Author: listeningwithlaurette

The Crisis is Meant to Break Us

When you really know Him
Then you will understand why
When you really meet Him
You understand do or die

Others aloof and unaware
Angry and walled off
Senses dulled of hearing
Mere thought of Him they scoff

If they really knew Him
How real relevant and right on
Just one touch from Jesus
Shattering hardest heart of stone

It isn’t some wishful thinking
If You’re out there somewhere please
No it is oh my God and my King
In desperation falling on my knees

The crisis is meant to break us
In many different ways
But the breaking He requires
Is when He hears us say

Oh my God I cry out to You
Alone broken and shattered
I need Your help to go on
I feel beaten weathered and battered

This cry out of a contrite heart
Reaches heaven’s throne
Summons help from The Father
Hearing the cries of one of His own

When your heart completely shatters
All doubt comes gushing out
He will come and take it
Mend and seal apply two spouts

With reservoirs of living water
Rivers flowing from His throne
Healing health and wholeness
Evidence of becoming His own

When the valves are attached
True communion can begin
You will know and believe
Become honest and dependent on Him

As He fills our hearts
Living water irrigates
Creates the overflowing
When we bow down to propagate

Freely He has supplied
Freely we must give
The crisis meant to break us
So that we can truly live

© laurette laster 2019

Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman said, “if you knew the gift of God and who is speaking to you, you would ask of Me and I would give you living water.”

Was it the isolation and rejection from the others that set her up for a life changing encounter? This encounter didn’t change her life only; this encounter changed an entire town.

The rejection we suffer is what God is allowing to toughen us up, making us thick skinned, tough enough to withstand public opinion or perhaps jealousy, envy  and strife. After all the blessing is harder to manage than the opposition along the way. Scripture tell us Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, hated, ostracized and rejected, and we know He was dearly loved by God. But we know He was hated by ungodly men, those who didn’t understand the ways of God or what God was bringing to light. Jesus talking to His disciples tells them, “if the world hates you, just remember that it hated me first.” John 15:18

Before His crucifixion, Jesus is speaking to His followers, He explains that He is making these things clear to them so that they will not fall away. When we consider that God loved Jesus, we must also consider He fulfilled and honored what He was born to do. His disciples returning with lunch were shocked to find Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus responded with, ” I have food to eat that you know not of.  My (food) meat is to do the will of Him who sent me.”

We cannot say to those unwilling to follow God’s will, grace is all over you, grace, grace to you, you got this, go you, Jesus is for you………………. Mercy? perhaps, but grace is poured out for us to fulfill the will of God in our life.

We also have His spoken promise of, be of good cheer I have overcome the world. John 16.

We see above that the Samaritan woman hadn’t fallen away but she was pushed away from the crowd. She discussed with Jesus what had been spoken and prophesied. She may not have been accepted by others, but do you think that mattered after this encounter? She was changed completely. She is our picture of rebirth or the new birth. When meeting Jesus, in Spirit and Truth while going about her daily chores. She is the first person to be told He is the Messiah. She came for natural water and left with springs of eternal living water flowing through her, to others.

No matter what we are going through, if we don’t faint we will reap. What God is allowing has eternal value, we will see and understand further down the road.

I was thinking the other day about God having to shake the world out of my grasp. I wasn’t evil, I was frightened. How could I let go of the counterfeit? It was all I had.

When I had an encounter with Jesus, I no longer had an appetite for watered down, weak, counterfeit, worldly things. I needed truth, and today my soul continues to long for more of Him.

I’m grateful He gives me a good shake now and then, He continues to shake things up, now I know and understand: it is because He is taking me to all that He has destined for me to walk in.

The crisis will cause us to let go, shaking loose the things of the world from our hands. Those things we are holding tightly, are robbing Him of His rightful place. A good shaking allows room for more of Him.

Shake it up Lord.

PS now we can understand why the apostle Paul said, No dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it.  I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, gut I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Whew – some needed room for grace.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

It is just as the Holy Spirit says, “If you hear God’s voice today, Hebrews 3:7

Once I

Once I said yes
When I should have said no
Once I said stop
When the answer was go

Once I was sure
That was the way
Disastrous disappointment
For many a day

Once I was hurried
And frazzled with care
I cried out help
Is anyone there

Is there someone to help me
Someone who knows what I need
I haven’t got a clue
I can’t continue at this speed

I received a message
Just in the nick of time
I had been waiting
Didn’t realize why

Is anyone out there
A voice called back
Who are you like looking for
I was taken aback

When out of nowhere
This Voice called to me
I have been here all this time
But you couldn’t see

I called to you and summoned
You were busy with friends
I’ve waited patiently
To speak again

Once I said yes
When I should have said no
Times past I said stop
Now I say go

© laurette laster October 2019

For years I didn’t know our Lord as our ever present help in time of need. I knew sometimes things just seemed to work out, but I didn’t know He was summoning me to walk with Him.

I had the idea that you did the best you could and hopefully the good would outweigh the bad, and if the cards fell just right well maybe you would make it into heaven. Isn’t that a crazy idea or way to think? It is sad.  I wonder how many others think this way?

Being busy and doing good can be good, but it can choke the will and desire of The Lord out. Always running to help someone, always dropping what you’re doing, putting others first, may not be God’s work. Yes I know that we are to do good works. But good works the bible talks about are in addition to other daily activities and works. I let others use me or take advantage of me so they would like me or at least tolerate me.

I’m so glad I was delivered from believing others wants and needs were what God wanted, and that I was somehow appeasing His anger by doing good works.

I pray we set aside quiet time to hear from The Lord and then proceed from Him, not proceed on ignoring Him. The other day I glanced this red bird sitting in my peach tree, alone. I thought maybe he needs some quiet time alone from the crowd.

Then I thought about how I require that too.

He is speaking. Today if you hear His voice do not harden your heart………..

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thanks for listening with me. Laurette

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet,

A Pillow of Snow

A pillow of snow
In the lap of the tree
Surrounded by branches
The number is three

Soft yet sturdy
Unique in flight
Flakes from heaven
In color pure white

Stature and strength
Stately old oak
Shields and protects
Covering cloak

Each unique
No two the same
Speaks to me
About The Name

A pillow of snow
In the lap of this tree
Are there comparisons
Can you see

Tender and delicate
Fragile yet firm
From tiny snowflakes
We can learn

God is our protector
A very strong tower
We are at rest
In the lap of His Power

© laurette laster

As I went to take a few photos of the brief snow we had Saturday morning, snapping this shot I heard the words, ‘a pillow of snow in the lap of this tree.’ As I studied the photo thinking of what I had heard I continued to think, what does this mean?

I noticed three main branches coming off of the trunk. I immediately thought of the Trinity, God in the image of The Loving Father and Protector, holding it all together, God in the image of The Redeemer and Savior, The Son, and God in the Spirit of Truth, The Holy Spirit, offering us a safe place to land. We are created in His image and likeness, body, soul, and spirit yet each with a unique print.

No two snowflakes are the same; each so unique, intricate, a delicate design. Amazing how something so delicate and fragile survives the rugged wind storm, holding its shape while blown about…would melt immediately if collected and captured by a warm hand. It is then I’m reminded as believer’s we are a force to be reckoned with by the kingdom of darkness, so fragile yet so strong, being melted in an instant at His touch.

In all of this He holds us secure. Have we ever thought and considered the process a snowflake goes through? There isn’t anything prettier or more beautiful than a blanket of snow, especially when you don’t get much. I have no desire to live off the grid or be snowed in for months. In large quantities gathered together, an avalanche can occur and destroy everything in its path. Then that beautiful calm scene takes on a whole new meaning. Beginning with liquid that is evaporated, collected, poured out, heading to an unknown destination, uniquely designed going through very cold places the consistency and form is changed.

In a short twenty four hours, we had extreme changes. Friday higher than normal temperatures in the low 70’s, and very humid, by afternoon it was raining with tornado warnings throughout the afternoon and early evening, flooding with emergency water rescues, then 27 degrees and snow by Saturday morning. The snow changed it all to a beautiful calm scene erasing the chaos from the day before, into beautiful flakes created by nature.

Though your sins be like scarlet they shall be as white as snow.

By faith we rest knowing we are completely protected in the lap of His Power. But as redeemed and cleansed by His blood we are a force to reckon with. We are cleansed and collected for the Master’s use. Are you ready?

Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listing with me. Laurette

Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy [found] in His sanctuary. (1 Chronicles 16:27 AMPC)

Overwhelming Heart Hugs

(from the grace series ©)

Thank You Father is whispered
As tears stream down my cheek
His love hugs my heart so tight
Causing my eyes to leak

Captured in His nearness
Overwhelmed with gratitude
I can barely catch my breath
In His love, oh the magnitude

Intelligible words with value
Escape my mind and being
Surrounded by His love
His goodness is all I’m seeing

Sometimes I weep
Or burst out in song
His gentle touch
Heals all wrong

My face to the floor
Familiar touch reminding
His word will not return void
But accomplish all He’s decreed

His goodness is never failing
His love is never ending
Oh my God and my Lord
With You there is no pretending

So real and completely alive
Only good and forever faithful
He is for us, with us, and in us
We cannot help be praiseful

Yes gratitude comes forth
Running down my face
In double streams proportioned
Like His amazing grace

Gratitude pours forth
At the most amazing times
It’s then I am reminded
We are on His mind

My eyes become like faucets
He sets my feet to dancing
Tears of joy flow freely
His perfect love entrancing

© laurette laster 1/3/2020

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11 NKJV)

Have you ever felt the presence of heaven invading the room? I had a visitation yesterday. As I began to complete a simple but great idea, a task given to me by Him, I was praising The Lord in hymns and psalms. As I was singing verses about His faithfulness I was reminded I had a dream in the night. It was an amazing dream. A sweet dream, showing me, that yes the promises of God are true and He is working on these very situations as I go about His business. Later I began to be overcome with gratitude and tears sprang forth. I was joyous, not sad, I was overcome by His goodness and this poem flowed forth. I share this with you to encourage you to reach out and take hold of all God is doing in your life no matter what season you are in.

Last year I had a poem spring forth about liquid faith. The Lord allowed me to glimpse believer’s tears falling on their chest. These tears come forth during the toughest times and become water or streams of faith, springing forth from emotions so deep and too raw for verbal explanation. As our heads are bowed down, tears fall on our heart and water and soften our heart. So tears are clearly an expression of multiple emotions. The emotions that cannot be articulated are clearly understood in heaven. Tears are said to be stored in bottles of remembrance before Him.

When His presence or an angelic visitation takes place it invades our very atmosphere. I have experienced this in differing places, locations, and venues.

We cannot describe what it is, but we know it is Him. We are surrounded, engulfed, and captured, by this permeating, very tangible, yet invisible presence. It isn’t a feeling it is an experience. An experience so exciting and captivating that causes a variable of emotions to burst forth all at the same time. Not knowing whether to dance, sing, cry, shout, or fall on our face, when suddenly clear liquid burst forth from ducts that were strategically placed by our Creator. I’ve come to realize this is His pure love expressed in liquid form and it is in double portions.

Like oil extracted by being pressed from the olive, love extracted from pressing on our heart must be expressed. However there is a love so powerful that it is [ex] pressed in liquid form.

Yes it is Him. Dropping by to remind us, all is well. He is with us.

I wonder if our eyes were opened to this glory what it would be like. Then I’m reminded His love is all around us, even when we can’t feel Him. He is here.

The next time you are enraptured and tears spring forth, and you don’t understand; it is because He is hugging your heart tightly against His.

The joy is so amazing words cannot articulate. It is experienced, felt, and expressed in the quiet whispers of tears caught and stored in bottles for His remembrance.

He draws our heart holding it close to His and the intimacy causes springs of love and gratitude to burst forth. When words cannot be expressed they are pressed, and come forth as tears.

The hug of our Lord is so amazing it makes our eyes leak.

Just a little side note about the lamp I used in this photo. This lamp was my mother’s lamp. I am reasonably certain it was her mothers before her, my grandmother. There have been many hardships by women in our family lineage. Untold broken hearts caused by generational ignorance. My mother was my only parent, her mother my only grandparent. As I experience His goodness I realize many of the prayers being answered were watered by their liquid faith and gratitude before me. I never want to take one blessing or promise for granted. My fight is for those who have gone before me, and for the ones coming after me. Therefore I must persevere that my God may receive all the glory. May I be numbered with the prudent and have my lamp and my extra vessel of oil.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thanks for listening with me. Laurette