Warning** Do Not Do the following or allow your children to do this!
Frazzled, shaken, unstable, wobbly and obviously fluffed! This is what my poodle Angel looked like after coming out of the dryer. Not the blow dryer either! When I was a young girl I had two brothers Doug and Keith. Keith decided one day that he was going to give Angel a little ride in the dryer. He did have mercy and put the dryer on fluff. It wasn’t long, but long enough that when she came out after her ride, that she stumbled around like a wobbly newborn deer. All she wanted was to get her balance back!
Have you ever felt like that? I know I have!
Maybe it was the trauma or she was just a little strange but she never seemed to ever get her nerve back. Every time she would see Keith or get near the dryer she would start to shake. Obviously Keith felt bad, and so I had to forgive him and show him mercy.
It’s been a while since I’ve thought about Angel. but, As I listened to the message in church this morning I realized like Keith, we all do things that sometimes we regret. Like Israel we get caught in situations where we either lose our way or we stumble and shake and lose our nerve. In this case Micah was called to share with the people how they had forgotten all the wonderful things He had done and they got caught up in their own delights, or as in Angel’s case, her own bad experience.
“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.
“Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.”
Micah 6:1-2
The religious priests were the worst! Instead of pointing them to the only one who could save, deliver and heal them, they were telling the people what they wanted to hear in order to increase the offerings in the temple. Does this sound familiar in our pluralistic, self-centered and abusive society?
Justice – Hebrew word Mishpat “The way prescribed, rightful action.”
Mercy – Hebrew word Chesed “Kindness, goodness, loyal deeds, compassion.”
God is so relentless in His pursuit of us. He sent Micah to tell the people the truth. They had taken the wrong road and were pursuing things other than things that were unrighteous and deceitful. They had become cold, uncaring for the less fortunate, mean and arrogant.
There are times when I find myself in situations where if I’m not careful I begin to do and say the wrong things. I don’t set a good example of justice and mercy. In my mind, I can put people in the dryer and intenionally turn the temperature to high heat.
God wants us to be humble and upright before Him. He wants us to exhibit His character and to help those in need, the widows, the orphans, the backslidden and distressed. He wants us to love our enemies and not expect anything in return. The amazing thing about God is that He knows we can’t do this on our own. So when we come to Him and ask Him for help, He is faithful to supply and empower us with His love. This is what Micah was trying to get through to the people.
“God opposes the proud but shows favor tothehumble.”
I’m sure some of us can say, can’t believe this happened to me! Our world gets rocked and shaken. We are trembling, fearful, and weary. We are out of balance and maybe we can’t even think straight. We need to help one another to get back on God’s track. We need each other.
God has got us! He is pursuing us relentlessly, no matter what. The enemy is defeated and there is no way he can overcome us if we abide in Jesus.
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. 19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. 20 You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.
Immobility – Fear will immobilize you as was in the case of Pastor Bobette Stubblefield,
Soon after our marriage began, my husband began to isolate me by forbidding me to spend time at church and with my family and friends. Isolation then begins to break down a person’s worth; and little by little steals their identity. My husband would shove me down and overpower me physically. …He would then urinate on me. Fear became my captor (Stubblefield. March 20, 2004).
She also described how she would shake uncontrollably whenever she would think about going home or would drive toward her house. She stayed in the marriage for 12 years and faced fear daily. Finally, one day, when she had to defend herself in a court battle over her children, she was forced to face fear head on. Fearful, but determined to overcome it, she took courageous steps toward the courtroom door. Just before entering the courtroom, she realized she was not alone and that God had stationed angels around her. Bobette recalls that day:
But, before I walked in front of the judge, God opened my eyes like He opened the prophet Elijah servant’s eyes. Elijah’s servant saw thousands of angels standing ready for battle on he and his country’s behalf. When God allowed me to see into the spiritual realm, He showed me six angels dressed like Secret Service men. They were with me walking arm in arm into the courtroom. I realized I was not alone anymore. The Bible says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and a sound mind.”
For More information about how you can overcome fear….
Contact Marlene Hoenig
Cinderella Released….from ashes to beauty. CinderellaReleased@gmail.com
This morning during prayer I began to be anxious, and feeling like I wasn’t doing “enough” to get things moving the direction the Lord would have me to go. He told me to, “stay seated.” When the time was right He said, “I will come and take you by the hand.” He then reminded me of a portion of the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge called Take My Hand, There is a scene near the end of the film Anna and the King I wish I could now play for you. Let me describe it.
The setting is nineteen-century Siam, a tiny but beautiful Asian country still in the grips of its ancient past. Anna, an English woman living in Siam as a tutor to the king’s many offspring, has helped King Mangkut prepare for a state dinner. He wants to show the British that his country is ready to enter into the affairs of the world, so the dinner is given in the English style — silverware, tablecloths, candlelight, and, at the end of the meal, ballroom dancing.
When the east is over and it comes time for the first dance, the king stands and extends his hand to Anna. He invites her to dance with him. He fixes his gaze upon her and is distracted by nothing and no one else. He waits for her response. She is clearly surprised, taken aback, but has the grace to respond and stand. As they walk past the long table, the king’s eyes never stray from hers, a smile playing on his lips. Others are upset that he has chosen her. Some watch with contempt, others with pleasure. It is of no consequence to the king or to Anna.
Anna came to the ball prepared. She was beautiful in a striking gown that shimmered like starlight. She spent hours getting herself ready — her hair, her dress, her heart. As they reach the dance floor, Anna expresses her fear of dancing with the King before the yes of others.
“We wouldn’t want to end up in a heap,” she says.
His answer to her questioning heart? “I am King. I will lead.”
Jesus is extending his hand to you. He is inviting you to dance with him.
He asks, “May I have this dance… every day of your life?”
His gaze is fixed on you. He is captivated by your beauty. He is smiling. He cares nothing of the opinion of others. He is standing. He will lead. He waits for your response.
My lover spoke and said to me,
“Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with me.” (Song2:10)
In the service of the King,
Marlene Baggs-Hoenig
Trauma, Stress and Joy Recovery Specialist
The Lord had me go down, swim down into a deep cave under water, and I began to dig out rocks which represented buried lies. (Years ago I went to a class taught by Missionary Marty Delmon. She wrote a book “Buried Lies” which goes into great detail about how buried lies affect our souls.)
The first rock I found was a rock representing unforgiveness, then fear, doubt, unbelief, abandonment, rejection, hopelessness and finally anger. As I dug them up it was too much for me to carry alone. I looked up and saw a man, “Peter” who took off his towel that was wrapped around his waist and jumped into the water. He brought me down nets for each one of the rocks. He helped me bring them up to Jesus who was now standing above by the pool of water.
He crushed the first stone of unforgiveness with one hand, the powder disintegrated into the clean pool, turning it into a milky white color. Jesus said, It’s milk – you are bathing in it and the water immediately turned warm. (Later I felt as if He were saying it is time to let go and grow up. “Get over it!” would be what my Pastor would say.
Next Jesus took a bat and began to hit each rock out into the depths of eternity never to return. He knocked every buried lie out of the earth and then I handed Him one last stone – Disappointment.
He said, “No more will you be disappointed. I cherish you, you are my pleasant one, my darling. Others might misunderstand you, but I know you, I created you, to be strong, strong enough to wait faithfully. Strong enough to weather the storms of disappointment and to love those that are embittered, even toward you.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but you are not hopeless, for I have created you for such a special time, just wait. I WILL to supply and finish every dream I STARTED in you, and if the dream was not from ME, then discard it, don’t count on it for it is only meant to DISTRACT and DISARM you from the tasks I have for you.
I WILL PUT MY STRENGTH IN YOU AND remember those lies are finished, destroyed, diminished and cast into outer darkness.
NO MORE shall oppression and grief have a hold on you (ISAIAH 54). I do not wish to destroy you, but only to build you up in MY most HOLY FAITH. Receive MY WORD, Receive MY WORDS. Receive and let your faith flourish. Look to me and none other.
Don’t let the enemy deceive you for I have released you, MY CINDERELLA RELEASED… Go forth in the name of the LORD and preach MY WORD. Be strong and of good courage!
I was studying Psalm 2 this afternoon and came across the word “set.” It is an interesting word.
In this Psalm it speaks of rulers or kingdoms setting themselves up… Wow there is a lot of this happening in our society today…
Further along in the Psalm it speaks of setting God upon His proper throne… for Christians this means putting God on the throne of our hearts… Read the Psalm and then read the definition…
Psalm 2
King James Version (KJV)
2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
One definition says to stand up against God… kingdoms will come agains God, but then later…it speaks of putting God in the proper place which is also a definition… to stand up for stand by… in this case God….
The closing part of this Psalm speaks of the wisdom and intimacy that will come from seeking the Lord….
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
The following is a poem I wrote titled: King of Creation:
King of CreationI am His Queen – The King of Creation kisses me full on my mouth with His passionate love.
It’s better than wine, and is worth more than oil.
When He says my name – Creation stops to see….
if I will run into His arms.
Though others scoff me loving the King of Creation, I adore Him.
He ordained me to plant His fields,
to be darkened by the rays of His SON,
to watch over the flocks of the earth.
They are in my tender loving care.
Though I seek Him and sometimes grow weary awaiting His coming,
He desires me to make myself ready for His appearing.
Though He tarry, I must not wane,
in preparing myself to meet Him.
He will come — “Suddenly” to get me.
He loves me, he’ll never leave me alone or forsake me.
I’m His beloved and He is mine.
He is the King of Creation and I am His Queen.
In closing, the Lord spoke to me and said, “Have I not told you I WILL deliver you? When Daniel realized the 70 years of captivity was almost over he SET his face (standard) with MORE FERVENCY than ever before to SEEK THE LORD! Daniel 9:2-3
