TO HIMSELF - One Year Later

A year ago today - I knelt down beside my bed and committed my life [with the LORD] to full-time "ministry". I had felt the LORD'S call to that -and wholeheartedly pledged myself to Him. At that time I wrote some things down and tucked them into my treasure box and asked the LORD whether or not I should tell my Pastor or the elders about my commitment. The LORD spoke this to my heart, "I hear your prayer of commitment to 'ministry' and I know you mean what you say, but you really have no clue what ministry is or what it will entail. So I will show you. I do not call you to a 'task', nor to 'do' anything. First and above all, I call you to 'MYSELF'. Once you understand that - we can move on in all that I have called you to."

Over the past year the LORD has shown me that ministry means HIMSELF - before anything else. When I allow HIM to pour HIMSELF into me through prayer and His Word - then I have something to pour out - but only then. If I do not spend time with HIM - I have nothing to give. If I attempt to give of myself [without Him] then what I give is useless. But if I fill myself with HIM - then everything that pours out of me is the overflow of HIM - and not me!

The LORD told me that life with Him would be an adventure. He bought me a pair of hiking boots this week and as I trotted off the teach Bible study early this morning I wore the boots for the first time. I guess I'm now ready!

Last night the LORD gave me this 1st Scripture - and then again this morning.

1 Peter 2:21
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.

At 1:30am He awakened me - I got up got some water and went back to bed. It was 1:32am. I looked at the numbers on the clock and heard God whisper, "Those are the two Psalms I have for you to read in the morning when you awake.

Psalm 130:1-5
A song of ascents.
About HOPE
1 Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD;
2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If You, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with You there is forgiveness;
therefore You are feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope.

Psalm 132
A song of ascents.
About OBEDIENCE
1 O LORD, remember David
and all the hardships he endured.
2 He swore an oath to the LORD
and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 "I will not enter my house
or go to my bed-
4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes,
no slumber to my eyelids,
5 till I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
6 We heard it in Ephrathah,
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
7 "Let us go to His dwelling place;
let us worship at His footstool-
8 arise, O LORD, and come to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your might.
9 May your priests be clothed with righteousness;
may Your saints sing for joy."
10 For the sake of David Your servant,
do not reject Your anointed one.
11 The LORD swore an oath to David,
a sure oath that He will not revoke:
"One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne-
12 if your sons keep my covenant
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your throne for ever and ever."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion,
He has desired it for His dwelling:
14 "This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it-
15 I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor will I satisfy with food.
16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her saints will ever sing for joy.
17 "Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but the crown on his head will be resplendent." [all emphasis mine]

The LORD spoke to my heart after reading both of these Psalms. He showed me that over the last year [and longer] I have lived my life each day - in HOPE [Psalm 130] - of Who He IS and what He can do - and all the promises He holds out for me here on earth.

He showed me from [Psalm 132] that living IN HOPE - can only be done through total obedience to His Will, to His Word, and to His plan - for what HE is doing for His kingdom purposes. It really had nothing to do with me - it's what He's doing that will bring Him glory. He has invited me [and you] to participate in all of it. As a result I [we] get to share in the glory and all the splendor of Who God Is!! There is no greater reward!

As I was preparing to publish this blog Point of Grace new CD played this song . The song is called BECAUSE YOU ARE and here are just a few of the words that spoke to my heart:

You are I AM - and I am - because YOU ARE
Holy, unbreadkable, infinite God
Every unchanging in all that You are
Light of the World and the sun and the stars
You are I AM
and I am
because YOU ARE!

Choosing JOY in the journey,

Stephanie
[Led home by the Shepherd]
[Shepherd's Walk = The Sanctuary at Sweetbriar = Dedication of God's Dwelling Place = Earth is His Footstool]