That is such a great statement from Oswald Chambers.  I liken criticism to be much the same as responding to the cry of one who is drowning by throwing them a big rock.  Not only does a “rock” of criticism not save them but if someone does not respond to them in the appropriate manner, the rock thrown to them will surely contribute to their death.  The thrower will not remain blameless.

Mat 12:35  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mat 12:36  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Mat 12:37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The words that we speak to others on this journey will either be of justification (a life vest) or condemnation (a boulder), and what we reap we will sow.

Father, give us ears to hear what it is that is spoken from our own lips, knowing that though the mouth has uttered the sound, the vibration is simply an echo from depths of our heart.  And when we hear and discern that the sound is bad, we will turn to you.  And proclaim, as did King David, “create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me”.

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.

Lord, I pray that that which flows from me will be life-giving and refreshing to those around me.

This morning I am in the midst of one of those moments when my heart, mind, and my will feel as if they have momentarily aligned perfectly in union with Him.  It is as if we are making a connection in the spirit, much like eye contact between two souls who love and know one another at a very deep level.  There is an interaction that takes place that does not require words.  In fact, words would diminish the moment because they are inadequate to express the depth, the scope, and the beauty of the atmosphere of this spiritual intercourse.  In times past, my God has revealed Himself as my loving, protective Father.  He has proven Himself as a God willing to die for me in the form of the man, Jesus Christ.  And then, after His death, in His absence from this earth,  He has claimed me, purchased me, and placed His mark in and on me in the form of His Holy Spirit, serving as my teacher, my counselor, and the very manifest presence of Himself residing within me.  But today, in this moment, as my gaze locks onto His, I am drawn into Him as the lover of my soul. 

If I were able to fully and consistently, in this way, comprehend the truth of who He is, every moment of every day, I would be ruined for this earth.  Perhaps not ruined, but certainly changed.  Many of the things in which I currently expend my time, my life, and my energy, when viewed in the light of the presence of my savior, are revealed as vain and fruitless endeavors, even thieves of my resources, void of any lasting or eternal value, and some even serving as an enemy of my soul.  Oh that I might learn the difference between that which will enhance my life and my effectiveness on this planet as well as my rewards in eternity and that which is a distraction intended to keep me from the fullness of my relationship with the Father and all that He has designed for me to be and to do.

But as and until that process of learning and maturity takes place I can only savor the baptism of His grace. There is such a satiation of satisfaction in knowing the perfect love of God.  Perfect love casts out all fear.  I need not fear an inappropriate response from God.  I need not fear His rejection or scorn.  I need never fear that His love is fickle, conditional, or shallow.  I can have complete trust that his discipline will serve to bring me closer to Him, it will not be used to destroy or debase me.  I am His dearly beloved child.  There is no better thing than to be a daughter of the Almighty, to hear His voice as He speaks through His word, to literally know Him by the presence of His Holy Spirit speaking to my spirit.  As deep calls to deep within me, I find myself enamored and falling in love with my Lord yet again, even deeper than the time or times before.  He truly is my first love.

As my spirit makes eye contact with His, I am enveloped in a beauty that wafts around me like the scent of a favored fragrance.  I am disarmed and vulnerable, speechless, the words of my vocabulary having been stripped down to those of this simple song…

In moments like these, I sing out a song, I sing out a love song to Jesus.

Singing, I love you Lord,

Singing I love you, Lord,

Singing I love you, Lord,

I… I love you, Lord.

Kelly Finke – April 2012

It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of grace. A man says, “I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little faith may, but I never shall.” “I have fervent love,” says another, “I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.” He who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a continuous stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly to-day, it will smoke to-morrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take heed that thou gloriest not in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and his strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling. Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for men’s souls. So live that men may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him; and when that happy day shall come, when he whom you love shall say, “Come up higher,” may it be your happiness to hear him say, “Thou hast fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness which fadeth not away.” On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, “Uphold me according to thy word.” He is able, and he alone, “To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

Spurgeon

 When we schedule an appointment in this life, it is always done for a specific purpose and there is generally some kind of preparation for whatever it is that will take place at that appointment.  Our appointment with death is no different.  Everything that we do in this life prepares us for that final appointment.  Our knowledge and love of the Holy God with whom the appointment is scheduled will determine the outcome of the meeting.  If we are not intimately acquainted with He who has scheduled the appointment, rather than being welcomed in to await our eternal reward, we will be commanded to be gone from His presence.  Not because He does not love us but because our stubbornness and our intentional rejection of Him has prevented Him from knowing us.  His word declares that those who are not born again, as evidenced by the fruit in their lives, will literally hear the words “away from me, I never knew you”. The fruit he is referring to are actions and attitudes that are present as a result of having the indwelling Spirit of God. There are many who do good works but only out of a self imposed and self empowered righteousness. This righteousness, though it be better than evil, is limited.  It is short lived and finite.  It makes a contribution to those around it but only on a carnal level.  It does not have the capacity to deposit anything eternally lasting into the spirit of those whom it affects.  Its flow ends when the natural body of it’s carrier ceases to think and to breath.  Whereas, those who have heard and responded to the still small voice of God as He calls us to His love, have an overwhelming and undeniable resource as we learn the lessons of this life through the voice of His spirit within us.  And not only in this life, but when the fateful day of that appointment with death arrives, we can rejoice.  It is not an appointment that leads us to despair, nor does it cause our heart to race with fear and dread.  Instead, it is an appointment to be met with anticipation because we are familiar with and trusting of the God who has made the arrangement for the meeting. Though we may not fully know what to expect when the door of death is opened, we have trust in the character, the faithfulness, the love, and the word of our God.  

 The appointment for each one of us is already scheduled. The outcome of that meeting will be determined entirely by us.  Either with a willingness to open our heart to the love and the working of God in our lives by way of His Holy Spirit or with a hiding behind the closed door of our heart, waiting for the knocking to cease. 

1 Cor 2:9

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

 Matthew 7:20-23

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Kelly Finke – March 2012

Rom 8:28-31

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

This scripture says to me that God knew me before I was birthed in my mothers’ womb.  That He had knowledge of me before I was born.  And that He determined in advance of my birth that I would be His daughter.  That He would raise me up to be conformed into the image of His firstborn Son.  He placed deep within my heart a calling that awaits an answer back to Himself.  It is a sacred invitation, yeah, more than an invitation; it is a bidding of love.  In the stillness of the moment when my surrendered heart whispers “yes” to His call, I am washed free of sin, immersed and baptized in the Spirit that renders me forever Holy in His presence and precious in His sight.  I am made a partaker and partner in His glory as I travel the path that He has mapped out for my life.  Henceforth, whatever terrain this path travels through, whether it see me singing, skipping, dancing, and chasing butterflies or whether I find myself bent over in mourning, kneeled down in seeking, or face down in sorrow, I am never alone, nor am I ever without the resources that I need to access the strength of my Father as I travel through any part of this journey that I must travel.  He is faithful even to carry me through the most difficult places.  I need only to lift my arms to him, as a child lifts his arms in a gesture signaling the desire to be lifted and held close, So will my Father lift, hold, and carry me.

Rom 8:37-39

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He is my healer, my comforter, my Father, my friend, the lover of my soul.  He knows me, He has called me, he has freed me from the laws of sin and death, and he walks with me and allows me to show forth His glory as I travel.  What an amazing God I serve.  My God, truly How Great Thou Art.

Kelly Finke – 2012

Lord, you know exactly when to remove us from the heat of the refining fire.  You will not allow us to be damaged or destroyed by the process of the refinery that you put us through.  Though you will not allow us to be destroyed in the process, unlike precious ore, we are able to jump and run from that process.  When we do so, when we voluntarilly flee from the heat of the refiners fire we seriously alter or perhaps even prevent ourselves from being used in the highest manner for which we were created. 

What a shame it would be to receive a ring or other piece of jewelry that had chunks of foreign matter in it because it had not been refined properly.  It simply would not happen.  And would we not think it strange to see a rough chunk of gold encased in the metal handle of the toilet flush because it refused to stay in the furnace long enough to be refined for use as a piece of jewelry?

How important it is for us to learn to embrace the heat of the fire of God’s refining work in us.  There is a purpose for the heat.  And when we truly trust Him we can rest in whatever circumstance we currently find ourselves, knowing that his grace will sustain us until the heat subsides, and that not only will we have been made more pure, more lovely, and even more trusting of Him in the process.  But we will be made true to his image and his purpose for our lives.

Kelly Finke – Feb 2012

When his patriarchs trusted, God blessed. When Peter preached or Paul wrote or Thomas believed, God smiled. But he never ran.

That verb was reserved for the story of the prodigal son. “But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20 NKJV)

God runs when he sees the son coming home from the pig trough. When the addict steps out of the alley. When the teen walks away from the party. When the ladder-climbing executive pushes back from the desk, the spiritist turns from idols, the materialist from stuff, the atheist from disbelief, and the elitist from self-promotion…

When prodigals trudge up the path, God can’t sit still. Heaven’s throne room echoes with the sound of slapping sandals and pounding feet, and angels watch in silence as God embraces his child.

You turn toward God, and he runs toward you.