Word Of The Day
Beloved, will you occupy till I come even if you knew there would only be one more day…one more hour or one more minute (Luke 19:13). Victory is not accomplished by having completed the course. It is accomplished by staying on task and not giving up…not growing weary. In other words, the greatest victory is in staying faithful to do as you have been directed even if you do not see the final outcome. Use the gifts I have given you for they are the tools you need to do as you have been called.
I want you to continue to walk out your dreams and My promises to you regardless of what you see on the horizon of this life and world. Victory is to the diligent, for whether the task at hand is completed or not, if one is diligent to stay the course they are already a victor…an overcomer. Many great saints believe without seeing the promise and I called them faithful. To be called faithful is to be found victorious.
Seize the day. Seize the last drop of out of life and you will have seized the day one moment at a time. Sometimes you look at the overall picture and it seems too large. You should have goals but every goal is lived out in the minutes of life. Every promise is fulfilled one moment at a time. Live each moment with faith, knowing the step by step acting out of dreams and promises will eventually culminate either in your life or those to come. Sometimes the things you pursue will be left for others to fulfill. They will be an inheritance you pass on…a torch you pass to the next generation.
Occupying till I come does not mean you will not make a mistake here and there. In fact, just to let you know, you will and I have it all covered…covered in blood. All you have to do is appropriate the blood I shed and go on. I am faithful to keep you and value the motive of your heart with great intensity.
My perfect love has made a way and you are perfected in Me. Fear is to have no power or authority over you or be allowed to convince you to put down the plow because you may have made a mistake.or the world at large mocks your determination in the face of adverse winds.
Yes, appropriate the blood I shed for you and continue. After all, you are accepted in Me…in the Beloved. I chose you knowing everything anyway. Nothing surprises Me and I have not changed my mind about you in any way.
Beloved, dare to believe…dare to stand up in the middle of all circumstances against all odds…against all bad news of the day and know I can and will mark you as My own. I have marked you and set you apart to occupy till I come…to occupy until I come for you…until your time in this realm is done.
I am illuminating your darkness until the Son of Righteousness arises in you like the morning sun. Arise and shine with the light of My countenance, My most cherished one. Come and live in the place of love and victory where fear has no power to bring defeat in the race at hand. Come and look Me in the eye and receive what you need to occupy…to take up residence…to stand your ground…to prevail in the face of contrary winds and lying sounds of defeat.
Come, My Beloved, and occupy with Me against all odds. Come for you are beautiful to Me. I love you…love you…love…you…love you. I love you and I do so without exception. Let this give you courage as you stand with Me and route out all fear that you might be enabled to occupy till I come. Fight the good fight of faith, embrace your gifts, appropriate the Cross where needed, receive My perfect love, My unconditional acceptance, and occupy (1 Timothy 6:12). In this you are the victor.
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13 KJV)
Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 Amplified)
Prayer
Lord, I will occupy till You come and I will do so without fear. You have given me an arsenal of gifts…tools with which to fight the good fight of faith. I will put my hands the plow with perseverance. I will not look back or turn back. My victory is not measured by how much I accomplish; but, whether I finish the race. You have strengthened my heart with Your love and the power of the Cross. My sins are forgiven and my mistakes are covered by the blood which washed me clean.
The dreams and promises given to my heart are going to be accomplished one way or another. There is no need for me to look so far ahead I miss the beauty of each moment as it unfolds the working out of Your plans for my life. The fulfillment of my dreams and promises are to the benefit of others and the furtherance of the Kingdom. Therefore, each moment I fulfill is of great importance and I choose this day to occupy till you come even if I were to know I only had one moment left with no hopes of seeing the complete dream of my heart realized. Moses did this and Joshua inherited the promise land. David did this and Solomon built the temple. Lord, you did this and Your disciples, including me, continue on to this day. No matter what, Your work continues on like good seed and produces crops throughout the generations.
I confess my mistakes…my failings and appropriate the Cross in all areas of my life and motives. I confess I am of good courage just as Joshua was. I have been set free from fear for I walk in love, power and a sound mind. The love of God…the blood of Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death. I am accepted in the Beloved and the Son of Righteousness has arisen in me with healing in His wings. I am marked by and for the Lord to do great exploits one moment at a time. Victorious, overcomer is my name and the light of His countenance is upon me. My home…my habitation is in the place of victory, where fear has no power to defeat me. I am one who is finishing and will finish the race. I have set my face like flint to look to the Lord face to face, for I am loved unconditionally, needed, embraced, accepted in the Beloved, forgiven without condemnation, set apart and marked for His glory. Amen.
Reflect and Journal
1. Have you ever wanted to give up on what you felt you are called to do because you were overwhelmed by the immensity of said calling? Has this happened because you did not see the importance of running the race verses the amount you were accomplishing? Explain.
2. In light of the above Word how can you adjust your attitude about completing the race set before you?
3. Contemplate David passing on his dream to Solomon. How does his experience encourage you to continue even if you only had a moment left?
4. How have you let your mistakes or failings disqualify you…or a minimum set you back on your feet when it comes to doing all you know He has called you to do?
5. Have you let fear of displeasing God or having displeased God keep you from continuing to keep your hands on the plow? How have you done this?
Demo at Green Fields Market
As I was setting in church a couple weeks ago I began to ponder my new adventure in marketplace ministry. I began to think about the economic issues of our day and time and how they relate to the new business I am starting. I knew I had a choice to make…a side to choose; the natural or the supernatural.
Over the past three years I have received many words of instruction and confirmation in relation to my new calling…my new business making salsa of all things. One thing you find out when living in Texas; everyone has a salsa recipe.
More than that, who was I, a bling jean wearing blond gringo, to make salsa. And what does making salsa have to do with Jesus. I decided to dismiss those questions and stand on the words I had received and take a chance. It isn’t about salsa. It is about positioning oneself where the Lord wants one to be, even if it is doing demos for Texas Brew Products.
Back to church. As I set there pondering my new life the Lord spoke to me four simple words, “Occupy Till I Come!” I realized though the economic and political environment of this day has made many want to run and hide, bury their head in the sand or become militant in ungodly ways, I would not be one of those categories.
Instead, I choose to occupy in whatever fashion the Lord has created for me regardless of what I see or feel. I choose to get out of the boat and occupy.
Please be encouraged by the Word He spoke to me and I pray it ministers to your heart as well. I pray you will occupy until He comes in whatever field or occupation He has given you a measure of faith and rule in. I pray you will not give in to what you see around you but will be one who does only what the Father is saying and doing regardless. Are you willing to take a risk and occupy till He comes and see your community transformed.