Posted in Journal

Peace Like a River

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

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In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”  ~ John 7:37-38

At the end of Sunday’s service one of our pastors started singing the song, “I’ve Got Peace Like a River,” and I have had it on my mind off and on since. It brings to mind “Rivers of Living Water.” It brings to mind also the power that a river has. It is a power that can carry you under or carry you through.

Many of us have been in such rivers this last year. In the river I was in, I felt I was being dragged under by some of the currents. In my natural mind, I wondered if I could make my way out alive…only to find out I couldn’t – but, I was carried out. I found that it was actually in that dragging under stage that my spiritual senses were awakened and developed. The Holy Ghost developed me to know God better there. I felt, saw, heard, smelled, and tasted more of things of the Spirit in those times this last year than all the previous years combined. It has been sometimes wonderful, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hard work, and sometimes a whole lot of fun. One thing was for sure though – I was awakened, and I know it.

But then recently I went through a few days where I seemed to feel asleep again rather than awake. Honestly, it was disturbing and no matter how much I told myself our Christian life it to be walked by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7) I could not help but feel disappointed in my heart. I wondered what was wrong with me.

Things started to turn back during my prayer time this afternoon when the words of that song started flowing again through my mind. So simple. “I’ve got peace like a river; I’ve got love like an ocean; I’ve got joy like a fountain”…and it became the prayer to my Father. As I prayed those words, I began to feel something big start to flow on the inside.

As believers, we have these “rivers of living water” flowing within us which means we are bigger and more powerful on the inside (in Christ) than on the outside (in the natural). In the natural, very little can stop the power of a river that is overflowing its banks. It can take out everything in its path. And that is the way the Kingdom of God is as well. Bigger on the inside than the outside. Overflowing. We must never lose the truth of this.

Sister Ruth Ward Heflin once said, “You don’t have to feel “full of glory” all the time. You can be an empty riverbed. Just let the river of God flow through you. The waters of God’s river are refreshing, cleansing and empowering. Just don’t stop with the refreshing stage, and don’t be satisfied with the cleansing stage. Move on into the empowerment of the river.”

In reading this statement, I am always stopped by one word. “LET!” The word “let” is a great word. It means – to allow or to permit; to grant occupancy or use of; to cause to; to make.

I think the Lord is saying it is time for us to LET HIM move us into the empowerment of His Divine River. In God’s River, nothing can hold you back. Nothing! There is POWER there! You think you are going under at times but I am so confident tonight that you will find, as I did, that you are being carried by our God and developed by the Holy Ghost to know Him even more than you do.

Thank you, Jesus!!!! “I’ve got peace, love, and joy like a River in my soul!”  

 

 

Posted in Journal

The Process

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

woman-writing-a-book

Late last night, I came upon a group discussion about writing processes. Someone asked us to explain our process. The question was, how do you come up with and complete what you write? Mostly, I write Bible Studies so I will focus my answer on my process to write and deliver those messages… although writing this blog isn’t too different.

We are all unique and God gave us different passions and abilities and afforded us different opportunities to learn and develop. I do have a process that I believe is God-given and that I was taught very well years ago.

Some people can retain easily and can preach or teach easily based on the knowledge they have in their heads and hearts and/or as God speaks at that moment. I seem to be created just a little differently. Speaking is very hard for me and the only reason I can speak is that God called me to do so and He sets me on FIRE to speak what He gives. Delivering a message aloud was the one thing I said I would never do again as I left the University. I said NEVER! But God said otherwise, and He alone gives me the courage. I can only do it through Him and because I have learned to put onto paper in a precise and understandable way my thoughts and my studies.

Last night someone called their process total immersion and I would agree with that for myself. I become totally immersed. I take a subject and/or a passage of the Bible, and I get totally involved. I read it. I question it. I study it. I think of it. I read it again and again and again. I study some more and as I study, I learn. Then I write.

It usually starts with a Bible verse or passage I feel God is speaking through at that moment – to ME! I develop an idea based on that passage. Usually, I have a title at this point. I pray about where to go with the idea and write a preliminary outline. I take many notes – about 40-50 pages of notes and my own thoughts. Then I begin putting each note or thought into my outline (or discarding it). Then with the draft before me, I begin rewriting.

Does this sound kind of like the term papers and presentations of high school and college? For me, it is very close to that same process except I don’t have to rely on notecards and typewriters as we did in the “olden days” and these days I love and appreciate not only the subject matter but the process it takes for me to learn and teach it.

Sometimes the process is painstaking, but when I am writing on the Bible, I have God-given energy and drive and I don’t seem to get writer’s block. In speaking, I sometimes lose my thoughts though they may be on the outline in front of me. But, when writing about the Word of God, if I don’t know where to go next…I go to the Scripture and say what happened next and leave it there…until the Lord gives insight if He does.

The finished work is about 15 typewritten pages between 5,000 and 8,000 words.

Because I have other responsibilities, the entire process takes about a week and is never finished until the message is given. Why? Because I continually edit. When I say continually, I mean until I leave my office to give the message. I have been known to reprint an entire document because the spacing was a little off. Isn’t it strange that I would care so much when I am giving the message verbally? But I do care.

I believe anything I put on paper should have a flow and be grammatically correct, just in case someone happens to pick it up someday. I am obsessive about finding the right words to make the right impact and for every word to be spelled correctly. Mostly I want anyone who picks up the written message to come away understanding what is written and knowing that I love God’s Word and I have presented and preserved what He has entrusted to the best of the abilities He gave me.

Once I give a message, I file it away knowing I have an outlined and fairly well-written document that God may decide to use again someday.

Now you know my process. And of course don’t worry about the errors, I will go back and edit this MANY, MANY more times too. LOL!

Thoughtful Gifts

Back in the summer of 1985 Dan and I took our very first vacation as a couple. We went to Cape May, New Jersey to stay for a few days with his sister, Mary Ellen and her family. During that trip, Mary Ellen and I went to a little market full of unique shops. That is a very common thing now but back then it was new to me. One of the shops was a Christmas shop and there I found some Wizard of Oz ornaments that I bought for my mom. They had a special place on her tree until 1996 when my sister passed away and my mom stopped putting up a Christmas tree. She later gave away all of her Christmas ornaments and my sister-in-law asked for the Wizard of Oz ornaments. Of course, I wasn’t going to say no to that request because I didn’t want to be selfish…but honestly, I found that most years I wished I had.

This year my daughter came to my house insisting I receive my Christmas present early. My present was the exact ornaments I had given to my mom back in 1985. Meagan had not seen these ornaments since she was 10 years old, but she had researched and then searched on eBay for several years to find them. I was blown away, to say the least. I love gifts like this. These many years later it is not so much the ornaments themselves, but it is that my daughter would give me such a gift. It was a gift that was so thoughtful and took effort and showed such love and care for me. I admit I don’t feel that I am often that kind of gift giver…but it touched my heart in an incredible way when I was on the receiving end. And receiving that gift made me so thankful that all those years before I had allowed my sister-in-law the originals.

Sometimes when we release things that are temporal, we make room for gifts that will last forever!

And then it dawned on me that I received mostly very thoughtful gifts this year in addition to that one. A beautiful necklace from a friend that meant so much because of the Word/words etched upon it; wool socks and cinnamon candy canes from my son because he knows I love these things; a notebook and pencil from the GKiddles so I can do my work; a beautiful mug (I do love my coffee); two identical antique Tiffany table lamps that were a heirloom to a relative’s family but no longer wanted, and a ripped up picture of my dad’s company when he graduated from boot camp at the age of 16… along with a letter from the Lieutenant Commander of the Navy to my grandparents that was so personal.

Then there is the most thoughtful gift of all and that is the gift given by our Father when He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born. To be born to die on an old rugged cross for my sins. He sent His Son and He sent me (and you) a Savior.

I pray that in this next season I can take a lesson from my family and friends and from my Heavenly Father and be more thoughtful and deliberate in my giving. Love you all and God bless you!

Posted in Hiding His Word

How God?

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

I believe we are coming into a season where we will not only be very aware of but we will embrace that specific anointing that God has put on us individually but also corporately. I believe with His anointing, God is preparing each of us to do our part in helping usher in what is being birthed on this earth.  I believe His anointing will bring us into a place of unity and intimacy with HIMSELF and with others in the body. I also believe that with His anointing we will see the fullness and blessing of the promises of God for our own lives.  We will bring them forth!

Sometimes God gives us a promise or calls us to do something that seems bigger than us and we have no idea how He’s going to do it or how we can even co-labor with Him to bring it about.  Bringing forth the promises of God is like giving birth and birth in the spiritual is very much like the natural.

The best example we have in Scripture is where I have been planted this last week – in Luke 1:26-45.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 

In this passage Mary gets this incredible promise through the angel Gabriel – the Word of the Lord. He tells her she is going to give birth to JESUS – Immanuel. This happened in the natural but this also had great impact in the spiritual and we can learn much from Mary’s responses and how Mary brought forth that Word – Jesus.

First, let’s look at verse 28, And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

In this verse one word stood out to me – the word “IS.” The Lord IS with you. That was the promise of the Lord through the angel Gabriel. The Lord said, “I am with you.” And that is the Word of the Lord for you and for me as well – God is with you. You are one with the Lord. If you have said “YES” to Jesus Christ and He is Lord and Savior of your life, then you are one with God. It’s all about restored relationship thru the finished work of the cross and HE IS WITH YOU.

Don’t go by your feelings. Go by faith. I can hear some thinking, “well, I know that is the Word of the Lord but it so often doesn’t FEEL like God is with me.” Sometimes we do feel all alone, but we know the righteous don’t live by their feelings… they live by faith. Don’t let your feelings talk you out of the truth of the Word of God which is the very fact that GOD IS WITH YOU.

Second, look at Luke 1:34. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 

In other words, Mary has gotten this great promise from God; this amazing, mind blowing promise from God and the first thing she thinks of is, “HOW am I going to do this? How is it going to work? I don’t get it.”

But look at Gabriel’s response in Luke 1:35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 

Mary had questions. She had a promise that did not make sense. I like that because sometimes I have questions. For Mary, God’s answer isn’t to explain exactly all the step by step details of how it is going to work.  God’s answer to her was to say through the Angel Gabriel, “The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” The Holy Ghost; the power, the anointing of the Holy Ghost – that is how God’s going to do it. And God is saying the same things to us today. Don’t try to figure out all of how God is going to birth your promises – those callings, favor, miracles, and the salvations. Don’t try to figure out how he is going to heal you. Just trust that He is going to and start being grateful.

Mary was available and we know that even though Mary made herself available, as we all must do, she came into times of fear and confusion. There was one point where the Angel has to actually say to her, “be not afraid.”  We, like Mary must say “no” to fear and confusion. “No” to that lying voice of the enemy that says it’s never going to happen; hasn’t happened yet and never will. Imagine if Mary had believed a lie anywhere along the way. But instead she believed.

I pray that encourages you today. Any promise that you’ve gotten from God and anything that He is stirring in you that seems WAY too big for you to do and almost too big to even believe in. Any of those promises that make you question, HOW GOD? Or if you’ve been believing for awhile and haven’t seen it come forth and now you have gone from great faith to fear and doubt and you’re questioning God because you don’t see it or understand it. Remember, even Mary had those questions and God’s answer to her was,” I’m going to do it. I’m going to overshadow you. It’s in my strength that it is going to come forth. “

Maybe you think if an angel would come tell you to believe then you would believe…but you have someone so much better than an angel because you have the Holy Ghost with you and He is your counselor, your mentor, your guide, your comfort and He is saying to you today – Believe!

Last, I want to look at Mary’s prayer in Luke 1:38. It is wonderful. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 

I think in the really big promises; the “HOW IS THIS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN GOD” type of promises, this should be our prayer and the posture of our heart. Like Mary we should say, “Lord, I’m your servant and I’m open, I’m willing, I’m available for you to do whatever you want. Let it be unto me according to thy will.”

—-

Blessed is SheIt is no accident that as we continue reading that Luke 2 begins ”and it came to pass.” The time of Mary’s promise had come. Very soon those Words will ring true for you… “and it came to pass.” All that you have been promised, you will see.  All we have been promised as a Body, we will see. It is also no accident that Luke 2:7 we see the fulfillment in the Word… “and she brought forth her firstborn Son.”

Mary brought forth her firstborn son.  I think it is important to note here that Mary co-labored with God to bring forth Jesus. God will do it in His strength but He uses us, just like He used Mary.  In His strength Mary believed and in His strength she walked in obedience just as we are to believe and walk in obedience.  God gave Mary the promise of Jesus and He helped her, strengthened her, led her along the way…but Mary brought forth her firstborn Son. To co-labor with God means just that – we have to do our part. It is an active part, not just sitting around waiting on it to happen. It may be painful at times but oh my, my, my… just like birth!

—

Today I would encourage you to take an extra measure of time with the Lord. Time worshiping, in His Word, prayer. Listen to Him and make Him your source. Be mindful about carving out time with God because as you say “YES” to that time together, as you welcome the Holy Ghost, as He comes down and the most High overshadows you, He is going to stir you up. He is going to stir up the promise within you. He is going to stir the memory of all He’s done and truth of Words that have been spoken over you and your life.

Birthing anything begins with unity and intimacy and it ends with unity and intimacy and the in between time is that time of preparation that is in the natural and spiritual the time where we tend to get impatient. It is hard to wait. During the in-between time at first no one else can really see the promise. It is a time when because they cannot see many will not even believe it to be so.  But you know because you know the promise. As a mom with child, before anyone else can see the fruit, you KNOW it, can feel it….and in that time you also KNOW – the most unified and intimate you will ever be with another human. That child becomes precious to you.

It is the same with the Lord. As you spend the time with God you will see and know unity and intimacy with Jesus come forth and along with that unity and intimacy you will see the anointing on your life. You will see His promises, the miracles, the favor.

But not only will you see your promises brought forth but you WILL help usher in the great things that are getting ready to be birthed on this earth. During the time of waiting on the promise; when you have only a promise to go on but you have the promise -don’t forsake this time or despise it. In this time your promise will become precious to you.

TRUST and BE OBEDIENT and remember the bigger the promises, the more impossible they seem, the bigger the HOW…the more glorious it’s going to be because God is not only going to have to do it but He will do it.

It says in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in Him are “yea”; and in Him “amen” unto the glory of God by us.”

Make yourself available to the Lord, start declaring that you are His and He can do whatever He wants in your life and come into agreement with Him and say, “Lord – this promise – may the fullness of it come forth according to Your will, according to Your Word and ALL to YOUR GLORY!”

And like it was said of Mary in Luke 1:45, it will be said of you, “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord

Posted in Hiding His Word

Submit and Resist – James 4:7

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” ~ John‬ ‭10:10‬

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ Romans‬ ‭8:37-39‬

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ~ James‬ ‭4:7‬

Submit – to give over or yield to the power or authority of another.

Resist –  to withstand, strive against, or oppose; to refrain or abstain from, especially with difficulty or reluctance.

When I align my will with God’s will, I will be unstoppable. Will I have temptations and trials? YES! But temptations and trials won’t stop me!

I have a free will and can do what I want and that might seem good for a season. But, it is only when I DECIDE to cast away doubt and fear, and use my free will to choose His will; use my free will to decide to obey the Word; decide to have faith in His plan and not my own that I will overcome. It is only when I make the decision to praise my way out of doubt, pray rather than worry, and follow Jesus instead of trying to lead Jesus where l want to go that l will see true peace, joy, and victory.

The battle is real and the demons that seek to destroy are real but I have found that many times I have become an ally in my own battle. Because of that, the first step is to cast down and crucify my own free will and then follow the Word of God and His plan for victory over the demons. His plan – submit to God and resist the devil. God’s promise if l do is that the enemy will flee! Daily l must submit and resist. Daily I must fight.

Help me today, Lord!!!