Dear followers of The Way,

Good morning to a new day! My heart is rejoicing with you as we prepare to walk hand in hand with our Shepherd King. Having put on the whole armor of God, we now set out to serve Him. Strengthen another as God makes all our appointments. You are called to be the Bride of Christ.

Jesus is calling us home to Himself. His heart is ready to receive us one by one. He stands at the door and knocks.

My grandmother had a picture I remember so well as a child. It was framed, hanging on the wall of her little chapel. A picture of Jesus standing at the door of a pretty little cottage. His hand raised to knock. There was no door knob for Him to open. It took the person on the inside of the house to open it for Him, before He could enter.

Jesus is a gentleman and lets us decide whether or not to open the door of our hearts and invite Him in. He became the door as He says in John 10:7-9.

"So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep. All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them. I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture."

Can you picture this? Someone else is at the door too. Can you guess who? Satan. He skulks in the dark and then just while you are sleeping soundly, he sneaks in. Best to keep that door locked! We live in evil times and yet if we invite the Lord into our heart; our home; our life, will be safe.

Way back in Genesis 4:7 tells us as He did to Cain, "if you do no do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." Interesting. A far place from the days of the Garden. Since then, we choose Who will be our Master, don't we?

A cry from David's heart in Psalm 141:3 says, "Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips."

Consider the next verse..."Incline my heart not to submit or consent to any evil thing or to be occupied in deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties."

I am going to follow this trail and trust the Holy Spirit to speak to us. So, we have gone from the door of our heart to the door of our lips. I think this is important. Whatever occupies our thoughts will turn out to be our works. Whatever we choose to indulge in; the decadence of the world or the Bread of Life, will turn out just as the Bible tells us.

When I invite Jesus to become Master of my house, my body; physically, emotionally and spiritually I am doing well. But, we live in this flesh that gets caught up with the noise of the worlds happenings around us. Especially with all the politics now. 

Yet, we are told that to follow Christ is to obey and trust Him explicitly. I keep praying Psalm 139:23..."Search me [throughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!"

Tested and tried. I personally don't have fond memories of those words in my own life. But, when I look back and see how the Lord has deepened me through the process, my soul rejoices!

WE do have God's amazing grace. WE do have access into His glorious presence. WE do have unlimited counsel from His Spirit. Jesus was the One Who came to make this possible for us!

While we wait, we find patience a growing fruit. James 5:8-9 speaks of another door. "So you also must be patient. Establish your hearts [strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty], for the coming of the Lord is very near."

"Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you [yourselves] may not be judged. Look! The Judge is [already] standing at the very door."

Then in Revelation 3:7-8 says, "And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly of Philadelphia write; these are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open; I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name."

Glory to God for His wonderful encouragement to our hearts today! Are you encouraged or not? We are the Church. It might be good to take a good look at the door. It only swings one way, at your will. Jesus will not push it forcefully. He only wants to be invited! How about that cup of tea...before it grows cold?

You are in my prayers this weekend. Once again, I covet yours too. We can agree across the miles and understand how much God loves covers us far and wide. I long for the day when we will meet our Lord and King. I long for the day when we too will meet.

Be safe in His arms. Guard what is precious and throw away the worthless. Keep His Word. It is power! Rejoice always! Abide in Him and let His Word abide in you. You will stand! I pray this in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Abundance is...Jesus is my Home