Apron Strings Devotional for1/5/2000

1/5/00

Good Morning....
Jesus loves You!!

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Don't resist the Holy Spirit when the hand of God tries to mold your heart. The Potter of your soul is simply trying to "soften" you. He wants to bring you to such a place of tenderness that it doesn't take a hurricane-force wind from Heaven for you to even know that He is present. He wants you to be so tender that the gentlest breeze from heaven, the smallest zephyr from His presence, will set your heart a-dancing, and you'll say, "It's Him!"
-Tommy Tenney-
From: "The God Chasers"

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Hi Dear Friends!!

Hi Dear Friends!!

Happy New Year!

I pray this finds you all doing well in our Lord Jesus!! Gonna do the devo a little different today. No poems and no short stories. Just a commentary from a "common tator." ( Hmm, does this mean my kids are tator tots?? ) ( smile )

Before you begin, I'd like to encourage you to say a little prayer, and ask the Lord to prepare your heart for this fresh word for the New Year. God bless and see you at the..er, beginning!! ( nuther smile )

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As the door to 1999 came to a creaking close and we stepped into 2000 "glitch free" for the most part, it came to my mind that there are some glitches that came through undetected.

I saw us entering into the year 2000 in an interesting way. It was if we stepped over a line. The floors on each side of this line were different colors. It's like we are in a new place, and we are! But, I couldn't help thinking about what we brought with us. What did we bring along with us as we stepped over into the year 2000? What kind of memories are still lingering and how are these memories still holding us captive to the past?

I was lying in bed this morning reflecting on some childhood memories, some good, some not so good. Many of these things are what shaped me, and when I came to the Lord in 1984 I found that I was this blob of clay that needed a serious overhaul. Since then, my Lord Jesus has gently been fashioning and molding me, and even pinching off some things that needed to go.

When you were a child, did you ever play with playdough or clay, and when something hard, like hard chips got caught in it, you usually pinched it off and threw it out, right? That's what I mean. But, God didn't pinch out all my hard places in 1984. In fact, He's still doing it at this moment.

Some of these hard chips represent some embedded memories and these memories are attempting to hang on during the molding process that Christ wants to do in my life. When I get to the place where I am ready to turn these chips over to Him, He gently pinches them off, and I move on to a new place in Him.

Here is another way to look at it: Once we come to Christ, our lives become like flowing rivers, filled with Living Waters that He poured into us. We flow for a season, but then we come to this dam. The water starts backing up and the flow almost ceases. This dam represents the obstacle of memories still embedded and these memories are so magnified, that they block the flow. You see, God foresaw this dam. In fact, He was waiting for us to come to it so He could deal with it.

Coming to the dam is not a bad thing. Obstacles are meant to be removed so that we can go on. Even when those dough chips are deeply embedded, or that dam looks seriously large, they can be removed. Know what it takes? Our consent. Our yielding. Our desire to move on into 2000 without any 1900 junk coming along.

Matt 21:21-22
...if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

What is your mountain? What is keeping you from flowing into 2000 with the fullness of Christ in your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your obstacle. If you already know what it is, I encourage you to get on your knees, ( if this is physically not possible, just humble your heart ) and lift your eyes heavenward.

Let go of the past, and let's move into 2000 with a freedom that only Christ can bring. It's time for a new beginning. You are a new creation in Christ. Old things are passed away, all things are become new. ( 2Cor. 5:17 ) This is the year to wipe clean the "slate of the past" and start anew.

Release the dough chips. Pull the first stick out of the dam. Maybe you thought you would have to remove the whole dam on your own and knew that you weren't capable. You aren't capable on your own, but there is one thing you can do, and one thing you have to do to continue the flow. You have to make the first move. You have to step over the line.

May we pray?

Lord, I had no idea what I was going to type when I sat down at my computer this morning, but You knew. You cared enough for __________ to have me say exactly what they needed to hear. Now, Lord, I stand with ___________ as they make a decision to move on into the year 2000 with You by their side. There are obstacles that need to be removed, and at this moment, there is one looming large enough to cease the flow in their walk. You, Dear Jesus are able to remove this burden. Lord, only a softened and tender heart will yield to you. Break the hardness and callousness that has set in over the years. I ask You to reach in with Your Precious Hands through the power of Your Holy Spirit and massage that heart. Let the hardness break away as they humble themselves before you, yielding without reservation. Break the shell that has served as a false protection for too long. You are our Protector. You are our Redeemer.

Ezek 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Father, as You wash away the pain of the past, restore unto them a hope for
the future. You are that hope. Lord Jesus, You are our ONLY hope! Lord, I see the river begin to flow as the dam is breaking away. Father, I had no idea that you were going to wash the dam away with tears! Oh, Praise You Lord!! Praise Your Holy Name! You are worthy to be praised!! Thank you for releasing my friend. Thank you for continuing the flow, and thank you for removing the root of bitterness and the fear of rejection. Thank you for restoring the joy of their salvation as they enter the year 2000 with a pure clean heart!

Ps 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Go forth my Friend, into a new year with the joy of the Lord! Here is your
verse to hang onto as you enter 2000:

Hab 3:19
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. (KJV)

Here is another translation:

Hab 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
(NIV)

This is the Year of the Glory of the Lord. Amen? I smell freedom in the air! Hallelujah!

God Bless You All!!
And remember..
Jesus loves you and I do too!
In Christ!!
Carol
Justaservn@aol.com

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