CONTINUAL OR COMPARTMENTAL?

I hate it when I lay down in bed at night and think..."Oh Lord, I wasn't in continual communion with you throughout the day." I think of how my day could have gone much better. I think of the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit that I was not sensitive to. Why did I miss out? I compartmentalized my time with Him. I spent time with the Lord but didn't stay in fellowship with Him throughout the day.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

How do you remain in Jesus?
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;" -PRAYER
Psalm 119:97 "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." -THE WORD
John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." -BE IN LOVE WITH JESUS

Abiding in Jesus is anything but compartmental. It's all about continual AND...this is a key to joy. Jesus says in verse 11 that He was telling them these things "that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." Wow! Joy...sometimes it may just seem so far beyond your reach and not something you are able to live in and live with but know that your Father LOVES you and desires for you to have joy. Please remember joy is NOT circumstantial. You may have everything you ever wanted...and still not have joy. When it comes to joy it's all about Jesus.

THE WAY OF JOY -these scriptures are awesome!
Nehemiah 8:10c "Do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Psalm 16:11 (my favorite) "Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever."
Jeremiah 15:16 "Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Thy name."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Sneak Peek

Have a sneak peek at my current CD project! Go to myspace.com/rachelpenna

Your Good Shepherd

I thank you all so much for all of your prayers! I am continuing to work hard...there are so many details involved. I pray you are all doing well and I really am so blessed when I get to see you in person...not via the internet! Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you today with what the Lord is speaking to me.

HE IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD
Are you allowing the work of your Good Shepherd to be accomplished in your life? Do you remember what His work is? Isaiah 61:1-3 describes it.
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Are you brokenhearted? Captive? Mourning? Depressed?

Take some time away and be immersed in the Lord and His presence. Allow the Good Shepherd to tend to you. Isaiah 40:11 "Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes."

Maybe you're always pouring out and neglect your time with Jesus. Is your cup overflowing? Psalm 23 gives very descriptive ways that the Lord tends to us. He makes us lie down and restores us. He leads us in righteousness. He comforts us. He anoints us so our cup overflows! If you feel like you're trudging forward...go to your Good Shepherd so you can live out of an overflowing cup rather than out of a dry and empty one.

Be Blessed
Love you!

Rach xoxoxoxo