Tuesday, June 30, 2009

His Ways Are Not Our Ways,

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 2:4-5

--TheSecretPlace--


1 Samuel 2:4-5 says-->

4 "The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.


This scripture really just give us a picture of how Gods ways are not our ways, and about how God doesn't look at the things man looks at. He looks at the broken, and the weak, and heals them and gives them strength. He looks at the barren, and the hungry, and fulfills their deepest hunger, and makes them fruitful. He takes what is old, and bad, and makes it good, and new. This is true for me in my life. I am at my core a broken, and weak person, and I can bear fruit in no way, meaning I can't make stuff happen-unless the LORD helps me. The LORD is my source. HE is our source. He doesn't look at the strong, because honestly there are no truly 'strong' people, only weak and broken people, the LORD just uses those who realize their weakness, and offer it up to the LORD, and He uses it for our good, and the good of others even.

At the end of the age the LORD is going to turn the tide on Satan, and all of the people who are in the world's eyes strong and wise, and the LORD is going to humble them, and bring them down low, and He will be exalted, and His people are going to be all good with that because we will realize that HE ALONE is the ONLY ONE who is worthy of praise, and recognition from men.

Those who turn to the LORD, and lift up to Him their brokenness, He will heal. Those who are weak, He will arm with strength. Those who are hungry, He will fill, and Those who are barren, He will make fruitful.

I believe this applies to every single person, except God Himself. We need to realize that we are weak, and broken, and have nothing to offer but our weakness, and brokenness, but that it the beauty of what the LORD is offering, because He knows how we are. He knows that we are weak, and broken, but He loves us anyways! He loves us just the way we are!! That is so glorious. So Wonderful, and I just want to encourage you to lift up all that you are to the LORD, because He is the only one who can help you overcome any problem you face, and that is more important than we know.


---Intercession---

Jesus, I just want to thank You for how You use our weaknesses, and our brokenness for Your good. Thank You for offering to us Your way, and Your will for our lives, and I just pray that even though things don't always go our way You still work on our behalf for our good, and You love us more than we know. Thank You Jesus. In Jesus Name. Amen.


Monday, June 29, 2009

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 2:3

--TheSecretPlace--

So this verse is pretty interesting to me, and I will go ahead and put it up here. This is Hannah speaking.

3 "Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.


I think Hannah is talking towards Peninnah when she is saying this, but I am just going to look at it, and take it on like she is talking to us. To me. What she is saying applies to a few points that I would like to make, and that I would like to penetrate my heart. =]

Here she says in these words, Do not keep talking proudly, and one thing I think about is that so often as Christians we fall into ways of even speaking that are prideful, and even when we don't think about it we speak in ways that are... fill in the blank-prideful, arrogant, judgemental, just plain mean. We too often fall into bad habits of speech, and what we don't realize is how effective our words are in setting the atmosphere of where ever we are.
Our words have so much effect even in the heavenly realms, and I know that too often my speech does not have the greatest influence on the atmosphere.

I need to repent of speaking in ways that are prideful towards God, and towards others. I want to be a person of noble speech, I want to set an example in speech(1 Timothy 4:12)

I know that something needs to be done in the way we speak to others. One thing I have found, and know to be true is that people love to talk about themselves, and that is okay because I believe the LORD made us to be that way so that we would talk to Him, and He loves it when we talk to Him about what is going on with us, but I also know that He also has so much to say to our hearts about what He is doing, and how He loves us, and just a lot of things that are also important. In the same way that we love to talk about ourselves, others love to talk about themselves, and even those who say they don't, even while they say that, I believe they enjoy saying that, because it is about themselves. =]

There is so much we can learn from Christ by the way He speaks to us, and listens to us. He speaks to us really on our behalf, so that we can know Him like we were made to know Him, and He loves to listen to us, He doesn't tire in hearing our voices. In the same way we should make it a goal that when we speak, we speak on the behalf of others, meaning talk about what they like to talk about, and about what will benefit them, and listen to what they have to say. Leave them with encouraging words instead of making the whole conversation be about you.
It is humbling at times, but that is the whole point. We want to be people with humble hearts, who are not prideful, and one of the best ways to minister to others is to be self-less, and humble in speaking to them, that opens so many doors to tell them about Jesus, because it is like you are being Jesus to them. That is why we are called CHRISTIANS.

The next thing Hannah says is to not let your mouth speak such arrogance. That is how she puts it, and the thing I want to highlight about this is that she says to not LET yourself speak in arrogance... Do not LET yourself speak in ways that dishonor Christ, and others.

I believe that the LORD is raising up a movement of prayer warriors, and young people really, but I believe that will only happen if we purify our speech. We cannot have a good influence on people if our speech is not Christ like. I believe when Hannah said to not let your mouth speak in arrogance she was pointing out to us that you have complete control over everything that comes out of your mouth, and as Jesus said what comes from your mouth is the overflow of your heart. So we need to make sure that we are constantly letting Holy Spirit fill us with the things, and thoughts of God, so when we begin to speak to others they would feel, and know that they are speaking to a representative of Jesus Christ.


The next thing Hannah says is that The LORD is a God who knows, our God knows all. It is by Him, and to Him, and through Him that all things were made. BY HIM TO HIM and THROUGH HIM are ALL THINGS. He knows everything about us, He knows our frame. He knows that we are but dust. He knows. He knows when we fall, and when we rise, and He is worthy of our praise, and adoration, HE is worthy of us devoting our speech to, and He is wanting to help us in all that we do to live better lives, and to help us to get closer to Him.
I encourage you to devote your speech to the LORD, and you will literally feel the atmosphere around you change, when you speak positively others notice.

The last thing she says in this verse is that by the LORD deeds are weighed. So like the LORD knows all you do, and He knows everything about you, and in righteousness, and in justice your deeds are weighed, and the deeds of every person. In the day of judgement He will judge the nations and every single person by their deeds. He weighs our deeds. That makes me want to think twice before do something foolish, but we can always know that there is forgiveness to those who truly repent of their wicked ways, and there is always grace for those truly seeking the face of God.
This is our Jesus, God became a man, and He took on the flesh, and went to the cross, and died a dreadful death. He loved us to the point of death. He became a man, and lived as a human being without sinning, and He made a way, He paved the way for us to be with Him forever, and He knows that we will fall, yes He weighs our deeds, but really for His children when we truly repent, and He washes away our sins, HE WASHES AWAY OUR SINS. He doesn't keep up with our sins, because in Him we are spotless, and righteous. In His eyes He sees us clean, and cleansed! This is the God we serve. He is a good good God. He keeps no record of sin, and HE LOVES US WITH ALL HE IS. His love is what ministers to the hearts of men. He is a good, loving God, and when we catch a glimpse of Him, when we see Him for who He is, there is no way we can deny His love, and He wants us to experience His love, He wants us to feel the warmth of His love, and He has made a way for us to do just that in grace.


I invite you to run after God with all you are, and He will encounter you, He will pour out His Spirit on you, and in the most amazing ways you will experience His love.

---Intercession---
Father, Thank You so much for Your great great love. Thank you for doing all you do to get our hearts engaged with Yours. You are greater, and better, and sweeter than all I know, and all we know, and right now God, I just want to ask you to encounter every person reading this, and encounter me, and all of those who claim to be Yours, and I just pray that You would break into our lives with a deep deep revelation of Your LOVE. Thank You already for the ways You are going to do this God, and for the ways you are, and the ways you are going to reveal yourself. I just ask Father that You would make Yourself known. We love You God, You are so so good. Thank You for all You are doing. In Jesus Name I just pray that You would pull many many people into Your kingdom God, and that You would make Yourself known as You are to them, and to us. We love You Jesus. In Jesus Name. Amen.


Sunday, June 28, 2009

The Joy of a Giver.

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 2:1-2


--TheSecretPlace--


This is the prayer of Hannah after she gave her son to the LORD, and I just want to look at these first words of her prayer.

1 Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

2 "There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.


The first things I notice in this scripture is that Hannah's first words here after she gives Samuel to the LORD, are all completely happy, and joyful. The first thing she says is that she is filled with joy!

This is just a great picture of how we are filled with joy when we are giving people, when we are faithful, and when we are committed in love to the LORD.

When we give our best, and our all the results are so wonderful.


Hannah was filled with delight as she gave to the LORD her son as she had promised.


She was no longer in any rival between Peninnah, and was satisfied with what the LORD had given her. She no longer envied, or was angry with Peninnah, and did not blame Elkanah for any more pain, because all of her pain was taken away. The LORD delivered her from her pain, and shame-And He will do the same for us, we just need to ask Him to.

Then she declares praise to God saying "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God" So she got a picture, and an experience that revealed to her that God really is HOLY, and there is NO ONE like Him, and that He is the ROCK on which we stand.


God revealed Himself to Hannah in the most amazing ways. After laboring in PRAYER, she gave birth to a prophet. The LORD does amazing things, and no one can fathom His ways.


How blessed are we to partner in prayer with this God!!


Just as the LORD did amazing things with Hannah, and Samuel, He can, and wants to do amazing things with you, and in you, and through you. Sometimes we are brought to places of brokenness, and places where we get nothing, do nothing, and we feel like nothing, but it is in those times, and places where if we would lift a desperate cry to the LORD He pours out His Spirit, and makes Himself known in ways that we do not understand. This is so amazing to me that everywhere in the Word, Jesus points us to prayer, and He directs us to pour out ourselves to Him in surrender and love. We can clearly see that He is after something, after one thing, and that is our hearts. He wants us. All of us. All the time, and He will do whatever it takes for us to choose to be ALL HIS or not His at all. He is waiting to pour out what we have never experienced, and I want to be one to see, and experience what He has to give in all of His goodness.


This is an amazing truth, and I want to encourage you in the LORD that He alone is worthy of all that we are, and the reward in HIM is greater than anything we have EVER SEEN, or EVER TASTED. Who will take the stand to go after Him?


Praise the LORD.


---Intercession---

God please help us. Help us to see You the way You want to be seen. Jesus I want to see Your eyes of fire that burn for us to be wholeheartedly given to You. Please let us see You Jesus, and how You burn for us, Your bride.I love You LORD. Please send fire on this worship offering, and awaken our hearts to LOVE. In Jesus Name. Amen.


Blessings!

Kasey.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Time To Give.

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 1:28

"So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given to the LORD." And he worshipped the LORD there.


--TheSecretPlace--


Here in the story this is while Hannah is still talking with Eli, and she announces that she was in that moment giving the son she had prayed, and asked the LORD for, to the LORD as she had vowed to do.

The LORD has shown me some pretty amazing things about Hannah, and her vow to the LORD, and Samuel being the LORD's, and one thing that amazes me is that I still do not understand the weight of this testimony. Hannah was a barren, broken woman, and out of her barrenness, and brokenness she cried out to the LORD for a child, vowing that if the LORD would bless her with a son, that she would give him back to the LORD all the days of his life.
So the LORD answered her cry, and here we are, and in this moment that we are looking back on, Hannah is brought to the time where she has to carry out her vow, and give Samuel to the LORD all of the days of his life, forever.
And She did.

Hannah yielded to the LORD, and the vow she made to the LORD, and that is one thing that the LORD is looking for in His people. People who will do what they say they will do. That is so simple, yet all the time we seem to find ourselves breaking commitments, or not being 100% faithful to what we say we are going to do. It is those little things that the LORD sees, and He sees the big things as well, but whether it is big or small the LORD wants a people who are true to their words, who are serious completely about serving, and loving Him in all they do. I want to be like that.

Hannah did what she said she was going to do in complete faithfulness, and faith. It is amazing to me because, not only did she do what she said she was going to do, but she did what she said she was going to do not knowing what was going to happen to her son. She had no idea that the LORD would raise Samuel up as a prophet. She had no idea what the LORD had planned for Samuel, and because she chose to take a step of faith, and gave Samuel to the LORD, the LORD used Samuel to anoint the king, in whose family line the King of Glory would come.(David.)
That is pretty amazing. The LORD spoke to Samuel when He hadn't revealed Himself to many at all in that time, but He delighted to speak to, and with Samuel. Samuel was pure, and surrendered to the LORD, and before the LORD, and that was all accomplished through a step of faith, and faithfulness by those who had authority over him.


Another thing I love about this is that Hannah had no other choice in giving Samuel to the LORD but to trust the LORD! She was leaving her 3 year old child to belong to the LORD, and to serve the LORD, and to worship the LORD. How incredibly trustworthy is our God! No matter how hard it could have been for Hannah to let go, and give Samuel to the LORD, she did it, and the LORD honored her for honoring HIM, and her commitment/vow to Him.

The moment Hannah released Samuel to the LORD in loyalty, in faithfulness, in trust, and in surrender Samuel was released to the LORD. I believe the LORD had been preparing Samuel for the rest of his life even when he was a baby. 1 Samuel 1:28 says '"he(Samuel) will be given to the LORD', and he worshipped the LORD there."
Samuel was made to worship the LORD in His temple, and even at the age of 3, or however old he was, he was engaging the LORD in worship.

We never know what our prayers could birth. Hannah's birthed a prophet.

Out of Faithfulness, trust, commitment, surrender, and intercession Samuel was brought to the LORD, and given to the LORD by his mother, and he remained in the house of the LORD.

Samuel was completely given to the LORD, and out of those very things, and most importantly love, we can be completely given to the LORD in all we do, and my prayer is that you would seek, and strive to be completely HIS, and HIS ALONE.

---Intercession---
Father, thank You for all that You are doing, I just pray, and ask that You would pour out Your Spirit on us, Your people, and please help us to love You with all that we are. I pray that we would be given to You in all that we do, and may our hearts be bound to Yours in holy LOVE. I love You Jesus. Please pour out Your blessings on those who are seeking You, I just want to join in the heavens right now and declare You are HOLY!! In Jesus Name, I praise You Lord Jesus. In Jesus Name, please cover us with Your blood, and love. I love You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Blessings!!
Kasey

Friday, June 26, 2009

The Desire of Her Heart. The Desire of Your Heart.

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 1:23-27
I advise you to read the whole 1st chapter of 1 Samuel to find where we are in it.

--TheSecretPlace--


V.23-Elkanah told Hannah "Do what seems best to you. Stay here with the child until you weaned him; only may the LORD make good His word."
So Hannah stayed home, and did what seemed best to her.

I kinda wonder if what Hannah saw best to do was what the LORD saw best to do. Hannah said that she would give Samuel to the LORD all of the days of his life, and it takes traditionally 3 years in their culture to wean a child, so depending on how long that took for Hannah, I think it is pretty safe to say that Samuel was about 3 years old when they took him to the temple of the LORD in Shiloh to minister before the LORD their always. Hannah had vowed(v.11) that Samuel would be given to the LORD all the days of his life, one thing to take notice of is that Hannah gave Samuel to the LORD even before he was conceived, and as he was in her womb, and through the 3-year period that he was living in Ramah, Samuel was given to the LORD, he didn't have to be at Shiloh in the temple to be given to the LORD, just as we don't have to live at the house of prayer to be given to the LORD, but another thing to realize is that Hannah had vowed that no razor shall ever be used on his head for his entire life, and long hair was a symbol of dedication to the service of the LORD, and a characteristic of the Nazirite vow, I dont think Samuel was a Nazirite because later on in the Bible it talks about Samuels sons, and Nazirites did not have any sexual relations during their time of consecration, and their probably is more background on that, but I am not going to dig into it at this time.
So Samuel was always given to the LORD, and when Hannah saw that he was ready, as a 3 year old, Samuel was given to the LORD in the house of the LORD, dedicated to the service of the LORD, for ALL of the days of his life!!!

How amazing!! To the natural ear this sounds a little insane, but in God's kingdom, I believe this is seen as a radical lover of God, and the highest position--To be GIVEN to God, and we can ALL, as the children of God be completely, and totally, and utterly GIVEN the LORD! I want to be seen as a radical lover of Jesus, by Jesus, and I believe we are fully capable of it.

It is a hard but worthy thing to be given totally to the LORD.

This reminds me about how the LORD is setting apart His people as a holy bride to be given to Him wholly, and just as Samuel was away from the temple of the LORD for 3 years we are away from our Bridegroom for what only is a few years, waiting, and being prepared to be with Him where He is for the rest of our days into eternity!!!!!!!!! This is the greatest revelation, that Jesus Christ has loved us so much that He would come and die on the cross to reconcile all things to Himself, in order to get His people back to spend eternity with them--WITH US!!! O what LOVE!!

How truly amazing.

V.24-After Hannah weaned Samuel, she brought him, and an offering to the house of the LORD in Shiloh.

The LORD understood Hannah in her seeing the need to do what she thought best, and the LORD didn't disqualify Samuel for the work of the LORD because Hannah did what she thought best, the LORD knew that Samuel was given to Him, He knew Hannah's heart, and He knew all He would do through Samuel, even because of the way Hannah was honoring Him in giving her only son to the LORD all his days, because of the plea, and surrender of Hannah, we have just a good example of what it looks like to be given to the LORD in Samuel's life.
She had in mind all of the days from the time she conceived Samuel to the day she departed with him that she had no right to dismiss her vow to the LORD, she had in mind that Samuel was not her own, but the LORD's because she had given him to the LORD.

We need to realize that when we became Christians, and gave our old lives to Jesus, and received HIS life, we became HIS. We as christians are no longer our own, but we are the LORD's, and we belong to Him. We cannot any longer stick to our own agenda's but must submit to the LORD's, and His is the better way to go, and He is watching over us all the time, we can fully trust Him with our lives.

Do you realize the weight in that? I don't know if I do or not, the LORD is doing great things in each of His people who are willing, and open to what He is wanting to do, and for Him to accomplish in us what He wants which is to be completely, and totally abandoned in love to Him, we must give Him our lives, and our agenda's constantly, and not take it back to do what we want to do, to do what we see spiritual, and pleasing to God to do. This is much more serious than anything we can, and cannot wrap our minds around. We cannot be used by God if we do not have the purity to be surrendered, and given to the LORD our God.
This is something every person must choose to do daily I am not disqualified, and you are not disqualified, we have the choice to choose the way of the LORD in righteousness, and holiness, and abandonment, or we can choose to go our own way, which is worldly, in sin, and compromise in all we do. What shall we choose? I choose God. I invite you to do the same.

V.25-- When they had slaughtered the bull they brought Samuel to Eli, I think Eli was Samuel's spiritual guide, and mentor, and no matter where we are before the LORD whether we are 3 or 25 we need guidence, and we need people in our lives to show us the way, and sometimes that is just going to be the LORD, but sometimes He puts people in our lives to help us, and to teach us, and even to watch over us, and this is the relationship between Samuel, and Eli. I believe we all need people in our lives to help us through life, and the LORD will always provide those people.
I want to encourage you to find leadership, find someone to mentor you who knows the LORD, and follow the way they set before you in the place of prayer.

V.26-27-
26 and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.

Hannah identifies herself to Eli beginning with saying "As surely as you live'' which was, and might still be a customary way of emphasizing the truthfulness of one's word's, so Hannah was very serious, and truthful in all that she was saying. That says a lot since she was speaking to Eli, the preist.

We also need to be completely sincer, and truthful in all that we say and do.


She says to him that she was the woman here(at the temple) PRAYING to the LORD.

What a description, this is like 3 years later, and Hannah can only think, and only can describe herself as the woman who prayed here.

She continues to say that she prayed for a child, which was THE DESIRE OF HER HEART, and she ASKED THE LORD it, and then the LORD ANSWERED HER PRAYER in giving her, her hearts desire!!
In the Same way even when it is completely unnecessary the LORD LOVES to give His children good gifts, and He delights to give us-YOU AND ME!! - The desires of our hearts.

What a GREAT GOD!!!!

Praise the LORD.

---Intercession---

Father I just thank you and love you, God I want to thank you for caring about our hearts, and even delighting to answer our prayers. You are SO GOOD! And we want to praise Your Name forever, and ever!! Thank You LORD.
I just pray that You would help us, and grip our hearts to know You more, and to understand Your heart for us. Love You!! In Jesus Name. Amen.

Be blessed.
Kasey

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Consider Others Better

Hello all! Today has been quite an interesting day. The LORD has taught me so much about him, and His character, and by teaching me the way I was created to live. That is, to put others above myself in every circumstance. Last night I was laying in bed, and the lights were all out, and I was just talking, and listening to God, and I heard Him say to read Philippians 1, and 2 two times, and so even though I was tired I began to read, and all it was talking about was putting others first, and letting love abound, well that is what the LORD was high-lighting to me. It was so amazing, because then today that was exactly what I was stuggling with, and the LORD just kept on reminding me of His word that He had led me to read last night. It is amazing to me that even in the small lessons of life the LORD prepares my heart to learn, and be taught, and boy was I taught, and extremely blessed.


I want to talk right now about putting others first.

Philippians 2:3 says

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.

This verse is hard to live out. It is saying that in every area, even when you don't want to, consider others BETTER. Treat others like they deserve more attention, and recognition than you do.

It is hard to put others first, our minds, and sinful nature wants to control all we do, but our job is to take every thought captive, and bring it under the authority of Christ. We are called by God to consider, and treat those whom we consider the least better than ourselves. That is like a rich, high and lofty king sees a slave, and because he considers others better than himself, when he sees the slave he sees that slave better than himself, and he gives the slave the nicest of clothes, even better than the ones the king has, because he considers him better than himself.

It is hard to do that.-> To be humble in love, and to treat others better than you are treated, but in the age to come we will receive an abundance of heavenly treasures because of even our smallest choices to treat others better than yourself.

I want to encourage you, and challenge you to press into this matter. I will do the same. There is so much to be learned about going low in humility, and love, and I believe we can learn, and grow in those ways. Be encouraged. Be blessed.

Kasey

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Faithful Forever

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 1:21-22


--TheSecretPlace--


Hello all. I would like to #1 apologize for not posting yesterday, and even though I fall sometimes, and mess up, I am so glad that there is grace for me.

I would like to acknowledge the great need we, and our nation are in right now in this moment to get on our faces before the LORD in prayer, crying out to Him for mercy on behalf of our nation, and this earth. The time we are in right now calls for the saints, the people of God to humble ourselves, pray, turn from our wicked ways, and seek the face of God, ONLY HE can give us mercy, and HE is our ONLY solution. We are in a moment right now that if we do not humble ourselves, and pray and seek the face of God, there is no telling what kind of evil and destruction is coming our way, but if we would HUMBLE OURSELVES, and CRY OUT FOR MERCY, then the LORD may turn His gaze upon us in mercy once again, His Word says if HIS PEOPLE would call upon His name, then He would turn, and heal our land, where is the cry in the hearts of the people of God?? We have begun to stand for comfort more than consecration, and that breaks the very heart of God. We have turned, and set our gaze on the things of this world that spoil and fade, but I believe there is still time to repent, and I believe we are in a season of mercy, it's not too late to call upon the Name of God, so I urge you earnestly to take into consideration what the most important things in your life are, and seek God's will for what He considers important for you.

It is time to pick a side America, and if we choose unwisely, if we choose the god of this age, rather than the God of heaven who was, and is, and is to come, we are stumbling into a war that will only only end up in bloodshed, and wasted lives.

JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY SOLUTION. We need to turn back to God America!! We need to turn our hearts back to Him in holy love, and in consecration.



Let's look into this scripture 1 Samuel 1:21-22

21 When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."


Elkanah was so faithful to go to the house of the LORD to fulfill his vow to the LORD, we see here that Elkanah once again going to the house of the LORD after years of doing this to fulfill his vow, and I want to look at that very thing right now, a vow.

A vow is much more than just saying you are going to do something, and then mess up, and do it sometimes, and don't do it other times. A vow is much more sacred, and much more taken seriously.
A vow is a commitment that demands total faithfulness, and it is very significant. It is something you carry out for a long period of time, and a lot of the time, forever. For your entire lifetime. Marriage between a man and woman was created to last your entire earthly lives together. When we become Christians we become the bride of Christ, whom we are betrothed to. We will marry Jesus our Bridegroom, and be with Him forever, and ever, into eternity.

Here a few dictionary definitions:

1) A solemn promise, pledge, or personal commitment.
2) A solemn promise made to a deity or saint, committing oneself to an act, service, or condition.
3)A solemn or earnest declaration.

Those are all weighty words, and definitions.



So Elkanah was serious about keeping his vow to the LORD, and at the time he had set apart to go to the house of the LORD he went, and probably had since he had made the vow. He was serious about spending set aside time for the LORD with the LORD, worshipping the LORD.

We can all learn from this, what would it look like in our own lives to set aside time for God, and actually hold to that time and purpose no matter what? My life would be different. Having to say no to other things going on because of a vow you have made to the LORD to spend time with Him during a set time, no matter what. You would probably get made fun of, be severely misunderstood by everyone but God, and feel like it is doing nothing for you, or God, but the truth is that we have not entered into the deeper reality of intimacy with Jesus. Lord have mercy on us if spending time with Him has become a chore. Jesus greatly honors our efforts, and our commitments to Him to spend time with Him, and this is the KING OF GLORY we are talking about, He honors you when you spend time with Him. Our prayers move Him to move, and destroy the powers and principalities of darkness that set themselves up against Him. Though the place of prayer is hard sometimes, the LORD sees us, and HE is so worth it all.


Hannah also had made a vow to the LORD, that we have a bit more detail on, and that is that if the LORD would give her a son, she would give him back to the LORD to minister to the LORD, IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. Well, God answered her prayers and gave her a son, and Hannah being completely faithful to her vow was preparing Samuel to be presented before the LORD, which is a huge deal. It would have been so easy for Hannah to keep Samuel, and not trust the LORD with him, but she chose to trust the LORD with her son, in giving her son to be the LORD's. This had to have been hard for her to face, because she wasn't just going to give Samuel to the LORD when their family went to Shiloh, and Samuel come back with them to Ramah, but she was giving him to the LORD for the rest of his life as a Nazirite. Hannah spoke as to be faithful to the LORD in fulfilling her vow. To be faithful we have to continually set ourselves on being faithful to the LORD.

We must set ourselves on being faithful to God no matter what the cost. Right now in the earth the LORD is calling His people to be faithful to Him, and many are facing persecution, and many are being martyred, but the truth is that the rewards, and the treasures in heaven, and where, and what we are going to be living in the age to come is WAY MORE WONDERFUL, and doesn't even compare to the worst sufferings we could endure on this earth that are only temporary for Jesus.

We have to determine within our hearts that Jesus is worth it all, and that He is worthy of pursuing in the ways He wants us to pursue Him.

Bless the LORD!!!

---Intercession---
Father, please let intercession rise up within Your people, and let their lives be living testimonies of faithfulness to You Lord. I pray that faithfulness, and love would be within the hearts of Your people God. Thank You for all that you do, and all you are doing. Bless You LORD!!! Please HELP US TO GET ON OUR FACES BEFORE YOU. I love You LORD. Thank You for the many opportunities You give us to be faithful to You. I love you Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.




Be Blessed in the Name of the LORD.
Kasey

Monday, June 22, 2009

God First.

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 1:19-20


--TheSecretPlace--


Hello all! I am happy to say that the LORD is good ALL THE TIME. No matter where I am, or what I am doing, or what I am going through He is always good.



Yes. SO 1 Samuel 1:19-20

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."



This is really such an amazing scripture.

One thing here that really sticks out to me is how they arose EARLY in the morning, and the worshipped the LORD. I believe that this is very significant because before they did anything they worshipped the LORD. Before their travel, before they did anything else that day the worshipped the LORD, they put Him first. We as Christians are called to put the LORD first in our lives, and when we become Christians that is kinda the commitment we are making-GOD First-Me last.

We don't have to wake up early to put God first, and we don't have to stay up late to put God first. It is truly your heart before God, if He is first in your heart, then He is first! You don't have to go to any prayer meetings, or do a ton of service projects to prove to Him that He is first in your heart, and in your life, you just have to put Him first.
I believe that if we love God, we are going to spend time with Him, and show Him that we love Him just as we would with others we love. To have a relationship with someone, you have to spend time with them, and it is the same way with Jesus, to know Him, we have to spend time with Him in His word, and in the place of prayer.
So we have to get to that secret place where we meet with God, when it is just you, and Him, and we have to choose to set aside time for Him, whether that time be in the morning, or in the evening, or at a random time of the day, we just have to spend time with Him.
When we put Him first, and we spend time with Him, and we seek Him FIRST, then everything else we need will fall into place! The proof of this is found in Matthew 6:33, which says: Seek first His kingdom, and everything else will be added unto you.
It is very true that we do not have to worry about anything, or anyone, we just have to put the LORD first, at all cost, and everything else will fall right into place.


One more thing about them going every year to Shiloh to worship, and sacrifice to the LORD, it is very easy to go on a trip, and worship God, and then come back home, and be completely dry, and just go back to life as usual, but the LORD is looking for, and wanting His people to live lives of worship. He is waiting for His people to worship Him every single day! Every single moment. He calls us to pray continually, and to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and I believe that more and more people are grabbing hold of this truth every day. This is truly the greatest calling. To love God, and to be loved by God-every moment of the day.



After they worshipped the LORD they went home, and the LORD remembered Hannah, and she gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel, saying 'Because I asked the LORD for Him.'

The LORD remembered Hannah. He remembered her cry, her vow, and her prayers, and the LORD dealt kindly to her and gave her what she was asking for. The LORD shows kindness to all of His children, and though He may not, and does not give us what we ask Him for every time, He always answers our prayers. He is the giver of all that is good, and even though sometimes we get disappointed, our God does not disappoint, He is the One who comforts us, and helps us through even the roughest seasons of life. We can always remember that no matter how the LORD answers our prayers, He remembers our prayers and answers them, and He treats His children with kindness, what a good good God.


There are also times where we have not because we ask not, if a child wants a candy bar for his birthday, and nobody knows he wants a candy bar, he may not get a candy bar, just because he didn't ask for it, he may get a candy bar anyways, but you get my point. We need not to shy away from the LORD in prayer, because if we ask Him for something we want we are being selfish, the Word says that if your earthly fathers give good gifts how much more will your Father give good gifts to those who ask Him. I believe that applies spiritually, and even material-wise, and just as long as our hearts are right I have seen many many times prayers being answered for things like mac books, and cars. The LORD loves to give good gifts to His children.

Finally I want to pull in a promise of the LORD for all of His children, Matthew 7:7-8 says "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.'' I believe these verses stand for spiritual breakthrough, and even material breakthrough.

The LORD is on our side, and delights in blessing us, I am in no way saying that we need to get on our faces and cry out to the LORD to give us mac books, and cars!!! I am just saying ask for those things you want. I am saying that we need to DESPERATELY get on our faces before the LORD on behalf of things like His second coming, for revival, for abortion to end, the things on His heart that He wants to see accomplished. I believe He wants to send revival to the church, so lets pray, and cry out for revival, I believe He wants to wake up His bride across all of the nations of the earth, so lets pray for the awakening of His bride. We need to give ourselves to the place of prayer. If you take nothing else away from this post, get this.

God's people crying out to Him, is what moves the very heart of God. When we cry out continually for more of Him, our God, and our Father, I believe the LORD will pour Himself out on us, and have mercy on us. When we declare our love to the LORD, I believe He looks down upon us, and just waits to pour out His love over us.


The LORD will answer when we call to Him.
Jeremiah 33:3 says
Call to me, and I will show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.


Cling to the promise of the LORD, and just as you cling to it, He remembers it, He does not forget!!!!

Praise the LORD!!!!



---Intercession---

God I pray for every person who calls on your Name LORD, and I pray that their love would abound more, and more in love, and in depth of insight. I pray that you would awaken those who call on Your Name with the spirit of wisdom, and revelation, so that they may know you better. Enlighten the eyes of their hearts. Lord, I pray that you would pour out Your Spirit on them in the secret place as they seek Your face and listen to Your voice. I pray LORD for a deeper understanding of what it means, and what it looks like for each individual to give themselves to prayer. I pray that You would give them a revelation of Jesus Christ. Let them see Jesus in all of His beauty, and His splendor. Jesus I pray that you would fill them with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom, and understanding. I pray for more of you, and less of us.
In Jesus Name. Amen.

Be blessed in the Lord Jesus!!
Kasey

Sunday, June 21, 2009

We Were Created To PRAY.

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 1:17-18


--TheSecretPlace--


Hello fellow Americans, and non-Americans, whatever race you are I welcome you to this blog page. This may just seem like a normal blog, and for the most part it is, but this is what the LORD has given me to be faithful with, and I am so blessed to be able to have something like this to be faithful in. I am unaware of how the LORD is using this blog in the lives of others, but I know that within me He is producing faithfulness, and that is something you cannot buy.


As I have been going through this scripture the LORD has been just showing me some really cool things about it, and how it is not just this thing you read, and think of a few really cool things that you can tell other people about, but the Word of God is to be written on our hearts, and if we are just trying to get a couple good points out of a scripture we are missing the whole point. So as you read, and as I read let's let the Word penetrate our hearts in even the deepest places, and let it transform our lives completely.

Psalm 19:7 says

'The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.'



1 Samuel 1:17,18

V.17--> So here Eli answers Hannah saying, "Go in PEACE, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him." So Pretty much Eli tells her to not be stressed out or burdened or weary ANY LONGER!! And God is going to give you what you have asked for of Him.

V.18-->Hannah replied to Eli, and said "May your servant find favor in your eyes" and she went on her way, and ate, and she was no longer sad, her countenance lifted, and wasn't distressed any longer.


This is the work of the LORD. Hannah was in the worst condition, and had been for years in her heart, covering up her pain, and holding in all of the inner turmoil, and she comes before the LORD, and cries out to Him, in all of her brokenness, not caring what anyone thought but the LORD.

Hannah cried out until the LORD gave her the promise for what she was asking for.

One thing that really sticks out to me about Hannah is that she did not stop crying out, and she was not satisfied, or happy until she heard a word of encouragement, and promise from the LORD, delivered by Eli, yes, but it was from the LORD. Hannah was lifting up a cry to the LORD, and then He sends her on her way in PEACE, and a PROMISE for what she had asked of Him. Hannah's cry did not go unheard by the LORD, He saw her every second of every day, and every moment she was hurting the LORD was watching over her, and in this moment, and she unrelentingly cried out to the LORD for a son, He gave her peace, and a promise to hold onto, and to believe in until His word was fulfilled.

This is the kind of intercessor the LORD is raising up right now in the earth. As we lift our cry to Him for what is on His heart like revival, and the ending of abortion, and even for other things our hearts long for, He hears us, and will pour Himself out on us in ways we have never experienced, that is if we cry out. I am not ashamed to say that even the little things in life like bed sheets, and bags that we want, the LORD is pleased to bless His children with good gifts if it is all to His glory!

He is looking for those who seek Him.

We need to be people to unrelentingly cry out until He hears our prayers, releases a promise, and releases the work He has promised to do. It is not over until He carries out His word.


Hannah's crying out was not for nothing. Hannah was not just praying to a brick wall, she was praying to the God of the heavens, and the earth. She prayed to Creator God, to the One who was and is and is to come. YHWH. His rule is forever, and He is the giver of ALL good gifts, and He heard Hannah's prayer, and granted to her what she was asking for. Have you ever asked your parents, or God for anything, and then you get it, or what you were praying for happens?? It makes you feel so special. It makes you feel like they aren't just looking you over, but are actually listening to you, and they actually care about what you are asking for, what you care about. The truth is that GOD DOES CARE ABOUT YOU AND ALL THAT YOU COME TO HIM ON BEHALF OF. Your crying out isn't for nothing, sometimes His answer is delayed, but stay faithful, and unrelenting in your prayers, and cries, and He will send you a word of promise. He will give you peace to hold on to. He will answer your prayer. So CONTINUE IN PRAYER!!!
It is what we have been called to, and created for. He created us to cry out, to fellowship with Him in the place of prayer, and the more we get into that place, the more we realize that this is really what we were created for. God is smart. He knew, and set up the perfect way for us to fellowship with Him. ->PRAYER<-

The Word of God through others.
The LORD Himself spoke to His people back then, and I believe He still speaks to His people here and now. In Hannah's situation He spoke to her through Eli, and that is significant, and extremely so. We, as human beings, love to get blessed, and complimented, and recognized by the LORD, and also by others, and that is so normal, and healthy, we as the body of Christ are suppose to encourage one another, and build each other up, but one thing that encourages me almost more than anything, except for the voice of the LORD, is when the LORD speaks to others on my behalf. He never speaks poorly of us to others, or even to Himself, He only has good thoughts towards His children, He understands us perfectly. So for the LORD to speak to Hannah through Eli, I believe, is one way the LORD was showing Hannah He cared for her that He would even speak on her behalf to others.

He loves us all so much!! He only has good thoughts about us, and brings others into our lives, on our behalf to encourage us, and to build us up.


The WORD, and PROMISE of the LORD gave Hannah peace, and caused her sadness to leave her-she was happy. Hannah no longer held onto her broken heart, or her weariness after the LORD spoke to her, and gave to her a promise for a son.
His promise caused her countenance to lift. The LORD through speaking straight to her heart, caused her attitude to completely change. His Word revived her soul.

And we can let the LORD do the same for us.

He doesn't pick favorites, we are all His favorite when it comes to that, and the LORD wants to give you His perfect peace, and He wants to speak to your heart, and help you, HE LOVES YOU!!!!!
The LORD is raising up intercessors to cry out to Him day, and night, to unrelentingly lift up a cry to know Him, and love Him. He does not overlook any prayer, or any heart, but sees you, and whatever you are lifting up to Him. Wait upon the LORD, and He will renew your STRENGTH!---> Isaiah 40:28-31

Wait upon the LORD in the place of prayer, you will not be disappointed in the end.

---Intercession---

Father I just want to pray for strength for those who are lifting up their hearts to you in prayer to continue on in going to you God, to not grow weary, and even when it gets hard, and they feel like you have no answer give them assurance, and confidence that you are with them, and are calling them to a deeper place of prayer. I pray that you would strengthen them with the might of Your Spirit to pursue you, and to get into Your word boldly. Father please pour out Your Spirit on them, and make them fruitful as they wait for You.
Lord we wait for Your return, and love you. I pray that You would be our help in the valley of the shadow of death, in confusion, and in the secret place to just stay before you. I love you LORD, and ask for grace to continue on in the place of prayer, and fasting, I pray that you would draw us to Yourself. I love you Jesus. In Your Name. Amen.

I just want to encourage you to, as you seek the LORD, consider Hannah's heart. She was barren to the point of brokenness, and the LORD used her cry to birth a prophet that brought forth the King of the world, Jesus Christ. You never know what your cries will result in!! Just by you crying out for something, and giving it to the LORD, He can use it to violently shake the nations. Don't be afraid or timid to pour out your heart before the LORD, because just by asking for a son, the Son of God came forth, who know what will happen when we cry out for the desires of our hearts concerning the return of Jesus, and revival. Abortion will end. Slavery will cease. The LORD will have His way in America, and in the nations of the earth. All of these things will come, and will only come from the place of broken people in prayer.

This is the biggest subject to me right now. Prayer really does minister, and touch God's heart, God responds to our prayers!!! Get into the Word, and get into the place of prayer!!!

Please respond to this call to prayer that the LORD is putting forth. I will be praying for you, and remember that the ultimate resource to find out about what the LORD is doing is the Word of God. So I encourage you to search it out.


Be blessed in the place of prayer!!
Kasey

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Still Crying Out.

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 1:12-16
--TheSecretPlace--


Hello all! I just want to say to you all that the LORD has great plans for your life, and loves you with all that He is.
I am loving this scripture, and am learning from it, and pray that you would also be learning from it.
So let's continue on in it.


V.12---> "As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth."

Man. #1 I love how Hannah continues to pray, she doesn't just make a vow, and then leave, because remember she is broken-hearted, and to get over what you are absolutely broken-hearted takes way longer than 15 minutes, usually it takes days, Hannah had been hurt like this in her heart for years, and it built up in her to the point where she is at right now, crying out to the LORD.
#2 It is also notable that Hannah continued to pray with all of her heart to the LORD even as Eli was right there, 'observing' her. Sometimes people don't exactly want to just pour out their souls in a kinda quiet room, except for the bawling, where their pastor is just watching and observing them, that could be a little awkward, but the LORD saw Hannah, and even though Eli was in the room Hannah did not care, because Eli couldn't fix her problem, Eli could not heal her broken heart, but Hannah knew the LORD could so she continued to cry out.

It is so normal sometimes to just 'make a deal' with God, and then go on back to life as it was before, but the LORD is looking for those who will make deeper commitments with Him, not just 'deals' that is He gives you what you want, then you will give Him all you are. He wants all you are even before He gives you anything. He wants your complete, and total surrender to His will. He is does not respond to those who just want Him for what He can give, but He wants children who come to Him just to be with Him, no matter who is looking, and no matter who is not looking, those who love Him with all of their heart soul mind and strength. Will we be the ones He is looking for? I believe that we are completely, and totally capable of all He wants us to be, and do. So don't let anything stop you if you desire to be what He is looking for. He wants you, and He wants your love.

Let's give Him ourselves!
Let's throw ourselves into His will, into His heart, and His LOVE.

V.13-14--> (13) Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk (14) and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine."

#3 To pour out your heart to the LORD can be humbling, and to be so broken you appear to be drunk, and in that be as misunderstood as Hannah was can be a hard thing. Hannah was just pouring out her soul to the LORD, she was praying, and speaking to the LORD in her heart, and as she was doing that in all of her brokenness, Eli got the idea that she was drunk, and came to her, and completely misunderstanding her, thinking she was crazy, told her to get rid of her wine, but Hannah had no wine to get rid of, and she was not drunk at all, except for maybe in her tears.

Hannah was at a point where she needed to be understood, and held close to the LORD, and the LORD was the only One who really, truly understood her totally. He is ALL we need, right when we need it most.


How are we going to be people to pour out our souls to the LORD, understanding that He is most likely the only one who understands us, and how are we to be okay with that?? Well, that is just what we are going to do, and there are no magic formulas, there are no absolute ways to do that, we just have to choose to get to the secret place, and rest on the LORD, and just fellowship with Him in the ways we know to.


I encourage you to get to the secret place that is where you will truly be found by the LORD, and that is where you will find rest, and peace, and direction in the ways you should go.
So GET TO THAT PLACE!


V.15--->(Hannah's reply) (15) "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD.


Hannah told Eli that she was not drunk, had not been drinking, but was deeply troubled. She told Eli that she was pouring out her soul to the LORD. Hannah wasn't playing games, but was completely serious in her brokenness, and in her fellowshipping with God, and was bold in her statements to Eli. You can tell that she is in a serious state of mind right now, and that she is seeking the LORD in her hearts desires.

We need to be people to cry out to the LORD, and to stand on behalf of our cry to others, and that is exactly what Hannah was doing. In boldness she told Eli exactly that she was troubled, and what she was troubled about. In every circumstance, we really need to be found on our faces, seeking the LORD's favor, and will for our lives, WE CANNOT DO THIS ON OUR OWN!!!!
We need the LORD's improvision, and help to go on with our lives.

V.16---> (16) Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."

Lastly, here, Hannah tells Eli to not get the wrong idea, but to understand where her heart was, and that she was just merely broken, and needed the Lord's touch. She told him that out of her great anguish, and grief she was there. She didn't have any need to hide anything from him, so she told him the truth, and sat there in the LORD's temple, completely given to the LORD, before the LORD, and also under Eli.

We do need to get to the place where we just pour everything out before the LORD, and give ourselves to Him completely. More importantly though, we all need to get to the place of just loving on Jesus for who He is. He loves that so MUCH!! Love gives all. Love is all we need, and GOD IS LOVE. God is all we need. =] Love Love Love.

---Intercession---
Father please help us to understand that through all of our brokenness, and pain you are with us, and You help us through it all. Remind us that You are worth all of the trouble, and struggle in this life Lord, and I pray that we would just rely on You, and Your love. Thank You for loving us Lord, and for the revelation, and knowledge of you. I pray that You would fill us more, and more with a spirit of wisdom revelation in the knowledge of you, and fill us with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. I love You LORD!! In Jesus' Name. Amen.
In Peace, and Love in Jesus!
Kasey

Friday, June 19, 2009

Only Way to Go

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 1:9-11
--TheSecretPlace--
V.9---> "Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple."


It says that when they had finished eating, and drinking Hannah stood up, but we know from previous verses that Hannah did not eat at all, but instead sat through the meal with meat on her plate, miserable, watching everyone else eat. Eli was sitting in a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple.
Have you ever been so sad that you wouldn't eat? Have you ever been so miserable that even when those closest to you tried to comfort you and make you feel better, all you do is push them away? Because you have one thing on your mind pretty much eating you alive, whether you are depressed, sad, or just not in a good mood. Have you ever had something like that occur to you for years in a row? Hannah did, and she came to the only place left to go before going low, and that was before the LORD.

V.10--->"In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD."
Hannah was brought to this place before the LORD. She got to the point where she couldn't take it anymore, all of the hurt, all of the people looking down on her, the insignificance she felt, she wasn't strong enough at all to go on with life with all the hurt in her heart from her barrenness, and her brokenness. She decided to bring it before the LORD, what else did she have to lose?
In all of your pain, and in all that you have gone through, or are going through right now the LORD is the only one whom we can turn to and get any result from. No matter what He hears your prayers, and He cares for you. He carries our pain, and hurt, and worry so we don't have to. I encourage you to in EVERY circumstance turn to the LORD, because He is the only one who can help you the way you need help, and that is true for every person. Even if you are still in the place of crying out, continue on in that!! Continue to give to LORD no rest until you hear from Him, He wants more than anything for His people to come before Him loving Him for who He is, and to those who delight themselves in Him, He gives to them the desires of their hearts.(Psalm 37:4)

V.11--->"And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head."

Hannah decided after all of that, after all of those years, and after all of that hurt she didn't want the burden she was carrying, and she made a vow to the LORD declaring that if He would give her the desire of her heart, she would give it all back to Him. If the LORD would give her a son, then she would give him back to the LORD as a Nazirite. That is a very rare thing. Back then to have children was one big deal, but to have a son as your firstborn is a HUGE deal, and Hannah was saying "LORD please give me a son, and I will give him back to You FOREVER."

She laid this before the LORD and continued to cry out.


The main thing I want to lay before you right now is that no matter what you want, no matter how badly you are hurting, and no matter what you are broken over you can, and I advise you to always go to the LORD in prayer, HE HEARS YOU. HE WANTS TO BLESS YOU. And He loves to hear your voice crying out to Him.

Will you turn to the LORD in your brokenness? To take the stand to get on your face before the LORD is humbling, and surrender is hard, but to do that and in return the LORD work on your behalf is the best deal anyone could make no matter what. The price is complete surrender, but the prize is the LORD, you gain LOVE and there is no one, and there is nothing better!!!


---Intercession---
Abba I just pray Father that we would be strengthened to acknowledge you in all of our ways so that You may make our paths straight. I pray that we would have complete, and total reliance on you LORD. I also pray Jesus, that we as the people of God would have such dependence on Your Word that our hearts, and minds are continually filled with truth. I pray that our love for You would increase, and that we would not just go through the motions of every day 'Christian life' but instead would live in such a way as to model a Spirit-filled life in Christ unlike anything anyone has ever seen, and my prayer is that this would touch Your heart, and that You would be blessed by that. Lord, let faithfulness to Jesus rise up within Your people, and begin to deeply take root in Your Bride.
Thank You for how you are already doing this, and I just ask that You would continue to do this in the burning jealous passion of Your heart for Your Bride.
Come Lord Jesus.
In the Name of Jesus.
Praise the Lord.
Kasey.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

1 Samuel 1:3-8

-Meditation-
1 Samuel 1:3-8
--TheSecretPlace--


V.3---> Year after year Elkanah went up to Shiloh, where the house of God was, to worship, and sacrifice to the LORD. Year after year he went to worship, he was being faithful to the vow he had made to the LORD, Elkanah had a set aside time each year for the LORD.

I believe that is awesome, but I also believe that right now in this point and time that the LORD is calling us, and extending the invitation, and the call to worship Him NOT ONLY year after year, or month after month, not only week after week, or day after day, but the LORD is calling His people to be in worship to Him 24/7. I believe also He is calling us to set aside special time each day to spend with Him alone. This is truly the greatest calling, and it is upon the lives of every person who is a Christian.

Just as Elkanah was in the routine, and the (good) habit of going to the house of the LORD every year, we need to get into the habit, or rather LIFESTYLE of setting aside time, and energy for the LORD every day so that we do not run dry.

V.4-5---> Elkanah gave Peninnah, and all of her children meat from the offering to eat, and then to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and because her womb was barren, the LORD closed her womb.

What a hard place to be. Hannah was treated well by Elkanah, but she had no children, and his other spouse, Peninnah, had a lot of children. It was probably dreadful for her to sit at that table.

V.6--->Because Hannah was barren, and could not have children her rival against Peninnah provoked her, and irritated her to the point of absolute brokenness. Hannah was hurt by the fact that she couldn't give to Elkanah what Peninnah could, and did, when Peninnah gave Elkanah many children Hannah couldn't give him any, and that broke her. Hannah couldn't find comfort anywhere, or in anyone, not in Elkanah, and not in children, the Only One in whom she could find comfort was the LORD. Even if everyone else looked down upon her she could find refuge in the LORD.


V.7--->Year after year they would go up to Shiloh, and Hannah's heart would not change in its brokenness.

V.8---> Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"


It is so easy to look at what others have, and become jealous, and maybe even irritated because you don't have that which you want, that which others have, and it is so easy to be provoked in anger, and all of those things Hannah held in her heart, but the LORD calls us, instructs us, and HELPS us to find all we need in Him. We cannot be fulfilled or satisfied with any other person, or any other thing but GOD ALONE.

Hannah's brokenness was an open door for God to come in and speak to her heart, as our brokenness opens the same door. In that place we can put ourselves before God, and listen to His voice, because when we reach the point of desperation, and brokenness the voice of the LORD, if our focus is on Him, should be the only voice we let in to heal us, guide us, and lead us.


---Intercession---
Jesus, thank You for how You are making us ready for Your return, and a great move of Your Spirit. I pray that everyone who reads this would be able to cultivate lives of humility, and love. I also pray that we would find ourselves in You LORD. Thank You for being our God, and being so good to us. I love You LORD. Be blessed LORD. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Blessings!!
Kasey

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Intercession

-Meditation-
Isaiah 62:1


--TheSecretPlace--


Right now I just want to talk about intercession, because we are about to take a little while doing into depth, and really seeing intercession come forth in the scripture we are going to be digging into which is 1 Samuel, and we will go with that until the LORD directs me, and leads me elsewhere in His Word.

Isaiah 62:1

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.

The LORD right now is calling intercessors-HIS PEOPLE- to cry out to Him non-stop. 24/7. ALL THE TIME. Have you ever done something and never stopped? Really? The only thing I can think of is breathing, but sometimes people stop breathing, so what was the LORD talking about when He said to pray without ceasing, to never be silent?? How can we do that? How can we never be silent?

Well one thing I know is that He doesn't call us, and He doesn't expect us to be yelling at Him, all the time, or even talking out loud, I think it means a number of things, and I will definitely be getting my hebrew, and greek dictionary/concordance to look up the meanings of the words in these passages, but right now I just want to define it as to Stand in your faithfulness to Jesus with a prayerful spirit in prayer always--meaning to consider everything you do in prayer- and to follow His lead. To be aware spiritually, and to have a constant cry for more of Him in our hearts.

I would say that the thing we underestimate most in the Christian faith is not even prayer, but the God we pray to. I don't think we consider as much as we should the promises in His word that says over and over to ask and you will receive, whatever you ask for in prayer will be given to you. Those are important verses, but even I find myself reading, and viewing them as a normal everyday thing, I dont feel like I take those verses seriously a lot.

I believe though, that the LORD right now in the earth is raising up day and night intercessors, and slowly but surely bringing people into the realization that He said what He meant, and meant what He said when He said those things. He is inviting us to be apart of what He is doing, and He is looking for people to respond. Right now I just want to encourage you in prayer, to do what it takes to get to the place of prayer in partnership with Jesus. Do what it takes to get closer to His heart. Get involved in prayer. The LORD hears the cries of your heart, and He wants to pour out His Spirit on your life, and tends to do that to those who ask. Prayer is not a pointless thing that takes us nowhere, and really praying itself can't do anything for us, but the GOD WE PRAY TO CAN. What is on my heart is will He hear our cries, and see just people going through the motions, or will He see those who really really truly want to know what is on His heart? I believe He will find both, but what catagory will you be in? What a somewhat dramatic question, but I don't think this has to be hard, and I don't think it is a hard question, you either want to partner with the LORD in prayer or you don't, and you are not disqualified if you think you cant, ALL HE WANTS IS OUR 100% EFFORTS, He just wants you, and I to try, and He loves that. So I encourage you strongly to run into His heart in the place of prayer, and He will pour out His Spirit on you whenever He pleases whenever that may be.

the point is not to be cool intercessory people, there is nothing cool about us except for the God we serve, but the point is, and will always be LOVE. So let's pour ourselves out to LOVE(God) for LOVE(God).

---Intercession---

Jesus I love You, and I just pray that You would make Yourself known to Your Bride, and call us deeper into Yourself, and into Your heart. God, You are awesome, and I just pray that as You call Your people to prayer, and to the house of prayer, I pray that the faithfulness in their hearts would minister to others, as it ministers to You, and I pray that people would just be attracted to You because of the fragrance of those they know who are continually, non-stop in prayer. Thank You for what You are doing in the earth. I love you LORD. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Be blessed with many blessings!!
Kasey