Growing in Christ

Borne Out of the Fire

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

Borne Out of the Fire

We desire to go on with God… But what we do not see is that we are carrying things that cannot go with us – things we cannot take with us to walk in the next level of His glory… But because we do not see all of this in proper perspective.. (there is so much right now that we do not understand)… Indeed it does seem as though “we look through a glass darkly”… And thus we urgently plead, “Lord help me!”

And of course He is always there to lead us… (He can’t take us unless we ask – because in His sovereignty, God gave man authority on the earth – so that as James 4:2 tells us “…you have not because you ask not.”)  So – ask, we do – not seeing or knowing that between where we walk now and the place we desire to be – is “the FIRE or the RAGING waters!” But we ask, and so he leads us out… But before long, we began to think… “This must surely be a mistake!” I mean.. we were wanting to go upward, to get better!… But instead, here we are in a frightening place!

Now, water and fire can both destroy and wreak havoc… But carefully tended and directed, they cleanse and ready the ground for new growth – so that in the time that follows, out comes a thing for God’s use and our “beauty.”

Then through tears of joy, and with strengthened devotion – we look back – and our understanding is lightened!… Now I see!… There is no other way, else He would surely bring us… But should we come another way – I mean that He would just “zap” us – we would be “there” all right… And “there” would be “perfect!”… But who would He be?… Would we even know Him??

You see, there is so much “distance” between who He is and who we are – a world of difference – that it takes a lifetime just to begin to understand that difference… So that, how could we ever have a proper view of Him… if we had not seen the things that “fill up the way” between our mortality and Him??

Sure, now we see through a glass darkly… But each new level we press to brings us closer to His light, and we grow in our personal knowledge of Jesus Christ… Then from this new place of glory, I see Him more clearly, and do better understand the futility of the unregenerate man…

Indeed later, I shall see Him as He is – but for now I’m just learning and growing – so that I simply see Him in the best way that I can… I see him now through the eyes of my fellowship with Him, and as the word of God reveals…. Indeed that is God’s plan!

Thus He brings us through the fire.. or through the “raging waters.”… And frightening indeed it seems – until we come to the place of understanding.. THAT WE CAN TRUST HIM!  And that those hurtful things are brought along our path by our adversary (I Peter 5:8) who is seeking to devour any closeness of relationship we try to form with God… But God our Savior seeks to bring us safely to the other side… And thus you and I who seek Him, are “borne out of the fire.”

 

 

Growing in Christ…. In The Place and Time Of Transition

~ kathrynspen ~ 3 Comments

Sometimes the Lord wants to take us to a new place in Him – a good place, a better place – than where we are at in our present relationship and walk with Him… and we think “Hey, that’s great”… but when things begin to feel  different”.. perhaps even a little strange.. We begin to wonder “what’s going on… and “where am I missing it”?

It’s a time of transition…but on the way… as we begin to feel “different” –  it can be quite uncomfortable – almost like we have lost some of the good things that He has already put into us!…. But in this time that is intended for growth and healthy change.. we have old wrong attitudes and habits that do not “fit” the new place He wants to take us to.  These wrong attitudes and habits are things that He wants to help us see – and turn loose of.. so that we can follow Him on in to that new place in Him that He is calling us to walk in.

We may feel alone in the place of transition – but God has never turned loose of us!  And it is in this time of feeling “different” – perhaps even feeling that we’ve lost our way – that we must learn to choose to take and use from the table God has prepared for us…..  It is right there before us… But we have to learn to choose – in the very midst of the pressure that our flesh is feeling (in particular our emotions) – to take from that table He has set before us…

For like money in the bank – it does us no good until we reach out and draw on it…In this case we need to draw on and use the “tools” He has given us to use in the good fight of faith that we are called to walk … Tools like giving thanks, worship and praise to God.. as well as learning to  respond to our negative feelings and emotions.. with the word God has spoken concerning the time or situation we are in.  All of these are “tools” God has set before us… tools that will get us to the other side of the “crisis” we feel.

All of these things are “on the table before us” as a part of our provision/our authority in Christ..  And so much greater is this provision that Jesus “bought” for us than any thing that the enemy can throw at us…. For as we look to Him.. God is working all around us!… To say that He is not (simply because what we see is an unfinished work) – is to deny His faithfulness… It is to embrace the lie of our adversary (I Peter 5:8,9)… And to do that is to choose defeat….

For ultimately, we will win if we do not quit!  (Galatians 6:9)…Thus we take our stand – we take our stand on what God has said and done for us… “And having done all to stand – we stand – on the everlasting word of God! –  (especially the Rhema words that He has given to you for a particular situation )… given you for fighting the good fight of faith!!

But many times – instead of using the tools that God has provided for us – we choose to call somebody to pray for us…(I know because that is what I always used to do!)  And it is not “wrong” to call for prayer support –  but – ultimately we each have to learn (at some point) to stand and use what God has already provided for us  …. in order to continue.. GROWING IN CHRIST… a place and a transition that you will like!

 

The Resurrected Life

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

Put the past behind you!…..  Turn loose and step into that fresh new day.

No man can stop you.. This is “God ordained!”….

The resurrected life… “fresh”… with no mistakes..

New – walking a different way!

Lay down the pride – this having to answer/explain – thus to “fix” everything.

It doesn’t matter if you’re wrong.. or if you’re right.. Let it all go!  Let it go –  and thus turn loose of living to defend your life… And trust God to be your defense!

“Be still and let Me “be” God in your life” He says…”And you will see that is the way to show (whoever needs to know)… “what is what” and Who I Am”.. “Isn’t that what your life in Me is really all about?”

So lay down the pride – even this pride that will not rest until you get everything just right… And THAT is beyond your power both to see how – and to do!

So, let go!  and enter into that place of rest which I have prepared for you.  It starts when you decide to “seek first the Kingdom of God – setting your focus and your efforts on Him – Who has already “fixed” everything for you!!

Oh the peace that awaits you in that place – the abundance of joy and grace…  Walking in His righteousness… Knowing you have none of your own….

Time to rise up, look ahead, and leave the things of death behind you.. to walk in life anew – even the resurrected life He has called you to…

Understand that the past cannot go with you .. and there is no time and no place in Him to “vindicate self.”  Self must be denied to walk in this resurrected life…

You must lay it all down – this “demand” to be justified… For when God is your defense, there is nothing to prove… Oh, the freedom in that – just to rest in Him… humble yourself under His mighty hand – and thus receive grace to conquer and reign.. over all the inequities of this life!

And because You’re wonderful and good, Lord… I can lay down shame where the enemy has accused me.. And even in the place where I have failed to walk altogether uprightly… when I turn to You, Your righteousness vindicates me!  This is the place where all things become new again – the place of the fresh start – the walk without pride.

The key is to look at Jesus… Keep your eye, your focus on Him/His life – and so walk in the standing with the Father Jesus gave you… Walk with Him – could anything be better?  There you’ll find true vindication – as His glory surrounds you!

The “price” of all of this….?   Set your focus on Him – and don’t look back!   (Why would you want to – when you can be done with what is behind you!) Your walk, your direction – HE is your life… There’s nothing to prove or to clear up – not when you are done with all of that!!  Just step out and walk after Him… His righteousness is your “justification”..great joy and peace the reward

….. of the resurrected life.

 

 

 

 

 

“COME TO ME”

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

In Matthew 11:28-30  Jesus gave a wonderful and deeply heartfelt invitation to those weighed down by any kind of care….. “Come to Me – all of you that labor and are heavy laden.. and I will give you rest”… And from that simple discourse in the word of God the following lines came into my spirit….

 

Come to Me.. Do not be afraid.. I am “with you and for you”.. Do not let fear or discouragement stop you.  I AM your God!…

Come – and worship Me… I will meet you there…

You can be strong to rise up against fear..and the things that “come in the door” that fear opens… For My authority is in you to rise up over those things which the enemy has brought to stop you… Your fight is in the spirit realm – and that is where I operate to affect the natural realm.

So.. come to Me! ……. You will find the strength you need as you worship Me…. I love you!  Do not let people or pain from the past hinder you and rob you from returning to worship Me… I love you.. and I am stronger than any of those things….

Come to Me!   I will meet you – and you will know the peace that touching Me brings.. and the confidence that I have to give you.  There is a refreshing that comes to those who choose to draw aside to spend time with Me… And in My presence – you will find the answer to things that stop you from walking strongly with Me.

COME!… You “chase” other things – CHASE ME!  You’ll find Me waiting to touch you..  So come to Me and know how much I LOVE YOU!

 

readywriterblog

GOD’S CALL TO HIS PEOPLE ….

Come to Me.  Do not be afraid – I am “with you and for you.”  Do  not let fear or discouragement stop you.  I am  your God.

Come – and worship Me.  I will meet you.  You can be strong to rise up against fear – and the things that come in the door that “fear” opens.  My authority is in you to rise up over those things the enemy has planted to stop you.  Your fight is in the spirit realm – and that is where I operate to affect the natural realm…. So, come to Me!  You will find the strength that you need as you worship Me.

I love you!  Do not let people or pain from the past hinder you and rob you from returning to worship Me.  I love you.  I love you – and I am stronger than…

View original post 89 more words

Daily Bread – What Will You Choose to Pursue?

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

The spirit of a born again individual….. is READY, is WILLING, and even “predisposed” to follow after and worship God… That simply means that it is inherent – in the new nature of your born again spirit – to cry out to God….. and to seek to know Him.  God designed it that way…. and He birthed it so in your spirit the moment you received Jesus as your personal Savior… In the time it takes to “blink an eye” you were transferred out of darkness into the Kingdom of God/light when you received Jesus Christ into your life  (Colossians 1:13,14).

You entered into “newness of life”… still flesh and blood – a human being – but you’ve had a “new dimension” added to your life… even life in the spirit….

“If any man be in Christ he is a new creature/creation…. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17,18) … It is right here at this “starting point” that it is good and very helpful for you to understand that this monumental change took place in your spirit – NOT in your mind or emotions nor in your physical being.. (all three of which the bible refers to as “the flesh”).

If you read John 3:1-8, you will see that there is the natural birth that brings every man into this world…. AND…. there is the “regeneration” (Webster’s defines this as a spiritual rebirth) – which immediately ushers the brand new believer in Christ into the Kingdom of God…. You’ve just been “born again” (the spiritual rebirth into God’s Kingdom)

….But if you expect to immediately see great change in your life – and nothing remaining of your old self/the old man of the flesh – you will likely suffer some bewilderment and disappointment….(Because)… You do have a new life in Christ… but you still have a choice…. the choice to walk after the demands of the old flesh man who is still very much alive …OR… you can choose to follow after the cry of your born again spirit which has the capacity to begin to understand the things of the Kingdom of God – and to follow after Him…. The choice is yours – and mine – to make!  God designed it this way…. because He desires fellowship and kinship with you and me – not robotic relationship!

So…. He gave us the choice – to walk after the old flesh man – or to pursue after the pull in our born again spirit to follow after Him…. and learn of Him, be taught and led by His Spirit.  It is first a choice .. and then a pursuit….

 

 

Proclaiming Liberty to the Captives

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

God the Father sent Jesus into this world “to proclaim liberty to the captives – the opening of “prison doors” to them that are bound.”  (Luke 4:18)…..

A PROPHETIC WORD of HEALING & RESTORATION FOR GOD’S PEOPLE 

The enemy has told you that “you have been like this since you were a little boy or little girl – and that things can never change for you”…. But the Lord says  that “I am coming with new revelation of My word – and there is a dimension of My power and anointing that is coming with that revelation – to truly set the captives free in these last days….. Because the place that I’ve brought the church to – the church cannot keep going forward – unless those things are broken…. For truly the captives must be set free… and My people walk about in freedom as never before!…

So don’t shrink back and don’t be afraid… Because the Lord says “In this hour healing is coming – and there’s a river that’s now flowing – that is going to bring about healing to the nations….. And My people are going to rise up – not a wounded people, not a people who are sick and crippled and bent over and cannot look up!…. But My people are going to rise up in these last days with healing and with strength and with power – because of the healing and restoration that I am bringing!.. So don’t shrink back, but press in to Me in these last days – and know the healing that I can bring to you, says the Lord God….. Thank You, Jesus!

Very quickly!  Very quickly! …. For others it is going to be a process of things that He is going to show you.  He’s going to bring healing – and it’s going to be a lot like peeling an onion – layer by layer – as  He’s going to show and bring revelation to you of areas that you need to be healed…. But whatever the way – whether it’s quick or whether it’s a process – the Lord says that He’s going to do the work…. He’s going to bring it to pass!  And we are to acknowledge Him!  Thank You, Jesus!

___________________________

NOTE:  This prophetic word that I just shared with you was given June 11, 2000 by Pastor Drew Isaacs – who often blesses the church he pastors – with such words that he hears from the Lord as he worships or teaches God’s word.

I was there the day this particular word was given – and I can attest to the fact that I for one, have been a recipient of a lot of this kind of healing and freedom from the Lord over the past 15 years….and have been seeing a lot of it taking place in others in the church as well….. So I would encourage all who read this to do as this prophetic word says – “Don’t shrink back, but press in close to the Lord and let Him do the work…..let Him bring to pass the healing He has for you.” And you too, will surely say “Thank You, Jesus”!

Daily Bread – Growing in the Fellowship of the Spirit

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

“As the deer panteth after the water brooks.. so my soul longeth after You, oh God”  (Psalm 42:1)…..

It is fellowship with each one of us that God desires … And He has planted that same desire for fellowship with Him in our hearts as well……As the heart of God the Father longs for this fellowship, so you and I have need of it….. For it is this very fellowship that helps us keep growing and becoming strong – and sensitive to the things of the spirit…..

Our growing in fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ – is indeed comparable to that in the natural of an adoring mother or father as they see their child growing into the place where it can have greater fellowship with them….. In the beginning, the relationship was pretty well one-sided – with the babe (and with you and I in our relationship with God) -needing all this personal attention…. And even though there was delight in giving us that needed attention – how much deeper the bond and the satisfaction between us as we grow to the place where there are things that can now be shared that were once beyond our understanding…… And the great delight then – to our Father –  when we come to Him just because we want the fellowship that binds us in that “forever relationship.”

So, just as it is necessary to grow up in the natural in order to have more understanding and deeper relationships….. Even so, God the Father desires to see us grow up in the things of the Spirit… For that IS the “forever relationship”

“How Do I Forgive You?”

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

The things that you said (or did) really hurt me…. I thought you were my friend.  So .. how do I forgive you?  And on the other hand, the one who has come against me may truly not care – they seem to want to be my enemy!……And the things that they are saying or doing are creating for me some problems … Father, how shall I deal with this?……

It is indeed interesting that I am led to write this post today – for only this morning I had to decide about the very thing that I just mentioned above to you…..What I did as my response to a strong offense began as a choice – a choice that I did struggle a little over because I had prayed for this person – in the beginning of this..  Indeed, I had prayed for them as I would have wanted someone who knew how to touch God – to pray for me…..

But those prayers appear to have done no good…. NO.. that’s not so! .. For we all make choices about how we respond to God’s dealings with us….. And I cannot hold myself accountable for someone else’s response to God’s dealings with them….. I.m only accountable for how I respond to His dealings with me.

So, this morning I chose to pray again for this individual – and God was so in that prayer time with me – that however things turn out after this, I’m okay… I can stay at peace… Because there was such an outflow of God’s concern for this person’s well being that came through me in prayer – that made it a very special and memorable time between Him and me…. And the very thought of it now ushers in His incredible peace….

We make the choice – to do what He puts in our heart to do – and He gives us the strength….. And along with the strength there is a lingering warmth of the feeling of how much He loves each one of us….So, in the coming days, should my mind try to again rehearse the details of that one’s offense,  I will be firm – firm with myself and not allow the negative thoughts to overtake me….I can speak God.s word, stir up a song of praise, start giving Him thanks, or put on gentle worship music to get caught up in as I work.. or just start praying for someone else that has a real need!  …..I’ll do whatever it takes to stay free of getting back into that offense.. .

How do I forgive you?..  First is the CHOICE to forgive and move on…. Then we learn as we grow – how to stand and resist the negative thoughts that the enemy may try to send to overtake our mind with renewed offense…. But like it is with building any new habit into our lives – we learn to be patient and to persist – until we realize that we’ve become strong and the place of God’s peace is easier to reach…..

So, understand that when we choose to do the right thing, God is there to give us the added strength to see it through…. And because the strength that He gives is enough …. That is how I will forgive you….

Daily Bread…. The Love That Casts Out Fear

~ kathrynspen ~ 1 Comment

With a “deliberate hurl” – the original Greek of John 4:18 says – that “the love of God casts out fear.”…. And we are further informed in II Timothy 1:7 – that “God has not given us the spirit of fear!”

…. Obviously, God the Father does not want fear to have a place in our lives….. A main reason for that being that fear is an opposing force to faith .. It actually works to “neutralize” faith for a particular situation in the believer’s life.  In other words – I could have strong faith in one area, but be over into fear in another – and thus find it hard to receive from God in that particular area…..

But God has the solution for that … He wants us to come to know Him more and more – to the point that we “know and believe the love He has for us”…. because as we do, the love of God that we find in knowing Jesus – will progressively drive out the fear we are in that He can’t (or won’t) help us in some area of our life…..

Indeed, He has promised you and me that – “I will never leave you or forsake you!”…. So we need not fear that we are ever alone with our problem or in our time of need. Even if we were in the wrong – as long as we turn our face to Him asking for help – He will be there for us….. helping us to get turned around….. And the love that He has for us will drive out the fear that we can never get it right again…..Because that incredible love that casts out fear is being perfected in us as we keep turning to Him.….

Daily Bread….. Whose Love Is It?

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

Recently a friend quoted Galatians 5:6 about “faith working by love”…… And they asked the question “Whose love is it?….. Is it mine or God’s?” …….

The first “thought” that came to me was from Romans 5:5 – which tells us that “the love of God is shed abroad (poured out) in our hearts/spirit by the Holy Ghost” – which we have of God as born again believers….. So, we see then that the love of God is resident within the believer’s born again spirit…. and is also listed in Galatians 5:22 as a”fruit of the spirit”  (fruit being a “product” of the spirit).  So, although the believer’s own spirit is capable of producing the fruit of love, we understand that the love that was/is poured into our heart/spirit has its origin in God….. 

And as we choose to draw aside from the affairs of this life – to spend time in fellowship with Him – we come away from those times of fellowship – instilled with the very attributes of His nature.. love, joy, peace……. Thus we begin to build a “reservoir”of His love and the other good things/fruit of the Spirit into our own spirit……The love is of God, but when you and I received Jesus as our personal Savior we were given the capacity in our born again spirit to contain the love of God……

And as we follow after to know Him, the love that He has for us more and more casts out fear in our lives  (I John 4:16-19)….. Which is very important because fear is the greatest enemy of our faith….. This is “in a nutshell” describes how faith worketh by love…. and we can trace all genuine love back to the very heart of God.

 

Keeping a Proper Perspective…… As You Press Toward the Mark

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

As a growing Christian, we want more of Jesus…. So we press in, and press towards that mark for the high calling of God in our lives…. and then it is like we come to the top of the hill – or mountain – and we see farther then we’ve ever seen before…. and we breathe in fresh new air…. “Oh, this is great!”…..

But life goes on – and if you think Satan (II Peter 5:8 – your adversary the devil) likes you being in a new place, a higher place – think again!…. Because he’s already working on some tactic to get you back down….. And it can get to the point that it is like “I thought I had grown into a new level – but things are not working – not even as good as they were!… And after a couple of weeks or so of this,  we feel “distant” from God….and we begin to”think it strange” (I Peter 4:12) – strange concerning the things happening to us and the place we are at….  (Can you “identify” in some way with that?)

Because I have “been there and done that”- definitely more than once or twice – I thought it good to share the following “Psalm” that God dropped into my spirit many years ago as I was coming out of one of those times.  It was at a time in my life – that I was just beginning to see – that as we pass along the way pressing in to know Jesus better – we will UNDOUBTEDLY  ENCOUNTER  some feelings and things that are strange – and uncomfortable for us….. But what I “saw” at the time He dropped this Psalm into my heart – gave me insight and understanding that I had not had before…. an understanding that helped me keep things in more of a proper perspective every time thereafter that I began to experience a time like that …..So,  I now share it with the hope that it will also give helpful insight to you – as you press in to know Jesus better……

BORNE OUT OF THE FIRE

We desire to go on with God…… But what we do not see is that we are carrying things that cannot go with us – things which would hold us back – from going to the next place of His glory…. But because we do not see all of this in proper perspective… (so much we do not understand!)…. Indeed it does seem as though we “look through a glass darkly”…. And thus we urgently plead, “Lord help me!”

And of course He is always there to lead us…. (He can’t take us unless we ask!) And ask, we do – not knowing or seeing – that between where we are now – and the place we desire to be….. is the FIRE or the RAGING WATERS!  We’ve asked and so ….  He leads us out……. but before long, we begin to think.. “this must surely be a mistake!”…..     I mean – we were wanting to go upward – to “get better!”. ….. But instead – here we are in a frightening place!

Now, water and fire can both destroy and wreak havoc…. But carefully tended and directed – they cleanse and ready the ground for new growth….. So that in the time that follows, out comes a thing for God’s use and our “beauty.”

Then through tears of joy – and with strengthened devotion – we look back – and our understanding is lightened!…. There is no other way – else He would surely bring us…… But should we come another way …. I mean – that He would just “zap”us!….  We’d “be there” alright  – and “there” would be “perfect!”….

But who would He be??… Would we even know Him??….                                               You see, there is so much “distance” between who He is and who we are – a world of difference – that it takes a lifetime just to begin to understand….  And how could we ever – have a proper view of Him – if we had not seen the things that “fill up the way” – between our mortality and Him?….

Sure,  now we see through a glass darkly…. but each new level we press to brings us closer to His light – and we grow in our personal knowledge of Jesus Christ …. Then from this new place of glory….. I see Him more clearly… and do better understand…the futility of the unregenerate man….

“I Have Learned”……. Being a Do-er of the Word

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

The Apostle Paul said… “I have learned to be “content” in whatever state – circumstance, or situation I find myself in.   (Philippians 4:11)  The key phrase used here that I will share some things about in this post – is –  “I have learned”….. We generally tend to emphasize other parts of that verse, but one day the Spirit of God really quickened that little 3 word phrase to me – and it has served as a goad to me to keep moving forward on many ocassions……

“I have learned” indicates a process entered into.  It also indicates a willingness to apply yourself to going through that process – even as we can see that the Apostle Paul made such a decision (in Philippians 3:8-11) when he determined to pursue a thing that he considered to be  paramount to every other thing in his life…..  And in the verses that followed that – he expressed the fervency of his pursuit to press toward that mark – but immediately thereafter – he assured the readers of this passage that he had not yet “got there” – ie. he was not as mature as he would like to be or could be, but nevertheless – and in spite of some mistakes along the way – he was purposed to keep walking and moving forward in that direction – doing his best to  mind the things/rules that he had learned along the way.

“I have learned” he tells us….. indicating that he gained some ground as he kept minding and putting into practice the things he was learning along the way.   That is actually what the “famous” Romans 8:28 passage is talking about.   Let’s look at that one for a moment….. Because we hear so much that “God is sovereign – and that settles the matter” – (which it does), but because we mostly fail to understand the details of,  and the God placed boundaries on that sovereignty – we therefore swallow  “hook, line, and sinker” the teaching that EVERYTHING that happens to us was sent by God….. and is therefore to be passively and humbly received…..  But is that what it truly says and means?

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.”

One day as I was reading that verse, I heard God ask me the question:  “Who is it that loves Me?”….. and before I even had time to ponder it, I heard Him tell me the answer –  ie. He directed me to look at John 14:21 & 23…”He that has My commandments (My Word) and keepeth it – he is the one that loves Me.. .If you love Me, you will keep My words”…  THIS IS THE ONE FOR WHOM ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD!  (….and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God!!)  BECAUSE  he that loves Me – God says – will keep My word”……..

We’re not talking about a long list of “do’s and don’ts” (although that will have some part in this because it is God’s word) – but rather He is telling us that when He directs us in some way – do that!… If He tells you whether or not to “buy that house” for example – or – If He has quickened a Word to you about stopping exaggerating the truth – or maybe you felt really convicted as you read His Word that you needed to stop overeating – then  begin as much as you know how to, to do that – and as you walk, continue to mind anything that you learn that applies to your walking according to “what or how” He has directed you….. BECAUSE… it all has a cumulative effect – like pieces of a puzzle – and that thing that He directed you to do will weave together with all the other things that He has been telling you to do – BECOMING A PART  of the “all things work together for your good” chain of keeping His word (s) -which He has promised to bless!

You see we can’t just live any old way and expect that all of the things that  come our way are working for our good – but God can,  and wants to work with us to have a better outcome and a lot less ongoing grief in our life…. He wants to weave His good into every area of our lives – even those places where we think that we’ve missed it so badly that it can never work out right!  But we can – like the Apostle Paul – realize how important and powerful God’s words are – and LEARN  to keep them – ie. Do as James 1:25  admonishes us to do by being not just a forgetful hearer, but be a doer of God’s Word – realizing that the Word of God has power to change things – because God is “one with His Word(s) – and He works with His Word to perform it (to bring what He has promised to pass).  It has taken some time for me to “get it”- but I have learned that following each thing as best I can that He directs me to do – or holding on to a promise He has given me – will indeed have  its part in working all things together for my good!

ABOUT ME – and MY BLOG

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

Because I think it’s important that you know a few things about the person  who is writing and sharing with you on this blog – and the purpose for doing the blog – I’m going to share about that here with you…… So the following is a little bit of “my story.”

As the Apostle Paul once said, “I haven’t arrived yet – but I have come a long way from where I started.”  That’s the reason I am doing this blog.  I want to help others who are walking in some of the places I have walked – and could use a little help to keep moving forward in their relationship with God.

My heart is full to share things that have helped me and blessed me along the way.  I remember and feel very keenly the longing …. just to hear Him!  I’m hearing much better now – and I’m still hungry to go further – but at least now I know more about “how to get there!”

Jesus is my Savior – and I have had such an incredible journey getting to know Him that I have a lot  of things to share!  Mistakes – yes, I’ve made them – but I have come such a long way since I received Jesus in 1978.  I was a young single mother then, and boy did I need Him!  I needed the change that knowing Him began to bring – and in the years that followed, I received a lot of His wonderful healing.  I began also to receive some of the “gifts” that God’s word says belong to us – and on this blog I will share out of the particular gifts that He has given me.

To be a little more descriptive about the things you will find on this blog site, I can tell you that it will include: Inspirational and devotional writings, Psalms and poems – which I write as I hear; writings that lend to personal worship; and short teachings on subjects where the Spirit of God has instructed me.  The substance of what He gives me as I have fellowship with Him is what I will share with you on this blog.

I value your input – through comments or questions.  And now I would like to welcome any and all who visit this blog – I’m so glad you are here!