Declaration of the River of God

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

 

“The river of God sets our feet a‑dancing

The river of God fills our hearts with cheer

The river of God fills our mouths with laughter

And we rejoice for the river is here” (Andy Parks)

 

We declare:

Because the River of God flows through me, and the Tree of Life indwells me, I am to bring peace, healing and life into every aspect of my life.

Because I walk in His grace, I am to extend that grace to others. 

I am to rejoice and be happy and not be afraid to testify of God’s goodness toward me. 

I am to grow in the fruit of the Spirit.

By the grace of God, the river of God will flow from my innermost being.

 Moving from Knowing into Accepting

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

According to the dictionary “to know is “to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.”

What do I know?

• I know that the universe moves in an orderly fashion.  I observe it each morning as darkness gives way to light.

• I know that God exists.  Though I have inquired, I can find no other explanation for the wonders of life that surround me.

• I know that Jesus loves me “for the Bible tells me so.”

In knowing, we can still walk in doubt, unbelief and fear.  Knowing can sometimes be superficial.  Simply knowing often does not bring peace to the disquietude of the soul.  To still the tumult, we must move from merely knowing into fully accepting.  Accepting brings the transformation that comes from the renewing of our minds.

• When I accept, in the inner most part of my being, that the universe moves in an orderly fashion, I no longer fear the comet that might take it out of existence.  I do not succumb to the terrors of alarmists.  I find peace in accepting “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:16-17).

• When I accept that God is Who He says He is, I no longer search for explanations for the unexplainable.  I rest in His word, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,'' says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9.

• When I accept that Jesus loves me unconditionally, eternally and tenderly, rejection, fear, unforgiveness, anxiety, despair and anguish flee.  I then embrace His promise as Paul did, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

It is not enough just to know that we have been invited into His kingdom.  We must accept the invitation.

Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light'' (Matthew 11:28-30.

 

Rise Up, Decently and in Order

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Micah 6:1: “Hear now what the Lord says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.”

The Lord is calling His people to rise up and speak truth into the councils of the worldly. However, believers must do more than simply speak against sin and oppression; we must coherently speak for truth, and we must speak for that truth decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40).

In order ro plead our case, we must have a case.  It is time for Christians to offer solutions, to make solid, grounded suggestions in writing to influence public policies and to articulate exactly why we stand where we stand.  Every problem that exists is an opportunity to offer a godly solution. We must be proactive in offering solutions.

Our solutions must be presented decently and in order.  Decently and in order means that we must speak and write as the Holy Spirit directs.  (Luke 12:11-12:) "Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.''

The Holy Spirit will not lead us to speak out of fear and anger.  He will not suggest that we resort to vitriol, bigotry and name-calling. While the context of Psalm 45:1 is a song of praise to the King, the example is universal. “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.”

We must have a good theme, a message that God wants people to hear and to understand.  Our theme must be well composed. A ready writer is one who has carefully chosen vocabulary and constructed sentences that will fully articulate the theme.

The biblical book of Romans is often considered one of the greatest legal briefs ever written.   Paul wasn’t just sitting at his desk spewing wrath.  He was listening intently to what the Holy Spirit wanted him to write. 

We must also present our solutions in an orderly manner.  Whether it is a board meeting, an open forum or friends meeting for coffee, we must understand protocol. We must follow the necessary procedure for placement on the agenda.  Then we must follow that agenda.  If we are given only 3 minutes to speak, we must organize our thoughts so that we present our arguments articulately within the allotted time frame.   Frankly, that takes thought and rehearsal.

We, like Esther, were born for such a time as this.  Like Esther, as well, we must prepare to meet those issues God has called us to confront.  Remember we are ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.  Paul wrote, “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us”  (2 Corinthians 5: 20).

In our zeal, may we truly represent our King and His Kingdom. When we do that, Isaiah 60:1-3 will unfold in our lives:  “Arise, shine; For your light has come! and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles (unbelievers) shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

1 Corinthians 14: 40.  Let all things be done decently and in order. 

 Blessing for the New Year

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Matthew 5:2-12 (NKJV)

And opening His mouth He began to teach them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. "Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Blessing for the new year:

May you know the difference between humility and humiliation.  Humility brings the riches of the Kingdom into our lives.  Humiliation brings only shame.  May you be willing to mourn, to pour out your broken heart before the Lord.  Then the Comforter will calm your spirit and pour the balm of Gilead on your woundedness.  May you tread upon the earth gently for then it is yours.  May you stand always for that which is right in the eyes of God.  Then your destiny will be fulfilled.  May you continually pour out mercy upon others so that the Lord can continually pour out mercy upon you.  May you desire purity so that you can see and understand the things of God.  May you walk in His peace and share that peace with those around you.  May you be comforted in the knowledge that though others persecute you, you can still rejoice because He has overcome the world.  May you live your life in such a way that if others falsely accuse and vilify you, no one will believe them.  May this year be one full of rejoicing and gladness because of your trust in the true and living God.  Please note that the rejoicing comes first and then the gladness.  Rejoice until you are overflowing with gladness because the joy of the Lord is your strength.  

Declare that in spite of your circumstances and because of your relationship with your Savior, this year will be one filled with the fruit of the spirit being manifested in your life. Determine that during this year you will grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). 

 Abiding in Emmanuel

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
His name is called Emmanuel
God with us, revealed in us
His name is called Emmanuel  

Bob McGee's lovely praise song often resonates in my spirit, particularly at Christmas time. The words “God with us, revealed in us” especially capture my heart and remind me of Paul’s words in Acts 17:28: “. . . for in Him we live and move and have our being.”  

When Paul’s declaration becomes embedded in our spirits, the concept of Emmanuel, God with us shifts from being a passive knowledge of truth to an active experience of deliverance, warfare, victory, and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. While we delight in and invite the manifest presence of God into our worship, we often fail to remember that His presence indwells us and empowers us every single day.  

Perfectly Positioned

Considering the truth that we live, move and have our being in Him, let’s reflect on some of the comforting words in Psalm 91.

When we are in God’s will, the revelation that our whole being exists in Him awakens us to the understanding that we are perfectly positioned in “the secret place of the Most High.” Emmanuel means that He has placed us “under His wings.” We do not need to run to His protection; we are already there.  

Because of our position in Him, we can rest; we can cease from struggling. We can say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence” (Psalm 91:2-3, NKJV).

The power and authority of Emmanuel is released when we make the decision to abide in Him. To abide is more than just “to live”; it is “to accept” or “to act in accordance with.”  When we abide in the Lord, we accept Him and act in accordance with Him. We live our lives in harmony with Him because we know that the path He has chosen for us is the best path. Cherish the admonition that, “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:9-10, NKJV).

Early in my Christian walk, I learned, with some difficulty, to accept and to act in accordance with God’s will for my life. I was comfortably settled into a teaching position at a large high school in the Pacific Northwest that had much to offer both academically and professionally. Then my husband decided that he wanted to move back to Wyoming.  

I didn’t want to go. The transition meant a significant loss of salary and teaching in a tiny rural school with fewer than 100 students K-12.  

I literally wrestled with the Lord. Finally, exhausted from the struggle, I gave in. I stood alone in my living room, with my back against the wall and yelled at God, ”Okay, I’ll go.  But You had better make things as good for us there as they are here.”

But He made things even better on so many levels--community, provision, cost of living, church family. My teaching job ended up being a delight, and I went on to teach there for nearly 30 years. Unexpected doors opened such the opportunities to work as an adjunct college instructor and to travel around much of the world.

God’s plan for my life has been greater than I could think or imagine; all He asked me to do was abide in Him.

The hope of Emmanuel is revealed in God’s promises to us:

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. - Psalm 91:14-16 (NKJV)

Hope Available Now

I love the old hymn frequently heard this time of year:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The Latin text was first documented in Germany in 1710; however, the tune most familiar in the English-speaking world originated in 15th-century France. Most versions end with the yearning, hopeful cry: “Rejoice. Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

Sadly, when we do not know the power, authority and protection afforded us in Emmanuel, we cry out for that time in eternity when the trials of this life will be over. That is a form of godliness that denies the power of Him in whom we live and move and have our being (see 2 Timothy 3:5).

Many modern psalmists who know His presence and His power have changed the last chorus into a proclamation:  “Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel has come to thee, O, Israel.”

As I rest in Emmanuel, fear and doubt flee. As I rest in Emmanuel, faith and truth become steadfast. Emmanuel is manifested when we, like Paul, declare:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

Emmanuel—God is with us. Oh, that He may be revealed in us.

Reflection

1. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself striving and struggling rather than resting in the reality of who God is in your life? Take some time to specifically name those things, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you receive the rest He has for you.
2. Consider dropping a note of encouragement to someone today, reminding them of the reality of Emmanuel in their lives. No matter how long we have known God, we can always use the reminder that He truly is with us!