Deep Waters

Today's Scripture
“The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” (Proverbs 20:5 NIV).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Did you know that you are equipped with everything you need to fulfill your passion and purpose in this life? Everything you need is on the inside of you—like deep waters. You draw those deep things out when you stay open and humble before the Lord. You draw those things out when you are submitted to His Word. That’s what makes you a person of understanding. You are a person of understanding when you draw on the strength of God inside of you. Proverbs also tells us that a person of understanding delights in wisdom. A person of understanding is even-tempered. A person of understanding is not easily led astray and maintains peace and order. (Prov. 10:23; 15:21; 17:27; 28:2) Don’t just live on the surface of life today. Draw from the resources that God has placed on the inside of you. As you keep your heart open by obeying the Word of God, His purposes will become clearer, and you will live in the abundant life God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me with everything I need to be a success in life. I choose to humbly submit to You and obey Your Word so that I can be a person of understanding. Thank You for revealing Your plans and purposes for me today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

I do not feel like a person of understanding today. I do not feel even-tempered. I do not feel like myself. We went out of town for the weekend and my routine is thrown all out of kilter. Then I get back to work after being off for two days and there are piles on my desk to be dealt with. I feel all out-of-sorts. I need to go to the grocery store tonight, but it is also the last night of my bible study. Because it is the last night of bible study, "they" decided we should have food. Since I haven't been to the store, I don't have anything to bring and I don't want to eat or bring anything. I may just go late and food less. At least I will be there. Or, I can just download the last video and watch it later.

Whoa!

This morning in my Beth Moore bible study I read this scripture:

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ~ Psalm 40:2 (NIV)

That was one of scriptures in list and then she asked us "Which of the Scriptures in the activity above most nearly addresses your circumstances right now and why?"

I wrote, "Hopefully Psalm 40:2 as I wait for God to provide my new job that reflects Psalm 127:1." (Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.")

So then I took a bathroom break, had my 5 minutes of silence, and then read the Lose it for Life Devotional for January 24th. It started with this scripture:

I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. ~ Psalm 40:1-2 (The Message)

Whoa! The same verse in two different places on the same day?!? Only God could orchestrate that. To have me sign up for the bible study, have it start on the day it did, have me be one day behind in my homework while at the same time for me be struggling with binging and have me decide to start reading through the Lose it for Life devotional and to make sure I started it on the day necessary so that I would read this same scripture in both places on the same day. Whoa! That can not be an accident.

Ministry

My Dear Sister,
The God of Glory has called you.
You have a ministry.
In Christ, you are enough for that ministry.
Never forget that showing God off is your ministry.
No matter what, keep your heart in your ministry.
Unveil your face and serve others with authenticity.
Always remember that the power is in God's presence.
Let nothing come between you and intimacy with God.
Keep moving forward from glory to glory.
Let God thin that veil.
Remember, ministry is not about position.
It's about people.
Let name after name be written upon your heart.
Do not seek great things for yourself, seek a great God.
As you leave this place, go in a fresh anointing.
He who turns water into wine turns wimps into warriors.
You have a ministry.
Go fulfill it.

Beth Moore at Washington, D.C. Commissioning

Purgatory

Many believers in Christ are shocked and disappointed to realize that we will first be judged by fire. But after we understand the process of our judgment and the purpose of the fire, we should no longer have cause for surprise or dismay." ~ Beth Moore, A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place

This morning I was doing my homework for the Beth Moore study I am doing. I am on Week 3, Day 2. In this part of the study she discusses the various things the tabernacle is made of and then talks about the consuming fire of God and how the precious things we build with -- gold, silver and precious stones -- will not be burned up the in the fire of God. Then she says what I quoted above. I have to wonder if she has any idea that she is describing Purgatory.

To continue with what she says:

Hebrews 12:29 says: "For our 'God is a consuming fire.'" You can see that it would be impossible to be judged by God without being judged by fire. In fact, understanding the role of the fire in our judgment is crucial...

God judges us with fire for two reasons:
1. To cast a revealing light over all our works and the motivations that bore them and to burn away all works of temporal value: the hay, wood, and straw
2. To reward what is left after the fire consumes everything temporal: the imperishable, eternal works of gold, silver, and precious stones

• Works of gold acknowledge that He alone is worthy, that He alone is
  God.
• Works of silver proceed from a heart that responds with inexpressible
  gratitude for our redemption and the inestimable price paid for our
  atonement.
• Works of precious stones result when children of the royal priesthood, serve
  and minister as we are fully equipped with the gifts of the Holy
  Spirit.

If you are a believer, your judgment will not determine your eternal destiny. Christ's finished work on Calvary was applied to you the moment you accepted Christ as Savior. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (see Romans 8:1)!

Sounds like a very good explanation of Purgatory to me.

Bitterness

Bitterness is spiritual cancer, a rapidly-growing malignancy that can consume your life. After is consumes the soul, it begins to eat away at the body. It is so contagious that we can pass it to our children, who are often oblivious to the source of their bitterness. No amount of distractions or busywork--not even church work--can treat this spiritual disease. Countless Christians mask their pain with unceasing activity. Bitterness cannot be ignored but must be healed at the very core, and only Christ can heal bitterness. No one can do it for you, and no one cal tell you exactly what is required for your healing. Others can direct you to Jesus, but you must show up for your appointments. His ultimate goal is not simply for you to be healed but for you to meet the Healer. ~ Beth Moore, A Women's Heart: God's Dwelling Place

Sugar Pop's ex-wife suffers from bitterness. It destroyed their marriage and she has passed it on to her children. Sugar Pop has been healed of the bitterness through the power of Christ. Butterfly has let go of a lot of it, but she needs Christ to remove the rest. Rosebud has let it eat her up and she is estranged from her entire family. Their is hope for Honey, but at times I can see it. Fortunately, Honey has a relationship with Jesus. She wants to pursue that relationship, but her mother does not see the importance of that. Her mother never encourages her to go to church. In fact, like yesterday, she encouraged her to stay home from youth group. But Honey went anyway.

Heavenly Father, please send Jesus to heal this bitterness. Open hearts that they may receive Him and know that joy that comes when bitterness is removed from the heart and Jesus is allowed to dwell there. Amen.

Closer

I am so glad that I signed up for the Beth Moore Bible study. I have felt stagnant in my walk with God lately. I haven't been finding joy in my bible reading, in my devotionals, in listening to Christian music. But now I am. I am really looking forward to these next 10 weeks of doing this study. I am excited to see what God will reveal to me and what He will do in my life during this time.

First Beth Moore Class

I went to the first Beth Moore class last night. I knew one of the ladies facilitating and she asked me to be a table leader. It shouldn't be too difficult, but I feel a little out of place at the table. Five of the ladies already know each other and four of them are young marrieds with children or wanting to have children. But, a lady at work is going to be coming and there is space for her at the table. (She couldn't come last night because she had a prior commitment.)

Something I learned last night. When God showed Moses the vision of the tabernacle that He wanted him to build, it was not just a vision he saw. It was THE heavenly tabernacle. I real place. Not just a picture or a drawing. A real place that someday we will all see.