tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142012012024-02-20T20:25:32.654-06:00HeartScribblesThe name says it all...Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-37226483557013496592014-10-14T09:47:00.000-05:002014-10-14T09:49:21.465-05:00The Safest Place You Can Be...
With all the turmoil that's been going on in our life recently, and with some huge, life-impacting decisions facing us in the coming days, I told my wife over coffee this morning, "Our life is a chaotic mess right now..."
But ladies and gentlemen, I distinctly heard the voice of the Lord speak to me this morning, and what He spoke to me, I feel led to share with someone else who may be facing aStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-44903656590401535172014-10-02T11:42:00.002-05:002014-10-02T11:42:25.359-05:00White NoiseDue to the nature of the organization I'm employed by (technology security), we have a "white noise generator" in our building; it's purpose is to drown out conversations - face-to-face meetings as well as telephone conversations - so that those sitting nearby can't accidentally be privy to secure information.
It generates this white noise on every floor, and is constantly running. It works Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-62997269154548020892014-09-10T16:33:00.001-05:002014-09-10T16:33:20.374-05:00Spiritual Seduction Begins With QuestionsGenesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
Job 1:9-10a Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?
Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-77931496281144999482014-07-23T10:37:00.000-05:002014-07-23T10:37:43.244-05:00Still "The Lord's Anointed"One of the most fascinating things (to me, anyway) concerning the story of Saul and David is that, in spite of Saul's repeated attempts to kill him, David continually referred to Saul as "the Lord's anointed", recognizing that God had initially separated and set up Saul to reign over His people.
During this time, however, God had spoken clearly to Saul - through the old prophet Samuel - and had Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-17763479179120283262014-07-14T11:39:00.001-05:002014-07-14T11:39:49.144-05:00Worship With A Pure Heart?Chilling passage of scripture I was reading this morning:
1 Sam. 19:20-24 tells us that, in his attempt to take David's life, Saul sent three different groups of men - and then went himself - to capture David in order to kill him. In the course of their action, all three groups of men, as well as Saul, came to a "company of prophets prophesying", at which time "the Spirit of God was upon them Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-46213650577808943862014-07-10T11:28:00.000-05:002014-07-10T11:32:12.325-05:00Obedience Is Better...Reading 1 Samuel ch. 10-15 and found myself sitting there and actually weeping at such a tragic conclusion of Saul. What promise, what potential, what a powerful leader of God's people he could have been! Separated and set apart by God Himself, Saul had all the earmarks of an anointed leader, yet he allowed his position to eclipse his potential.
Man of God, let it never be said of you that "God Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-46015744363805174032014-04-28T11:54:00.001-05:002014-04-28T11:54:48.160-05:00The More You Sweat In Training..."The more we sweat in training, the less we bleed in battle." - Sign outside the US Navy Seals training camp.
My wife and I were discussing spiritual warfare recently, as our home, our health, our family, and the church we are currently attending seem to be the focal point of a spiritual attack. We have determined that, instead of asking God "Why us?" or "Deliver us" we have started praying - asStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-69633707195417011772014-04-23T17:07:00.001-05:002014-04-23T17:07:35.806-05:00Your Special Sauce Isn't Necessary
Some time back, an elder minister friend whom I held in very high esteem was teaching a large group of young people; I was in the classroom when this happened (although I certainly wasn't one of the 'young people'!) so this is not a "I heard it through the grapevine" story.
During the course of his lesson, my friend started telling the openly-debunked story of kidney harvesters. (Remember the Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-42120615245884397212013-07-31T21:07:00.000-05:002013-07-31T21:13:03.998-05:00Sodom Still Knocks At The Door...Gen. 19:5-8 [The men of Sodom] called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” 6 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. 8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them..."Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-77974115363507506012013-05-29T11:08:00.000-05:002013-05-29T11:08:09.959-05:00Let Us Hear From God!
Thinking back on the old wooden church pictured in my Facebook "Cover Photo" (the one that reads "Landmarks"), I still recall the Sunday evening service in that tiny little church when—as I mentioned in a previous post—I first recall distinctly feeling the powerful anointing of God on my life as I preached my little handwritten sermon titled "Let Me Hear From God".
What has come to mind Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-85578411158883842242013-05-01T07:44:00.002-05:002013-05-01T07:46:20.616-05:00Worship Is Your WeaponAnybody can pick up a sword and swing it at an imaginary enemy; anyone can practice "kata" (the motions and techniques used in martial arts) without stepping into a ring against an opponent; and pretty much anyone can pick up a rifle and shoot at tin cans.
Anyone can worship when things are going well.When you worship in the face of adversity, however, you put the sword to use againstStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-18949095599055384142013-04-01T13:24:00.001-05:002013-04-01T14:04:24.891-05:00It's Not YOU That's Being AttackedConcerning the whole story of David and Goliath, did you ever notice this:
1 Sam. 17:10 - Goliath says "I defy the armies of Israel..."
1 Sam. 17:25 - The men of Israel told David, that Goliath had come up "to defy Israel".
1 Sam. 17:26 - David questions who would be bold enough to "defy the armies of the living God".
It wasn't for Israel that David's righteous indignation was kindled, but Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-66444409013628825062013-03-07T08:00:00.001-06:002013-03-12T13:02:15.832-05:00Patience, My Child...
Confession: In a recent season of prayer, I began to point out to God just how faithful I had been, sort of reminding God, I guess, of what a "good, trusting servant" I had been up to that point: "Lord, I've trusted you with my life, with my heart, with my whole being…I need to learn how to wait patiently on You…"
Instantly, I felt God speak into my spirit, very softly, very gently…
"If Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-54416686546844576672013-02-27T08:23:00.003-06:002013-03-12T13:09:39.870-05:00Where I Lead Him, Will He Follow?Woke up this morning with this old hymn running through my mind; haven't heard it in years, but I still remember the words to the old chorus:
"I will follow where He leadeth;
"I will pasture where He feedeth.
"I will follow all the way, Lord;
"I will follow Jesus every day."
Almost immediately, I was struck with the thought, "What if I were the one leading? Would God follow where I'm Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-85285910216779971522013-02-19T23:20:00.001-06:002013-03-12T13:23:55.200-05:00What Did Mary Hear?Scripture tells us that Mary "sat at [Jesus'] feet and heard His word."
We have no idea how long she sat there; we have no idea how long any of the disciples that invaded Mary and Martha's home that afternoon sat there listening to Jesus teach. We can gather, however, that it must have been quite awhile, because the scripture tells us that "Martha was cumbered about much serving..."
With no Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-33662029907361586522013-02-13T07:57:00.000-06:002013-03-12T13:24:41.206-05:00Let's (Not) Get Physical...
In the beginning, when God was creating the worlds and all that was in them, He looked at Adam and plainly noted, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a help [companion] meet [suitable] for him."
God then placed Adam into a "deep sleep", and from Adam's own flesh, God created the woman, Eve.
This passage alone should be scriptural proof enough that God never intended to engage Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-34780138537802961722013-02-11T07:44:00.002-06:002013-03-12T13:25:25.262-05:00It's About Time
Many people have absolutely no problem giving God their heart, their finances, even their children. Giving Him your time, however, is another story altogether.
Relationships are built on time and communication, however, and the unique thing about a positive, close relationship is that, the more time you spend with that person, the more you communicate with them, the more you enjoy it, the more Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-49731085297371970682013-02-04T09:01:00.001-06:002013-03-12T13:27:10.185-05:00Gracious Words...Just as food doesn't have to be presented on the finest china in order to create a good meal, so also the Word of God doesn't have to be presented in eloquent format in order to vital and nourishing to the hungry heart.Presentation, however, can make a world of difference in how that meal—or Message—is received. The man of God should never, EVER feel carefree or cavalier about his presentation ofStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-79340270130423651542012-10-09T20:05:00.000-05:002013-03-12T13:30:17.708-05:00A Revival of PrayerHere of late, God has been stirring me—I think I could go further than 'stirring', and even say 'convicting' me—of the need for a revival of prayer.I am concerned that we, as the people of God, as those who profess to have "Truth", as men of God, we have tried to escape the necessity of heartfelt, urgent prayer, and we are trying to "build" churches on something less than prayer. We have "Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-18760751419023012902012-08-27T09:25:00.000-05:002013-03-12T13:31:05.886-05:00My Highest Praise
I absolutely love the words to this Clint Brown chorus: "It becomes my highest praise, When all that I am responds to Who You are..."
And I'm wondering how God feels when "all that I am" really does respond to Who He is, and not just what He does. We are so quick to be mindful of all that God does for us (as we should be) but is your love and adoration of God based only on what He's done for Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-45123742371075890852012-08-24T09:13:00.002-05:002013-03-12T14:34:30.693-05:00A Violent Victory
Allow me to share what's on my mind; it's been on my mind since the conversation my wife and I had a couple nights ago during our "dinner date".
Your spiritual adversary, the devil, doesn't really care if you "sin" or not. It's really no big deal to him if the child of God throws their hands in the air, walks away from God, and descends into a life of carnality and godless living. He really Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-49903944824022935682012-08-21T09:39:00.005-05:002013-03-12T14:36:00.876-05:00Unthankful?
You know the one thing that just really, really, REALLY upsets God? Unthankfulness.
Study the history of Israel, and the times God really got irate with them: it was due to their being unthankful, complaining about what they didn't have. When they turned to idols, and false gods, it was a slap in the face of their True God, because He had delivered them, He had healed them, He had Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-11928955921604385922012-07-30T19:28:00.004-05:002013-03-12T15:20:02.856-05:00Spiritual Insanity?
Some have said the definition of insanity is to continue doing the same things repeatedly, while expecting different results. I wonder sometimes if some of us—myself included—suffer from "spiritual insanity"; we continue living our lives as always, yet wonder why things never change in our spiritual relationship. In order for things to change in our spiritual relationship, we've got to makeStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-34232472525777361872012-07-30T07:53:00.003-05:002013-03-12T14:40:39.606-05:00Flee These Things...The apostle Paul spoke in his letters of 4 things that the child of God should "flee" from: (1) fornication (2) idolatry (3) desire for money or temporal possessions, and (4) youthful lusts. As Spirit-filled people of God, we have been given the power to overcome these things, and God's Spirit does give us the victory over every carnal temptation. However, Paul's admonition is to run away Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14201201.post-15419686795628326582012-07-27T10:47:00.002-05:002013-03-12T15:16:32.674-05:00So You Suffer From "Low Self-Esteem"...I struggled with the balance between "pride" and "self-esteem" for years, until I actually read what the apostle Paul said: "Let no man think more highly of himself THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than himself."
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being confident in who you are, and who God has called you to be. The secret is to not allow that Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479220057839741746noreply@blogger.com0