I have got to stop doing this.  Almost half of the month of August has passed by with no new post!!  LOL.   These blogs are as encouraging for me to write as I pray they are for you to read.  So, in saying that...I do pray you are encouraged in the latest revelation that God showed me...and He will show you, too; if you take the time to ask and stop and look and listen. 

I am really amazed at all of God's creations, even creepy, nasty spiders and yucky bugs...especially when their actions teach a spiritual lesson.  I was watching several nights ago from a great vantage point - a rocking chair on the front porch.  On the front door into the house, there is a large, decorative basket with artificial flowers, and attached to said basket was a fairly large spider web with its occupant (a fairly large spider) awaiting some prey.  As I sat and watched, captivated, I noticed a good-sized bug become trapped in the spider's web.  Now, if you have never found yourself face-first in the mess of a spider's web, you may not relate immediately to this story.  Spider's webs are surprisingly sticky.  Just take an early morning walk into one draped across your path, or try and pick some web off the end of a broom...you'll find yourself in a pasty mess.  You can't shake that stuff off your fingers, or pull it off your face quickly enough - it gets stuck in your hair, in your lashes; it clings to your fingers, etc.    

Like I said, I sat and watched as the bug became trapped in the web.  Let me tell you - that spider wasted not one moment...it went to task.  I saw 8 spider limbs begin to attack this bug by paralyzing it, and then wrapping it up for use later. (I am NOT sure exactly of the feeding cycles of a spider, and how they eat bugs, but...)  Now, I am really intrigued.  I stood up to get a better view.  I am standing nearly nose-to-wreath watching, breathless, so I won't miss anything, when I hear the Lord speak to my spirit about a spiritual side to this story.  I begin to think about how ANY of us could be like that bug <<helpless--fearful--struggling--beaten down--paralyzed--CAUGHT >>that was the final word that came into my spirit.  CAUGHT...and who could one attribute the actions of the spider to...none other than the enemy of our very soul - Satan; or most likely, an underling from the dark kingdom.

The Lord reminded me of how, at some point, I had been each of these things >>helpless--fearful--struggling--beaten down--paralyzed--CAUGHT>> in my own oppressive "web", being jabbed mercilessly by the enemy; by circumstances, by bad or wrong decisions, by poor attitudes, by distrust and unbelief; trying to disable me completely, until I was so numbed by the attack that I could no longer see that God, as always, was right in the midst, a prayer away, a cry out to waiting, open arms, to receive me back, rejoicing over me, casting sins from east to west, remembering them no more, with lasting promises of being right by my side, as always, clothing me with His righteousness.   

I recognized this was just like the enemy, prowling around all sneaky;  punching, hitting, blind siding, tripping up, reminding, persuading, condemning, counterfeiting...making me forget (conveniently!) how gracious and merciful my God is.  The Holy Spirit is there, speaking to my heart and my spirit, affirming me and encouraging me.  Then it hit me - how effortlessly we make a choice, and not a smart one.  It is a very convenient move, one that doesn't require much thought.  The choice to do just as the bug caught in the web does... surrender to the enemy.

And here is where God, in His infinite mercy, separates us from the creatures.  He gives us free will, and He gives us choice.  We can serve God, and be set free from the "tangled webs" of life <<guilt-shame-discouragement-discontentment-distrust-unbelief-fear-poverty-etc,>> or we can wallow in the webs, and bow to these things.  God has made it very plain - you cannot serve two masters.  Your allegiance cannot be compromised.  Choose YOU this day.  Choose to allow Jesus to transform you.  Choose to walk in His righteousness.  Choose to be less, so He can be greater.  Choose...be impacted by HIM who is greater in you.

Be blessed,

Velvet

Healing Rain

Well, so...here recently, we have had storms in Georgia.  Not driving rains where it makes instant puddles that just stand there; but a rain that soaked into the earth, providing moisture where there had been none; providing life to death; providing water to the thirsty ground.  I said all that to say this: God did that for me.  And, He will do it for you when and if you are willing to ask Him. 

I spent some of my days last week outside, sweltering [but not really uncomfortable because I LIKE the heat] in the heat like most everything else was, and while doing so, was praying over and through some things.  When the rain started, it was my great pleasure to be invited outside by the Lord.  In my spirit, I could feel Him summoning me, calling me, "Beloved, come to Me.  I am sending healing rain."  So, outside I went, to stand under the flow.  My prayer for the last couple days, really, last week or more, has been "Lord, change me."  "Change my heart, change me from the inside out."  "Help me to become a better representative of and for You."  "I can't change anyone else; I want to BE CHANGED by You and Your Spirit." 

He is answering my prayer, little by little, and I feel the shifting and changing on the inside.  Nothing really visible on the outside where everybody can point to it and say, "Oh, there's been a change in you..." but little things that I have noticed.  I have pretty much decided that I will NOT be perfect today or tomorrow, and I won't live up to a certain standard that I may have set for myself, or anyone may have set for me; but I CAN hold on to God's promises, and I can live up to the standard He is setting for me. 

The promise that I am holding dearly to today is found in Philippians 1:6 - it says "I am CONFIDENT of this very thing, that He who BEGAN a good work in you will perfect it UNTIL the day of Jesus Christ"; which means to me that He began the work in me by leading me to the Cross, and that every day, He works to perfect me, not happening all at once - possibly because I may forget who He is and what He did, and WILL CONTINUE to work to perfect me UNTIL THAT DAY...the day of Jesus Christ...the day of perfection completed; the day we see Him face to face!

Lord, help me to hang on to those promises; things You say rather than things others have said, or things I have said.  Let us hold fast to the hope, and ready to give reason to that hope which is within us.  Help me to remember to think on those things that are good, pure, holy, of good report; help me to put a guard up at my tongue, so I don't say things that are not pleasing to You.  I pray a binding up of my thoughts, things that lead to saying those wrong things.  And, Father, I give You my heart once again.  Help me to lead it, not to follow it.  Lord, You are worth of praise. 

Lift up His name, friends and family.  Soon and very soon, we will be attending a wedding feast like none other!  Much love and encouragement to you today <3

Velvet