No More Room

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7, NKJV)

I’ve been thinking a lot about  “No room for them”. I started thinking about the phrase, “no room” and exactly what it means. At Thanksgiving, I’ve had no more room to eat anything else. I’ve had closets that couldn’t hold one more thing.

Ok, ok...I have closets that can't hold one more thing.

Anyway, back on topic. I’ve had hard days when I had no room to handle one more thing going wrong.

Once I had that visual of no more room, I started thinking about what Jesus said in Luke 8:50.

• Don’t be afraid, just have faith. (NLT)
• Fear not, believe only. (KJV)
• Don’t be afraid, just believe. (GWT)
• Do not be seized with alarm or struck with fear, simply believe. (AMP)

When we “just have faith”, “believe only”, "just believe”, and simply believe, in Jesus and His ability, we have no room for anything else! (Luke 8:50, AMP)

• No fear!
• No doubt!
• No unbelief!
• No what if!

• Only faith!
• Only certainty!
• Only belief!
• Only God will!

Father God, thank You for living messages in Your Word that speak to us in our current every day lives! I pray for every reader right now and declare we have no more room! No room for anything except what You have called us to! So full of faith, thanksgiving, and praise leaving no more room for anything not of You Lord, in the name of Your precious Son, Jesus!

Only

But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” (Luke 8:50, NLT)

On Thursday, I wrote a blog post about my ways being higher than Bo's ways entitled, "I Just Don't Understand".

Since then, I've gotten a lot of feedback from readers about how that post has helped them move from not understanding to trusting.

The Lord has been moving on my heart to discuss, "only".

Only defined is:

• Adverb: and no one or nothing more besides; solely or exclusively: 
• Adjective: Alone of its or their kind; single or solitary: 

Mahalo google!

This is a gentle reminder and an addition to Thursday's blog post, "I Just Don't Understand". We are not called to understand, we are called to "only believe". (Luke 8:50) And when we are only believing, there is no room for doubt. 

I will explain. 

If we are (only) married, there is no room for us to be single. 

If we are (only) a woman, there is no room for us to be a man.

If we are (only) facing north, there is no room for us to be facing south.

Since Bo is only a dog, there is no room for him to be a cat. Well, you get the idea!

In the same manner, we are to only believe, leaving no room for doubt. (James 1:6)

Trust Him, He is so trustworthy!

Psalm 9:10

Psalm 13:5

Psalm 20:7

Proverbs 28:25

Isaiah 12:2

Isaiah 26:4

Father, thank You for being trustworthy at all times! Thank You for your love that never fails! Thank You for teaching us that we can fully trust in You! In the name of Jesus, I pray for each reader right now as they have moved from battling with understanding to completely resting in trusting You. Thank You for finishing what You started in them. Thank You for Your peace which surpasses all understanding! 

1 Corinthians 13:8

John 16:23

2 Corinthians 3:18

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 4:7

Freedom Impact Statement

Just believe. (Luke 8:50)

A very dear friend just told me about an experience she had with God. During study and prayer time, she surrendered herself to God and told Him she would do anything He wanted her to do. She explained how she could physically feel His anointing by means of heat and tingling come on her hands, feet, and in her mouth. God had a word for her through me, she will go places for Him, touch people for Him, and say things for Him. 

She is very excited about her experience but explained she couldn't share the experience with "just anyone" because sometimes others cannot believe what she feels physically. 

Jennie Crowell, one of my instructors at Life Christian Universities and one of my closest friends, taught on this subject during one of my LCU classes. She explained, we are not in a position to refuse to believe someone else's experience with God, we were not there. And "it is a very good idea to protect that anointing and that precious intimate experience with God".

Just because some can't believe an experience doesn't make the experience any less true. Are we to say how our Heavenly Father moves on or through someone else? Does He communicate with each of us using the same technique every time? 

Do we as parents communicate with our children in the same manner every time? Or, do we spend enough time with each of them to communicate in a way that is most effective to them as an individual? Do we minister to them individually, communicating in such a way to effectively reach them as individuals? How much more does God, our perfect Father, communicate with each of us as individuals?

God has blessed me with three phenomenal girls. I have been stretched by parenthood having to learn many ways to relate to them that ministers to them. I communicate with one through words of affirmation, another through quality time, and another through physical touch. Thank you Dr. Gary Chapman and The 5 Love Languages.

We must not be so wrapped up in our own understanding of how God communicates with others or we could miss an opportunity to be ministered to or minister to others. Had I totally closed off my mind to the experience my friend told me, I would have missed God's opportunity to speak through me to her. If I decide, based on her experience, she's too far out there for me and then God wants to use her to bless me, it may be very difficult for me to receive from her. Solely based on my own limitations and through a self imposed filter. 

Here is what I call my, "Freedom Impact Statement". No one is 100% completely correct 100% of the time, except Him. In some cases, we have to be as smart as a cow, eat the hay, and spit out the sticks. But we canot be so concerned with the sticks that we miss out on the hay. 

We cannot become so familiar with someone, seeing them in the "natural" and all their quirks...hey, we all got 'em...or what we perceive as quirks in them...that we cheat ourselves out of a blessing. For example, Dr. Larry Ollison once taught on a husband's authority in the home. Just because a husband may have left his dirty clothes on the floor does not dilute the authority and anointing placed in and on him by God. 

This may seem irrelevant but it is pertinent. My friend surrendered herself to God and received direction. While some beg God and receive no direction. As a child of God, we are not begging God to move on our behalf. (1 John 1:12, 13) He has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). He offered up His own Son. (Romans 8:32) After offering up His own Son, there is nothing else to withhold. He freely gives us all things. 

Just believe.