the FireCarrier

As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”  ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.   Psalm 91:1 (NIV)

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, sa ying, I called out to the Lord , out of my distress,      and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep,      into the heart of the seas,      and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows      passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away      from your sight; yet I shall again look      upon your holy temple.’ Jonah 2: 1-3 (ESV)

I want you to grow in me. Rise above the common and speak when I direct you. Not only speak what I give you, but in the very way I deliver it to you. Rise above and sit with me. I have much more to show you. I will open your eyes to experience all that I have.  I need you to trust me, for in me is life.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."   John 1:47-51 (NIV)

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break.   When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket.   Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”  But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”   “What is your name?” the man asked.  He replied, “Jacob.”   “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.” “All right,” he told them, “go ahead.” “Please come with us,” someone suggested.  “I will,” he said. So he went with them.   When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!”   “Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface.   “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it. 2 Kings 6:1-6 (NLT)

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’  Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins      and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,      Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:12 (NIV)

The voice of the LORD echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The LORD thunders over the mighty sea. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD splits the mighty cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf; he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox. Psalm 29:6 Psalm 29:6

Thus says the Lord , “Stand by the roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is; then walk in it, And you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16a (Amplified) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

This morning at the start of our foggy walk, we heard the honking of geese. I stopped to try to visualize their coming. It was a few minutes before I could actually see their approach. As they came towards us, they broke into three groups. The smaller group went their own direction away from the two main groups.  They both had their separate formation as they flew overhead of us.   I watched them fly north until again, the two groups merged again into a single unit, their voices still honking the encouragement.     Richard, I am well-pleased. Your heart and expression anchor what I have placed within you. Continue to seek me in this coming period and I will show you more.   Within you is far more than your past or what you see/imagine for your future. Hold onto me. As you continue to walk out and shepherd my flock, I will grant you more. Yet it comes at a cost, and it has been paid in full.   Continue to be open to...

Move beyond your comfort zone. Open yourself to my fullness. Follow-me. I will show you new places and ways for you to share me.  You will thrive. Seek me. I will show myself. Explore my fullness.

Take care in whom you listen. Watch what you allow influence your decisions.   Stay in me and do not allow the arrows of fear to direct you. You are mine. Stay within the protection I afford to you.   The way of the enemy is devious and subtle, but leads to death. Within me is life and vitality. Within me is safety. My love cast out fear.

Interesting morning walk.  I was walking Sadie, our cocker spaniel, this morning.  We were on one of our usual pathways. We could see that we were alone, so I dropped the leash so she could meander where she wanted as we walked. At one point in the walk, I could see across from us, where we had been a few minutes prior was a man walking. It certainly surprised me, to see that we were unknowingly "being followed".  He was heavily bundled up in black clothing for the extremely warm weather we were having. For some reason his appearance made me feel uncomfortable. As we kept walking this man seemed to disappear. He was not to be seen when I turned to look for him. We were on the last stretch of that walk when coming towards us was another, similarly looking/dressed man. As the other one, this man too just seemed to appear from nowhere. It reminded me a a convergence of the past and future .

This week I had asked God for a word, I heard him clearly. he said, "I am filling you".   May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit Roman 15:13 (NIV)   I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NLT)   The priests could not enter the Temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled it.  2 Chronicles 7:2   I am filling you.   Take the image of pouring water or any liquid beverage into a tall glass. You are that container.  The more I remove that does not belong, the more I am filling you.

You are one beloved of Father. He sees within your heart, through whatever cover that may be trying to affect you.  He knows your fears and joys. He is communicating to you each step of your journey; urging you to move closer to him.  Yet in all, He is never disappointed in you.  He constantly has your best. Watch for him and you will find Him. Listen for Him and you will hear Him. Examine your dreams and He is there, offering direction and encouragement. This rough patch may seem brutal when you look at it. It can send messages to attempt to overwhelm you and cause you anguish. Know that is not from God. He is there, even now. He is reaching out to you. Call out to him.  Each morning speak your heart to him, pausing to listen. Learn to believe, encouraging yourself in Him and His word (written nor spoken). You know truth, so continue seeking The Truth.  His love and leading for you is not ended.  But note too, He is leading you in a different...

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Hebrews 12:14-15 (NIV)

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

One recent day I wore a newer shirt to work. It was not until I was home that evening, getting ready for bed, that I saw something on the back of the shirt. It was a plastic label. It was still on the back of my shirt. All day I had worn that shirt at work and home and no one mentioned to me about that label.   Because of where the label was located, I could not see it. Although it was comical, I was embarrassed. I asked God about my label and he replied, “You never asked me.”   How many times in my life do I have a label, or await others to explain my label, when in fact, God alone knows me.