God Speaks to Me | shekinahsonshine.com

Recipe For Living

Do you need an exciting and refreshing mix for your life? Sure! Everyday, countless individuals search for the novelties of life. They want to try something that is different and new. For some this means adventure- a faster car, a bigger boat, mountain climbing, white river rafting , bungy jumping, learning to fly an airplane, reading a book... and the list goes on ad infinitum. Life is for living; and everyone has the right to live it to the fullest. Of course, not everyone thinks of fun in terms of positive activities .In society, there are those who purposely plan to make you a victim and have fun at your expense. Such people exist; and sometimes they live in your home, your neighborhood, go to school with your children attend the same church,work with you, shop at the same store with you or take the same jetliner. You never know!

What is a recipe for living? recipes come in two forms- the planned and the spontaneous! My sister was a Family and Consumer Life- once known a home Economics or Domestic Science- teacher. Her job focused on the planned- teaching students and adults how to follow a written , planned and tested guideline. On the other hand, my mother was someone who followed the recipe in her head. She used whatever was available. Like my mother, I like to 'throw things together'. I call the results 'concoction' and 'fluke' because the food is tasty...delicious. But don't ask me to repeat it! You see I never measure anything. In order to prepare what I have created as a recipe, I need someone who is precise when cooking or baking and who can add a flair to my creation. Fortunately for me, God provided a brother with this gift. However, a recipe is not limited to food.

Relationship

Everyone needs a relationship with someone because everyone has basic daily needs. Yes, human being need food,water, shelter and clothing. Even when these needs have been met, man cries out for more. My cat Micki has three kittens. No matter how many times you have fed her, she still meows pitifully.Why? She thinks she is still a kitten who can jump into your lap and be cuddled and petted. In reality, she is a mother; and she has the responsibility of caring for three kittens. But, I have discovered that just calling her name does wonders. Even as I write, one of her kitten- whom I call Hide and Seek- has disappeared in the book case. Since she knows how to scratch,I had to open a can of sardines. She ate some of it; and has changed her hiding place. Why? I was not vigilant. I am afraid of being scratched!

Isn't this true of relationships with humans? You never know when you will be scratched or bitten. Who can you trust? Jeremiah says the heart of man is desperately wicked.. In the last days, paul the Apostle says it will become cold as people become more materialistic and Godless. But , there is hope. Jesus has promised never to fail you. he declares Hiself as your Everything. Whatever you need, God has it! he does not wait for you to love Him.he love you with an everlasting love.Though mother,father, wife, husband,sister,brother,friend may leave or forsake you,Jesus is constant.

Endurance

On June 5,2009 the day I decided to launch this website, I walked to the Sound. It was a journey uphill and downhill; and it seemed like I would never reach my destination. Why? I was walking alone- without family or friends. nevertheless, I enjoyed the walk because I had accepted the challenge from my brother to complete the journey. Intrinsically, I had set a goal to walk off some pounds. Then, I was trying out my binocular camera. The walk was exciting for me because it was a novel experience. had I not endured, i would have missed some thrilling moments.

As I neared the Sound I began to experience the presence of God .It was if I was in Denver[the mile high city] or in Estes Park, which is about 7000+ feet above sea level. I am talking mountain! God was lifting me higher. As I pointed my camera to the hills, I could see white sand. I knew French Wells was nearby; but I didn't think it was that close. Then my conversation with god was interrupted by a brown bird with a superb patten and long, needle-sharp bill.

"Baby,baby!!" it seemed to scream.. A few minutes later a bird that looked similar appeared. They sat on a branch in the mangrove swamp,perfectly camouflaged; but I got several shots of one of them. Anyone looking at the photo will not see the bird; but it is there. That opened the sluice gate of praise that day.You may not see God or His ministering angels ; but they are there. We are athletes in the anchor leg of life. The finish line is in sight. Endure the trials and overcome the temptations. Cross the finish line and you will be home!

Consecration

"Consecrate me Lord

To thy service now

By thy power of grace divine..."

In Lamentations 3. the Bible says that it is by the mercy of God that we are not consumed. God does not destroy us immediately for our wicked deeds. His mercy is new every morning because He is faithful. Of course one day you and I will die and have to give an account of our stewardship. Man cannot consecrate himself. God has to set the individual apart for His service. The setting apart entails commitment.

Every time I think about consecration,I realize that everyone has a different experience. One night during a dream I was encircled by beings in long white robes. Oil was poured on my head and my hair parted automatically. This oil flowed through every section of my head. A hand was placed on my head and i heard:

"I charge you. I charge you. I charge you!"

My ear, which had excessive wax popped. It startled me and I jumped up.it was 3:00 a.m. exactly. immediately, I knew that I had been healed; and I still am healed today. God has charged me for service. During the years, He has made me realize that the call on my life is without repentance. Now, if i want o be like Jonah...but I know better. Consecration demands commitment to service within the will of God.

Instrument

Do you know the prayer of St. Francis of Assissi? It begins:

Lord make me an instrument of thy peace...

Everyone is an earthen vessel. Think in terms of a cup or a dish. You are ready to eat a meal but all the dishes you used for the last meal are dirty. Do yo use the dirty cup or dish? No. In order to use man, God has to clean him or her. That individual has to be made a new creation. in order to become new, the person has to abide in the Vine, Christ Jesus. Vines have a nature of their own. Once we had a passion fruit vine that chose to grow in the avocado pear tree. That was fine until the pear tree started to blossom. We wanted avocados so we had to remove the ine. Well, we thought we did until it flourished again. instead of pulling down the vine, we had to uproot it..

Who or what can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus? Those who are instruments for God - clean vessels- can be trusted in His service. Renew your commitment each day. Confess your sins , repent and forsake them. When you ask God for help, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Pledge to be an instrument for God.

Prayer

For many years I had often heard people say:

"Prayer changes things..."

I wondered where that text was found in the Bible. No amount of searching uncovered it. However, one literature course in college included the poem Morte D' Arthur; and it was in that poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson that I found words which I consider the basis for the expression. He wrote:

" More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of..."

My response was a thrilling wow! An English poet was telling his audience through a character that men ought to pray without ceasing[Bible] because prayer produces results. Now, God thinks higher thoughts than man; and He does not behave how man expects Him too, often producing a different outcome. One text I like begins:

Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above... Some people pray for money; and they get it. One sister prayed for a sea food platter and God delivered it.This was amazing to me as she had no telephone at her residence. she had simply said,:"Lord I feel like eating a seafood platter with lobster today! Another sister - her twin- had a need and she told her children. They decided to pray. not long afterwards,my sister heard a knock on the door. She wondered who would knock onher door, considering the rain storm outside. It was a small child and she said,

"Mommy sent this for you.."

The child gave her one hundred dollars!

God is so exciting, I kicked a one hundred dollar bill in a clean area! Of course I thought it was litter and picked it up. However, when you start to count your blessings- not having to pay for oxygen in a hospital, being able to read this blog and many other mercies people take for granted, you may realize that life is more than material possessions.

Empty

Years ago i wrote a poem called Empty. My mother was travelling and it was before payday. I was embarrassed and broke. What could I give my mother? then a voice within spoke to me:

"Empty out your purse."

Was that omniscient God? He knew that i did not keep large sums of money in my purse. Was did going to be multiplication of loaves and fishes or tribute money from a fish? Well, I obeyed; and I gave the sum to my mother. A few minutes later, a poem forced its way through my thoughts and I had to scribble it quickly. It was the right length to fit the page in the newsletter. Moments later, the contractions for the main article began; and I reached for the Strong's Concordance. When I opened the concordance i realized that I needed a ten mile beach so that I could run and praise the Lord! the page i opened to had a receipt and the amount of money I had given my mother plus a little extra.

The last lines of the poem summed up what God wanted to convey. It was only after I had emptied my purse that God my emptiness filled. One word God has been bouncing at me all week is empowerment. Some Christians are afraid of the Holy Spirit. They have seen different manifestations- some questionable- that are classified as the work of Holy Spirit. God appeared to Moses as a burning bush that was not consumed. Saul, en route to Damascus, was knocked off his horse and saw a blinding light. At Pentecost,God appeared as cloven tongues of fire. But God has also appeared as a mighty rushing wind and a still small voice.

When you look at your hand, you know that each finger is different. In fact, unique describes your hand best because nobody has a fingerprint like your own. All good and perfect gifts come from above... according to James 1. When you are endued with power from on high, it will be no secret to your family and friends.. One person who had read a selection of my poems commented that even though I did not speak in tongues, my poems spoke a heavenly language! In Acts, the religious leaders knew the disciples had been with Jesus. Empowerment, a gift, demands getting rid of self and the baggage that encumbers man on his pilgimage. As a vegetarian, I realize that it is a diet the one the Holy Spirit uses. Honestly! The Fruit of the Spirit is singular because love, joy, peace... are intertwined. O taste and see that the Lord is good! You know that the first ingredient on a package is considered the primary one!

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ provides the energy and endurance to run the Christian race. As an athlete,lay aside every weight that will cause you to trip and fall into the mud of disrepute; and lay hold of Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith. Allow Him to use you, a vessel of honor, to serve others.The servant is not greater than his/her master. Pray constantly and praise God in song as well as by your lifestyle. Invite God to open your eyes so that you will see the flaws and defects in your character. Confess your sins, accept the forgiveness of God, forsake yor sins and walk in newness of life empowered by the Holy Spirit. You have been delivered from darkness. Walk in the light of Shekinah SONshine!