Book of Psalms

Made You Look – Karen Austin

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I was traveling home yesterday and saw I sign along the highway that read “Made you look.” Yes, it did make me look..lol. Its purpose was to emphasize the power of a sign. The intent was for you read the sign and agree with the power of a sign and then rent it to promote your business.

Signs are not only billboards but anything that is done to draw your attention to what the advertisers want you to look at. Today, we are witnessing so many signs in the earth that are saying “Look at me.” There are many movements that are screaming at us to buy into their beliefs.

One of the signs we are witnessing is violence and unrest in our nation. How many of us are glued to our television to see if anyone has been hurt or cities destroyed? Some are looking to the next politician to see whether they will speak peace and unity or speak words that will incite the anger. Signs of violence are causing the whole world to focus on division and to believe there is so much hate towards other people groups that there will never be unity and equality. This is a not true! Remember, a house divided cannot stand. This is the purpose of the enemy. He hates unity because he knows great power is released when we are in unity. “How truly wonderful and delightful to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity! It’s as precious as the sacred scented oil flowing from the head of the high priest Aaron, dripping down upon his beard and running all the way down to the hem of his priestly robes. This heavenly harmony can be compared to the dew dripping down from the skies upon Mount Hermon, refreshing the mountain slopes of Israel. For from this realm of sweet harmony God will release his eternal blessing, the promise of life forever! Psalm 133:1-3

Another sign that we are seeing displayed and requiring our attention are the words of Jesus. He said in this world, we would have pressures and tribulation but that we are to rejoice, because He has overcome the world. This means we too have overcome the world! As we live, move and have our being in Him we will be protected and will walk in great authority! We will become signs and wonders that point to Christ!

Jesus warned the religious by saying. “You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.” Luke 12:56. Jesus specifically told His disciples what the signs of the times would be as the end of the age appears. “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:3-8.

The enemy knows his time is short. So between now and the time of Jesus’ return, we will experience much turmoil in the earth and signs in the heavens. We must be looking as the signs that Jesus gave us in His Word. He said “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28

This will be the greatest times of the church. The world is looking for leaders who will give them hope and truth. They are looking for those who will give them hope and a promise. The only place the world will truly find healing from the hurt, injustice and division in the world is in the gospel of the Kingdom. Here is where we find comfort, our true identity and purpose.

So in this time of great turmoil, it is up to each of us to choose which sign we will give our attention to. What sign will you read and agree with the power of that sign? What sign will you become and promote?

“A Jewish man living there named Ananias came to see me. He was a godly man who lived according to the Law of Moses and was highly esteemed by the Jewish community. He stood beside me and said, ‘Saul! My brother, Saul—open your eyes and see again!’ At that very instant I opened my eyes and I could see! Then he said to me, ‘The God of our ancestors has destined you to know his plan and for you to see the Holy One and to hear his voice. For you will be his witness to every race of people and will share with them everything that you’ve seen and heard. So now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins as you call upon his name.” Matthew 22:12-16.

You have been destined to know His plan and to hear His voice. You are called to be His witness to every race of people and share the good news of His love for them.

Life Flow (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

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Have you ever come from a delicious meal but still did not feel satisfied? You wanted something else, but wasn’t sure exactly what it was that you still wanted. It is the same with our spirit man. We can come from an eloquent service but not have encountered God. We still feel dissatisfied. Now, our soul may be satisfied because we did what we are supposed to do, but our spirit man will still be hungry. The Father created us to come to Him for our life source, our sustenance.

Isaiah 28:11,12 “He will speak to His people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest and this is the refreshing.”

REST – place of stillness; peace; a quiet place.

Psalm 23:2,3 “He leads me beside the still waters, the waters of quietness. He restores my soul.”

Acts 3:19 “. . . . times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

God’s heart is to bring restoration to our life and to those in the world. When we come into His Presence, allow Him to speak to you, heal you and give you direction. Don’t just give Him our list of needs, but listen to what He would say. There is nothing that the world has to offer that will give us the confidence, peace and refreshment as sitting in His Presence. The world is looking for peace, security and rest. They are choosing substitutes, but they know they are not truly satisfied. Only our Creator can truly satisfy and give us true rest.

There is a place, especially in spirit and truth worship, where we experience a tangible heavenly atmosphere. This is the place where the life flow of God will bring life to the very cells of our body. It will refresh our soul. In this place we will experience this God life flow….where discouragement, oppression, sickness begin to fall away. We must go to the source of life – our Father in Heaven. Rev. 22:1 “And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

His invitation is “Come unto Me, all you who labor and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.” Take My yoke upon you and you will find rest, relief and ease, and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiteness for your soul.” Matthew 11:28-29. Yoke up with the One who created you instead of yoking up with your problems and what the enemy is telling you.

In His Presence, we breathe in His strength, His life. We must take the time to sit at His feet and enter into His life source. The Word says “If He be lifted up then He will draw all men unto Him”.

I sensed the Lord saying: “I have a high road that I have prepared for My people. A way, that to the human reasoning, does not appear to be profitable. But I say, I know all things. All things are in the power of My hand for My people. Just as I led My people out of the bondage of the Egyptians; as I led Lot out Sodom before the destruction of the land, I too, will lead you out of bondage of the world’s system. I will lead you out before the end of all things. Trust Me, My children in the hour of turmoil. Know that these things I have said in My Word will come upon the earth. All the earth is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God. As you stay connected to your life source, My very Presence, you will hear in stillness My spirit speaking to you, you will hear My will and My desire for you. Know that I love you with a love that you cannot even comprehend. But oh, you may come, taste of My love. I have called you and chosen you to stand out from the world. You who hear My voice, listen to what the spirit says. Do not forsake your daily time in My Presence. My Word to you is life to you and health to all your flesh.”

Stability in the Lord – Karen Austin

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Today, I am going to speak from my heart regarding uncertainties. As I was spending time with the Lord today, the word “stability” came to me and I began contemplating its meaning especially in regard to what the world is facing right now. One definition of stability is the strength to stand or endure. The opposite is instability which means “the quality or state of being unstable; lack of stability or firmness. The tendency to behave in an unpredictable, changeable, or erratic manner: emotional instability” as per Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Times of this pandemic has caused many things to become unstable. Things we took for granted are no longer there for us. Jobs were shut down. We can no longer gather at our house of worship. Some have been faced with empty shelves at the grocery store. The ability to visit loved ones or friends is not permitted in many areas. Watching our children/grandchildren play their favorite sport is something we hope to do soon, but the timing of that is also uncertain. So many uncertainties have cause many to become unstable in their emotions when in times past they were as solid as a rock. It is like the floor beneath us is being shaken and what we once depended upon is no longer something we can depend upon.

I feel this is especially true for the Western church. Our brothers and sisters in Christ that live in other areas of the world have faced much persecution and even death for their faith. Others live in areas of deep poverty and have to believe God for every meal to feed their families. I don’t think the Western church and nation has understood just how blessed we are. I sense the greatest enemy we are facing is fear in these times of uncertainty. Afraid a loved one may contact the virus, and if they do, will they live. The lack of employment enabling us to provide an income for our families is another great cause of fear.

I cannot imagine facing what we are facing without having a knowledge of the Father’s love for me and having history of His faithfulness. Over my lifetime, I have seen My Father’s hand provide financially when I did not know how we were going to make it. I have witnessed His healing touch upon those whom I love and even raise them multiple times from their death bed. I have experienced His calming voice speak to my heart in times where there was absolutely no reason for me to experience peace. He has put me back together when I had nothing left inside of me to continue on. You see, I have known Him in the good times and I have experienced His tender care in the hard times. One thing I can tell you is this, He is faithful. The Word says He is close to the brokenhearted. This too, I have experienced.

I encourage you to get to know Him in His Word. Maybe begin reading the Book of Psalms until you find what you are feeling. King David wrote of his ups and downs, but always ends with praising God for His faithfulness. Spend time just talking to the One who loves you more than anyone else on this earth. He is waiting for you to come to Him no matter how unstable you feel…no matter how many times you have failed. No matter how unworthy you may feel. He has answers for those things in your life that seem to have no remedy. He has such peace to give you that you cannot even begin to imagine. Allow Him to bring stability to you in times of uncertainty.

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28