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S T R E T C H
by God woke me up some nights ago. I dont remember the time. I ask Him the question mentally. How am I suppose to write this message, I have no title? He said, stretch! the word make me quiver. I didnt know why then, I just obeyed. I realized why He wanted me to write this-I needed to stretch! Ive learned in order to experience a new level in my seasons, I must learn how to surrender and say nevertheless! Jesus Himself said nevertheless in the Garden of Gethsemane. His flesh wanted the cup to pass, but the price at stake, out weighed His will so, He said nevertheless. In the midst of my problems/my thorn, I desperately tried to pray for a quick deliverance. As soon as I felt uncomfortable, I would begin praying to God. I wanted God to answer, why me? Or How long? Can we all agree, just bless me!, just give me my miracle!, expand my territory, and/or pass down my spiritual inheritance please-without the stress and without the tests! Job couldnt find reasons for his tests. Where did he err? Yet, folk couldnt understand Jobs praises. He faithfully fed and encouraged his own spirit when others didnt. Job count it all joy according to James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials); 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience (develops). 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (complete, mature, finished). I know that growth and responsibility comes along with each new level. What I do or want is really up to me. The Christian Comfort Zone has left too many of us in the wilderness content. Why? We refuse to stretch. Our pains persist, the thorn(s) deepens and we are paralyzed in fear. All forward movement has cease. Season after seasons pass us by. Pastor shouts and prophetically proclaims its your season! You repeat, but fearfully you remain content. Weve learned and adapted to our ritual. What ritual? The reading our daily bible verse, listening to gospel music (as if our salvation lies within), giving encouraging words to others, pray for those in need, or great works. They have become just that-a ritual. A routine that causes you and I to remain on boneless meat. Boneless meat? This is when youve superceded milk and youve not gotten to meat w/bone. Meat w/bone; *Praising God in the midst of problems *Joy according to James 1:2-4 *Nevertheless attitude (Gods will over our own) *No fear of growth and responsibilities *Shall not be moved because of his/her circumstances *Speaking, encouraging, and feeding your own spirit season after season I cant feed some of you this message! Your pastor cant feed you meat w/bone because some of you are so use to boneless meat and are too content. True, no one wants to feel pain, yet the word Im leading up to is proved/proven. It means to; 1. To establish the truth or validity of by presentation of argument or evidence. 2. To determine the quality of by testing; try out. Our flesh is weak, and is the foundation and the source of our Christian Comfort Zone contentment. Some of us, we fear the outcome of our requests (prayers). Look again toward the meaning of proved/proven, the argument per-say (our prayers). The evidence, (how we end up). Have we faithfully continued praising God? Or, have weve begin to curse more than just the day we were born? Outwardly, we talk the talk, but inwardly we secretly ponder the bold statements we proclaim out loud. If we consistently pray those bold prayers, God will allow tests to fall upon us. When the time comes, will you, will I be proved/proven? Warning according to Matt 6:5-7 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. How much can one person suffer in order to obtain his/her spiritual inheritance? We look at Job as an example, yet we still cant fathom the idea this could happen to me. In ending, some of us truly have no real wisdom/comprehension/depth of the requests we ask. What do I mean? Great rewards and the favor of God are priceless! Reaching your meat w/bone, your ability to be proved/proven season after season-cost. Are you really ready to stretch? Are you really to say nevertheless? Excerpt: Out Of The Heart Flows The Issues Of Life (unpublished) Copyrights Reserved By Tara L. Rankin Author, Tara L. Crockett Exhaling Life Changing Poems BN.com *Amazon.com * IUNIVERSE.com website www.allthingsrpossible.highpowersites.com Appearance on WWL Channel 4 w/ Sally Ann Roberts "The Morning Show". Various appearances on "The Light of Jesus Show" w/ Betty Howard. First book signing at Walgreens' 5300 Tchoupitoulas in May 2003. Speaking engagements at local churches. Awarded "Single Heart in Christ 2003" by Tulane MBC Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |