You Ask for it --- You GOT it!

GodTalk'in!

A customer wanted me to do Matt. 7:7, one of the "ask, seek, knock" verses. And I began to simmer on it, the associative verses, all the references to other scriptures in the same vein, etc. I asked the Lord for revelation and understanding, and an amazing thing happened.

I got revelation and understanding!

It surprised me. It caught me off-guard that I would ask for something from God, and immediately, with fervor, I got what I asked for. Of course, I had asked according to the Word. I had taken a verse, laid it into my thinking and let it settle down in my heart, then asked the Lord for it with the knowledge that I was ASKING and was going to receive, according to the word of God.

I don't know why I was suprised! In my art, in classes I teach or the bible study's I do, I teach two main themes: God is not a man that He should lie (what He says He will do, he WILL do); and the Word is true, will never return empty, but ALWAYS without fail does what God says it will do. The Word is God - according to John 1 - it is Him, it is of Him, and even as He cannot lie, the Word also is true, and it WILL do what God says it will do -- if we ask according to it.

So, I asked. And when I began reading, somewhere in Isaiah, I heard God actually speaking the words I was reading. When I switched over to Luke, Jesus was talking --- I literally saw His eyes light up and mouth moving, speaking the words I was reading. I know, kinda wierd-ish, but IT WAS SO COOL!!! Though I have taught the Word, and painted the Word, and read the Word, a gazillion times before, all of a sudden it came ALIVE in that whatsoever I asked for, according to the word and in the name of Jesus, I was a 'gonna have that thing, because God's desire is to bless me as His daughter, to bless the works of my hands, to bless my descendants and their descendants, to give me the desires of my heart. I heard Him say so!

Now, I know there is a "thing" out there in Christian circles - the whole "name it and claim it" or "blab it and nab it" thing - but that's NOT what I am talking about. Does God want us to be blessed, prosperous, etc? I KNOW He does. But the caveat that goes with that is the purpose behind the giving of God - for souls to be saved, for relationships with Him to be encouraged, deepened, established ... for the Body to be built up and the Kingdom grown here on earth. Prosperity --- with His Purpose. It is His purpose that I be blessed, deepened, and established; that whatsoever I ask for, in His Name, it shall be given to me. It's up to me to make sure I am asking for the right things and in the right manner. Not a formula, but an examining of the heart and a good look deep inside --- then a trusting of my Father that He is true, and that His Word is true, too.

Ask!

IF JESUS CAME WALKIN'...

Another nugget from the Prayer Conference ...

I was listening to Mike Herron, a worship leader at Joel Osteen's church in Houston, Tx. He was talking about our response to the presence of God, and he told this story ...

He has this dog, 1/2 basset hound ("Baoooohga!"), and yes, 1/2 lab. A truly funny looking dog. But oh, how he loves his "papa" ... Mike comes in the door, and this dog is all over him. He wags his tail and baooohga's over and over and generally makes himself a loving nuisance until Mike stops, puts down all his stuff, and pays some serious attention to him. The dog eagerly waits for Mike at the front porch when he's gone, and licks his hand and face when he returns. He sleeps right outside his door. His world revolves around Mike, and as much as a "man's best friend" can love a person, this puppydog loves his Mike.

As Mike comes on in to the house, his wife greets him with a kiss on the cheek and a "hi, honey!", then generally goes back to doing whatever she was doing. He sticks his head into his teenager's room, says hello, and usually gets a grunt and mumble without interuption of video game or book. Dad's home, OK.

At the conference, Mike asked the question: If Jesus came to your church (my church), what would the greeting be like?

Would we be all over Him, showering Him with our loving attention, showing Him how much it means that He came home to us, how we had waited for the moment He arrived? Would we wait for His presence, and hang on His every word? We think of Jesus as living in the flesh 2000 years ago, and in our heart today, but do we truly treat Him as if He is real today? Do we understand with emotions and spirit and mind all three that who just walked in the door is the Son of God, the Living Word, the Lamb who saved us from damnation and sits us at the right hand of God?

Boy, that's worth a whole lot more than a kiss on the cheek and a "hi, honey" ... or a grunt and a nod as we go on about our business, yes?

Nuggets From Northwest Prayer Conference

Oh, was that ever a rich three days. They had first class speakers, wonderful resources, and awesome, awesome worship!

I will be processing this one for awile, but here are a few of the "be still my heart" nuggets I brought home:

1. Since I accepted Jesus, the Holy Spirit (the Comforter Jesus promised us) dwells in my heart. Nothing new there. But a new awareness that He dwells there 24/7/365, not just when I am paying attention to Him. That means if I do something even the slightest bit shady, or lazy, or dishonest, or apathetically, if I exaggerate, or speak unwisely, or put off until tomorrow what the Lord asks me to do today ... He is there then, too ... and it grieves Him. I went into the conference both challenged by circumstances, and encouraged by breakthroughs the Lord has brought me in the past month. In the midst, so to speak. So while this nugget is a little on the down side, if you understand the context of where I was when the conference started, it brought clarity to some gray areas I was experiencing. So it was good, not down.

2. Know the verse "Run the race, throwing off sin and the things that entangle you --- looking onto Jesus the Author and Perfector of your faith ..." (Hebrews 12)? Well, that's my verse for 2005. I turned 50 last year, and to my mind, at least, I haven't done anywhere near all I wanted to accomplish for the Kingdom. But I am 50. So, battling age thoughts ... and someone said, "I'm 54! The goal is getting closer...and I want to finish S T R O N G !!!" Boy, my ears picked up. Just a simple statement, but a different attitude, a different perspective altogether. I AM 50, and the goal is getting closer. Now, LORD, help me finish S T R O N G!!!

3. We will move in the direction of our dominant thoughts. We say that God if first in our lives, that time with our spouses is important, that we want to serve the house of God, etc, etc, etc. BUT WHERE IS OUR TIME TRULY SPENT? What is our dominant thought? Like an idiot, I watched an edition of the TV show "WifeSwap". Dumb show (sorry, ABC) but this kinda stuck with me, in that there was a husband whose wife was virtually raising their two boys on her own because he was always working. Yet he said he loved his boys, and it was obvious he loved his wife - but he was gone from 7am to well past the boys bedtime - virtually every day. And tired - oh, he was so tired. You could tell he wished he could go to games, or take her on a date, or have family time and unwind ... yet he worked. In his mind, he was providing for his family. But he was forcing his family to live WITHOUT HIM, and that created a hardship for all four of them. His dominent thought was preparing and working for the FUTURE, when his family needed him in the present. By the end of the show, he had had a revelation moment, and when they caught back up with him a month later, you wouldn't believe the difference in all of them. It was huge. We move in the direction of our dominent thought. Time to really examine some of those priorities. I know I am.

4. What I want in and for my own church must begin in me. I want revival. I have been asking and seeking, and knocking for revival. Going to this conference was wonderful, and I felt revival stir in my own spirit. I got a piece of it. And I brought it home to my own church family. Now I will let God breathe on me, and when His plan is ripe, it will come.

5. Did I mention I'm 50, and getting closer to the goal? Whahooo!

6. Zeal and passion, coupled with extraordinary godly wisdom, will take us all where God truly wants us to be. They balance each other. Wisdom keeps us on the path, going the direction He wants, and zeal and passion keeps us going down that path with focus and drive. I CAN do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me and calls me to His purpose!

7. We need to get out of our comfort zones. We need to catapult ourselves beyone what is normal and everyday, because if we stay same-o, same-o, then familiarity sets in. We take God for granted. We take the Holy Spirit for a regular everyday complacency occurance ... and that's not right. God is a PERSON. We wouldn't ignore our husband or wife, or take our parents or children for granted --- it would offend them, or hurt their feelings. Do we even care if we treat God that way? Wake up! Wake up! Get out of the normal routine. Go to a conference, a different bible study. See and talk with different folks at church. Invite those in who would not necessarily "fit" - they may bring a new flavor and atmosphere you didn't know you were missing until you got it again! Take a class. Learn a totally different thing. Have a teachable spirit - and you will find what you learn and absorb will bring a benefit to the House. Go for it! (P.S. I am finally taking that welding class. I'm 50, and that goal is getting closer...)

More later ... it is sunshining in Oregon, and I don't want to miss a minute!

"Evolutionizing" Scripture

Boy, talk about a controversial title!

But this is what it is: making scripture my own.

Great and mighty scholars have written scores of commentaries about the Word of God. Verses have been dissected and analyzed and interpreted and transposed. Highly intelligent folks have taken chunks and bits and sections of the Bible, and they tell us what this means and what that means. Many have invested their entire lives in sorting out the Word of God for those with less intelligence or ability.

All fine and good. I appreciate their investment. However.

I am not a great and mighty mind. I am a believer in Jesus Christ, everyday, ordinary, who simply wants with all my heart to understand and apply scripture to my situations, to my issues, and in my everyday ordinary life. Because I have accepted Christ, I have the Holy Spirit resident in my heart. He helps me discern spiritually things too great and mighty for me to comprehend naturally. So, while I appreciate those commentaries, appreciate their dedication and tenacity, their faithfulness ... NEVERTHELESS ... I need revelation, understand, and comprehension of the Word FOR MYSELF. In every day english, and in bites and chunks I can chew and digest and USE.

God is so faithful. Somewhere, someone showed me this exercise. It is a tool that works for me. When I use it, the Word comes alive - real - I see it, I understand it, and I can apply it. It works, every time. The seed doesn't go void (Isaiah 55:10-11) but accomplishes what God intends and prospers in my life, just like God's Word says it will.

Begin with a verse you are already familiar with, maybe one that speaks to your life or current situation. Set yourself a timeframe to study that verse, say a week or 3 days of devotions. You will begin with that verse, and go wherever the Holy Spirit sends you. Write it out double spaced, with lots of blank space around it. Write it out first in your favorite version --- I am a New King James version, but I really like studying side-by-side with both an Amplified and a NIV, just because they both use different words, which often give flavor and insight and connection. Write it out, then lightly underline all the words which illuminate what the Word is saying - verbs, adverbs, adjectives ... describing words, this-is-like-that phrases (metaphors and similies). Read the other versions -- New Living is an interesting read, as well as New American Standard. And, incidentally, go to thrift stores and garage sales for bibles - not only less expensive and very plentiful, lots of times you get cool nuggets from the believers who loved and highlighted before you!

After you have circled, highlighted, or underlined, above the scripture in some blank space write other words that have similar meaning (a Thesaurus or dictionary comes in handy). Then read the Word, with the new words written in. Let it roll around in your spirit like a wonderful bite of cheesecake, or a rich wine. Savor it. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your understanding. Let it settle down in your spirit, then go back and read it again just as it comes right from the Word ... you will be amazed how rich and full it becomes. You will not ever see that word again without the fullness.

I AM NOT ADVOCATING CHANGING THE WORD --- God wrote it, I believe it, that settles it. What I am advocating is cracking the bone to get all the rich marrow out and nourishing my spirit. It works for me - I hope it will work for you, too.

Be blessed!
:) Kim

Intro

Good Morning, good evening, and God Bless your day!

My name is Kim Kortz, and I am a Christian watercolor/ink artist from the Pacific Northwest. This is my first blog --- up until just a bit ago, I didn't even know what a blog was. So for all you experienced bloggers, please have patience with me while I learn what you've known for ages!

My website is http://www.godtalkmedia.com. I have 45+ Christian scripture posters on display, with new ones coming every month or so. We can start there, if you are interested in chatting.