​Hosea 10:12 Amplified Bible (AMP)
12  Sow with a view to righteousness [that righteousness, like seed, may germinate];  Reap in accordance with mercy and loving kindness.
Break up your uncultivated ground,  For it is time to seek and search diligently for the Lord [and to long for His blessing]  Until He comes to rain righteousness and His gift of salvation on you.

I can't believe how emotional I feel about this verse - maybe it's because of how God gave it to me.  Or maybe it was this overwhelming sense of gratitude that I actually personally know what plowing is.  What it looks like.  To see the beautiful rich dirt that's brought to the top or even the smell of dirt - did you know that I love the small of dirt?  Especially after it rains.  

So, how did this verse come to me?  This morning in my "God time", I was walking by a small stack of books that God has me reading - I'm at various places in each of them.  I stop reading when He says stop & I start reading when He gives me these prompts to pick it up.  That's what it was this morning.  The book is "Storming the Gates of Heaven" by Anne Graham Lotz.  It was well over a month ago with Chapter 4 that I had read it.  So this morning 2 HUGE things came from my reading - One was this verse.  Truthfully the human side of me is saying, "but Lord... it's such a LONG verse - are You sure it's the one?" Then, I realized how wrecked my heart feels & I KNOW it's the one.  

What is it?  Well, God has been preparing me to teach on the righteousness of God.  Why?  Because to understand the true, biblical sense of God's love - one must first understand His righteousness.  Just as God's righteousness is no silly, whimsical version that we can ignore - neither is His Love and yet, that is what this world seems "hellbent" on proclaiming - NO!  This phrase keeps swimming in my head - "are we willing to "love" someone straight into hell?"  We have GOT TO start proclaiming the righteousness of God - it's imperative to survival.  

Then, there is the phrase, "break up your uncultivated ground" - hearts have hardened.  Our conscious has so consistently ignored the prompting of the Holy Spirit that we are drowning in license & the swamp of the flesh.  We have got to break it up, stir it up & reveal Truth.  Before revival there must be a preparation of heart, mind, body & soul.  We need revival.  But how many know that?  

Then it's this great reminder that it is time to seek and search diligently for the Lord.  For how long?  UNTIL He comes to rain righteousness and His gift of salvation.  Which all in all, is about this call He has on my life.

I have come to have a very clear understanding of my calling - my mission - at least for right now.  God has charged me to lead and encourage others to recognize and pursue the knowledge of Truth with the purpose of producing disciples of good character whose lifestyle identifies them as true Christ followers  - believers who live lives with a purpose that reflects true spiritual maturity. ​

​The rain of righteousness is coming.  Are we ready?  This post isn't meant to be depressing but rather a spur to remember why we are here.  Which leads to a small portion of the second impact of my reading today - It's several pages about self-reflection & sin that might actually be lurking below the surface in all of us.    One of the questions was to consider this:

Lack of Concern For The Souls Of Others. Standing by and watching friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even family members on their way to hell, yet not caring enough to warn them or pray for them or even admit that's where they will end up if they don't put their faith in Jesus.  Have I become so politically correct that I don't apply the gospel to those I know and love? pgs 73-76

I know that's a LOT to chew on.  May God stir your heart to restlessness until you pay attention.
​Cheryl

It is a miracle!  I have my verse & it continues with this overwhelming theme of LOVE.  What is your theme?  There are soooo many aspects to loving like Christ did.  Defining love - not by my standard - but by His makes me realize just how much I will have to lean in & lean on Him.  It's not natural.  It's counter-intuitive.  It's absolutely against everything the world seems to stand for and yet, we are called to it.  This is your mission, should you choose to accept it....

Ephesians 4:15 Amplified Bible (AMP)15 But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.
Hugs ~Cheryl

Ladies, my sincere apologies.  Even though I didn't have a personal Scripture I should have posted - I didn't think it would be 10 days eeek... which means we are just days away from another one.  With that being said... let's keep this short, sweet & simple.
​
1 John 3:18 Amplified Bible (AMP)18 Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].
Love you all ~C

Well, I realized (too late) that since I had posted both of my August Scriptures in one post that I probably messed a couple of you up.  Sorry about that. 

On another note, I feel led to ask you this question (or make statement) -- I really pray that each of you are carefully protecting & standing strong in carving out your time alone with God.  It is the only thing that will continue to get you through this crazy world we live in. Do YOU believe that?  Because if you don't, you will continue to compromise & live a lack-luster life in Christ - if you even live a life in Christ at all.  But not only that - if you are attempting to read & gain wisdom - without the Holy Spirit - you are just getting a whole lot of knowledge that in truth-- will not do you any good at all. 

We are called to live FILLED under the guidance, counsel, training & direction of HIM.  Are you?  Now don't get me wrong - not every second and every moment of my seeking is "all that" - in fact, occasionally, I am distracted and it feels like I got nowhere (that I have even dishonored Him) - but that does not STOP me from continuing.  I do not have to see, feel, hear or experience "something" to understand and KNOW that NO MATTER WHAT.... this is important.  Our relationship is CRITICAL.  As you grow and mature, life continues to change. You continue to transform.  Things are new & you will begin to understand and have insight into not only what IS happening, but also when something new is on the horizon.  The Holy Spirit stirred something in me today on this verse - affirming what I have shared with a few close friends.  God is on the move not only IN me, but also in the body of Christ.  He is raising up warriors.  Are you coming along or are you being left behind?  Choose.

Isaiah 43:19 Amplified Bible (AMP)19 
“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even put a road in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.