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Jehovah Nissi, The Lord My Banner

January 31, 2011 By
31 Days Day 31

When I was thinking about the word “banner” two images came to mind. The first was that of my beloved Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. The front row has a group of seniors who have 12th Man banners hanging from their horns. I remember standing in Kyle Field watching the band go through their routine at half time. I can also remember what it sounded like. I can hear those banners pop as they are put through the motions. Crisp, clean pops. They sounded like  ”battle ready” snaps.

I also pictured my friend Nikita. She would dance before the Lord at our church and women’s events, and many times she would use banners. They would flow ever so gracefully in her hands. I have seen those same banners draped around women who were just broken before the Lord.

Whether the banner the Lord places over me is one of battle preparedness or one of comfort in my pain, it says the same thing….I am His.

I am His.

As a sign to the enemy from the onset of our warfare, I belong to God. As a bandage for the wounds I have incurred, I am God’s. Regardless of the color, the material, or even the size, the banner over you and me, we who are in Christ Jesus, says clearly that we belong to Him and He loves us.

Father God, I am so grateful that You are my Jehovah Nissi. You are my banner. You are the Who and the What I can stand confidently under, regardless of my circumstances. Lord, I am ever thankful that Your banner proclaims Your love for me and for others. Help me today, Jesus, to walk under that banner, finding strength in its covering and comfort under its shelter.

 

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He is Your Peace

December 25, 2010 By
Candles and berries

Is all calm and bright on your front this year? Do you struggle with circular thoughts of concern that trouble you and threaten to overwhelm? Well stand up, friend.

Three years of Christmases have brought us trials–job loss, bankruptcy, health concerns and other various turmoils and distresses. And they were hard circumstances. They were overwhelming to us. Today I praise God, not only that those floods have now passed and our current circumstances are relatively calm, but because of those overwhelming trials. They have meant the world to our family. God used the allowance of these trials in our lives to REVEAL His glory in our family! I wouldn’t trade them for anything–hard as they were.

Sometimes, they still are hard. I just saw a friend at the store one day and couldn’t bring myself to speak, only smile at her. You see, she was our bank teller. She knew me well. I walked in with countless deposits. With the bankruptcy, we had to leave that bank. I so wanted to say to her how sorry I was, as we stood in line to check out. So, yes, it can still be hard on some days–days when I feel like a cheater.

But God reminds me that I am His and I can stand on His truth and hold my head up. I am still His own Beloved. So stand in this truth that God has been sharing with me:

“When the enemy shall come like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19 KJV

The Amplified version puts it this way: “So [as the result of the Messiah's intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].”

The enemy will most certainly come, my friend. On that day when Jesus was born, the enemy was on the march. King Herod tried to find baby Jesus and ended up killing all the boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and in its vicinity.

“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.” Matthew 2:16 (NIV)

So if Jesus was in a school classroom in Bethlehem, there would be no boys his age in that room. There would be no boys within a two year range. Can you picture that? The enemy has no mercy. Let me say that again. The enemy has no mercy.

He will be relentless, coming like a flood. Sometimes, the onslaught is through our circumstances. Can you imagine the mothers of these young boys? They had dreams and hopes. And they had an enemy on the march.

Sometimes the onslaught is through people, who would like to cause us harm–be it intentionally or not. The enemy is intentional, though. He has a dark purpose. He has no mercy. He is on the war path.

So what do we do? Shall we hide under the covers and hope the flood will not come to us? No, we shall stand on the promise that God fulfilled in this baby we celebrate this day.

For God, my friends, He is rallying to the battle with His flag wildly waving in the wind of His ability. Here’s the fact–He wins. He wins in the battle. He wins in the war. He fights for us. As His promise is seen on the table of history, we have a Savior. He is the one, who was born on our behalf–to hold back the flood of the enemy. He came to bring peace to your souls. He came to be mercy and strength–a weapon that the enemy cannot and will not win against.

Oh, it may appear that he is winning some days. But the revealed things are God’s. He will reveal victory from every single circumstance, person ot event that you are facing, have faced and will face.

So when the enemy comes like a flood upon you, it may not be a silent night–it may not be calm and bright. But it will be Holy. God shall raise His mighty arm to push back the flood. He shall be your peace. He is your peace. He will deliver you, my friend.

Merry Christmas from all of us at A Martha Heart!
Sitting at Jesus’ feet changes us, enables us and gives us everything we need for everything we face today and in the coming year.

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Waiting on God

October 15, 2010 By
Dillyn in blue with green flower

As I was reading in the book of Psalms yesterday, a psalm of David which I have read I don’t know how many times jumped off the page for me. It’s always so incredible to me how reading the same Scriptures during different seasons of ones life can give those Scripture a deeper, more intimate, more personal feeling. It’s as though God put it there specifically to be read during that particular season of one’s life.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.

Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!  -Psalm 27 ESV

Have you ever felt that way? Have you felt as though an army has surrounded you, is attacking and trying to destroy you?

And yet David (the author of Psalm 27) gives us hope ~ seek after the Lord and He will take care of you. I like the New Living Translation of these words:

Listen to my pleading, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Do not hide yourself from me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the path of honesty, for my enemies are waiting for me to fall. Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done and breathe out violence against me. Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Waiting on God can at times be difficult. We want to defend ourselves; we want to justify our actions while refuting the words and actions of those who are against us. We want to strike back, counterattack. We are angry, and usually hurt, by the words or actions of others, and we want to pay them back for the pain they have caused us.

Dear ones, I have felt this way myself ~ many, many times. But please, reread the last 3 sentences of Psalm 27. I’ll wait; it will only take you a second.

Did you see it? Not only are we to wait patiently on the Lord, we’re to be brave and courageous while waiting.

Some would argue that waiting patiently is the weak and cowardly thing to do, as though you’re waiting for the storm to blow over and pretending as though nothing is wrong. God sees it differently. He asks us to shelter under His wings and wait while He takes care of us. He teaches us how to live, and leads us on the path of honesty.

It’s not always an easy thing to do. Waiting on the Lord can be very difficult ~ especially for those of us who would rather let so-and-so know how wrong they are and just exactly why and how right we are. But please allow me to show you what happens when we DO wait on the Lord, when we let God take care of us (and our enemies or accusers):

Praise the Lord! For he heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength, my sheild from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.  -Psalm 28:6-7 NLT

Isn’t that beautiful, and amazing? By waiting on the Lord, we’re able to praise Him because of His mercy. We are filled with joy ~ not because God is going to “take care” of so-and-so, but because of Who God Is. Our hearts are filled with joy, and songs of thanksgiving flow from our mouths. All because we put our trust in Him, took shelter under His wing, and waited patiently. Our strength and courage come from Him and produce joy and songs that bring glory to His Name.

Are you facing a difficult situation today? Whether it’s a minor difficulty or a monumental battle, call out to God. He will hear your cries; and together you and He will bring glory to His name!

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