Yes

It has been a long time since I posted. As usual not much has changed. 'Cept my Wanderlust has increased. My friend John leaves for the Air Force tomorrow, and I'm really jealous of him. I feel like all my adventuring is behind me, and his is only beginning. Oh well. God knows what's best for me, right?
I was going to write more, maybe I'll update it later, but my friends just called to go shooting, so I have to leave right now. Yeah, maybe I'll add more later ;)


----------------
Now playing: Phil Wickham - Give You My World
via FoxyTunes

Psalm 91

1_He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty

How many times have I read that? Tons. How many times have I sung that? Even more. But on Friday August 31 this really hit me. I've said this before and I will say it again, there is going to be some major PERSONAL APPLICATION in what I am about to say, nothing to build a spiritual house on, so please don't think I'm coming out with new and/or strange doctrine.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High.... To me, at least on Friday, that means whoever dwells in the Tabernacle. Ok, so you walk into the Tabernacle/Temple, and what is directly on your right? The showbread. Twelve loaves of unleavened bread set there symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel. The bread is replaced weekly and the Priests eat the bread that comes off the table. Translation, Judism. The Jewish Scripture, their history, their relationship with God. And directly on your left as you enter? The lampstand. This is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and His ministry. Translation? His personal indwelling in the believer, the Church. His work in my life and my fellowship with other believers. Directly in front of you as you walk in? The alter of incense. Prayer, plain and simple. Let's bring it all together. He who makes a habit of studying the scripture, abiding in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and with other believers, and prays continually...

...will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 'Abide' is a fun word. It means so much. According to dictionary.com it means *clears throat*

1. to remain; continue; stay: Abide with me.
2. to have one's abode; dwell; reside: to abide in a small Scottish village.
3. to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.; last.
–verb (used with object)
4. to put up with; tolerate; stand: I can't abide dishonesty!
5. to endure, sustain, or withstand without yielding or submitting: to abide a vigorous onslaught.
6. to wait for; await: to abide the coming of the Lord.
7. to accept without opposition or question: to abide the verdict of the judges.
8. to pay the price or penalty of; suffer for.
—Verb phrase
9. abide by,
a. to act in accord with.
b. to submit to; agree to: to abide by the court's decision.
c. to remain steadfast or faithful to; keep: If you make a promise, abide by it.

See? big word. But that's not my favorite word in this sentence. My favorite is the word 'will.' Wait, you mean that whole 'how can I keep myself in accordince with God's will' question is as simple as dwelling in His Tabernacle? Yep. This verse states that if you dwell with God and in His Tabernacle you WILL abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Well that was simple!

Fear

I was reading today in Hebrews and Hebrews 2:15 really jumped out at me. It states, with verse 14 for context: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery ."
How does Satan keep men from coming to God? I thought of two very prominent ways: Pride and Fear. Yet in a way, pride is a form of fear. It is the fear of losing oneself and of appearing weak to others. Satan uses fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." That verse was POUNDED into my head in Germany, as it is one of pastor Nick's life verses. And then I thought about it. How often do I let fear control my life? How often do I listen to my fears of, oh, failure, rejection, inferiority etc. instead of the Spirit of God dwelling in me? The more I examine my life and my choices, the more I see how fear has infiltrated so much of my life. How many of your decisions are motivated by fear? Remember, God has not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.