Monday, November 15, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Fresh Oil
Today on my way home from running some errands, the Lord tenderly interrupted my heart in such a sweet way, reminding me of how much I need Him once again. I turned on the radio and a pastor was preaching about being filled with the Oil of the Holy Spirit. I was in need of this fresh Oil myself.
You see, there is a resource available to us that is supernatural. Do you remember the woman in the Old Testament who was down to her last drop of oil, but she used it in faith to bless the man of God (Elisha)? There was no possible way to produce more oil in that amount of time that the oil was being required of her. She needed a supernatural Oil that was from a Source greater than herself.
Have you been serving the Lord on the mission field or in your daily life and feel that you are at a place of burn-out? Do you feel like this woman must have felt with no oil to give to anyone else, and not even enough to give her own family?
The Oil of the Holy Spirit is what we need. We need a supernatural Oil of Strength. We need the Oil of JOY for the spirit of heaviness. We need the healing Oil of the Holy Spirit to bring healing to our deepest wounds and pain. We need fresh Oil from a Source greater than ourselves. We need to recognize how much we really NEED the Lord Jesus.
His Oil will not run out. He is not like us. His resources do not depend upon our frail and feeble resources or lack of them. In fact, when we give Him ownership of our broken vessels, He can mend them and make them vessels of honor that He can use mightily.
What do we need to do in times when we have no more Oil to keep our lights shining and lamps burning? We need to surrender ourselves once again to the Lord and humbly call upon Him to annoint us with the fresh Oil of His Holy Spirit to help us be the fire that does not stop burning, the light that does not stop shining, and the Oil that can be poured out overflowing and given to others who are dying spiritually all around us.
Lord, please annoint us afresh as we humble ourselves before you and recognize our neediness before You. Please Lord, would you fill us once again with Your Oil? We long for Your fresh annointing in this dry and thirsty land. We need You so much. Please fill us anew today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
You see, there is a resource available to us that is supernatural. Do you remember the woman in the Old Testament who was down to her last drop of oil, but she used it in faith to bless the man of God (Elisha)? There was no possible way to produce more oil in that amount of time that the oil was being required of her. She needed a supernatural Oil that was from a Source greater than herself.
Have you been serving the Lord on the mission field or in your daily life and feel that you are at a place of burn-out? Do you feel like this woman must have felt with no oil to give to anyone else, and not even enough to give her own family?
The Oil of the Holy Spirit is what we need. We need a supernatural Oil of Strength. We need the Oil of JOY for the spirit of heaviness. We need the healing Oil of the Holy Spirit to bring healing to our deepest wounds and pain. We need fresh Oil from a Source greater than ourselves. We need to recognize how much we really NEED the Lord Jesus.
His Oil will not run out. He is not like us. His resources do not depend upon our frail and feeble resources or lack of them. In fact, when we give Him ownership of our broken vessels, He can mend them and make them vessels of honor that He can use mightily.
What do we need to do in times when we have no more Oil to keep our lights shining and lamps burning? We need to surrender ourselves once again to the Lord and humbly call upon Him to annoint us with the fresh Oil of His Holy Spirit to help us be the fire that does not stop burning, the light that does not stop shining, and the Oil that can be poured out overflowing and given to others who are dying spiritually all around us.
Lord, please annoint us afresh as we humble ourselves before you and recognize our neediness before You. Please Lord, would you fill us once again with Your Oil? We long for Your fresh annointing in this dry and thirsty land. We need You so much. Please fill us anew today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Preparing Your Heart
There are many people taking missions trips and humanitarian trips all the time. We need to constantly be aware of missions opportunities all around us as Christians. The mission field is all around us if we keep the perspective that the Lord wants us to have. Some are called to take the gospel across the ocean to far away countries, while others are called to stay closer to their home for various reasons. We are all called to preach the gospel to every creature, according to Mark 16.
The most important part of our travel is to prepare our hearts before the Lord. Keith Green wrote a song several years ago, saying "Jesus commands us to GO! It should be the exception if we stay." This is a continual encouragement to my heart.
Lately, I have been thinking about some things. I believe strongly that the Lord can use a soft heart much more than a hard book of knowledge. It is not how much we know about the Word of God, but rather, how much we obey it. Truly, there are those with more knowledge of the scriptures, but without softening our hearts in obedience to it, all the knowledge in the world is in vain.
We need to not only open up our hearts to the Word of God, but soften our hearts to it as well. Some of the things I read can seem like an offense to me if I harden my heart. When I hear a rebuke in the Word of God contrary to my lifestyle, it should be me that turns in repentance to change my path if it is going astray from the Word of God in any area.
Why do I write these things to you, dear friends? I write these things to challenge your heart towards missions in a way that is contrary to some popular theologians, college professors teaching a hard book of knowledge, and pastors who may encourage a full seminary degree before taking a step in the direction of misisons.
My challenge is this. Take the Word of God to heart. Let it rebuke you, correct you, transform you from the inside out as you soften your heart to obey it, not just to know it for the sake of an intellectual argument. A soft heart is a useful tool in the Master's hand. I encourage you to deprogram yourself from the teachings of man and seek the Lord in His Word for His sake and His glory. Just see where He will lead you as you open and soften your heart to His Word!
And Remember this: The cheapest missions trip you can ever take is right outside of your front door. It doesn't have to cost you a dime, but it will cost you your life. So, count the cost, take up your cross, and follow Jesus into the mission field today! God bless you as you obey His Word.
Your Prayer Agent,
Tabitha
http://www.cheapmissionstrips.com/
The most important part of our travel is to prepare our hearts before the Lord. Keith Green wrote a song several years ago, saying "Jesus commands us to GO! It should be the exception if we stay." This is a continual encouragement to my heart.
Lately, I have been thinking about some things. I believe strongly that the Lord can use a soft heart much more than a hard book of knowledge. It is not how much we know about the Word of God, but rather, how much we obey it. Truly, there are those with more knowledge of the scriptures, but without softening our hearts in obedience to it, all the knowledge in the world is in vain.
We need to not only open up our hearts to the Word of God, but soften our hearts to it as well. Some of the things I read can seem like an offense to me if I harden my heart. When I hear a rebuke in the Word of God contrary to my lifestyle, it should be me that turns in repentance to change my path if it is going astray from the Word of God in any area.
Why do I write these things to you, dear friends? I write these things to challenge your heart towards missions in a way that is contrary to some popular theologians, college professors teaching a hard book of knowledge, and pastors who may encourage a full seminary degree before taking a step in the direction of misisons.
My challenge is this. Take the Word of God to heart. Let it rebuke you, correct you, transform you from the inside out as you soften your heart to obey it, not just to know it for the sake of an intellectual argument. A soft heart is a useful tool in the Master's hand. I encourage you to deprogram yourself from the teachings of man and seek the Lord in His Word for His sake and His glory. Just see where He will lead you as you open and soften your heart to His Word!
And Remember this: The cheapest missions trip you can ever take is right outside of your front door. It doesn't have to cost you a dime, but it will cost you your life. So, count the cost, take up your cross, and follow Jesus into the mission field today! God bless you as you obey His Word.
Your Prayer Agent,
Tabitha
http://www.cheapmissionstrips.com/
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
When Things Go Wrong
As I am writing this, I have a sister/ customer who is in Ecuador right now whose bags did not arrive with her. This could be a huge ordeal, but she has been such an encouragement to my heart. I decided to write a little blog about her and encourage myself and others who experience trials in their flight experience.
I received the first email yesterday from her, which caused my heart to sink. It went something like this, "Tabitha, I arrived here safely in Ecuador, however, my checked bags did not arrive. I am having a great time in spite of this, and got to serve over 80 orphan children today!!!"
WOW!!! This is an amazing heart full of JOY in the face of suffering! This is such an inspiration for me. I was reminded of a lady I met in a small village in Uganda who owned only one dress. This puts life into a better perspective to think about others who have much less than us and still have JOY! The JOY of the Lord is our strength indeed.
This sister had strength to serve so many children with supernatural love and joy filling her heart. We are still working on finding her luggage amid the baggage claims and lost tags etc.....but it helps to know that she is not discouraged by this trial. In fact, she is not letting it stop her or slow her down a bit.
This is truly more of the heart that I want to have. Thank you, Sister, for encouraging my heart today! You know who you are!!!! And I am praying with you and for you! I can't wait until those bags arrive, but in the meantime, keep serving with JOY. Jesus is worthy! No sacrifice we make for Him goes unnoticed. We can see our lives in perspective as we look to the cross where the greatest sacrifice was made for our salvation. Praise the LORD!
Encouraged and Rejoicing!!!
-Tabitha
I received the first email yesterday from her, which caused my heart to sink. It went something like this, "Tabitha, I arrived here safely in Ecuador, however, my checked bags did not arrive. I am having a great time in spite of this, and got to serve over 80 orphan children today!!!"
WOW!!! This is an amazing heart full of JOY in the face of suffering! This is such an inspiration for me. I was reminded of a lady I met in a small village in Uganda who owned only one dress. This puts life into a better perspective to think about others who have much less than us and still have JOY! The JOY of the Lord is our strength indeed.
This sister had strength to serve so many children with supernatural love and joy filling her heart. We are still working on finding her luggage amid the baggage claims and lost tags etc.....but it helps to know that she is not discouraged by this trial. In fact, she is not letting it stop her or slow her down a bit.
This is truly more of the heart that I want to have. Thank you, Sister, for encouraging my heart today! You know who you are!!!! And I am praying with you and for you! I can't wait until those bags arrive, but in the meantime, keep serving with JOY. Jesus is worthy! No sacrifice we make for Him goes unnoticed. We can see our lives in perspective as we look to the cross where the greatest sacrifice was made for our salvation. Praise the LORD!
Encouraged and Rejoicing!!!
-Tabitha
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