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 4/14/99 Good Morning.... +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ God will never let you hold a spiritual thing
for yourself. It has to be given back to Him that He may
make it a blessing to others. <>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§>< Hi Dear Friends!! Hope you had a great Easter! Mine was really nice. I cooked for my in-laws and they are still kickin, so that's a good sign! My mother-in-law is the greatest cook in the world (next to you Tiz, hehe) and she has taught me much! So what do you say we plug into a fresh word today and allow God to "flow" through us, like, like...um...ELECTRICITY! Yeah, that's it! ( smile ) See ya at the end!!
An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of God's wings: After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live... Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you and then be different because of it. -Received from: Anneluce@aol.com
<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<> "Deep calleth unto deep..." As your secret life deepens you will discover that "deep calleth unto deep." When you can bring forth values from the depths of your inner life, you will find that other lives will be deeply affected. Without any mighty outward movement....just a quiet response the moving of life within....you will reach out to another life, and that other life will be helped, and into his life will come the awareness that in a depth deeper than consciousness he has met depth: deep has answered deep. If your life has no depth, your superficial work will only affect other lives superficially. We repeat yet again.....only "deep calleth unto deep." -By: Watchman Nee- <>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<> ~GOODBYE TO ME~
<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<><JE§U§><<>@<> Me again! I was making my Sweetheart a pot of coffee this morning, and after I poured the last of the water into the auto-drip vat, I clicked the "on" switch, then busied myself making a sandwich for his lunch. As I was wrapping the sandwich in one of those lil fold top sandwich baggies, it hit me that I wasn't hearing a noise that I would usually be hearing by this time. I looked over at the coffee maker and it was just sitting there. ( What was I expecting, a waltz? ) The nasal sounds that usually pipe from it were null and void. Well, you know the first thing you check in a case like that, is the plug. I did, and that was the problem. I suddenly remembered that last night we had a Bible study over here, and I made a pot of coffee for fellowship afterwards, but I relocated it for convenience. When I put it back in it's usual spot, I didn't bother to plug it back in. This instance caused my mind to wander back to years ago when I worked at a fast-food restaurant. I was the world renowned "Breakfast Coordinator." Now, what that meant in reality was, I was a cook, a cashier, a gopher, or any other position that needed filling, and I made 50 cents more an hour than everyone else! Early one particular morning, I went in to work and my biscuit maker reported to me that the mixer was inoperable. I went to survey the problem and sure enough, "click," but no juice. I checked the plug, and it seemed that this plug went up into the ceiling, and I had no idea where it went from there. So, I did the only thing my 18 year old mind knew to do at the time. I called the manager. He promptly came in, walked right past me, and plugged it in. The plug ran from the ceiling, down another wall about 6 feet, behind a roast beef oven. Well, you can imagine my embarrassment. As he walked past me again to go back home to bed, I stated with all the confidence that I didn't feel: "I coulda done that!" When we experience a place of dryness, and no "juice" in our life, the first question that needs to be asked is: "Are we plugged in?" And if the answer is "yes," then the next question is: "Who or what are we plugged into?" We can be plugged into a lot of "outlets" but in the case of our Christian walk, there is only One that will provide the "AC" that we need to run this race. For those that are not familiar with electrical terms, AC represents "alternating current." The interesting thing about alternating current is it flows continuously in a pattern, and it loops back and forth in a circular path continuously moving to provide electricity in all designated areas. Your home has alternating current. Now there is another kind of current called DC. This is called "direct current." An example of this type of current would be a flashlight or a car battery. It only flows one way. The reason I am giving this brief lesson in basic electricity is because I want you to see something. A lot of times, when we ARE plugged in to Christ, we are only operating on direct current, when a vast amount of alternating current is at our disposal. We are only flowing one way. We may even have a regular quiet time that we have disciplined ourselves to do. Perhaps we have a daily devotional that we read and 10 to 15 minutes of prayer. But, we get up and go on our way, and something is still missing. "I don't get it! I plugged in today. Why is my day going like this, and more importantly, why is it getting to me? The last thing I feel like right now is a Christian! I treated my kids lousy today, and I feel really discouraged. How can I run this race if I keep tripping over the hurdles??" Sound familiar? Keep the AC/DC analogy in mind, and let's plug into some honesty time. Which source are we using? If the picture is not quite clear yet, then let me elaborate a bit further. Visualize a path of alternating current flowing through you. You are the "conductor." Your flesh could represent the "insulation" that houses this conductor. You begin your day by lifting up your heart to God, and allowing that "spiritual energy" to flow. God is the "Generator" that ultimately supplies your electrical energy and as you abide in Him throughout the day, the path of the "circuit" is continually flowing. A path like this takes ultimate yielding on our part. An interesting note to mention, is when you walk into a room of a house that is supplied with AC current and turn off a light switch, then you've "broken" the circuit. The electrical flow has been severed. But when you turn a light switch on, the electricity commences to flowing back on the "to and fro" path. Notice the similarities? Anytime we "turn off the light" we have severed the flow. I was praying this morning with this same analogy in mind, and I literally pictured myself as a conductor, with AC current flowing through me, back and forth from me to the Father, back from the Father to me again. I simply yielded my heart to God and allowed His Spirit to flow through me. I could actually "see" this loop in my mind! And I have to admit something here. I really felt sooo surged! But it doesn't stop when we get up from our quiet time. His AC is continually flowing when we don't even consciously realize it. It's a spiritual thang. God is the Source of this spiritual energy, providing peace even in times of turmoil. As a conductor, we are simply a "vessel" that yields to this energy, and we allow it to flow. I wish I could draw you a schematic diagram of an AC loop, but I am afraid you will have to use your spiritual 3D glasses. ( Didja brang em? ) It really helps to see just how this connection takes place. It's not just me pointing a DC flashlight in God's direction, nor is it God pointing one down at me. It's like an AC loop! When you get to the place where you are "grounded" in the Word, and your AC is flowing continuously, don't be surprised when others desire to plug in right along with you! It's a sharing thang too! ( smile ) You'll find that the more you yield, the more juice you have, and others will be drawn to your overflow. If you find that you are operating as a small table lamp for now, that's ok. It's a start! Just check for frayed wires, ( humble yourself and repent when necessary ) plug in that AC outlet....and flow like a river! I think I hear the Generator revvin up now! ( smile ) God Bless You All!! In Christ!!
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