On Pause....

Good-bye for now.

I must step away for a while.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!

I pray that somehow my words exploring touched you positively.

Smiles and Blessings to each of you!

Sincerely,

MistiPearl :)

Spiritual Warfare

This morning I am feeling very "je ne sais quoi"...free...lightened...optimistic. I am only a little surprised by this because lately I have been burdened, so burdened, yet last night I engaged in spiritual warfare that has proven effective and successful. Spiritual warfare that I had been disregarding for weeks.

So many times, it can be so easy to brush off spiritual warfare as only for someone else to engage in, like your pastor or that great saint of a lady who God seems to favour ('God is always coming through for her'...); however, the reality is that we are all call to engage in spiritual warfare and we are all equipped to do so. (Book of 1 Timothy Book of 2 Timothy Book of 2 Corinthians Book of Ephesians ...)

Ephesians 6:10-18 (New International Version)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Everyday we are faced with battles, some days we might feel like fighting, some days we are too oppressed to even consider raising words and resolve of victory, but we must, we must persevere. And when we can't find the words, let the Holy Spirit - just allow and let the Holy Spirit. Ask other Christians to pray for you, sometimes it is necessary that we include our brothers and sisters to engage in warfare on our behalf, this is something that we should not be ashamed of, we are called to relationship with God and with others. We look out for one another in sincerity and in Godly affection.

Be encouraged this day knowing He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written:"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l]
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8 (Whole Chapter)

Going from Here to There

I am in love with an ideal. An ideal that seems to be out of reach. How do I get to this ideal? One step at a time, right?
I am smitten by righteousness. A righteousness that shuts me out. How do I make peace with righteousness? One prayer at a time.
I am lost without support. Support that would bring me peace. How do I get this support?
How do I...

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When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

~Josh Groban You Raise Me Up

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I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

~Psalm 121

What are you waiting for?

Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship,

praise him under the open skies;

Praise him for his acts of power,

praise him for his magnificent greatness;

Praise with a blast on the trumpet,

praise by strumming soft strings;

Praise him with castanets and dance,

praise him with banjo and flute;

Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,

praise him with fiddles and mandolin.

Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!

Only God Knows...

Out of the dark and silence, the world begins to stir as it awakens to a new day. What will this day hold? Only God knows...
For I saw before me a dream
Deep within a burning spread through my core
The battle began in my mind
It will come to pass, it won't come to pass
Hearing the truth is lost in the ruckus of sparring
The tornado of denial shouts louder muffling out the wind of hope
And in borderline despair I sit
Weighing the use of my armour
I sit afraid to move lest the tornado carries me away
In this desert people pass by carrying water from their oasis
My jug is near empty
Only a cup of water remains
Will it be enough?
Some say there is an eternity in but one drop
My dream so wonderful it seems...
Perhaps it is nightmare in disguise
Or truly a dream of unimaginable significance
Water, I must have water to quench my thirst
The rushing wind is drying my soul
The dream is armed
Is that armour to hurt or to help?
I cannot look for fear that the burning within is indignation and the warrior within...
The warrior within
She will know what to do
I will sit no longer
This dream will not master me
Dream or nightmare
It will come along side me as friend or foe
I will not go
It will come to me
I will be waiting and ready.

I Should be More in Awe

God's splendor was like that of the sunrise...

I cannot help but think that I should be more in awe of God. I look around at His handiwork and I am amazed! I recently watched a documentary that showed the internal workings of a cell in motion, it looked like a well organized city of existence! Building up, taking down, each element with its purpose, none without a purpose. It struck me as amazing! And then, I look around me at the world we live in, knowing each person has worth, each person has a purpose, that we are meant for things more wonderful than what the majority of us are accomplishing.

I struggle with my sense of worth - cherished by God. I struggle with my place in this life - where do I fit? Decisions of the past have damaged me so that decisions of the present cannot be made - I am rendered paralyzed out of fear for making another "bad" move. I know I am meant for things more wonderful than I can imagine, but until these things manifest themselves, I doubt. I allow fear to micromanage me, leaving me paralyzed.

Yet, I know that perfect love casts out all fear. That turning my eyes upon Jesus will lead me out of the darkness of this battle into the splendor of His presence, into the fullness of the life I was created for. And I will be in awe of Him. Ironically, that which I am "meant" for requires me not to doubt, but to trust, to have faith, to hope, to move. The paralysis that is stealing my life from me must be overcome. The only way I can see overcoming this is in collaboration with God. Devoting myself to seeking Him out wholeheartedly.

I should be more in awe of God. He can do infinitely more that I can ask or imagine!

My prayer for today is that I would be more in awe of You, Jesus, my God, my Saviour, my Friend, my Counsellor, my King.

What I Learned at Church Today

...I felt like I was much closer to where my heart lies or desires to be. I also realized that my walk has become unauthentic and religious. There's a hard hit to your walk - the realization that you have somehow strayed from the true heart of Christ to mainstream religion all the while denying it!

The Poet spoke on hope and how back in the day, Jesus' followers lived expecting Christ to return imminently. They lived expecting! Because of that hope, that expectancy, Jesus' followers impacted their community and beyond because they were living authentically in anticipation of Christ's return. They really believed Jesus was going to return within days. Now, if we were to live with that hope and expectancy, how would that change our behaviour? The Poet asked, "If we knew Jesus was returning this afternoon at 4, would we be ready or would we want Him to hold off because there were still things that we wanted to do?"

The challenge was: Do we live like that? Do we truly have that hope in us? Do we live in authentic expectancy of Jesus Christ's return? Do we really?

I must admit, I do not. I believe, but I do not expect Christ to show up within the next day, month, or year for that matter. And yes, I do have things I want to do before He returns. This challenge hit deep for me. I try to live for Him, but it is hard...I need, I want to live in the hope and expectancy of the Believers of old.
Lord, please show me how. Please show us how, to Your glory.

Are We There Yet?

The path is prepared. Abba where are you taking me? As we walk, I can only see so far and where I think we are going has not yet arrived. Is this the long way 'round? Abba? It is a beautiful path, dare I hope in the desires of my heart? Or is what I think what I want less than what you have for me? Assuredly it is, but are we close? Are we there yet Abba? Are you laughing at me? [Smile and giggle] You are enjoying this aren't you? Abba, I am glad you are with me. Thank you. I so love you! I am excited about where you are taking me, it will be wonderful. Thank you! [Hugs and kisses]

New Morning

Everyday bring newness into our lives and yet, it is so easy to drag yesterday's garbage into the new day and spread it before you like a mat to stand upon. It doesn't make for a good start to your day.

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It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God

I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left.

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.

Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense. He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way: Stomping down hard on luckless prisoners, refusing justice to victims in the court of High God, Tampering with evidence—the Master does not approve of such things.
~Lamentations 3:19-36 (The Message)

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It is necessary to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, off of our selves and our garbage. Hold fast to God, persevere. Engage in releasing the garbage to God who will sort it and make all things new - to His glory. Do not try to hold on to the garbage of yesterday. Get before God, release it all to Him - do not try to take it back - and then live fully engaged in the newness of the day. Looking up, looking forward. Not looking back.

....And you know what? If you you have any doubts, I am telling you, You can do it! With God you can!

Heart of the Matter

Lately, like many others it seems, I have lost my 'umpah' to write with the heart I once used to. One of the obstacles I realized that I have set before me is wanting to please others in my writing. This is not what I set out to do with this blog. This blog was for me to explore all that weighed upon my heart and mind, to be transparent with my walk with God so that others might be encouraged. That being said, I recognize that I do write for others in some sense, but I should not be constrained into silence of the matters of my heart. Some of these matters are hard to write about, I rarely discuss them, let alone scribe them for anyone to gaze upon. Some other matters, I do not mind sharing, even though they may cause some discomfort - for the reader and for me.

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To be real: to be real...it may not be pretty, but it is beautiful in the end. See as one who can see with the eyes of God the beauty, the truth, the reality of the one you gaze upon. Not in judgement, but in purity of Love...and rejoice - for you too are being viewed upon and loved...unconditionally. ~mp:)

Desert Prayer

The climate in which monastic prayer flowers is that of the desert, where the comfort of man is absent, where the secure routines of man's city offer no support, and where prayer must be sustained by God in the purity of faith. Even though he may live in a community, the monk is bound to explore the inner waste of his own being as a solitary. The Word of God which is his comfort is also his distress. The liturgy, which is his joy and which reveals to him the glory of God, cannot fill a heart that has not previously been humbled and emptied by dread. Alleluia is the song of the desert.

~Thomas Merton, Contemplative Prayer

Making the Best of It

This is not what I intended.

What did you intend?

Well...I dunno...not this though.

So, what are you going to do?

What can I do? I have few options.

Yes, but you have options.

This is true. I always have a choice.

So, make the best of it.

...Yes, I will make the best of it...

Have Faith

In John 3:14 of The Message, it says, "In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life."

"...so people could have something to see and then believe..." How often do we demand a sign before we will believe? Or how often do we say we have faith, but we demand a sign of proof to assure us that our faith is not in vain? Doubt seeps in wherever it can.

Faith - true faith - can be defined as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 It is not believing in the absurd, it is trusting in the character of God, the Truth. Hebrews 11 show many examples of faith in action.

Be encouraged this day, God will do what He says. Do not doubt it. God is faithful, so should you be.