And sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” I KNOW! I KNOW! THIS STINGS! "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth." James 3:14 About now, I can hear a few righteous folks saying, "I would never boast about envy! " Well! Selfish ambition is well hidden in our personal behaviors. We offer gifts or opportunities for others to be blessed or helped as long as we are feeling in control and benevolent at the time of the offer or good intention. But when the winds of life shift and the Lord allows the chaff of "waste materials" in our soul to be Tornadoed —bitterness and exclusive rights abound! Huffiness, abrupt harshness and passive aggression (which means getting even) will manifest and expose the soul's clinging nature, which does not want the hand of God striping away any safety veneer that we use to protect our approach to life. A CHANGE IN THE SPIRITUAL CLIMATE HAS OCCURRED! John 6:18 says, “A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.” Jesus allowed the wind to be a teaching point for his disciples. They had walked with Him, talked with Him and served alongside Him. But trusting Him when the Storms and Harsh winds blew revealed a weakness that we all must look at, and often. We trust the Lord when things are going our way, but when the Harshness of a storm blows us off the course that we set, many times we run to our own devices or “Plan B”. SO MANY AT THIS TIME IN THIS DIFFICULT AGE ARE SCREAMING, “Lord! Don't you care about me? The winds are blowing, and I am fearful for my life! If you Love me, why are you allowing this horrid event to occur?” Even Peter in his zeal to get out of the boat and see if it was indeed Jesus calling to him to come, once he was out of the safety of his own control and the winds blew against him, he focused on the wind, and not upon Jesus, who was there the whole time. Peter cries out, "LORD I am perishing! SAVE ME!” CONTROL IS A DEEP, DEEP NEED. Perhaps THE deepest need people have, is for control. When we feel out of control, we experience a powerful and uncomfortable tension between the need for control and the evidence of “inadequate control”. Without the Presence of God in our lives, we will attempt to control everything, every event, and every person around us in order to attain the sense of order and “identity power” that we crave. DRAWING NEAR TO GOD It was James, the brother of Jesus, who wrote to the believers in Jerusalem, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double- minded people!" (James 4:8). If we draw near to God, he will respond and draw near to us. Drawing near to God is spending time with Him, worshiping Him, praying and talking to Him, inviting Him into every aspect of our lives. EVERY. PART. OF. OUR. LIFE. BRING YOUR HEART UNDER HIS LORDSHIP James gives us the blueprint for drawing near or “right up close” to the Lord. If you've committed sin, confess it, get rid of it. Next, ask the Lord to examine your heart, your motives, and the things that make you do what you do. Bring your heart under His Lordship as well. May our actions be manifestations of a clean heart and conscience. Allow HIM to remove the Chaff, the wasted time controlling things, and TRUST Him to align your life. Notice that when he writes about this he says, "Purify your hearts, double-minded people." WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY "DOUBLE-MINDED"? Well, a person who is double-minded is drawn in two completely different directions. And so he or she will get nowhere fast because loyalty is divided. They will vacillate between faith and unbelief. And, a double-minded person is unstable in all his/her ways and his/her spiritual walk is inconsistent because he/she tries to serve God and his/her own interests, and gamble their life against the Harsh Winds. We've all learned that this kind of living never works. YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS. Friends again I say this under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the master that you serve whether it be hiding something that is a secret sin or offense to The Lord, or things that you are aware of that have dishonored others, they will be brought into the light one way or the other. If you think you can hide it, if you think you can gloss it over, God will eventually bring it into the light and have you exposed for deception. Or, you choose to get the help you need and you can humble yourself! Yes, there may be consequences you don't like, because of your actions and choices. But repentance and accountability will save your soul. It may not save your marriage, it may not save your ministry, and it may not save your job or your relationships. But it will save your soul, because humility enters, and God can re-create what has been destroyed and damaged. GOD DOESN'T PLAY GAMES! No one is going to get very far with God by playing spiritual games. It will soon be discovered that the only people playing the game with you will be you, yourself, and again, YOU. It's just like people thinking that they can "ride the fence" into the kingdom. There is no riding the fence; there is no lukewarm support group. You're either in or out. If we really want to know Him, we are going to have to get serious about our relationship with Him. WE DON'T WANT DIFFICULT! I will tell you right now, that even as I write and speak these words, I can feel the resistance to pruning and more change in my gut! Are you in a pruning, shocking, "getting trimmed back" difficult season right now? Most everyone is! Feeling like your wings have been clipped? Are you seeing a pattern of lethargy and a dullness of joy maybe in your daily life? Don't waste those struggles friends! Know that God is very... VERY... intentional. And, He has a good plan for all of it. Every challenge is an opportunity to practice walking one day at a time, with really clear thinking and gratitude, and He is right there, inside you, to help you. LIKE I SAID BEFORE! WE DON'T WANT DIFFICULT! But my oh my, I do want to be like Him! So I'm in surrender-mode now, friends. I'm saying, “Cut away, Lord. Go deep.” WHY? Because I want ALL that He has for me. I want the fruit. I want all that abundance, and I know it's waiting for me when this weird and awkward season changes. THERE IS ANOTHER PHENOMENON I FIND THAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCESS, WHEN THE HARSH WINDS OF LIFE ARE BEARING DOWN. And, one that I find that is unhealthy to ignore. The enemy of our soul is observing and is feverishly “taking notes” about this difficult process, and I believe he finds it quite enjoyable; he laughs and ridicules and flings missiles of insults that shout that, "only a loser needs this kind of difficult adjustment ”. This of course, is a lie but, one which we can tend to believed on a bad day! Listening to the wrong voice can tempt us to believe the blowing away of chaff in our lives is punishment, and comes from God being mad at us. It can cause us to pull back from deeper fellowship or social engagements (social distancing tools too, like Face Time, ZOOM, integral) these paralyze honesty, transparency and humility. It can lead to self-hatred, self-protection, denial about how we hurt others with half-truths, and so on! I AM TRULY BECOMING MORE AWARE IN MY SPIRIT THAT GOD CAN ONLY USE ME—OR “BEST USE ME”, THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP OF HIS POWER AND MY WEAKNESS. A wise and well-tested man by the name of Alan Hood must have had a few pruning clippers dig into his life at time or two and learned this lesson. He stated, “To Be Pruned Is To Lose The Resources, Whether Monies or Physical Strengths Upon Which Everyone Around You Measures You As Successful.” LET'S READ THAT AGAIN… …S L O W L Y ! “To Be Pruned Is To Lose The Resources, Whether Monies or Physical Strengths Upon Which Everyone Around You Measures You As Successful.” TRYING TO USE OLD THINGS WHEN GOD IS TRYING TO GIVE US NEW THINGS IS REALLY SUCH FOOLISHNESS! Psalm 85 talks about Restoration, Re-tooling and Revival. Verse 8 says, “I will listen to what God the Lord says; He promises peace to his people, His saints —but let them not return to folly.” I'M TRUSTING THE LORD'S GOOD AND GRACIOUS HAND IN THE PROCESS THAT THE WORLD IS EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. I know God does not intend to leave even a healthy fruit-bearing branch how it is, but He is always after a more abundant harvest for His people. I don't get it, I don't like or want difficult! But I also don't want a puny little sick looking basket of bitter, green, unusable fruit out of life! He will “give the increase” when I reach the end of this seeming devastation of stymied ideas and “put on hold” plans, and let me tell you something crazy, I feel it coming! The increase! I'm learning to WALK in harmony, in tune with the truth that, “He is dwelling like healthy sap, in me, and will keep sin and despair from having dominion over my life”. (Romans 6:14) YOUR LIFE TOO! A MOMENT IN HIS ANGER - A LIFETIME IN HIS FAVOR. God disciplines for a moment when He wishes to get our attention and our lives may indeed become painful for a period, but then comes His favor. God doesn't delight in either our depression or our damage. And, when He begins to deal with the chaff in our lives, it is for our advantage, that we may be conformed to His likeness and reflect His holiness. When we sense God's disapproval, when it appears He has withdrawn from us, it is only so that we see our utter need of Him. WHEN LIFE SEEMS TO BE SO SOUR, WHEN EVERYTHING CRUMBLES, then we must remember what we “say we believe”, that God's favor is with us, because of Christ's worthiness given to us, because we are adopted and are His - which means, that His favor always wins out over His disapproval. THIS PICTURE IS PAINTED WELL BY THE WORDS "WEEPING REMAINS FOR A NIGHT." Weeping and sorrow are pictured as a traveler who comes to stay for a night. The pain and sorrow we feel may seem as though it has moved in with us like an unwelcome guest, who decides to stay for a very long time. REJOICING THOUGH, COMES IN THE MORNING. Your “mourning”, will dissipate in the morning”. Your winter, will melt into summer. God will replace your sighing, with singing. Grief, will give way to gladness. What was once bitter, will be made sweet. And, what was once a desolate wilderness, will be transformed into a paradise. LIKE THE FIRST RAYS OF THE SUNRISE WHICH DISPEL THE HARSH WINDS AND GLOOM OF NIGHT, GOD GIVES US JOY WHEN THE DARKNESS OF OUR PROBLEMS SEEM AS THOUGH THEY'LL NEVER LEAVE. YOUR CROSS IS HIS GLORY What is so crucial to understand is that as a Christian, your life will be filled with times of weakness and strength, with want and wealth, with disgrace and honor, with crosses and comforts, miseries and mercies, joys and sorrows, delight and mourning. As this cycle of separating “Chaff” from our lives reoccurs many times in our lives, and it moves us from the cross to glory. For your own health and so that you find all your satisfaction in Christ alone, God will send you times of great growth and other times of emptiness. When the harsh winds blow, know that God desires that you find your hope and comfort by His own fire. When the balmy breezes come, give Him praise and thanksgiving for the warmth He provides. Psalm 57:1 says, "Have mercy on me, O God, Have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (PROPHETIC EXHORTATION AND WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE NOT INCLUDED IN WRITTEN MESSAGE CONTINUE IN THE AUDIO MESSAGE FORMAT BEGINING AT AUDIO PLAYER TIME MARKER 21:38) Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete message, podcast link and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright 2025 " THE MESSENGER " - "THE ADVOCATE OF HOPE" ~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com www.marylindow.podbean.com Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts and Audio Messages. THANK YOU! Please go to PAYPAL to donate or support this blog: Donate to the tax-deductible ministry name of: paypal.me/mlindow (His Beloved Ministries Inc.) Or You Can Mail a Check or Cashiers Check to: His Beloved Ministries INC PO Box 1253 Eastlake CO 80614 United States
If Only You Were Normal Like Me - Part 3: What are My Rights?Paul asks the church in Corinth to set aside their rights in order to honor their fellow Jesus-followers. To practice what he preached, he was willing to set aside his own rights for the benefit of others when he first arrived in Corinth. He teaches them a relational principle that goes against almost everything we’re taught as American’s: my rights end when another Jesus-follower is offended. STUDY GUIDE
Amanda Holmes reads June Jordan's “Poem about My Rights.” Take note that the poem includes explicit language and description of sexual assault. Have a suggestion for a poem by a (dead) writer? Email us: podcast@theamericanscholar.org. If we select your entry, you'll win a copy of a poetry collection edited by David Lehman.This episode was produced by Stephanie Bastek and features the song “Canvasback” by Chad Crouch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
La mutación del título de un single de The Seeds sirve para bautizar una colección de cuatro EP’s en donde se rescatan oscuras joyitas del garage estadounidense del período 1965-1968, cada uno de ellos dedicados a bandas de diferentes estados. Lanzamientos editados por You Are The Cosmos, escudería zaragozana de intachable gusto. Playlist; THE SEEDS “The wind blows your hair” (1967) THE BERKLEY FIVE “You’re gonna cry” (The wind blows your heart, Florida EP) THE BURLINGTON SQUIRES “Back Up” (The wind blows your heart, Florida EP) THE MISSING LINKS “Come inside my heart” (The wind blows your heart, Mississippi EP) SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE “Death Angel” (The wind blows your heart, Mississippi EP) THE INNKEEPERS “Wanted” (The wind blows your heart, New York EP) THE ACOUSTICS “My Rights” (The wind blows your heart, New York EP) THE WEADS “Don’t call my name” (The wind blows your heart, New York EP) THE CHYLDS “I want more (lovin)” (The wind blows your heart, Ohio EP) DIAMOND RINGS “Which end is up” (The wind blows your heart, Ohio EP) THE LAST TIMES “Don’t tell me” (The wind blows your heart, Ohio EP) MIRANDA and THE BEAT “I’m not your baby” (ST, 2023) THE UGLY BEATS “Million dollar man” (Take a stand, 2007) THE KINKS “So long” (The Journey part 1, 2023) CIVIC “End of the line” (Taken by force, 2023) PRIVATE FUNCTION “Jusavinageez” (370HSSV 0773H, 2023) DENIZ TEK “Day to ride” (reedición de su álbum de 1994 “Outside”) Escuchar audio
Chris had the chance to sit down at CCDA with two first-time podcast guests Donna Barber and Michelle Warren for a conversation themed about their new books, as well as the work they both do to mobilize people for justice and social change and what sustains them on the journey.Special thanks to IVP for granting the space to record this conversation at the conference!Books & Writing Mentioned in this Episode:If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) Bread for the Resistance: Forty Devotions for Justice People by Donna BarberJoin the Resistance: Step Into the Good Work of Kingdom Justice by Michelle Ferrigno WarrenThe Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action by Michelle Ferrigno WarrenGod's Long Summer: Stories of Faith and Civil Rights by Charles MarshThe Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World by Desmond Tutu and Mph TutuAn Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle T. MaysTruth's Table: Black Women's Musings on Life, Love and Liberation by Ekemini Uwan, Christina Edmonson & Michelle HigginsState of Terror by Hillary Clinton and Louise PenneyVoices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice edited by Natasha Sistrunk RobinsonThe Feminist Mystique by Betty FriedanA War on My Body: A War on My Rights by Paxton Smith et al.
#41 Call Jane: Συζητάμε για την νέα ταινία με την Sigourney Weaver που μιλά για την χειραφέτηση του γυναικείου σώματος και το women empowerment. Μιλάμε επίσης με την Λένα Ράμμου, Αντιπρόεδρο της WIFT GR για το φεστιβάλ My Body, My Rights που γίνεται στην Ταινιοθήκη Ελλάδος με την ίδια επίκαιρη θεματική. cosmostaellinika@rbb-online.de Von Andrea Mavroidis ;Sofia Stavrianidou.
By Mary Lindow The words, “The Harsh Winds of Life” have been playing themselves over and over in my mind. As I have pondered them and have allowed the Voice of the Holy Spirit to instruct me as to why I have been impressed with this statement, I sense the Lord addressing many deeper issues that are well anchored and maintained within our souls as believers. HARSH WINDS These blustery currents in the natural can be devastating to property, trees, and all living-breathing creatures. We have all seen what the devastation of hurricanes and tornadoes can do in a very short amount of time. Often when listening to the traumatic stories of those who have lived through a nightmarish storm, the realities of what they hold near and dear have been laid bear and brought to the surface. Many weep over the loss of family photographs or tender things like Grandma's old chipped china and are unconcerned about larger material items, but are deeply thankful for the safety of family members after a traumatic event. Others, are shaking fists at the sky and are enraged that they have been infringed upon during a difficult time, and want somebody else to pay for it! THE HARSH WINDS OF LIFE BLOW UPON THE GODLY AND THE UNGODLY. NO ONE IS EXEMPT. There are some of life's storms that threaten to blow away everything we've depended on as well. Friendships are tested, relationships are strained, and the Lord uses these harsh winds blowing against our lives to remove the crusty chaff that can form and harden around the seed of our lives. Those who are independent in nature find a bitterness creeping into their attitudes and heart. They feel infringed upon when things are not easily controlled or maneuvered in their favor. And so, the Holy Spirit allows the winds to blow until a conviction penetrates the self centered soul, and exposes the fleshy comfort zone of, ‘My Way, My World, My Rights”! No man has power over the wind to contain it; So no one has power over the day of his death. And no one is discharged in time of war, So wickedness will not release those who practice it. Ecclesiastes 8:8 HOW LONG WILL THE HARSH WINDS BLOW? As long as we practice wicked behavior in the eyes of the Lord, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot stop it! He is winnowing us, allowing us to be caught up into the refining wind of the Holy Spirit's conviction so that the chaff and waste places in our souls are removed. And trust me my friends, anything that you may be hiding or pretending wasn't “that bad”, that harmed someone else, well God will allow it to come to the light to be either judged or to be cleansed and yes, there may be consequences that you don't like. WE CAN'T HARM OTHER PEOPLE, OR ABUSE THEM, SEXUALLY PREY UPON THEM, SPIRITUALLY ABUSE AND DOMINATE OR SLANDER, and then pretend that it wasn't “that big of a deal”! It's a huge deal to God and he will continue to pursue us in order to cleanse us if we will allow him access. (Yes you can say "ouch" right about now!) CHAFF MUST BE REMOVED. BUT WHY? Chaff is a waste material plowed into the soil or burned. Chaff, as a waste product from grain processing, shows us a symbolic use of the idea that refers to something seen as worthless. Now, this is where we read, "to separate the wheat from the chaff" from Matthew 3. It means to separate things of value from things of no value. Another example is in Psalm 1 which says: "Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away". WE CHRISTIANS OFTEN PRESUME THAT BECAUSE WE ARE REDEEMED THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL SACRIFICE OF CHRIST FOR OUR LIVES, THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EASIER AND MORE PRIVILEGED LIFE. This is simply not so! We are given a shield and a holy stamina to withstand the wiles of this world, but no free passes to a life of ease. THE LORD LOVES ALL OF MANKIND. He longs for ALL of mankind, (that includes you and I) to come to a place of trust in His way, not “our way”. Fully stripped of self-will, self-gratification, self- justification, and self-focus. Matthew 5:45 says~ “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, And sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” I KNOW! I KNOW! THIS STINGS! But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. James 3:14 About now, I can hear a few righteous folks saying, "I would never boast about envy! " Well! Selfish ambition is well hidden in our personal behaviors. We offer gifts or opportunities for others to be blessed or helped as long as we are feeling in control and benevolent at the time of the offer or good intention. But when the winds of life shift and the Lord allows the chaff of "waste materials" in our soul to be Tornadoed —bitterness and exclusive rights abound! Huffiness, abrupt harshness and passive aggression (which means getting even) will manifest and expose the soul's clinging nature, which does not want the hand of God striping away any safety veneer that we use to protect our approach to life. A CHANGE IN THE SPIRITUAL CLIMATE HAS OCCURRED! John 6:18 says, “A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.” Jesus allowed the wind to be a teaching point for his disciples. They had walked with Him, talked with Him and served alongside Him. But trusting Him when the Storms and Harsh winds blew revealed a weakness that we all must look at, and often. We trust the Lord when things are going our way, but when the Harshness of a storm blows us off the course that we set, many times we run to our own devices or “Plan B”. SO MANY AT THIS TIME IN THIS DIFFICULT AGE ARE SCREAMING, “Lord! Don't you care about me? The winds are blowing, and I am fearful for my life! If you Love me, why are you allowing this horrid event to occur?” Even Peter in his zeal to get out of the boat and see if it was indeed Jesus calling to him to come, once he was out of the safety of his own control and the winds blew against him, he focused on the wind, and not upon Jesus, who was there the whole time. Peter cries out, "LORD I am perishing! SAVE ME!” CONTROL IS A DEEP, DEEP NEED. Perhaps THE deepest need people have, is for control. When we feel out of control, we experience a powerful and uncomfortable tension between the need for control and the evidence of “inadequate control”. Without the Presence of God in our lives, we will attempt to control everything, every event, and every person around us in order to attain the sense of order and “identity power” that we crave. DRAWING NEAR TO GOD It was James, the brother of Jesus, who wrote to the believers in Jerusalem, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double- minded people!" (James 4:8). If we draw near to God, he will respond and draw near to us. Drawing near to God is spending time with Him, worshiping Him, praying and talking to Him, inviting Him into every aspect of our lives. EVERY. PART. OF. OUR. LIFE. BRING YOUR HEART UNDER HIS LORDSHIP James gives us the blueprint for drawing near or “right up close” to the Lord. If you've committed sin, confess it, get rid of it. Next, ask the Lord to examine your heart, your motives, and the things that make you do what you do. Bring your heart under His Lordship as well. May our actions be manifestations of a clean heart and conscience. Allow HIM to remove the Chaff, the wasted time controlling things, and TRUST Him to align your life. Notice that when he writes about this he says, "Purify your hearts, double-minded people." WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY "DOUBLE-MINDED"? Well, a person who is double-minded is drawn in two completely different directions. And so he or she will get nowhere fast because loyalty is divided. They will vacillate between faith and unbelief. And, a double-minded person is unstable in all his/her ways and his/her spiritual walk is inconsistent because he/she tries to serve God and his/her own interests, and gamble their life against the Harsh Winds. We've all learned that this kind of living never works. YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS. Friends again I say this under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the master that you serve whether it be hiding something that is a secret sin or offense to The Lord, or things that you are aware of that have dishonored others, they will be brought into the light one way or the other. If you think you can hide it, if you think you can gloss it over, God will eventually bring it into the light and have you exposed for deception. Or, you choose to get the help you need and you can humble yourself! Yes, there may be consequences you don't like, because of your actions and choices. But repentance and accountability will save your soul. It may not save your marriage, it may not save your ministry, and it may not save your job or your relationships. But it will save your soul, because humility enters, and God can re-create what has been destroyed and damaged. GOD DOESN'T PLAY GAMES! No one is going to get very far with God by playing spiritual games. It will soon be discovered that the only people playing the game with you will be you, yourself, and again, YOU. It's just like people thinking that they can "ride the fence" into the kingdom. There is no riding the fence; there is no lukewarm support group. You're either in or out. If we really want to know Him, we are going to have to get serious about our relationship with Him. WE DON'T WANT DIFFICULT! I will tell you right now, that even as I write and speak these words, I can feel the resistance to pruning and more change in my gut! Are you in a pruning, shocking, "getting trimmed back" difficult season right now? Most everyone is! Feeling like your wings have been clipped? Are you seeing a pattern of lethargy and a dullness of joy maybe in your daily life? Don't waste those struggles friends! Know that God is very... VERY... intentional. And, He has a good plan for all of it. Every challenge is an opportunity to practice walking one day at a time, with really clear thinking and gratitude, and He is right there, inside you, to help you. LIKE I SAID BEFORE! WE DON'T WANT DIFFICULT! But my oh my, I do want to be like Him! So I'm in surrender-mode now, friends. I'm saying, “Cut away, Lord. Go deep.” WHY? Because I want ALL that He has for me. I want the fruit. I want all that abundance, and I know it's waiting for me when this weird and awkward season changes. THERE IS ANOTHER PHENOMENON I FIND THAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCESS, WHEN THE HARSH WINDS OF LIFE ARE BEARING DOWN. And, one that I find that is unhealthy to ignore. The enemy of our soul is observing and is feverishly “taking notes” about this difficult process, and I believe he finds it quite enjoyable; he laughs and ridicules and flings missiles of insults that shout that, "only a loser needs this kind of difficult adjustment ”. This of course, is a lie but, one which we can tend to believed on a bad day! Listening to the wrong voice can tempt us to believe the blowing away of chaff in our lives is punishment, and comes from God being mad at us. It can cause us to pull back from deeper fellowship or social engagements (social distancing tools too, like Face Time, ZOOM, integral) these paralyze honesty, transparency and humility. It can lead to self-hatred, self-protection, denial about how we hurt others with half-truths, and so on! I AM TRULY BECOMING MORE AWARE IN MY SPIRIT THAT GOD CAN ONLY USE ME—OR “BEST USE ME”, THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP OF HIS POWER AND MY WEAKNESS. A wise and well-tested man by the name of Alan Hood must have had a few pruning clippers dig into his life at time or two and learned this lesson. He stated, “To Be Pruned Is To Lose The Resources, Whether Monies or Physical Strengths Upon Which Everyone Around You Measures You As Successful.” LET'S READ THAT AGAIN… …S L O W L Y ! “To Be Pruned Is To Lose The Resources, Whether Monies or Physical Strengths Upon Which Everyone Around You Measures You As Successful.” TRYING TO USE OLD THINGS WHEN GOD IS TRYING TO GIVE US NEW THINGS IS REALLY SUCH FOOLISHNESS! Psalm 85 talks about Restoration, Re-tooling and Revival. Verse 8 says, “I will listen to what God the Lord says; He promises peace to his people, His saints —but let them not return to folly.” I'M TRUSTING THE LORD'S GOOD AND GRACIOUS HAND IN THE PROCESS THAT THE WORLD IS EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. I know God does not intend to leave even a healthy fruit-bearing branch how it is, but He is always after a more abundant harvest for His people. I don't get it, I don't like or want difficult! But I also don't want a puny little sick looking basket of bitter, green, unusable fruit out of life! He will “give the increase” when I reach the end of this seeming devastation of stymied ideas and “put on hold” plans, and let me tell you something crazy, I feel it coming! The increase! I'm learning to WALK in harmony, in tune with the truth that, “He is dwelling like healthy sap, in me, and will keep sin and despair from having dominion over my life”. (Romans 6:14) YOUR LIFE TOO! A MOMENT IN HIS ANGER - A LIFETIME IN HIS FAVOR. God disciplines for a moment when He wishes to get our attention and our lives may indeed become painful for a period, but then comes His favor. God doesn't delight in either our depression or our damage. And, when He begins to deal with the chaff in our lives, it is for our advantage, that we may be conformed to His likeness and reflect His holiness. When we sense God's disapproval, when it appears He has withdrawn from us, it is only so that we see our utter need of Him. WHEN LIFE SEEMS TO BE SO SOUR, WHEN EVERYTHING CRUMBLES, then we must remember what we “say we believe”, that God's favor is with us, because of Christ's worthiness given to us, because we are adopted and are His - which means, that His favor always wins out over His disapproval. THIS PICTURE IS PAINTED WELL BY THE WORDS "WEEPING REMAINS FOR A NIGHT." Weeping and sorrow are pictured as a traveler who comes to stay for a night. The pain and sorrow we feel may seem as though it has moved in with us like an unwelcome guest, who decides to stay for a very long time. REJOICING THOUGH, COMES IN THE MORNING. Your “mourning”, will dissipate in the morning”. Your winter, will melt into summer. God will replace your sighing, with singing. Grief, will give way to gladness. What was once bitter, will be made sweet. And, what was once a desolate wilderness, will be transformed into a paradise. LIKE THE FIRST RAYS OF THE SUNRISE WHICH DISPEL THE HARSH WINDS AND GLOOM OF NIGHT, GOD GIVES US JOY WHEN THE DARKNESS OF OUR PROBLEMS SEEM AS THOUGH THEY'LL NEVER LEAVE. YOUR CROSS IS HIS GLORY What is so crucial to understand is that as a Christian, your life will be filled with times of weakness and strength, with want and wealth, with disgrace and honor, with crosses and comforts, miseries and mercies, joys and sorrows, delight and mourning. As this cycle of separating “Chaff” from our lives reoccurs many times in our lives, and it moves us from the cross to glory. For your own health and so that you find all your satisfaction in Christ alone, God will send you times of great growth and other times of emptiness. When the harsh winds blow, know that God desires that you find your hope and comfort by His own fire. When the balmy breezes come, give Him praise and thanksgiving for the warmth He provides. Psalm 57:1 says, "Have mercy on me, O God, Have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (PROPHETIC EXHORTATION AND WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE NOT INCLUDED IN WRITTEN MESSAGE CONTINUE IN THE AUDIO MESSAGE FORMAT BEGINING AT AUDIO PLAYER TIME MARKER 21:38) Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete message, podcast link and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright 2022 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com https://marylindow.podbean.com Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts and Audio Messages. THANK YOU! Please go to PAYPAL to donate or support this blog: Donate to the tax-deductible ministry name of: paypal.me/mlindow (His Beloved Ministries Inc.) Or You Can Mail a Check or Cashiers Check to: His Beloved Ministries INC PO Box 1253 Eastlake CO 80614 United States
Change comes when you have an open mind. Paxton Smith is a reproductive rights activist, the author of A War on My Body: A War on My Rights, and an artist. To get connected with Paxton, you can find her on Instagram at @paxtonasmith.
Cornelius makes the mistake of MIS-WORSHIPPING Peter. Peter makes the mistake of MIS-FELLOWSHIPPING Cornelius.The Lord smashes both these PEOPLE together to help fix both PROBLEMS. It is an important moment in Church history. It is important to the Lord for us to worship HIM only. It is important to the Lord that we open the doors of the church to the people He values.We still struggle with the same issues today. What do we hyper-value? My diet? Nature? Pleasure? My RIGHTS? My health? The STUFF of church? The Stuff of the World? I definitely like the POSTURE of appreciation and value, but the Lord wants us to get it right. Otherwise we fall into idolatry.Also, we have the issues of "who's in? who's out" in the Church today. Oh, to see with the eyes of God of who HE wants in HIS Kingdom!Join me as we follow the knuckleheads Cornelius, who mis-worships Peter; and Peter, who mis-fellowships Cornelius. Share with somebody who has got one of these wrong. bewithme.us. Spotify, Deezer, Apple Podcasts to subscribe. Like, share, re-tweet.
Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt tells Andy Parks, nothing reveals people's true selves like death. Democrats argue that life begins when it's convenient for them. At some point, a life becomes a life. And Texas was very science-oriented in finding a place to define that moment. Charlie says it's a debate our society needs to have. They have found the right to abortion in an optical illusion of the constitution, Charlie says. And "My Body, My Rights" seemed to be important to Democrats until it came to the COVID-19 vaccinations.
Paxton Smith is a student, writer, and musician. She is widely known for her valedictory address which confronted harsh abortion laws in Texas. It has since been heard around the world and has been translated/published into a variety of languages. She is now co-authoring A War on My Body; A War on My Rights, which is set to be released on January 22, 2022. The post Episode #55: The Texas ‘Heartbeat' Law w/ Paxton Smith appeared first on Beyond Picket Fences.
Paxton Smith is a student, writer, and musician. She is widely known for her valedictory address which confronted harsh abortion laws in Texas. It has since been heard around the world and has been translated/published into a variety of languages. She is now co-authoring A War on My Body; A War on My Rights, which is set to be released on January 22, 2022. The post Episode #55: The Texas ‘Heartbeat' Law w/ Paxton Smith appeared first on Beyond Picket Fences.
In this Episode, We are discussing about Ableism along with Naveen Daniel, Admin of istathukku Instagram Page. Topics discussed below, 1) Differently Abled (or) Disabled? 2) What is Ableism? 3) Challenges faced by Disabled, 4) Media Representation of Disabled, 5) Love and Relationship of Disabled, 6) Physical, Mental and Invisible Disabilities, 7) Issues in Claiming Rights, 8) Inclusive Environment, 9) Do's and Don'ts, 10) Ideologies, 11) Being an atheist, 12) Dream land of Disabled, 13) It's My Rights and not favor. Do follow us and DM on, https://www.instagram.com/kadhaippomawithkarthik/ https://www.instagram.com/istathukku/ https://www.instagram.com/naveendaniel.rb/
Disputable Matters and My Rights
PLEASE HELP BY SHARING THIS VIDEO. This is a recorded interview that I conducted with a Canadian woman named Jane who approached me for assistance about a month ago. Her story is shocking. She is a life-long victim of Human sex trafficking, as is her son. This brief introduction to her story is only the tip of the iceberg, I will let her testimony speak for itself. I have vetted her case to the best of my ability, I have seen some of the evidence which has also been submitted to police, legal council, federal MP's and now some trusted journalists who I hope will assist me in getting this story out by conducting follow up interviews with Jane or sharing this on their own platforms. The system has failed her completely. The details of her case are quite extensive, many of which cannot yet be discussed or disclosed publicly for obvious reasons. I believe her to be truthful and sincere. She has tried every legal avenue possible for over 20 years and has documented every step of the way with reams of evidence of her case. The biggest question is: Why, if all proper authorities (in both US/Canada) have been read in to her case, has nothing at all been done to assist or protect her? It's up to us to protect her and others like her. The vast global trafficking network of which she speaks, and which the world is learning about through numerous films and reports being released recently is disturbing enough, for me what is even more disturbing is the vast network of protection for these criminals by our various institutions tasked with defending human rights who have willfully ignored this case and millions of others. These are egregious crimes against humanity of the highest order. A note from Jane: "On More than one Occasion: ''The OIC (Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada) Deemed My Case a Priority Because I Meet ALL of their below Requirements'' 1. My Case/Matter involves My Rights to Life Liberty & Security of Person. 2. My Matter Is a Matter of Public (& Parliamentary) Interest. 3. My Matter involves Systemic Issues. 4. My Matter can be used to Set Precedent. This Matter is a matter of Public Safety and National Security. Human Smuggling: "Human smuggling is the facilitation, transportation, attempted transportation, or illegal entry of a person or persons across an international border, in violation of one or more countries’ laws, either clandestinely or through deception, whether with the use of fraudulent documents or through the evasion of legitimate border controls. It is a criminal commercial transaction between willing parties who go their separate ways once they have procured illegal entry into a country. The vast majority of people who are assisted in illegally entering the United States and other countries are smuggled, rather than trafficked. International human smuggling networks are linked to other transnational crimes including drug trafficking and the corruption of government officials. They can move criminals, fugitives, terrorists, and trafficking victims, as well as economic migrants. They undermine the sovereignty of nations and often endanger the lives of those being smuggled. In its 2010 report The Globalization of Crime: A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that the smuggling of persons from Latin America to the United States generated approximately $6.6 billion annually in illicit proceeds for human smuggling networks." Trafficking in Persons: "Trafficking in Persons (TIP), or human trafficking, refers to activities involved when one person obtains or holds another person in compelled service, such as involuntary servitude, slavery, debt bondage, and forced labor. TIP specifically targets the trafficked person as an object of criminal exploitation—often for labor exploitation or sexual exploitation purposes—and trafficking victims are frequently physically and emotionally abused. Although TIP is generally thought of as an international crime that involves the crossing of borders, TIP victims can also be trafficked within their own countries. Traffickers can move victims between locations within the same country and often sell them to other trafficking organizations." A deep dark world is being exposed worldwide at the moment. We have all heard about the Epstein's & many others, it's time we hear from those who lived it. Sadly, there are many more Jane's out there who live in excruciating fear, trauma, and silence. NO MORE. We as the good people of this world need to grow a spine and start speaking out, standing up, and defending the victims of this monstrous evil that plagues our world. If you know something say something. If you can do something, be brave and DO IT. My website: https://www.dwtruthwarrior.com UNSLAVED - Premium Content Feat. Michael Tsarion: https://unslaved.com Follow Truth Warrior on: Telegram: https://t.me/dwtruthwarrior
In this episode the guys are jooined by a friend of Chico's Mr. AT2. You might of heard of AT2 name on the podcast before. Chico has guest spotted on his podcast "Talk the real deal with AT2". The guys jump right into it this week with the recnt interview with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Chico calls Jada a predator and taking advantage of August Alsina. Next the guys move onto their homework on if they could replace Mount Rushmore or build a second one who would you put on it? Each of the guys read off their list which is really interesting. Moving on the guys talk about Martha McSally and her thoughts on women getting pregnant to dodge a deployment. Ken breaks it down on why this is bad for any unit. Finally the guys wrap it up with the couple being charged of a hate crime for painting over the Black Lives Matter in the street. Is this really a hate crime? Join the conversation!
Episode 17: Individualism: Those are My Rights, hosted by Mark Vance and Alex Tuckness. Welcome to the Equip Podcast from Cornerstone Church of Ames - this podcast is designed to help you live a faithful and fruitful life where Jesus has called you.In this episode Dr. Alex Tuckness, Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University, unpacks the good and bad about individualism and how we as Christians are called to use our liberties in a God-honoring way.Connect with Cornerstone Church Online by live streaming Sunday service at 8:45a or 10:45a on cornerstonelife.com/live and Facebook Live. Access latest sermons on our website. Subscribe to our "Sermon" and "Equip" podcasts on iTunes and Spotify and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
This weeks Topics:The “Experts” were Wrong 3:00How many lives have we Saved? 7:00At what Cost and to Whom? 8:00Workers and Businesses Pay 12:00DeWine Ignores the Facts 16:00South Dakota's Sane Governor 23:00Acton Commits Malpractice 27:30No Government Central Planning 31:00What about MY Rights? 34:00Six Million more Unemployed 37:00Bernie Drops Out 41:00Vote by Mail Voter Fraud 45:00Save Your Business Update 47:00Why do we support the WHO? 51:00
Which tree are you living in within your relationships? The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Sin-conscious ONLY looks at the actions of others (and not their heart) Seeks to EXPOSE sin and wrongdoing in others Speaks truth in harsh, judgmental way "My RIGHTS!" The Tree of Life Love-conscious Looks at actions AND their intentions Seeks LOVE which covers over a multitude of sins Speaks truth in humility and love "Our RELATIONSHIP!"
Music by “Black Loyalty" performing “My Rights" produced by “Black Loyalty Music" Mixed by Jabari "Shawtboss" Winchester Mastered at Diamond Sounds Follow Black Loyalty https://www.facebook.com/blackloyaltymusic/ https://www.instagram.com/blackloyaltymusic/ https://soundcloud.com/blackloyaltymusic https://www.youtube.com/user/blackloyaltymusic Follow CMMG Records playlists http://bit.ly/cmmgonspotify http://bit.ly/cmmgondeezer http://bit.ly/cmmgontidal Follow CMMG Records on Social Media https://www.youtube.com/cmmgrecords http://www.facebook.com/cmmgrecords http://www.instagram.com/cmmgrecords http://www.soundcloud.com/cmmgrecords http://www.twitter.com/cmmgrecords ℗ & © 2017 CMMG RECORDS. All Rights Reserved.
I long ago came to the realization that there is no form of music that I don't like. There are artists (Rhianna) and songs (Brown-Eyed Girl) that, I quite frankly can't stand and would love to rid the world of. There are genres of music (Turkish chant, Yiddish folk, American Country) that I just don't "get" because they really don't speak to me and probably weren't meant to. It's not that I hate this music, it may annoy me at times, particularly when I'm in the mood for something else, but otherwise I have no real strong feelings about it whatsoever ... as a genre of music. I think my goal for the next few years is going to be to learn to love those few remaining genres of music. I've found all it takes is a little education. For example, being a middle-aged, middle-American, suburban dweller, until recently I had never been a really big fan of reggae. I was thoroughly convinced that there were only one recycled reggae song called "I Shot the Buffalo Soldier and Stood Up for My Rights." Surprisingly, it only took one hour listening to a Reggae show on a community radio station out of North Yorkshire, UK where a very knowledgeable and passionate disc jockey (Clearchannel take note) opened my eyes to the fact that reggae as a genre is as widespread and diverse as rock and roll, and some of it was absolutely killer. This led to a three week immersion through every list of reggae songs and artists I could find, discovering the likes of The Skatalites, Ijahman Levi, Buju Banton, U-Roy, Mutabaruka and a slew of others. If you have never immersed yourself in an unfamiliar musical genre with the help of a an expert guide in this manner, I highly recommed it. This week's guests, Indyca, are one of our few local "reggae-ish" groups. As with many great Indiana artists, their particular flavor of the genre is a musical crossroads, combining the loose backbeat of reggae and infuse it with elements of jam band, rock, dubstep, and even heavy metal at times. This diverse musical background, while seeming somewhat incongruous at first is brought together by a group of musicians who are equally versed in the technical side of their craft, but still have an excellent ear and open mind for what what works, what doesn't work, and how to push the edges of experimentation just a little in order to create something new and distinctly their own. Definitely looking forward to hearing how this translates in a studio environment. Indyca can be found here: | | All of this evening's tracks were recorded live at by Malcolm Johnson and can be obtained on their . Bassist Bryan Dougherty also plays in ... which is completely different. For people who aspire to be know-it-alls when it comes to music, I found this article which goes in to depth on "." It also turned me on to a lot of artists I didn't know. Indyca is proudly sponsored by and ... and loosely associated with ... not that we in any way condone mixing those three things. For those not overly knowledgeable about "the culture" ... I found this article which discuses "." Who says my show isn't educational?
Inventory - Part Five - Riding Together, Romans 14:19 - Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification., CLEAN vs. UNCLEAN? Romans 14:14 - As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean., STUMBLING block or STEPPING stone? Romans 14:13 - Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way., My RIGHTS or my RELATIONSHIP? Romans 14:8 - If we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord., Given by Ken Adams in Newnan, GA. , on 02/03/2013.
Inventory - Part Five - Riding Together, Romans 14:19 - Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification., CLEAN vs. UNCLEAN? Romans 14:14 - As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean., STUMBLING block or STEPPING stone? Romans 14:13 - Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way., My RIGHTS or my RELATIONSHIP? Romans 14:8 - If we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord., Given by Ken Adams in Newnan, GA. , on 02/03/2013.
by Mary Lindow TO LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AS AN AUDIO PODCAST PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE AUDIO PLAYER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. The words, When Harsh Winds Blow- Chaff Must Go, have been playing themselves over in my mind. As I have pondered them and have allowed the Voice of the Holy Spirit to instruct me as to why I have been impressed with this rather unwavering statement I sense the Lord addressing many deeper issues that are well anchored and maintained within our souls as believers. HARSH WINDS These blustery currents in the natural can be devastating to property, trees, and all living-breathing creatures. We have all seen what the devastation of hurricanes and tornadoes can do in a very short amount of time. Often when listening to the traumatic stories of those who have lived through a nightmarish storm, the realities of what they hold near and dear have been laid bare and brought to the surface. Many weep over the loss of family photographs or tender things like Grandma s old chipped china and are unconcerned about larger material items, but are deeply thankful for the safety of family members after a traumatic event. Others, are shaking fists at the sky and are enraged that they have been infringed upon during a difficult time, and want somebody else to pay for it! THE HARSH WINDS OF LIFE BLOW UPON THE GODLY AND THE UNGODLY. NO ONE IS EXEMPT. There are some of life's storms that threaten to blow away everything we've depended on as well. Friendships are tested, relationships are strained, and the Lord uses these harsh winds blowing against our lives to remove the crusty chaff that can form and harden around the seed of our lives. Those who are independent in nature find a bitterness creeping into their attitudes and heart. They feel infringed upon when things are not easily controlled or maneuvered in their favor. And so, the Holy Spirit allows the winds to blow until a conviction penetrates the self centered soul and exposes the fleshy comfort zone of," My Way, My World, My Rights" ! No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it. Ecclesiastes 8:8 HOW LONG WILL THE HARSH WINDS BLOW? As long as we practice wicked behavior in the eyes of the Lord, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot stop it! He is winnowing us, allowing us to be caught up into the refining wind of the Holy Spirit's conviction so that the chaff and waste places in our souls is removed. (Yes you can say "ouch" right about now!) CHAFF MUST GO! WHY? Chaff is a waste material plowed into the soil or burned. Chaff, as a waste product from grain processing, shows us a symbolic use of the idea that refers to something seen as worthless. This is where we read, "to separate the wheat from the chaff" from Matthew 3. It means to separate things of value from things of no value. Another example is in Psalm 1 which says: "Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away". We Christians often presume that because we are redeemed through the beautiful sacrifice of Christ for our lives, that we have an opportunity for an easier and more privileged life. This is simply not so! We are given a shield and a holy stamina to withstand the wiles of this world, but no free passes to a life of ease. The Lord loves ALL of mankind. He longs for ALL of mankind, (that includes you and I) to come to a place of trust in His way not our way. Fully stripped of self-will, self-gratification, self- justification, and self-focus. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45 I KNOW! I KNOW! THIS STINGS! But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. James 3:14 I can hear a few righteous folks saying, "I would never boast about envy! " Well! Selfish ambition is well hidden in our personal behaviors. We offer gifts or opportunities for others to be blessed or helped as long as we are feeling in control and benevolent at the time of the offer or good intention. But when the winds of life shift and the Lord allows the chaff of "waste materials" of our soul to be Tornadoed -bitterness and exclusive rights abound! Huffiness, abrupt harshness and passive aggression will manifest and expose the soul's clinging nature which does not want the hand of God striping away any safety veneer that we use to protect our approach to life. A CHANGE IN THE SPIRITUAL CLIMATE HAS OCCURRED! A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. John 6:18 Jesus allowed the wind to be a teaching point for his disciples. They had walked with Him, talked with Him and served alongside Him. But trusting Him when the Storms and Harsh winds blew reveal a weakness that we all must look at, and often. We trust the Lord when things are going our way, but when the Harshness of a storm blows us off the course that we set, many times we run to our own devices or Plan B. So many at this time in this difficult age are screaming, Lord! Don t you care about me? The winds are blowing, and I am fearful for my life! If you Love me, why are you allowing this horrid event to occur? Even Peter in his zeal to get out a boat and see if it was indeed Jesus calling to him to come, once he was out of the safety of his own control and the winds blew against him, he focused on it, and not upon Jesus, who was there the whole time. Peter cries out, "LORD I am Perishing SAVE ME!! CONTROL IS A DEEP, DEEP NEED Perhaps the deepest need people have is for control. When we feel out of control, we experience a powerful and uncomfortable tension between the need for control and the evidence of inadequate control. Without the Presence of God in our lives we will attempt to control everything, every event and every person around us in order to attain the sense of order that we crave. DRAWING NEAR TO GOD It was James, the brother of Jesus, who wrote to the believers in Jerusalem, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double- minded people!" (James 4:8). If we draw near to God, he will respond and draw near to us. Drawing near to God is spending time with Him, worshiping Him, praying and talking to Him, inviting Him into every aspect of our lives. BRING YOUR HEART UNDER HIS LORDSHIP James then gives us the blueprint for drawing near. If you've committed sin, confess it, get rid of it. Next, ask the Lord to examine your heart, your motives, and the things that make you do what you do. Bring your heart under His lordship as well. May our actions be manifestations of a clean heart and conscience. Allow HIM to remove the Chaff, the wasted time controlling things, and TRUST Him to align your life. Notice that when he writes about this he says, "Purify your hearts, double-minded people." What does he mean by "double-minded"? A person who is double-minded is drawn in two completely different directions. And so he or she will get nowhere fast because loyalty is divided and they will vacillate between faith and unbelief. A double-minded person is unstable in all his/her ways and his/her spiritual walk is inconsistent because he/she tries to serve God and his/her own interests and gamble their life against the Harsh Winds. We've all learned that this kind of living never works. You cannot serve two masters. GOD DOESN'T PLAY GAMES! No one is going to get very far with God by playing spiritual games. It will soon be discovered that the only people playing the game with you will be me, myself, and I. It's just like people thinking that they can "ride the fence" into the kingdom. There is no riding the fence, there is no lukewarm support group you're either in or out. If we really want to know Him, we are going to have to get serious about our relationship with Him. A MOMENT IN HIS ANGER - A LIFETIME IN HIS FAVOR. God disciplines for a moment when He wishes to get our attention and our lives may indeed become painful for a period, but then comes His favor. God doesn't delight in either our depression or our damage. When He begins to deal with the chaff in our lives, it is for our advantage, that we may be conformed to His likeness and reflect His holiness. When we sense God s disapproval, when it appears He has withdrawn from us, it is only so that we see our utter need of Him. When life seems to be so sour, when everything crumbles, we must remember what we say we believe, that God s favor is with us, because of Christ s worthiness given to us, because we are adopted and His - which means that His favor always wins out over His disapproval. This picture is painted well by the words "Weeping remains for a night." Weeping and sorrow are pictured as a traveler who comes to stay for a night. The pain and sorrow we feel may seem as though it has moved in with us like an unwelcomed guest who decides to stay for a very long time. BUT, REJOICING COMES IN THE MORNING. Your mourning will dissipate in the morning. Your winter will melt into summer. God will replace your sighing with singing. Grief will give way to gladness. What was once bitter will be made sweet, What was once a desolate wilderness will be transformed into a paradise. Like the first rays of the sunrise which dispel the harsh winds and gloom of night, God gives us joy when the darkness of our problems seem as though they ll never leave. YOUR CROSS HIS GLORY What is so crucial to understand is that as a Christian, your life will be filled with times of weakness and strength, with want and wealth, with disgrace and honor, with crosses and comforts, miseries and mercies, joys and sorrows, delight and mourning. And as this cycle of separating Chaff from our lives reoccurs many times in our lives it moves us from the cross to glory. For your own health and so that you find all your satisfaction in Christ alone, God will send you times of great growth and other times of emptiness. When the harsh winds blow, know that God desires that you find your hope and comfort by His own fire. When the balmy breezes come, give Him praise and thanksgiving for the warmth He provides. "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." Psalm 57:1 Duplication and sharing of this writing is welcomed provided that complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You Copyright 2012 " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com www.globalprayerrooms.com
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