Past, Present & Future...

I went back this week to an old blog of mine... 2006-2008 at yahoo360 looking for something specific and came across this blog... it is mind blowing to me to say the least. I remember vividly the things that were going on at the time and how far I have come since then... yet everything still applies as if I had written this blog yesterday. I am still on the journey, I am still being plowed, planted and watered. I have come thru one season and have entered another... My God how awesome YOU truly are. I am still just as in awe of having a face to face with YOU as I was 3 years ago, no I am more in awe of YOUR greatness Father... Thank YOU! Entry for February 09, 2006 Following written in my forum at crosswalk.com last night: John 1:1…"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This has come up twice today for me…. Once when going over a study that HanC has posted on John (btw awesome study go check it out in Christians Only…The Gospel According to Saint John) and then tonight at church, where we are doing a study about personal revival and here is how this played out… I was reading to hubby the HansC. Study after dinner and we are discussing the “Word was with God…” and agreeing with Hans that this is the clear declaration of Christ’s deity…and we found it interesting that the word “with” meant…face to face. Fast-forward and hour later and we are on step 3 of six steps to personal revival… 1. Humility - got to get humble and submit to the authority of GOD, IMHO putting aside our agenda and seeking HIS! 2. Prayer – coming to HIM, which usually means asking for something for ourselves or others…and staying there til we hear from HIM, which is why our pastor says you should always pray with your Bible in hand…i.e. the answer BOOK! 3. Seeking God’s face…. meaning just being in HIS presence without petition or plea just enjoying HIM … AND THEN pastor whips out the verse and gives the same Greek translation…now the translation is pretty standard, my new Bible has the same info…but for me it was a WOW moment! I realize that somewhere along the way I have put aside my agenda and humbled myself to what HE wants and desires from me and I have been in prayer and I have been answered on several occasions and… NOW I feel HE is clearly telling me to just come and enjoy HIS presence…come fellowship with me and let us build upon this relationship (big steps for the tiny feet that are attached to me let me tell ya!)…. See the last few weeks in Praise and Worship I have just let go and been there in the moment and I just start to weep and I can’t explain how it feels cause it isn’t about a feeling it is as the pastor has said it is about a knowing…a certain knowing that I am in HIS presence and that it overwhelms me. I just realized tonight that I am somewhere I have longed to be and I have experienced a face to face with HIM! I am overwhelmed and amazed that I have been granted the privilege! Anyway I just wanted to share how it feels to be blown away by the hand of GOD! So I don't get to puffed up (GOD has a "wicked" sense of humor don't ya think)...here is the next step we will study next week... 4. Turn from our wicked ways...well lets just say next weeks study ought to be real fun LOL! Then today: SO this morning in an effort to be more prepared for next week's study I start at Hosea 10:12 which was the text cited last night from the pastor...being from a large farming area of course the wicked ways would translate into turning over fallow ground...tearing out the roots (of sin) and getting down to new soil (letting GOD into areas that we have become hard in over the years), so you don't keep working the same ole soil (which is not good for a crop or new growth at all).... My new Bible is awesome and the study notes lead me to Hosea 6:3 and gives me a complete look at the meaning of "former" and "latter" rain... which of course is just as important to farmers... former.... the rain that comes in the fall to soften (prepare) the ground for planting latter.... the rain that comes in the spring that causes growth after the seed has been planted BINGO BANGO...here I go again.... I have been struggling to really understand some things in my life of late like why I "seem" not to be moving forward in career or life in general and how I feel almost afraid to move and each time I start to there is the "knowing" that the time has not yet come.... serious twilight light zone moments I can assure you and yet thru all this I keep coming back to this peaceful place...no jumping thru hoops, no fear. just this place of contentment. It gets stranger by the minute and y'all admit it, when HE is dealing with you it gets strange in the natural sometimes...I know I am not the only one who thinks this stuff! Anyway I have come to the thought that I am in the middle of the former and the latter rain or maybe just the beginning of the latter rain...i.e. I am at the beginning of a growing season...like my seeds that I started last night... btw beautiful blueberry (lavender) Impatiens, petunias and Larkspurs...OH I can't wait for them to grow up...for some reason gardening, working the ground and spiritual growth go hand and hand with me right now LOL! Anyway, that is where my crazy head is today!!! Later Nora Thursday February 9, 2006 - 12:47pm (CST)