Lying down

When was the last time you read...really read the 23rd Psalm? Better yet, have you prayed it, read it out loud, or turned it into a prayer of Thanksgiving?  Try speaking it, as if you've never heard it before.  Make it personal...from you to the Lord:

   “Lord, You are my tender Shepherd.  Because of You, I’ll never lack anything I truly need. You remind me to lie down on cultivated fresh, soft grass, beside Your restful water of life. You restore me inside and out...my body, my mind, my emotions. You have sealed Your powerful and comforting Spirit within me, where no one can ever take it from me.  I am Yours forever.

   When I am afraid or face attack from any enemy, in human or spiritual form, You care for me right there in the midst of it, right in front of it all.  Even when I walk through fearful times and places, You are with me; your protective rod and guiding staff give me comfort and reassurance that I need not fear. Your Truth overrides all factual circumstances. I need never fear anything or anyone, because You never leave or forsake me.

   You pour the oil of Your Shalom over my head and gently rub it into the infected and wounded places.  Your provision for me  is gloriously abundant, so much so that I can’t even contain it all, and the overflow floods out onto other people.Dear Lord, You are good, tender-hearted, gracious, merciful, and full of lovingkindness.  Your nature causes these blessings to even chase after me, when I am running in the wrong direction, looking to the world around me to still my fears and satisfy my needs.  Forgive me for looking away from the light of Your countenance to any idol of my heart.

   You suffered incomprehensibly for me, not only to give me abundant life now, but so that I could be with You, dwell with You, that we might never be separated from one another forever...and ever...and ever.....The vocabulary of chronology is totally insufficient to describe Your great promises, Faithful One.

   How can I ever thank you enough for all this? You tell me...Lie down; accept and receive; be thankful; and love Me back....  Yes, Lord.  Amen, so be it.

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"Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life...."  --Psalm 23:6; CJB
"Fear not, little flock, for the Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom."  --Luke 12:22

The Power of Conception

Most of us know by heart Paul’s instruction to be transformed by the renewing of your mind [Romans 12:12].  Recently, I’ve been listening to eye-opening teaching on this subject by people such as Barry Bennett (Conception in Your Heart); Andrew Wommack (series on Imagination); Duane Sheriff (Orlando o Gospel Truth Conference 2019, multiple sessions).  My own conception of this verse is now so much greater than before.  [See also my post, Ministering to the Lord].

The term imagination has been pretty much relegated to the realm of fantasy.  Their interpretation, however, based on the Greek and Hebrew understanding of the original text, involves transforming your mind by seeing what God sees, seeing what God says...envisioning His will for you and for His kingdom, whether through His written Word or His Rhema Word.  He wants us to turn our eyes from what we can see, touch, and hear in the natural world, and from our feelings and circumstances; and see, instead, the Truth beyond what our western world calls the facts of the situation.

Ever since I started listening to teachings explaining the power of Conception (in both senses of the word) , I’ve begun to see new insights in my daily Scripture readings, as well as in my prayer time. I’ve often stopped and tried to visualize the situations taking place in the Bible (see through the eyes of the participants, etc.). In fact, it has stirred up questions in me for the Lord. I’ll ask Him, “Why this?” Or “Why that?” or “How is this possible, Lord?” Or “What did you mean by this? I don’t
understand!”  I’ve found He loves questions; it means we’re truly delving in and trying to understand at a deeper level. Some days I don’t make it past a single verse in my Scripture reading.

As mentioned in a previous post, the word Yetser has been translated: frame, conception, imagination, and meditation.  When I didn’t make it past one verse and was trying to paint a picture of the statement or event in my mind, I was meditating, imagining, trying to conceive it. When we apply faith and belief to conception, we’re in a position to conceive (or give birth to) what God says and desires to become a reality in this physical world:  from Spirit manifested into physical reality.  His Reality, His Truth is so much greater than anything our ’unrenewed’ minds can conceive (in either sense of the word).  Ah, but when our minds are renewed and transformed by meditation on and conception of what He says, then we begin to see the fulfillment of what He promised:  “you shall do greater works than these...”; “all things are possible for those who believe...”; “you shall say to this mountain...”; “by His stripes you were and are healed...”

In a previous post, I encouraged us all to try to draw on paper what we’re trying to conceive, whether with stick figures or with artistic skill.  The Father loves the heart of what you’re trying to depict.  He isn’t concerned about the level of your artistic talent.  (Remember the pictures your children brought you?). Draw pictures of yourself with Yeshua, with the Father, with the Holy Spirit. Draw a scenfrom the Bible. Draw something beautiful from His creation and thank Him for it. Draw a memory of an encounter with Him (at any age). Create drawings of thanksgivings. Paint scenes of how the Word describes Him (your refuge, your shield, your strong tower, your delight, your Father, your shepherd, your mother hen; singing over you.  Look for images of Him in the Word and record them in a journal. Then gradually draw them one by one.  Trust me; He’ll love them.

Imagine people who are currently struggling: now imagine them (with faith and belief in your heart) whole, happy, and fruitful.  Imagine marriages, finances, health, and every other aspect of people’s lives, including your own, in a state of Shalom, in  wholeness in every sense.  Conceive, envision, depict, meditate on what God sees, wants, and desires to become manifest...and what He has already accomplished in the spiritual realm at the Atonement.  “It is accomplished.”  Not just for one day in heaven, but for now.


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If you’re interested in listening to the teachings referenced at the beginning of this post, you can go to YouTube and search the names of the people,  along with a search term  like “conception” or “imagination. If you have Roku, you can add Andrew Wommack Ministries channel to it. There you’ll find all his teachings, including the one on Imagination, as well as titles like God Wants You Well, Believer’s Authority, the Balance of Grace and Faith, Spirit, Soul, and Body, and many others.  If you have any difficulty finding any videos , please be sure to comment on this post  with a question,  or email or fb message me.  Don’t be offended if a video challenges your current understandings. They did mine, but I am utterly convinced, now, of their truth. Look at their fruits in massive signs and wonders taking place. (“By their fruit you shall know them.”). Personally, I am more interested in pleasing God than in guarding my own spiritual pride.)

Ministering to the Lord

In my January 30th post, we were exploring Chronicles, and I broached the subject of what it might mean to minister to the Lord as New Testament believers. So I’ve been exploring and asking the Lord what that really means. In some ways, it is akin to my search for what pleases God. [posts 11/8-11/13].

Personally, I am in what my friend Joan W. refers to as a time of  'betwixt and between.'*  In a new geographic location, having moved away from my previous ministry as worship leader (and occasional teacher) at a wonderful little 'manger' of a church, I am unsure how and where and what the Lord wants me doing, now that I'm retired from full-time work.

However, as I read repeated references to 'ministering to the Lord,' I heard the Lord say, "Why don't you focus on ministering to Me?  I enjoy your ministry.  I figured I must have made that up in my head, because why would the God Who created the solar system and universe upon universe need or want 'ministry' from little me...or from anyone?

The truth is, according to His Word, He is blessed by our loving on Him.  All of us.  Want to 'lead worship,' encouraging intimacy with the Lord by the music you choose?  Sing to Him, all by yourself.   Want an outlet for what you're learning from Him?  Tell Him how excited you are about what you're learning.  Want to create beautiful paintings of His creation?  Draw pictures of you and Him together.

I am a consummate stick figure artist.  Yet, God has been guiding me in expressing the love I have for Him (and He for me) through little sketches no one but He sees. We laugh together over them, but He isn't ridiculing my attempts. He tells me He enjoys my art.  He'll do the same for you.  (I found a really good eraser..not those awful ones on the end of pencils.)  He'll say, "Try it this way."

He's opened my eyes to what is around me so that individual elements in His creation almost vibrate before me as He calls my attention to them.  I tell Him, "Wow, Lord, that flower is such an amazing work of art!  Look at the detailing!  I want to draw that.  My efforts may be woefully inadequate, but my heart sincerely desires to express how lovely I find this world in which He lovingly placed us.

We take walks together.  Sometimes I forget He's with me, as my mind wanders around.  I tell Him I'm sorry I forgot He was there by my side.  I don't want to forget...ever.  Sometimes he directs me down certain streets so I discover hidden spots of quiet beauty.  He'll do it for you.

Sometimes we dance. He will dance with you as if there's no one else in the world.

Just let Him know you want to 'love on Him' in ways that please and minister Him.  He enjoys us.  He enjoys interacting with us, as true friends do.  Not everything is of cosmic import to Him.  He likes being with us, laughing with us, playing jokes on us, and drawing out the unique personalities, gifts, and eccentricities He created in us.  He likes to have fun with us.

Ministering to the Lord is, yes, praise.  It's telling Him how much You appreciate Him, not only for what He's done, but for Who He is. It's sincere and devoted worship. It's affectionate reverence.  It's pushing aside other demands to spend 'devotional' time with Him.  It's hungering after what He has to say to us, in both His written and spoken Word. It's loving on others in His Name.  But, most of all, I believe, it is getting to know Him more and more intimately, so that our lives are filled with ongoing interaction, spoken and unspoken, in joyful abandon to Who He is.

You might say, "I could never do those things you do.  It's just not me.  Well, just be you!  Ask the Lord to show you what He considers ministry to Him from you.  He only created one of you, and your experience with Him will be unique.  He doesn't want you to be anyone but you with Him.  But you might discover, when you stop predetermining what you can and can't do with Him, that He'll surprise you with a new form of Yetser.  [Translated in the Scriptures as all of these:  imagination, meditation, frame, and conception.]  Are you open to new conceptions as you minister to the Lord?
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*Betwixt and Between, by Joan Weller
** Here are some Scriptures referring to 'ministering to the Lord.'  I can't put them all here, or you'd never get through them all. 

Psalm 17:15  15 As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].
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Psalm 16: 1 Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have found refuge, and in You do I put my trust and hide myself.

2 I say to the Lord, You are my Lord; I have no good beside or beyond You.

5 The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup; You hold and maintain my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage.

7 I will bless the Lord, Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety,

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2 Chronicles 5:13-14 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

13 And when the trumpeters and singers were joined in unison, making one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and other instruments for song and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever, then the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud,

14 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

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2 Chronicles 6:41  41 So now arise, O Lord God, and come into Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength and power. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints (Your zealous ones) rejoice in good and in Your goodness.
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2 Chronicles 30:
21 And the Israelites who were in Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with instruments of much volume to the Lord.
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27 Then the priests and Levites arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came up to [God’s] holy habitation in heaven
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2 Chronicles 31:2 2 And Hezekiah appointed the priests and the Levites after their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord.
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2 Chronicles 29:27-28      "...the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets and with the instruments ordained by King David of Israel.

28 And all the congregation worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

30 Also King Hezekiah and the princes ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness and bowed themselves and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah said, Now you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord; come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord.

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1 Chronicles 6:32   

32 They ministered before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting with singing until Solomon had built the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, performing their service in due order.

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Exodus 40:34-35 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

34 Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God’s visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle!

35 And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.