579 - Consecrate

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Wow Lord, I am just blown away by your timing and completeness. I am almost at a loss for words, but I think I can get a bit out. I was telling some STMM (Speaking Thru Me Ministries) speakers that I felt God was calling me to an intimate time with Him even more so that just everyday living and conversing with Him. I am feeling lead to take a deep dive and not sure when I will come up for air kind of thing. I want to seek some purification in my life and His Holy breath to rejuvenate my thoughts and direction with Him. Maybe it is about summer coming up and I just need to get all my ducks in a row so that it (summer) is not a bomb of wasted time.

So one of our speakers - Sue McRoberts - www.suemcroberts.com - was telling us that Josh. 3:5 was heavy on her heart and shared it with the group. It says "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." It is one of my favorite verses in all scripture. I went on to tell them................... I want to consecrate myself because I know amazing things are around the corner!!! But I must have put myself in the position to hear from Him and be with Him intimately first - consecration!!!!! I have much about me that needs purified!!! I am wretched and need His mercy and grace. I want His direction and clarity!! I want Him even more than a prosperous ministry!!!!!!!! He is my heartbeat!

So then this morning in my "scheduled devotion I found myself in Luke again - 2:22-24

22When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."

Lord, there is that word again. Consecration! Here it means to be called out for a particular purpose. To call to repentance, exhort. to appoint, to set apart for a task. Lord I am amazed at the offering Mary and Joseph had for their offering was the bare minimum. According to the law they were suppose to have a lamb, but the law made an exception for those that were much less poor and unable to even get a lamb. They thought they were bringing the lowest offering of all and yet in their hands was the greatest blessing and most prized offering of all time - Christ the Lord. Mary and Joseph were offering Him to the Lord for consecration. Only thing was that He was already called, set apart, holy, and made ready for a special task. He was God. They knew who He was and promised to be, but they still had to go through the motions and obey the law.

I have to ask myself if I am willing to do the things that are required for my consecration? I know I am not bound by the law any longer after Jesus' death on the Cross, but still I am to daily seek His redemption and my personal holiness. Seeking holiness and redemption can the best thing that I can do for anyone; family, friends, ministry team, church, etc. More than anything my holiness will be "furthered" (can't think of a better word) by choosing to daily die to myself. Boy that is an easy choice and task. Not!!!!!! When I don't chose to walk in the dieing (which gives me life) then and there I live in His redemption. Yes, His redemption came in totality when He died and I came to know Him as Savior, but every day I need Him to redeem me from me and the poor choices I make that break not only His heart, but also fellowship with Him. Oh Lord, I thank you for this confirmation again!! Now Lord, what is it that you seek in me?

My time for purification has come just as it did yearly for the Jewish people in the early days. Oh Jesus, please show me my sin - especially the sin that i brush under the rug or just don't even realize is sin. Lord, show me my faults and poor and selfish motives. Show me my yuck so that we can get this clean before you!! Lord, show me err and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank you Lord that when I call to you a new heart will be "bara - ed" to me - I just ask and you speak it!!! Oh Lord, thank you!!!! I am ready - begin to show me. thank you!!!!!!

I speak this Saturday morning at my home church - that always scares me to death!! I will be speaking on God's measurelessness and Ps. 146. If you want to come it is going to be a big deal - men serving us and the whole nine years - why is not 10 yards??? Starts at 10am and we will have a huge lunch!!! yeah baby!!! Then Saturday night we will have a SS progressive dinner as well here at the house. It will be good eating too! But as for tonight - Circus!!!!!!!