Christian Writers Circle

Intimacy with Christ through Forgiveness
by Judy Hitson

Matthew 6: 14-15 ESV For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Finding myself unable to relate to a person that I formerly looked forward to seeing, presented an awkward situation, not only for me, but for all who gathered for dinner at the restaurant. Her negativity disturbed me. Was her heart hardened? Can she hear God’s voice? Or is it unforgiveness in my own heart? The astounding reality hit when the Lord revealed my need to get the log out of my own eye before trying to get the speck out of hers. This process must start with forgiveness in my heart.

Though this loved one knows the Lord, the complaining and gossip made me angry. I wanted to say as a mother to a child, “Enough! No more!” Instead I didn’t want to talk. I was angry wanting to shake some sense into her that she would see her sin; missing my own.

The Lord spoke two words to me. I received them for her. It is a good thing I kept them to myself because another sister in Christ confronted me saying, “We don’t think you want to be with us.” She was right. I did not. I admitted I was having a difficult time with the complaining and gossip and didn’t want to hear it anymore. The confronter said, “The Lord showed me she is like the Israelites right now with complaining. My concern for you, Judy, is not wanting you to get bitter. I was in that state with someone. When I forgave and went to see her, I got rid of that evil spirit and never want to be in that state again.” I was thankful to hear her testimony of forgiveness and deliverance from bondage of a bitter spirit.

The Lord convicted me of my need of change. I thought I had gotten the log out of my own eye, only to discover I was in the midst of the process. It was not time to confront the woman I was angry with, knowing God prepares our heart to confront with truth in love, not anger.

The Lord also revealed that the measure I judged came back on me, Matt. 7:2, and if I was offended by a brother to go to that brother. I thought I had, but failed to see unforgiveness in my heart. In the past, the Lord blessed me to forgive from the heart after a time of bondage with tormentors in my mind. I experienced being like the unmerciful servant, Matt.18: 21-35, and never want to be in that state again. The Lord delivered me and I am grateful.

Prayer: Lord fill me with Your forgiveness in my heart towards my sister.

In the present situation, I take time to confess my sins, 1John1:9, find rest in the Lord, Matt.11:28-30; Ps. 37:7 and wait patiently to hear Him. He will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go; He will guide me with His eye, Ps. 32:8. I taste and see the Lord is good, Ps. 34:8.

The two words I heard from the Lord was first a hymn, “We shall Overcome.” The second was a word Joyce Meyer spoke in regards to the Israelites, “Complain and remain or praise and be raised.” Yes the Lord spoke those words to me and for me. Thankful for being confronted with my sin that I may be free to love and forgive. Getting angry like Moses is a trap I’ve been in before. Praise God for conviction of sin to draw close to the Lord and walk in true repentance.

 Intimacy

by Brenda D. Flowers

In the quiet moments,

Now, My Savior comes to me

To meet me and refresh me

In my deepest longings.

My Lover of my soul

Amazes me as He speaks.

Continually I am

Yearning for Him to lead.

Intimacy with Christ through Relationships
by Judy Hitson

Once we know the Lord and grow in a love relationship with Him, we enjoy intimate times with Him. This is key to experience intimacy with Him through relationships. Once we establish a relationship with Jesus Christ, we can better relate to others, bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6: 2)

As we walk in the Spirit and in love, we experience intimacy with Christ and intimate fellowship with those of like mind in the Spirit. God places people in our lives to come alongside us or for us to come alongside them. He fills us with His love and compassion to walk on this earth as it is in heaven.

We may discern those who know Christ but choose to walk like Lot, according to this world with human desires and lusts of the world and flesh. Others we discern do not know Christ, who walk according to the world, flesh and devil. Our desire is for them to choose Christ and His ways rather than their own ways and ways of the world. In our circles of life, God puts people on our heart to carry them in prayer to respond to the light and walk in the light as He is in the light. Is it not for the sake of love? When we realize God is love, that He loves us as no other, we are drawn to Him and learn to love because He first loved us. (1 John 4: 19)

Relationships can develop in intimacy through Christ in us the hope of glory, to love them into the Kingdom as we are led by the Spirit who gives us life. (Col.1:27, John 6:63; 2 Cor. 3: 6)

To whom much is given, much is required. We are not alone in this world when we know Christ, He is with us wherever we go. We have the privilege to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,  to mature to the full measure of Christ, to walk in the Spirit and walk in love like Jesus. (Luke 12: 48, Josh. 1:9, 2 Peter 3: 18, Eph. 4: 13, Gal. 5: 25, Eph. 5:2)

When we come to know Christ through the second birth, born of the Spirit and baptized in the Spirit we have choices to make to grow in Christ and walk by faith or go our own way. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, but apart from Him we can do nothing. (John 3: 5, 1 Cor. 12: 13, Phil. 4: 13, John 15: 5b)

So let us grow in intimacy with Christ through relationships; being accountable to God and to man. There is a quote I’d like to share with you in closing that made an impact on my heart. Heidi Baker who has a ministry with her husband Rolland in Mozambique said, “If you know that you are loved, you are free to be intimate.” May the Lord reveal His great love for you and free you to be intimate in relationships with Him and others.

                                                                                             Power Transferred

                                                                                                by Brenda D. Flowers

Soaking you in like a solar panel so I can shine out.

Intimate time of warmth and pleasure

Light and Life are touching me.

Union. . . Oneness. . . Internal Life

Leading me anew to hope of Eternal Life.

I rest in these moments.  Refreshed . . .

Ready for daily tasks,

but not alone.

Holy Spirit, You are working in and through me.

Even when I am not aware . . .

You are here. You are there.

Alive in me and pouring out of me

through my touches and my smiles.

Intimate moments of quiet soaking.

These times are where the power is transferred.

Thank you, God, for guiding me to You.

You are my Source, my Lifeline.

An Encouraging Word

Given to Brenda Flowers to share with the Church March 2014

Focus on My Hope

Not on the circumstances.

Hope in Me.

Did I not say I am the author and the finisher of your faith?

I don’t write your life story and leave it hanging, unfinished.

By the way, I like happy endings just like you do.

So give your worries, fears, and doubts to Me.

I know how to handle them.

Powerful presence prepares perfectly the person who is pliable in my powerful palms.

Yes, I am molding and making you as you trust in Me.

I know it is not easy.

Didn’t I forgive David? The Samaritan woman? Rahab at Jericho? Saul who later became Paul? Peter? The thief? Those who hungered and thirsted for My Ways?

Stay soft and conditioned by the watering of My words.

I love you!

Intimacy with Christ through Fasting
by Judy Hitson

Matthew 17:21 NASB “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

This Bible verse is in reference to a boy with a demon It surprised me when I discovered this verse is not included in two translations I looked at, NIV and ESV. Why Lord, I asked? I don’t understand. I know there is no reason to fear the ministry of deliverance. If you experienced deliverance from bondage to freedom in Christ, you may be familiar with prayer and fasting. If not, may the following testimony of a personal struggle of mine shine a light of understanding to be helpful in your life.

Since I’ve come to know the Lord, He blesses me with times of deliverance and healing.  When I first heard of binding and casting out demons, it was foreign to me. I’d think of the movie, The Exorcist, which totally freaked me out. If you saw it, you know what I’m talking about.

Most of us dream and hope of living happily ever after. As a child, I went to church every Sunday and attended a Christian school, but at home there was arguing and complaining with family, friends and neighbors. I grew up with religion but did not have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When I came to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I was 36 years old and thought the spiritual baggage was gone; the wonderful life I dreamed of was complete. I was married, we had three children at the time, were members of a local church and I worked as a nurse. Learning to read and study the Bible was new to me and I couldn’t get enough of it. I was hungry for the Lord, His word and to be among people of God that knew Him and shared the mighty things He was doing in their lives. It was like utopia.

It wasn’t long until that bubble of utopia burst and I came face to face with tests, trials and tribulations of life, like a struggle I had with anger. It became a shouting match at home with my husband and children. I’d have quiet time in the living room in the early morning and be at peace with God. By the time I got to the kitchen is was like mayhem. The quiet, peaceful manner I longed for was lost in becoming a screaming Mom with the children and fussing with my husband at the breakfast table, hurrying them to be ready for school and work.

Unforgiveness was bound in my heart getting tangled with bitterness in my soul and generational sins. I needed help and asked for prayer with Bible study friends. As I learned about spiritual warfare, deliverance ministry and inner healing, it was scary to me. What I read and studied in the Bible to be a woman of God was not a reality for me. What was wrong with me that I’d get angry over little things and shout, yell, and scream in daily routines of life? I cried out to the Lord for help. At a friend’s house, a flyer from her church caught my eye, it was a Bible series on Spiritual warfare; just what I needed. Desperate for help and out of my comfort zone, I went in fear and trembling. The teacher said, the Lord helps us when we are desperate. At ministry time, I could not get to the altar fast enough for prayer. She prayed for me like she was reading my mail and took authority against religious, familiar and other spirits. This was my first experience with prayers of deliverance for which I am eternally grateful. Since then I’ve learned not to fear enemies of my soul but rather take authority in the name of Jesus Christ and the life of His Spirit to be free from areas of bondage.

Recently, when I heard, “This kind does not come out but by prayer and fasting,” I received it as a word from the Lord for me to overcome food idolatry and my struggle with weight gain.  To know the Lord, His word and life in the Spirit, I find it is like a treasure. To draw close to Him in an intimate love relationship, as first love, I come to Him about everything and anything. Spending time soaking in His presence, in prayer and His word, I hear what He has to say to me. When it comes to food, I’ve rebelled going my way rather than the way of the Lord. It is like another time around the mountain for me with the Lord in regards to this sin area of my life. I want to obey and follow Him to be free with food. A nudge came to fast a week from refined sugar, I obeyed. After the week, I couldn’t wait to indulge in my favorite sweets. Realizing that is not going to work, I sought the Lord for the next step. I love sugar but sugar doesn’t love me. It makes me lazy, sleepy and unproductive. It makes me feel unhealthy with aches and pains and poor circulation. Why do I consume food on my lust? It isn’t funny but sometimes I laugh when I share my cravings for sweets with someone. Taking it seriously, another nudge came for me to fast three days from refined sugars and starches, I obeyed. I confessed to the Lord, I couldn’t wait to eat the things I crave like candy, cakes, pies, breads, crackers, whatever. A  nudge came to fast three more days and add whole grains. I did not want to, but obeyed.

During a fast, I’ve learned we can go through the motions on a natural plane without needed results. Yet during times of prayer and fasting, I find deeper intimacy with the Lord to overcome battles by His Spirit who gives strength to heed His word and find victory in Jesus in the area of struggle. It is a process. The battle is the Lord’s. In the midst of this present battle, I trust the Lord to win it by His Spirit in me and stand on the promise of Ps. 32:8 NKJV I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

As I shared my experience and present struggle, did it bring areas of needed victory in your life? Is it time for you to experience intimacy with Christ through prayer and fasting?

There are times we feel distant from the Lord. He reveals this is a battle between God’s calling on our life in the Spirit and our human desires. God wants us to see our need of change, be transformed by His Spirit to live Christ on earth as it is in heaven. God will cleanse us and transform us to walk in the Spirit and stop lusting after the flesh. The choice is up to us to follow the Lord or go our own way.

Prayer: Father help us mature in intimacy with Christ and discern times You call us to prayer and fasting. In Your name we pray, Lord Jesus Christ, and by Your Spirit who gives us life. Amen.

Post Note: There are many ways of fasting from food, time, negativity, activities, media, television, shopping, relationships to name a few.

Did Anyone See His Love In Me Today?

by

Kathleen Shore

“Live every moment as though it were your last….

Love, as though it was your last moment to give His love away….”

     These words to live by from my Dad, passed through my mind as the mundane task of running to Kroger brought a slumped over posture inside of me.

It had been a wonderful morning at church, followed by lunch, and a nap would have really completed the day so nicely. But when you run out of toilet paper, there is no option of going tomorrow.

As the automatic doors opened I silently whispered to Father… “I’m looking for you, I’m listening….” and made my way to a beautiful pile of ripe tomatoes that was not on my list.

Keeping my eye on the perfect ones I wanted, I waited as a woman on the other side of the pile struggled with the plastic bag dispenser. I quickly realized that her difficultly in finding the perforated line gave Father some time to prepare His way in me.

He immediately struck me with His beauty displayed in her…. her straight, jet black hair that still graced her face amidst the exhaustion of her day that began by readying herself and her three daughters (all under the age of 6) in their Sunday best.

Now flooded by His heartbeat, I reached out and pulled the bag. In handing it to her, I recognized the deep pain and loneliness by her response that was so hungry to have a conversation.

So glad to see an uplifted spirit and a smile on her face, we then parted ways. But as I gathered my attention to the avocados, Father corrected me…”You didn’t tell her specifically what I impressed you with…”

Not realizing at the time, that it was more important than just having a great connection, I collected what I needed while praying that Father would allow me to pass by her one more time.

Sure enough, as I rounded the corner at the milk, she stood expressionless in front of the meat department. Maybe pondering which cut was best, maybe struggling to have a clear thought between the random questions from her sweet girls, or maybe, she was so vacant inside she was searching to just have any thought at all….

Coming from behind, I broke in on her vacancy with my hand on her back. “Ma’am, I want to tell you the first thing that came to me when I saw you.”

With just my beginning words, “I was so struck by how beautiful God made you…” tears began to run down her face as she drank in all that Father gave me to share.

Confirming to me that it was important to speak exactly what God wanted, she responded, “I needed to hear those specific words…. I am in the middle of a divorce….”

Oh Father, thank you for the grace to even follow you – The Good Shepherd, thank you for wrecking my heart with your love poured out, thank you that we ran out of toilet paper….

Not that I am doing it well, but I am so convicted by the truth that our lives in Christ are to be lived out through the all-powerful, chain dropping, captive freeing LOVE of God that was poured out for us, and that it is to be the sole purpose of our existence.

For this reason, I must ask the questions that I pose to myself everyday:

Who do I want to be today, no matter what anyone else is doing around me?

Do people around me, SEE the love of Jesus?

Has my “doing” for Him, replaced my “abiding” in His love of me?

Is God’s love of me the power source of all that I do?

Father God, I just want to set my sights on you today…. and let the power of your love, the same love that was poured out through your Son on the cross and the power that raised Him from the dead that now lives in me…. let it invade me and become all that I am, all that I seek, all that comes out of me…. and in that alone, I will fulfill ALL that you have set me forth to do.

Intimate Time with You
by Brenda D. Flowers

“He’s alive! He’s alive!

He’s alive and I’m forgiven.

Heaven’s gates are open wide.”

These words from the song written by Don Francisco are resounding in my memory and in my quiet time.  I reflect on Jesus’ ministry:  His ways of speaking, touching, healing and even reprimanding. . . . always with the heart of His Father’s love paramount! No selfishness was in Him. He spoke and healing happened. He spoke and people were set free. His words were life and hope to those who trusted Him and had faith to come to Him.

A key is the coming to Him. That is why intimate time with Jesus is still so important. He still speaks to the world and one way is through you and me. How do we know what to say without spending time with Him? We don’t and we won’t unless we have our own intimate time with Him.

Just as Jesus went away to spend time in prayer, seeking His Father’s will, we must now spend time in prayer looking to Jesus, our priest and king, to seek God’s will. Jesus will provide direction and will give us words of life to share. Holy Spirit will provide the power we need as we trust and obey.

Thank you, Lord, for these wonderful words: “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 32:4 NIV)  I pray that my desires are Your desires and bear fruit. Bring joy to our lives even in the challenging times. You healed Peter’s mother in law. You care about families. Please do a mighty work healing, delivering and our families.

Intimacy with Christ through Prayer
by Judy Hitson

I Thessalonians 5: 17 KJV Pray without ceasing.

Stop.
Quiet.
Be still.

Like you would snuggle in a comfortable bed under warm blankets on a cold, winter night, snuggle in the loving arms of Jesus Christ with the comfort of His Spirit who gives you life. Take a few deep Holy Spirit breaths, like the song, written by Michael W. Smith, “This Is The Air I Breathe.”

Shake off anything that would hinder the flow like shooing flies away. Yes, shake off any worry, fear, doubt, anxiety, unforgiveness or fill in the blank and receive God’s peace. This is a prayer of my heart from Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, O LORD, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts. Show me if there is any hurtful, offensive or wicked way in me and lead me in the everlasting way. If you pray this prayer to the LORD and anything comes to mind, confess it and stand on God’s promise, I John 1:9 NKJV If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Don’t allow any enemy to hinder your soul. Let the Holy Spirit flow life giving words to you and enjoy peace in the presence of the Lord.

Praying is like breathing, Andrew Murray, a favorite author of mine, writes. As you draw near to the Lord, He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) With clean hands and a pure heart, ascend the hill of the LORD. (Ps.24:3-4) Be blessed in communion with Him lifting your soul, your mind, will and emotions, to the living God standing on the truth of His word.

This is not a ritual of legalism but deepening your love relationship with Jesus Christ, in communion with Him in prayer.

As I read I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing, I was struck by the Spirit revealing a process as I read through the Scripture passage of verses before and after: to rejoice always, to be thankful in everything for it is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus and do not quench the Spirit.
(I Thess. 5:16-19) We could read more and plunge the depths but will stop for now at this place and shift to another Scripture on prayer.

As I began the year on intimacy with Christ, I was led to begin with prayer in Matt. 6:6 ESV But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

     This was my first memory verse for 2014. The more I thought about it and chewed on it like a favorite meal, it took me deeper in the love of Christ. My heart was touched and my spirit soared, thinking about our children and grandchildren as God’s rewards in our lives. All the intimate moments, hours and days in the secret place with the LORD in prayer have been worth it to enjoy the good days and bear the most difficult days.

As we practice drawing near to God, coming close to Him (James 4:8), we taste and see the LORD is good (Ps. 34:8), and develop a deeper love relationship with Him. For me, the Lord says to start the year writing on intimacy with Him through prayer.

Where are you in your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you know His great love for you that you love Him because He first loved you? (I John 4:19)

Is your prayer life like breathing?

Whatever the case, I encourage you to draw near to the Lord, enjoy His love for you, His presence with you and experience intimacy with Him starting with prayer.*

Post note: *From Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary, International Edition, 1963, I wanted to share with you a meaningful definition I found on prayer: ……….4 Communion with God and recognition of His presence, as in praise, thanksgiving, intercession, etc…………….   

To Know Him & To Make Him Known

by

Kathleen Shore

     Today marked 28 years that I have crawled into Father God’s lap, to rest my head upon His promise…. “I will be a Father to the fatherless.”

As I moved about my morning, I felt oxygen breathed into my chest as God re-captivated me with a remembrance that was a commission, an impartation….

It was about 3 weeks before Dad went home to heaven that a video was taken of him with the intention of giving him the chance to share with his four children, all the things he would not be there to say throughout their lives.

The tape was set to record and with great patience and intensive care, questions were asked to help prompt his sharing. But the words just wouldn’t come…. The difficulty of “where to begin” showed on his face as minutes passed by. Respectfully, another question would be asked, and then another…. trying to help him put his thoughts into words.

But he had always spoken most profoundly with his life, he had been the greatest of teachers by walking it out in front of us…. and now to try and give words to the diverse needs of his four children, was painfully crippling and seemed more than inadequate.

The now twenty minutes gone by, had exhausted even those who were interviewing Dad and in one last attempt to leave a legacy for us, his brother in law said, “Don, is there just one thing that you would want your children to remember you saying…. Is there one thing you would say, this is what I want for them?”

Dad’s lip and chin began to quiver as tears ran down his face…. He now knew what he wanted to say!

“The one thing….” he said with clarity and strength, “The one thing I would want for my children, is that…. they would know The Word.”

Not to have memorized the address of where a certain scripture could be found, but to know Him, The Word, The Bread of Life – the source of life.

Not ensnared by the enticement to figure Him out, but their eyes so fixed upon Jesus, as to know Him…. and be satisfied with being empowered by His mystery unfolded in secret places…. sometimes dark, cold, painful places.

What Dad desired for us, came from standing at the entrance to heaven’s gates. Yet he knew that he could not give that to us…. he could only deliver to us the source. And so, he laid me in Abba’s lap as he stepped through the veil.

To know you as my Father God out of this, is like nothing I could have ever sought after and found. But you knew the way to deliver your love to me, you knew the way to catch my eye, your perfect love has held me and healed me through all my earthly loss and made it my kingdom gain.

My mountain top experience was set right down in my valley of the shadow…. A field of lilies for you to browse among, in pleasure, grew up right in the valley of dry bones.

This is the mystery of hidden treasures, riches stored up in secret places…. all that I would know that You are the Lord, who calls me by name. (Isaiah 45:3)