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10/07/22 Just the Beginning

“You are seeing all things that I have created in your world so far fall in their place. Through My Word, you have seen the creations of the heavens and the earth. You have seen the creation and rebellion of My angelic beings. You have also seen the creation of mankind. Each and every one of My creations has an order that is to be followed and is functioning in My plan. I have designed it to be that way. There is no guesswork in anything that I do.

"Both My angelic creation and your creation have an initial period that allows proper choices to be made, and then there is a conclusion that fits within My overall plan. You are now part of the initial period - the earthly portion of your life. Your world, as you know it, will no longer exist once all of My purposes for it have been fulfilled. Once they are accomplished, you will remain with Me to fulfill the plans that I have for the eternal future. That may seem relatively unimportant at this moment in your life, but do not limit its impact in regard to your future.

"You need to remove your focus from the immediate and begin to realize that I have much more for you to do once your creation has fulfilled its initial purpose. Just as the angelic creation had a time to be involved in the playing out of their initial purpose to then function in My plan because of their choices, your involvement today directly impacts your future with Me. Your choice to serve Me was only the beginning. Your actions and daily choices have far more impact than you know.

"What you do each day, the choices you make, the decisions you follow, really play a part in your eternal future. Make proper choices. See a larger picture than what is presented to you each day by your life. I am a very creative God. Do not limit Me because you cannot see beyond what is happening in your little world.”

Joshua 24:15b NIV

“…then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”

Matthew 24:35 NIV 

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

 

I often wonder what the timeframe was that the angels had to make their decision to follow God. How much time did Lucifer have to influence that decision? How long did they function with God before the rebellion was exposed?  Did they spend all of their “days” in the rebellion plot, weeding out those who would remain faithful to the Lord and those who would rebel, or did “life” go on as usual, in service to God, while all things were playing out?

I know that those things are not necessary for us to know in order to function or they would have been revealed to us through the Word. It is fascinating, however, to understand that there was some sort of timeframe whereby the angels functioned; and then there was a conclusion to life as they knew it for some of them. Once the heavenly rebellion was concluded and the “players” of God’s plan had solidified their positions by their actions, God went on to His next work – us.

Now we, as a human race, are in the same sort of initial timeframe that the angels had. We have been created. Biblical history has shown us of a rebellion - this time with a means for redemption through Jesus Christ - and this very day we are on our way to the conclusion of this timeframe in our lives. What happens next, only God knows.

What does seem of paramount importance, however, is how we redeem each moment that the Lord has given us before He closes this portion of history. Our days are definitely numbered. What we do with each one seems to have a definite impact on our function in God’s economy, not only for today; but also for the futures to come.

Needing to function in God’s plans, not mine,

Jim Corbett

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10/07/22 Priorities

When was the last time you made a pursuit of the awe of God your priority? For that matter, how often have you set aside anything - your job, a sports event you love, even good things at church - to spend time with the Lord? I don't mean a couple of moments you throw at Him when you have nothing else to do; I mean scheduling times, possibly complete days or more for Him - times that are normally consumed with "important" things.

One of my biggest challenges is my war against the intrusions on my time with my Father. Things considered normal, even good things, are continuously presenting themselves as roadblocks to the path of quiet moments spent in pursuing an intimate relationship with ABBA God.

What I have discovered is the enemy hates anyone to go there because of the power and wisdom found by those who do. He hates us, especially men, to do all that we do from the warm, protected place on the lap of our Father. He has no power against the destruction it causes to his plans.

Have you ever wondered how you have been robbed of the taste-buds for that kind of intimacy? Doesn't it make sense that your real enemy loves to keep you so busy with urgent things that the things God sees as important are placed on a back burner, or forgotten about all together? Maybe your life and the lives of those around you will really prosper in Christ if you make time with God your priority rather than meeting Him when it’s convenient for you? What do you think?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/06/22 The End of Yourself

“Sometimes it is in times of pain and suffering that you find Me. Sometimes I need to bring you to the end of yourself, so that you will seek Me with all your heart. It is My love for you that turns your eyes toward Jesus. When you call out to Him in your desperation, He will come to you and bring you new life. Your religious heart will be softened. Your priorities will be put in line. Your motives for all that you do will become My motives as you grow in Me.

"Call out to Jesus in your need. Call to Him for the first time or for as many times as you need. He is waiting to ease your pain. His love is always for you, never against you. He is Lord, and He is waiting to be Lord over your every situation. Turn everything over to Him. Submit yourself to a love greater than you have ever known. You will find the answers you have been looking for as you find Him.”

2 Samuel 14:14 NIV 

“But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.”

Matt. 11:28-30 AMP 

28) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

29) Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

30) For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good – not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Luke 22: 61-62 NIV

61) The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

62) And he went outside and wept bitterly.

 

Some of us think that we have the corner on this thing called Christianity. For a while, I sure did. Having met Him in a cemetery - stupid, full of dope, one day before I planned to kill myself - I found real life and real love for the very first time. I, of course, immediately turned everyone off with my zeal and freedom - being so full of newfound love, but so immature and insensitive.

What I didn’t realize at the time is that my Father in heaven brought me to the place of desperation, so that I would finally come to the end of myself and cry out to Him in my need. Because I was such a hardhead, I had to be stripped of everything before I would submit fully to Jesus and His Lordship over my life. I had to realize that I was helpless and needed a Savior.

Since then, His faithfulness has brought me to a point of need often, so that I would realize the necessity of resubmitting and recommitting my life to His Lordship. He would stop me dead in my tracks, making me realize that I was running off by myself somehow; and quietly bring me back to the place of total submission to Him, the only place of safety.

Here’s a thought. No matter how long you have known Jesus, no matter how much you are doing for Him, stop for a moment. Ask a few questions about your life. Is everything in order? Is everything at peace in your heart? If not, maybe the Lord is calling you to turn your life back to a place of total submission to Him. Maybe He wants all of you once again. Maybe the Father is saying that the answer to all your needs is Jesus, and He is asking you to get back to basics with Him before you can move on.

Going back often,

Jim Corbett

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10/06/22 Be a Holy Representative

Our Father is asking His husbands and fathers to be His holy representatives. He is calling families to be the example of the bride of Christ and His church.

I wonder how many of us really believe that our families mean so much to Him? How many of us have thought that how our marriage and family look to others is important as a representation of God's plan?

When was the last time, you, as a father, studied your family and asked the Lord how you can better provide fertile ground for your wife and children to become all they can be in Christ? How much does it mean to you that they’re telling others who Jesus is simply by their actions, and those actions reflect on you and your relationship with Christ?

As a man, you have been given a stewardship of your family. How far are you willing to go with God so that you have the tools to guide and direct those He has given you into a deep relationship with Him? Isn't it time that you become all you can be so that they have the freedom to do the same?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/05/22 Still Time

“Are you part of the crowd, or are you setting yourself apart unto Me? I never approve of mediocrity. I cannot abide the lukewarm heart. I do not accept cold petitions and insincere praise. I am calling for deep devotion, first love adoration, and zealous involvement from those who claim to be Mine.

"There is still time. Turn your hearts to Me. Repent of your divided interests. Throw away the things of the world that have your attention. I will meet you right where you are. I will have mercy on you for as long as you desire, as you remain sincere in your turning from those things that are shown to be hindrances in your life.

"The call is out. I want you to dedicate yourself completely to Me. Submit to Me and I will accomplish My desire in you.”

Romans 2:4 NIV

….not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

I Th. 5:24 AMP

Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].

James 4:8-10 AMP

8) Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

9) [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

10) Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

Rev. 3:15-20 NIV

15) “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

16) So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

17) You say, ’I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

18)  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19) Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be in earnest, and repent.

20) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

 

What an incredible Lord God! How merciful He is to have so much patience with us. I love the open kindness and loving mercy that our Lord has for us. How many of us would endure people whom we call friends for as long as the Lord has endured our fickle hearts? Praise God for the blood of Jesus!

I am convinced that this generation is being pressed on all sides for the purposes of refinement. We are being called to really become who we have been saying we are for a long time. Now He is forming us for His purposes, for this time, for these people. How blessed we are to be part of the plans of God!

Teach me to respond properly when You call me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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