Dear friends,
Another year is coming to an end. It has been a somewhat challenging year for many of us. There are many who are hurting and discouraged. Looking ahead to the new year there are so many negative possibilities that it is easy to get under the circumstances. The psalmist asked the question, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" The next verse says,"The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven." God has not moved; He has not abdicated. He is not wringing His hands or fretting over the condition of our economy. He is perfectly secure in who He is. Yes, there is a great shaking going on and it appears the foundations of those things we have held fast are being shaken. Remember, we are citizens, not of this world, but of a kingdom which cannot be shaken. The King of this unshakeable kingdom has said that it is the Father's good pleasure to give us this kingdom. Be encouraged today, the Lord is on His throne and nothing escapes His notice. He loves you and His plans have not changed. He is not making it up as we go along. He knows the beginning and the end.
Do not give up! It is a time for war. The Kingdom is an ever advancing kingdom, but it does not advance without resistance. May your resolve be strengthened to push through, though the pressure may seem unrelenting at times. It is a kingdom that is worth everything. The most important thing you can do in preparing yourself for the battle is to spend time with the King. Refreshing comes from the presence of the King.
Know this, God loves you. There is nothing that can separate you from His love. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. You are not forsaken. The Lord is near.
I wanted to send out a Merry Christmas to you, but as I wrote I felt impressed to pray this prayer for you:
I pray that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. In the Name of Jesus.
Amen prayer taken from Ephesians 3:16-21
Thank you for your friendship. May you have a Christ-filled Christmas and may the ever advancing kingdom be revealed in you and in this earth as it is in heaven in the year of our Lord 2011.
In His love,
Herb Dean
Friday, December 24, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
From: rborvitae5@aol.comTo: rborvitae5@aol.comSent: 12/14/2010 11:49:56 A.M. Eastern Standard TimeSubj: Kingdom Keys: Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Dear friends,
I pray that things are well with you. In years past I have written some thoughts concerning Christ's birth and today I'd like to remind you of some things that I believe will encourage you.
Years ago as I heard the Christmas story being read, the Lord dropped something my spirit. In the part in Luke 2 where it speaks of the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night and then the glory of the Lord shown round about them. The Lord spoke these words in my spirit,"The shepherds who are faithful in the darkness of night are the ones to whom I will reveal My glory." Be encouraged you faithful shepherds. I hear the words from Isaiah 60. "Arise shine for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you, for out of deep darkness there has shone a great light." God is faithful; don't give up.
God gave me a revelation of His sovereignty one Christmas as I pondered the Christmas story. I thought about a very much pregnant woman and her espoused husband making a seventy mile journey on foot to be counted for the purpose of taxation. God used a tax notice and a pagan emperor to position Joseph and Mary for the fulfillment of prophecy.He used external circumstances to position them for blessing. He used a pagan emperor to have the Bread of Life born in the "house of bread as prophesied." It may well be that the difficult circumstances you find yourselves in are positioning you for blessing. God is able to bring redemption out of everything that comes in our lives.
A couple of years ago, I did a study on the wise men. It was very revealing. God revealed Himself to these men in powerful ways. I am sure that you have probably seen the statement on church signs,"wise men still seek Him." It was true then and true now. As I thought about writing this morning, this verse came to mind,"And I will be found by you when you search for Me with all your heart."
I pray that during this season with all hustle and bustle, that you will make time to worship Him. I know some believe that the Christmas celebration has pagan roots. I respect that, but every day is His day and I choose to celebrate the fact that God so loved the the world that He gave His only begotten Son. He may not have come on December 25th, but praise God! He came. Joy to the world! the Lord is come.
I hope these little reminders were an encouragement to you. I pray that you will receive a greater and greater revelation ofm who Christ is to you, in you, and His life through you. May you have a wonderful season of celebration and a new year of hope, expectation, and prosperity; body, soul, and spirit.
In His love,
Herb Dean
Dear friends,
I pray that things are well with you. In years past I have written some thoughts concerning Christ's birth and today I'd like to remind you of some things that I believe will encourage you.
Years ago as I heard the Christmas story being read, the Lord dropped something my spirit. In the part in Luke 2 where it speaks of the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night and then the glory of the Lord shown round about them. The Lord spoke these words in my spirit,"The shepherds who are faithful in the darkness of night are the ones to whom I will reveal My glory." Be encouraged you faithful shepherds. I hear the words from Isaiah 60. "Arise shine for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you, for out of deep darkness there has shone a great light." God is faithful; don't give up.
God gave me a revelation of His sovereignty one Christmas as I pondered the Christmas story. I thought about a very much pregnant woman and her espoused husband making a seventy mile journey on foot to be counted for the purpose of taxation. God used a tax notice and a pagan emperor to position Joseph and Mary for the fulfillment of prophecy.He used external circumstances to position them for blessing. He used a pagan emperor to have the Bread of Life born in the "house of bread as prophesied." It may well be that the difficult circumstances you find yourselves in are positioning you for blessing. God is able to bring redemption out of everything that comes in our lives.
A couple of years ago, I did a study on the wise men. It was very revealing. God revealed Himself to these men in powerful ways. I am sure that you have probably seen the statement on church signs,"wise men still seek Him." It was true then and true now. As I thought about writing this morning, this verse came to mind,"And I will be found by you when you search for Me with all your heart."
I pray that during this season with all hustle and bustle, that you will make time to worship Him. I know some believe that the Christmas celebration has pagan roots. I respect that, but every day is His day and I choose to celebrate the fact that God so loved the the world that He gave His only begotten Son. He may not have come on December 25th, but praise God! He came. Joy to the world! the Lord is come.
I hope these little reminders were an encouragement to you. I pray that you will receive a greater and greater revelation ofm who Christ is to you, in you, and His life through you. May you have a wonderful season of celebration and a new year of hope, expectation, and prosperity; body, soul, and spirit.
In His love,
Herb Dean
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)