Tough As Steel

It still amazes me how everything in this earth realm can give us glimpses into the unseen world. Jesus showed us this by His teachings: ‘the Kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed into his field,’ or ‘like a mustard seed,’ or ‘like a treasure hidden in a field,’ plus many more. Today Daddy G*D is showing me how the Kingdom of heaven is like a metallurgist who finds rock that he knows contains iron ore and decides to make it into steel.

The rock must first be melted down in order to burn off impurities, leaving iron ore. The ore continues to be heated to burn off the oxygen and then carbon is added back into it. This process is called ‘smelting.’ (Hmm, kind of sounds like that hidden treasure in a field, doesn’t it?) The iron is cooled by a rapid wind blowing over it, and forms what is referred to as ‘pig iron’ which contains too much carbon to be steel. It is brittle and not flexible. So the iron is heated to soften it. This process is called 'annealing' which has three phases: recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth. (Bear with me. It’ll get better!) Now the metal must be 'quenched' or rapidly cooled in water or oil. This leaves the metal strong but brittle, because it is so strong it doesn’t give. Sometimes the metal must be strong. Other times it must be tough (not easily broken). Therefore, the steel must be 'tempered.'  This is done by heating the metal to a degree below the critical temperature for a certain period of time and then allowing it to cool in still air in a cast that later can be rolled into the final product at a finishing mill. (Thank you Wikipedia for the lesson in steel production.)

So what does this have to do with the Kingdom of heaven? Well, you see, Adam (human) was formed from the dust of the ground (Ge 2:7). We are the rock, G*D is the metallurgist who sees potential within us, the iron ore. (BTW, the human body is composed of 96% gases {most of which is water, H2O} and 4% of minerals. Yep, that’s right. We are dirty water!)

The trials that we go through in life cause the smelting process to purify us. Life happens. We mature. The rapid wind is the Holy Spirit of G*D blowing over us to reveal our G*D to us. The problem is that we become ‘pig iron’ and not much good for others. We are easily offended (brittle) and fixed in our ways (inflexible). So our Creator, the metallurgist, turns up the heat on us again. To make us strong. ‘In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed’ (1Pe 1:6,7).

In this second heating G*D brings healing to our soul (recovery), renews our mind by replacing our old beliefs with His truth (recrystallization), and the fruit of His Spirit increases (grain growth). Now we must be rapidly cooled by water (the Word of G*D) or oil (the Holy Spirit of G*D) to keep us from becoming arrogant.

We are now strong but not yet tough. Tough people know when to stand firm and when to be flexible; how to stand on the Word of G*D and to be lead by His Spirit. We need to be tempered. Life will once again heat up, but not to the point of being critical. Then we will be poured into a cast, a mold. We are all called to be molded into the image of G*D’s Son, Jesus (Ro 8:29). We will be set aside to cool in still air. The Holy Spirit is the ‘air’ of G*D. Even though He doesn’t seem to be moving, He is there. We enter into our place of resting in Him. Now we are ready to be ‘rolled’ into the final product that Daddy G*D will use for a specific purpose (Jer 29:11).

The good thing is that steel never outlives its usefulness. It can be recycled. Don't you just love the idea of going back through the fire to be recasted into something that is useful for today? I don't either, but there is purpose in the suffering. This is G*D's grace molding us into His likeness, and He is right there with us. We are never too old to begin again, and will enter into new phases of life and Kingdom purposes, if we continue in our faith in Jesus and our Daddy G*D!

See, I have refined you, though not as silver.I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another. (Is 48:10,11)

Queen Esther's Victory is Our Victory

Tonight at sundown begins the celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from the schemes of Haman by the bravery of Queen Esther, once a little Jewish girl named Hadassah. Some say that we would never have had Jesus if it weren't for her bravery, but I beg to differ. G-D always has a remnant and He is always victorious. Even Eshter's cousin/foster dad said, "Think not that you will escape in the house of the king, moreso than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father's house will perish. Who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:13,14)

 

If you are a follower of Jesus, the Messiah, then you are part of a royal priesthood (1Pe 2:9). Who knows whether G-D has not chosen you to be an Esther in order to bring deliverance to your people, your family. When Esther came before her king, he did not reverse the order set against her people, but gave them authority to fight (Esther 8:8-13). Jesus, the King of kings, has granted us authority over darkness (Mt 28:18,19, Mk 16:17, Eph 6:10-18) and He always leads us in victory (1Co 15:57).

Have you been battling certain things for a long time now? Have you cried out to G-D, and yet it seems as if He's turned a deaf ear to you? Fear not! For just as in the book of Esther, G-D may seem absent, but He is very much present! He is working behind the scenes (Ro 8:28) directing your steps (Prov 16:9). It's time for your turnaround! Those times that in  the past evil prevailed are now being flipped. This time you will see victory!

Take time to read the book of Esther, and allow G-D to whisper deep into your heart. Hear Him say, "Fight!"

"Fight for your sons and daughters!"

"Fight for your husband/wife!"

"Fight for physical health!"

"Fight for mental health!"

"Fight for financial breakthrough!"

"Fight for prosperity!"

"Fight for the Kingdom of Heaven!"

"Is there not a cause?! Fear not! For I am with you to give you the victory! Now is your time! Today begins your season of turnaround! Turn and face your enemy. Let My holy roar rise up within you, and fight! You have been granted the victory!"

 

 

Birthdays and Valentine’s

Hi! I know it’s been awhile since our paths have crossed. I’m glad to have bumped into you today. My day today is a hard day on this journey to destiny. I’m sandwiched between yet another birthday and St. Valentine’s Day, both of which are emotional for me since I’m ‘still single.’ It’s not that I think being single is a bad thing. No, there are a lot of pluses to being single. My time is my own. I am responsible only for myself. To a degree. We are all responsible to each other since we share this place called ‘life.’ But as for the daily needs, I’m on my own.

 

Well, if being single isn’t the problem, what is this heaviness I feel on my heart? I miss him. Yep, that’s right. I miss him. You see, I have been praying for that special man, whoever he may be, for over 17 years now. Yes, you may think I am crazy, but I gave the selection of my husband over to my L-RD, and I trust Him to work everything out. Oh, there have been many times I have tried to work it out myself, but that just doesn’t work! And so I keep turning the desire over to my L-RD…and wait. The waiting is the hardest, because, you see, most days I know he’s real. I know the L-RD is the One who gives us, His children,   the desires of our hearts. To me this means not only that He gives us what we want, but when submitted to Him, He places desires within our hearts. I’ve definitely given this desire over to the L-RD. Several times in fact. I’ve tried killing him (the husband) off even. More than once! But my L-RD keeps resurrecting him. The desire for him. That’s why he’s become so real to me.

And so, another birthday has come and gone. I’m 44 now, and have never been married. You do know that L-RD, right? That I’m 44, and birthing babies doesn’t come easy to women my age. That’s another desire that has been place upon my heart to have children, both natural and adopted. Therefore I wait. And pray. And follow the signs that the L-RD, in His compassion, has put upon my path, pointing me in the direction that I must follow in order to intersect with that special someone. The one my heart is drawn towards.
 

So, my love, whoever you may be, I send you this Valentine, an excerpt taken from a song by Mandisa and Chris August titled ‘Praying for You’…

 

I wonder if you think of me…like I think of you.

Do you long for my touch?

Baby, I know that you’ll be the one that’s strong,

When I am weak.

I’ll love you through the good and the bad,

For rich or for poor.

May not have much, but this I’m sure:

‘til my dream comes true,

I’ll be praying for you…

Oh, I wonder what’s in store for me,

Who you’re gonna be.

Have you ever passed me by?

But for now, I’m waiting…

Anticipating

 I’ll be praying that you will fear the L-RD.

I’ll pray we’ll be on one accord,

That G-D will bless everything we do.

I pray that He will shield your heart,

That we will not be torn apart,

And side by side in Jesus’ name we’ll stand.

But for now we’re waiting…
 

Anticipating!

 

 

Tidbits of Tidbits

On our journey to that place of joy, that place of child-like dreams and an abundance of life, grace will drop nuggets of wisdom onto our path. Here are a few I’ve picked up along the way:

1 G-d wants you to succeed even more than you want to succeed yourself. He designed you for a specific purpose. His handiwork is not faulty. You are capable. Find what it is that He created you to do and do it!

2 To wait is to be bound to that which you desire;

  To doubt is to be separated from it;

  To believe is to be fully persuaded that it will come to pass;

  Therefore, believe and wait!

3 Jesus did not just endure to the cross. He endured to the Resurrection!

4 One reason for obtaining so few of G-d’s promises? Bondage to a passive spirit. Passivity arrests our desire. We must defeat the illusion that our current condition is our permanent condition. Just as those who have gone before us and ‘who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, and obtained promises,’ we too can be more than conquerors through our Lord Jesus, Master of Legions!

5 You think that if you have enough faith then G-d will release His power, His grace. But if His power is dependent upon your faith, then it’s not grace. It becomes wages that are due to you. Cease from your ‘work of faith’ and rest in G-d’s grace. His favor is free!

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 

Gal 6:9

Roadmap to Desire

 

On the journey to our destination‒that place we desire‒we are given a roadmap to follow. Daddy G-D may know where we are going, but as mature drivers now, we need directions to a place we have never been. The roadmap is found within the pages of the Holy Bible. Just as we need to learn to read a regular roadmap, we need to learn how to read the roadmap found within the Bible. Daddy G-D is willing to teach us. He has recently showed me some directions to receiving His promises!

 

The first step is realizing that the desire within our hearts comes from Him. He created each of us with different likes and interests. Some desires are common, such as good health, economic well-being, and healthy relationships, but individual interests were put there by Him too. What do you desire? What do you hope to receive? Hope is the mental image within that we are looking for in the future.

 

Secondly, take this mental picture and write it down in detail. Get a clear picture of what you desire. Be specific. Maybe even collect pictures of your destination. Remember, you cannot have somebody else’s spouse, home, or stuff. Have an original image. Be creative!

 

The next step is just that‒take a step! This is the place where faith comes onto the scene. You see, you have to cross a bridge from where you are to where you are going. Faith is the underlying support columns that the road to your destiny rests upon. Faith is having confidence that since Daddy G-D directed you to this place, He will help you arrive at your destination by His grace.

 

This step forward gets you closer to your destination‒your desire‒your mental image that you are expecting to appear, but the miraculous thing about faith is that it causes acceleration! Not only are you moving closer to your desire, but your desire is also moving closer to you! Your mental image that you are expecting to see (hope), as you have confidence in the goodness of Daddy G-D (faith), runs forward calling out to your desire, “Come!” The vehicle to get you there (grace) has been provided by Daddy G-D (love). Get an image of that! We sit in grace moving forward in hope supported by faith all because Daddy G-D loves us!

 

Not only this, but Daddy G-D has sent helpers that when they hear this calling out of your destination, will provide all that is needed for you to arrive: food and lodging, road and vehicle repairs, protection. Whatever you need. ALL your needs will be met because Daddy G-D loves you and desires for you to reach your destination.

 

The final step? Be patient. This is the hardest part since, at times, the road to our desire is a long one. Your desire has a set time when you will arrive. You have an appointment. All you have to do is show up.

 

The image in your heart speaks of the end result. It is breathing, panting, longing in that direction, and will not be in vain if only you hold onto it. If you have delays on your journey, be patient. Wait for it! Be like a bulldog on a bone, never letting go, because it will come. Remember, that as you take steps of faith, your desire is also taking steps closer to you! Your vision isn’t dawdling. It isn’t lagging behind for no reason. Call to it. Breathe upon it. The two of you will meet. You will arrive at your destination by Daddy G-D’s grace!

 

The Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Hab 2:2-3

 



The Highway Called Peace

Life’s journeys throw a lot of road blocks, detours through unknown territory, and delays onto our paths, but the highway called Peace will lead us to our destiny.

 

Sometimes we believe we are old enough to drive, and maybe we are if we have our learner’s permit, but remember, a permit requires that an adult be seated in the front seat next to you. The best teacher is Dad--Daddy G-D that is. No disrespect to Mom. She knows how to drive, but tends to let her emotions get involved. There is just something about the silent strength of a father, or even a big brother. They tend to sit back and let you find your way, occasionally giving instruction as they see fit. Whereas Mom tends to give a moment by moment tutorage.

 

It is the same in life. Daddy G-D, or big brother Jesus, is there with us, quietly sitting back, and giving instructions as needed. You can feel His strength even when He is silent. Somehow you know everything will be alright so long as He is with you.

 

There may be a roadblock up ahead, but that is okay. All we have to do is take the detour. The detour may be slow due to the narrow winding lanes and multiple stop lights, but if we keep going, we will get to our destination.

 

Sometimes that detour we take is called Wicked Lane. We don’t like it because it is twisted, dark, and scary. It wasn’t on the original road plan because Daddy G-D’s way is straight, but He knew the evil one was going to cause a road block, and that we were going to pass through Wicked Lane as a test of our driving skills.

Daddy G-D at that time encourages us to keep driving, and don’t look around at the scenery, but keep our eyes looking forward. Eventually we will get back to the highway called Peace and continue on our journey.

 

We continue to rejoice even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop perseverance in us, and how that perseverance in turn gorges the tempered steel of character, keeping us alert for whatever Daddy G-D will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary--we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything Daddy G-D generously pours into our lives through His Spirit! (Ro 5:3-5)

 

This is Daddy G-D’s grace leading us by His peace to our destination.



Today was a bumpy ride!

Wow! That was one bumpy ride! Sometimes we just have to trust that Daddy G-D knows what He's doing. The stretch of road that we were on today had a lot of pot holes and curves. Also, driving in the dark makes it harder to see where we are going, but Daddy G-D knew what was up ahead and He was totally capable of getting us to our destination safely.

 

 

All we had to do was trust in His grace and His love for us. We didn't even have to try to figure things out either, because He was the One driving the car. Oh to grow in confidence to trust Him so that we can lay our heads back and sleep for awhile...to rest in His grace and love.
Did you have trouble trusting in Daddy G-D? No? You seemed a lot more relaxed than I felt! Thankfully we didn't have to go through this alone. We had each other so that when my confidence wavered, you were there to strengthen me, and next time, if you get scared, I can help you. Eventually we'll get to our destination, but until then, there's grace to keep us on the journey!

 

How does this grace work? It doesn’t ‘work.’ Grace is totally dependant upon G-d’s love and mercy towards us. We do not deserve it. We can not earn it. That is why it is called grace. As we get to know more about our Heavenly Father by spending time with Him, we begin to know that His character is love and faithfulness. It is that simple. We stop depending on ourselves to fix problems that we do not have the ability to fix in the first place. They are totally out of our control. We depend on G-d’s love for us. He tells us in His Word that His plans for us are wholeness and not destruction. We trust in His Word. This trust grows just like in any relationship as we spend time with Him and get to know Him. Invite Daddy G-d to join you on your journey through life. Get to know Him in order that you may trust Him. His grace is already there for you.