I Can only Imagine!

1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV:

1. Eye has not seen - No matter how much revelation I have been given, no matter how many healings and miracles I have seen, no matter how many God incidents I see – There is always more!  “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”
2. Nor ear heard - It doesn’t matter how many times or ways He says He loves me – There is more!  There is no end to our conversation.  His secrets that He wants to reveal to me are infinite!
3. Nor entered into the heart of man - What grows in my heart?  Love, desire, purpose, mercy, kindness, goodness, faith, faithfulness, longing, joy, and yet, as wondrous as these are – There is more!  In my intimacy with God, it is like a Divine Rapture that sends me into  a realm of oneness, calm , total effortless peace; a place of total union with God…sublime!
4. The things which God has prepared for those who love Him - I can only imagine…Selah. (Pause and think about that) As I survey my life, I realize I could never have believed the mysteries I have experienced.  I could never have imagined that He would turn my tragedies into Triumphs.  But I can say, unequivocally, I love Him more today, than yesterday; and as my love grows, I know the revelation He gives will grow as well – There is more!

Be blessed today!  God has more in store for you!!

Anna Marie

Proverbs 18:2
A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.
Years ago, one of the desires of my heart was to learn to be a really good listener. It is not an easy task. We in our humanness have a desire to be known, to share our heart, our thoughts and opinions about the particular topic at hand.

Have you ever been with people in a conversation and not been able to get a word in edgewise? How does it make you feel?

It makes me feel invisible, discounted, unloved.

I wanted to become a good listener because of those bad feelings I experienced by not being listened to myself. But today, as I was reading this proverb, the word fool jumped out at me. I hear the heart of my Father telling me that unless I truly delight to understand my brother or sister’s heart in my listening, I am a fool.

To be a fool is a terrible thing. To be a fool does not just mean your are doltish or stupid or idiotic, but it is used of one who mocks God.

Wow. I have really been given a depth of desire to be an even better listener. Abba Daddy is showing me that when we do not listen to another, to have an understanding of them, of their heart, of their desires, we are actually mocking our maker. When we discount our brother, we are discounting the One who made them.

Today, I want to listen more than I speak. Who is with me?

Blessings, Anna Marie

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy.                ~ Proverbs 15:18 (NKJV)

The book of Proverbs, in the Bible. is full of practical wisdom for healing.  Modern medicine continues to confirm the truths that are written inside.

Sometimes when I read Proverbs, the Lord illuminates the spiritual truth; other times he reveals the physical reality.

Jesus is the Light of the world.  When we fix our eyes on him, he fills our hearts with joy.  I honestly cannot think of a single instance, when I finally changed my focus from my problem, my sorrow, my anger or pain to look at Jesus-to look into his Word, that I was not transformed into joy-filled believer in God!

In the same way, God created us to live in the light.  We need sunshine!  We need beauty!  When we spend time outdoors soaking up sunshine, making vitamin D, depression leaves.  Vitamin D deficiency is epidemic.  Sunscreen inhibits the body’s ability to make this vital element. Our skin needs to absorb the suns rays! And our eyes need to be exposed to the natural light. UV protection sunglasses, worn all the time, reduce the amount of light we take in through our eyes. When the full spectrum of light hits our eyes, the optic nerve is stimulated, and has a positive effect on our endocrine system.  (Do some research on this. It’s fascinating!) Sunlight makes us happy!

Healthy bones, spiritually speaking, are needed for our walk with the Lord.  Without a strong framework, the deep inner Truth, our journey in the Spirit is handicapped.  As members of the body of Christ,  every bone and joint must supply for the organism to move and grow.  We get strong spiritual bones by believing a good report:  The Good News of Jesus Christ!  Every word that is written in the Bible can bring strength to our inner man.

In the natural, our bones are critical for our immune system to work.  The awesome news here is that when you believe a good report it literally strengthens the marrow of your bones, bringing health to your entire body!  Laughter and joy create the environment for healing.

I remember a time when my husband was feeling really sick, like he was coming down with the flu. We had a date with friends to go see a play called Nunsense. (I highly recommend it!) Jack practically had to drag himself into the theater. While we were waiting for the show to begin, he kept saying that he thought he better go lay down in the car.  He was just getting ready to leave when the show started.

This production was hilarious from the get go!  In about ten minutes, Jack was laughing so hard he was crying. He looked at me and said, “I don’t feel sick any more!” His fever was gone and all the nausea had disappeared!

When you need healing, just remember this wonderful proverb.  Apply it like the medicine it is, and watch God work!

Blessings!

What Would I Do in a Year if My Goal Was To Become Wise?  This was last week’s blog challenge.

It is an idea worth contemplating.  The Bible says that if any of us desire wisdom, to ask God. He loves to impart wisdom.  Seems like such an easy thing.  I wonder why we don’t do it more?

I have determined to start with Him. I am going to be ruthless in pursuing Him for wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10
He is the Light to my path and the lamp for my feet! Psalm 119:105

One of the greatest reservoirs of wisdom to be found, in the entire world, is the book of Proverbs.  In 1973, when I became a follower of Jesus Christ, the woman who mentored me, Wanda Plummer, told me that she read one chapter of Proverbs every day of her life. It was really nice of God to put 31 chapters in it – one for each day of the month!  I decided to emulate her.  For the most part, I have read a chapter a day for all these years. I figure I have read through it way over 400 times! It has given me deep insights into the ways of mankind, as well as the mind of God.

Therefore, one of my actions this year, will be to continue this practice, with a twist.  As our friend Dudley Perio likes to say, “You only get to keep what you give away.”   So this year, I am going to blog more about those insights.  I have journaled my thoughts in the past, but blogging is a great way to encourage others. I am excited to see how the wisdom will return to me, as I give it away.

Another source of wisdom is the elders in our lives.  I have been missing Jack’s mom.  She was a wonderful teacher. She always had a nugget to share with our family.  I have a few friends in my life who I look to as elders.  This year, I want to be intentional about seeking them out, and drawing from them the great deposit that comes from living a full lifetime.

I have gained much wisdom from living life.  Experience truly is a wonderful teacher.  So, I am going to try to have some new experiences.  Most of us have a “bucket list,” written or not.  This year, let’s cross a few of those desires off our lists, what do you say?

History is another, often overlooked, source of wisdom.  Learning from the successes and failures of those who have gone before us is a no-brainer.  I must confess, I do not study history like I used to.  That is going to change. I think I would like to start with reading some biographies of famous women.  Women who changed the world, for good or bad.  Anyone have any suggestions for a good book?

These are five good steps for me. I may add more as I go through the year.  Join me, won’t you?

Blessings, Anna Marie
Click here for a wonderful song of worship. It is a song that is a wonderful reflection on True Wisdom.