The Gospel According to Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin penned a song in the early 70's that contained this line:

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run 

There's still time to change the road you're on. 

You know, there is good theology in that line, but there is also one large error of fact: There are MANY paths you can go by...if there were ONLY two, it would simplify things quite a bit.....

Paths, and choices. We all have them, we all make them. Sometimes the paths we choose are very distinctive, clear choices. Other times (and these are the dangerous ones) if we are not extremely careful, and extremely aware  of our surroundings, we can venture onto a path almost (and that's a key word here), ALMOST by accident.

All paths lead to somewhere. Some are short, some are long. It may take years on one journey and simply hours on another....

God gives us choices...paths to choose. But ultimately, We choose the direction we are going to take.

It would be wise for us to have all of our scouting tools tuned and working well as we journey through life. Take a wrong path that "looks" right, and hit a brick wall, or even worse, walk off a cliff. This brings me to a rephrasing of an age old questions "Which came first, the cliff (or wall), or the path?"

We like to say that 'we all fall down,' because it's true. But the fall doesn't begin when we step off the cliff...it begins when we choose the wrong path.

Be careful where you walk. Let the One who created you be your Trail Master. Have your compass, your Guide Book (The Bible) ready in your hand and in your heart......

I don't know where you are today, or which direction you're facing. But 'as for me and my house', well...you know the rest, and if you don't, it's in the Guide Book.

Just some Vickie thoughts.....

Reading God Chasers....and this comes to mind:

"God is looking for hungry people. He is seeking people who are seeking Him. Indeed, He has bread from Heaven for us, and it is eternally satisfying".

We cannot afford to settle into the routine of a fenced-in life, not when God has magnificent realities awaiting. Let us, therefore, follow our hunger into the presence of God. ~ Divine Ministries....And Vickie says, I am a God chaser...I am not content to only know God historically - what He was to Abraham, David, Paul....or even what Jesus did on the cross....I am chasing Him. pursuing Him...to be a part of what He is doing NOW, today, this minute...(.4/28/12)

In the midst of a barren field, God will give you a glimpse of what is going on beneath the soil....but you have to be willing to look beyond the physical...Thank Him for what is not yet seen and push for the harvest that is sure to come......~vsw...A Thursday morning revelation . Sweet! (5/3/12)

  

Every day, every hour and usually every minute, we make conscious decisions on what is allowed to occupy our thoughts...We can choose to let the cares and confusion of the every day issues of life consume us, let what people say distract us, or we can choose to let our God consume those things that attack out peace....As for me and my house......we WILL serve the Lord.....Pursuing Him in perfect peace :)  (5/1/12)

My mind tells me to reject the supernatural as being "fake," or "hocus-pocus"...however the my spirit rises up and says that this rejection of the supernatural is what has rendered the Church Body powerless for centuries....(5/7/12)

Fire Ants and Boom Boxes....

Remember the first time you were ever stung by a "fire" ant....maybe you were walking along not particularly paying attention to where you were stepping - and ZAP...one got you...


It's a simple bit of inconvenience when it happens...and if it's only ONE, then it only amounts to some itching later on and more inconvenience....but it's not something you would have chosen to experience, right?


Luke 10:19 tells us that God has given us authority. Authority to "overcome all the power of the enemy."


What does that have to do with fire ants? Everything. You see, I believe that everything physical mirrors a spiritual principle. In this case, the fire ants are our "enemy" (Satan). The day you accepted Christ as your Savior, you didn't just receive eternal life, but you also received every restoration of everything our infamous ancestor Adam, lost in Eden. Everything restored. All power, all authority.


Here's my point in all of this: Satan walks this earth making a lot of noise. The Bible says he roars as a Lion...Since you and I were not raised in the jungle or on the great plains, we may better relate to your neighbor's lawnmower when you are trying to sleep in on a Saturday morning...or...the annoying booming vibration of a car stereo blaring as is rolls down a quiet suburban street...In either of these cases (or any other you can think of) we know that the NOISE can't hurt us. Or can it?


Does the loud lawnmower cause you to frown, maybe even curse under your breath at your neighbor? How about the booming speakers? The noise is a simply an inconvenience...but how we handle the noise can rule your day...and ruin your day. Your attitude towards your neighbor is something Jesus is concerned with.....but I digress...


Getting back to the ants: Satan has no more power over your life as a believer, than these fire ants. He can (and will) cause you many inconveniences....he will bring a lot of noise into your life. 


God has given us the "power of the nozzle" so to speak. What I mean by that, is when we are inconvenienced by the ant or the noise we can do one of two things: We can address the ant situation immediately, making sure we pay attention to where we WALK from that point forward...put a little "anti itch" cream on the bite," stop any whining and complaining and put the situation to rest. In other words, reach up and TURN OFF THE NOZZLE....don't let the flow of reaction increase. Same thing with NOISE....Turn off the nozzle....don't allow irritants to affect who you are in Christ. If you do, you will still be WHO YOU ARE, but you will not be effective for the Kingdom...and you will not experience the joy in the journey....(and where does our STRENGTH come from? THE JOY)......


ANYWAY. Bottom line: Satan truly is under our feet ALREADY as far as his authority in our lives...He can roar...he can try to deceive..he can toss out inconveniences....but that is ALL he can do.


Be careful where you walk...avoid the fire ants.
As for the noise? Earplugs? If not, shrug it off...it is ONLY A ROAR....it can't hurt you if you don't allow it further access.


Have a very blessed and fruitful Sunday!
Vickie

Joy..and what it is NOT...

Joy is not laughter.
Joy is not feeling good.
You can cry, and be full of joy.
You can be having a terrible day, and still your joy is full....


What is joy? Oh my gosh, I wish I had the WORDS....Joy is a life experience...an inward "lifestyle," if you will... Joy is where you live at all times...a spiritual city whose founder and reigning authority, is The Most High God...To know God is to have access to joy, to seek God in ALL your ways is the key that allows joy to bubble up inside of you..and overflow...


On rainy days, when I am restricted to indoor activity...when it's cold outside...when I'm having a bad hair day... when what I wear to work doesn't "feel" right....when my co-workers are cranky....when my bank account is empty...in ANY and ALL situations...my joy is full...do you hear me? MY JOY IS FULL....


I am smiling on the inside even when my face shows a frown of consternation or concentration (I'm working on that "frown" thing..)....because my joy is full.


When I walk, my feet touch down on clouds. Not because my circumstances are perfect (those of you how know me KNOW that isn't the case)...but because I am walking in the fullness of His joy....truly, truly,  guys, "the joy of the Lord is our strength."


Want strength? Get HIS Joy.
Want HIS joy? Get Him.


Need instructions?There is an instruction book: The Bible...Need directions on getting past the "begats" and the "Thee's and Thou's?"...email vickie_wall@yahoo.com....or comment on this blog...


It is my hearts desire that you all have this JOY.

The Next Big Thing

I am sitting in my world of people

who carry their scars under blankets of smiles, or scowls.

Laughter rings because I will it to be so.

I will my joy onto them

knowing that this is not how it works

but hoping and praying

That they will find what I have found

And as I enjoy my day

making small talk and feeling love

I wait for God to show me

The next big thing.

Dreams that take you underground.....

Woke up this morning from a strange dream that I really can't recall in full...Immediately my mind was pulled back in time to places and situations where I no longer dwell...I was taken to  my "underground" days...those days when I literally lived in a basement with a man I was involved with...It was my choice to be there at that time....


So, I started to pray along the lines of, 'Oh God, I'm so sorry....' and I stopped and thought : "Wait a minute, this is wrong...I repented from my old life a long time ago...God knows I don't live there anymore...He knows I never dwell on this so it isn't an issue I'm having to work through, or something I still need to forgive myself for....So, why IS this on my mind???"


And I saw his face again. The man I loved and lived with. I've seen his face several times lately in my mind, AND online in the news...So, I knew then what the memories are about....Praying for this man. He needs God. He needs a miracle. He needs an incorruptible seed to replace the Adamic, corruptible seed. He needs Jesus...and he is a hard nut to crack...his shell has layers of harded years wrapped around it....his heart? I have no idea if there is any softness left...but I know either way, God can change him.


So, I said, "God, I HAVE prayed for ________'s salvation MANY times. You KNOW the need. Are you asking me to beg? Are you asking me to keep telling you something you already know??"


This, I believe, is a valid question. Once we give something to God, isn't it a done deal? Well....maybe....


This morning I was reminded of the Scripture about the woman and the judge and how she just aggravated him so much that he finally gave in to her wants...(Luke 18)...and this Judge wasn't even a RIGHTEOUS Judge...So...yeah, I guess the answer in this case is...Yes, God does want me to keep bringing this subject up. I don't know WHY, because he IS God and he already knows the need, but for SOME reason, he wants ME to keep talking to him about my old friend.....


So I did, and so I will....and I will keep you posted....


Good morning....be blessed.

"Single/In a Relationship/Engaged"....Pick the RIGHT One.

I've got something that God wants me to say about relationships. At least I think it's about relationships.
I really want to get this right...and not speak in a hurry, but I have found that if I wait, or take it really slow, then the words won't always come....So, here goes....


Relationships are important. Sure they are. I am talking about the male/female relationship. A relationship is a good thing. Of course it is.... And in this same vein:


Money is important (to a degree). Sure it is. Without it, your mortgage company won't let you keep your house, your bank won't let you keep your car....the grocery story won't let you carry your groceries to the car. Money is a good thing. Of course it is.


Education is important. Sure it is. Without it, you could not sign your name to the check to send your mortgage company. You could not read the digits on the speedometer in your car....and you could not pick out a balanced meal in the grocery store.


There are many, many things in this life that are important. There are many that are good. Some are good and not so important, but still good......And my point is?


My point is FOCUS. My point is PRIORITY.


I pause here and do the heavy sigh thing <sigh>....because I am not quite sure how to word the rest of this message for the full impact of what I am trying to convey....bear with me....


Through the many social networks available, I "watch" as my friends, both far and near, put so much emphasis on relationships (the male/female kind).....The Christians seek Godly partners and rejoice when they meet on Monday and are "in a relationship" by Wednesday, and "engaged" by Friday...then "single" by Sunday. (Okay, so maybe sometimes it takes longer than a week, but you get the gist of what I am saying). And the same thing happens to my non-Christian friends. I watch as they post the pretty "broken but better for it" type posters....I watch them heal miraculously, and start the same process again...


It is as if the whole world is "starved" for a relationship. And indeed it is! It's as if everyone needs some "one" to complete them, and indeed they do! But here is the secret: Of all the things we desire that are needful and good (relationships included) there is only one thing that is absolutely essential to the quality of life. There is only one relationship that fulfills and "completes."  That One is God. That relationship, is a relationship with the one true God.


Many times I want to cry out, "Please, my friend, get THIS first! Understand THIS first! Seek God FIRST!"


There is so very much more I could say on this subject, and maybe I need to go further. But the thing I really want to get across is this: The strong desire we have to connect with another human, was put there by our Father. But until you and I are complete in our relationship with God, and by complete I mean, "sold out" "100% disciple" "don't NEED nothin'else"....until we are at THIS point - then any other relationship will not fulfil. It simply will not.


When we reach the point where we are totally in love with God, then, and only then, will our hearts be prepared to receive the life partner HE has prepared especially for us.


I think that's all I have to say. Except maybe, "slow down," wait on God. He brought you this far and He will take you the rest of the way.


And above all else: Seek God. Seek Him with all that  is within you. Muster all your passion and direct it towards your relationship with Him.....and just watch what happens.