Don't Let Yourself Get Cut Off From the Lord

As I was having my quiet time this morning I thought about cattle ranches. I’ve never worked a ranch but I’ve watched lots of movies about them. The scenes where they are cutting cattle are amazing.  The historic reminders of days gone by are amazing. Those cowboys who separated cattle from the herd required the highest level of skill and rode specially skilled "cutting" horses, trained to follow the movements of cattle, capable of stopping and turning faster than other horses. Once cattle were sorted, most cowboys were required to rope young calves and restrain them to be branded.

That’s when God spoke to my heart:  The enemy is specially trained to cut you out of the herd. He’s no amateur that you can avoid. He has, as the Word says, “a cunningly devised plan”.  He will also cut you away from the Word. He wants you separated from the fellowship of faith and He wants you separated from the Word of God.  He will then rope you up in your misery and brand you. His brands are humiliated, unbeliever, defenseless, outcast, weakling, loner.  These brands only stay permanent as long as we believe them. We cannot get ourselves loose from the enemy’s rope.

God spoke to my heart again: God is your Shepherd. Unlike the enemy who wants to cut you down, cut you off and tie you up helpless, God’s ways are loving, kind, merciful and generous. God wants to separate you from the world’s way of thinking. He wants to put you in the right herd, teach you how to live and untie you from all sins and all weaknesses. God’s desire is for you to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His Might. He wants you to know the Word thoroughly so you don’t get separated by the enemy. He has sent Jesus to round you up, give you a new life, set your feet securely and give you green pasture to live in all the days of your life.

Oh beloved, you must be certain of who is driving your life, who is in the saddle and who you are letting call the shots. God’s love will never constrain you, humiliate you, strand you or cut you out from fellowship. You can know whether it is God’s doing or the enemy trying to get to you by viewing your circumstances by God’s Word. Never resort to your own strength for stamina. Never let others bind you with endless wrangling about things that don’t matter. Your troubles may want to tie you up in knots, but Jesus sets you free. Your heartaches may want to brand you weakling, but God’s Word says that your strength will rise as you wait on Him. Your senses may say impossible, but Jesus says all things are possible.

We are not cattle, but sheep who have a Shepherd to show us the way, save us from death, guard us from the enemy, give us His plan, make our way blessed, strengthen our days and teach us how to be like Him. God loves you and He’s for you always, giving you freedom to grow in grace and knowledge of Him all the days of your life.

Isaiah 40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Psalm 121:8 The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Psalm 119:16 I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Today is Double Portion Day!

Someone mentioned double portions in a post yesterday and God brought to mind elementary school camp, which was so much fun and a great blessing as a kid. I loved camp at Lake Tyler! The massive cedar paneled dining hall and the scrumptious biscuits with honey and butter were just wonderful. You’d go through the line to get your meal and they’d ladle each portion carefully on your plate. You didn’t get to go back through the line, but your tray was so full that nobody needed seconds!  Holiday plates are wonderful too! When I was a girl the men ate from platters! Their plates would be so full and brimming over the edge – as they ate all the wonderful delicacies saved especially for holidays. We kids had our special plates too and there was always a table for just desserts. I have photos my mother took of my two nephews standing on their little tiptoes trying to get a piece of cake or pie from that table!

We’d sit around and enjoy those family meals, including Sunday dinners, with the adults talking and the kids giggling and nudging one another under the table! Our little dog, Tinkerbell, even got in on the festivities. She’d sit underneath the table and tap one lap after another for a morsel from the huge spread!  Everyone enjoyed double portions and laughed as they tasted all the desserts, candies and cookies. Those times were not for diets, but for fellowship. And our fellowships were awesome!

Maybe you miss the old days. Perhaps you feel that you don’t have enough of the good things anymore. You once ate at the table until you were full and felt so satisfied. But life has crept in and the little troubles have overtaken the big joys. You hold back – from enjoying - blessing, banqueting, fellowshipping and more. You feel you must refrain – you’ve either done too wrong, gone too far or can’t believe God anymore.  It could be that a loved one has disappointed you or betrayed you. You can’t possibly see how God would want you at His table anymore.

Oh beloved! You need to know today that a double portion is yours! A double portion of His love, a double portion of His grace, a double portion of His mercy! What are you lacking? Where is your weakness? A double portion is yours for the asking! Hungry for God , for the way it was? He says to you today, Come back to Me for I have a double portion awaiting those who turn to Me.  He will NOT turn you away, you may come to the banqueting room over and over again! Feasting on His Manna makes for healthy hearts, healthy minds and healthy spirits!

Don’t hold back today, but run to the King of Kings and let Him serve you all the riches of His Kingdom. Give your heart fully to Him and watch as you Open His Menu Book and See – no prices listed- for His choicest foods are available at no cost to you! It may look like the world’s menu is the better deal, but it always costs you more than you want to pay and never fulfills your longing heart.  Everything in His Menu Book is readable and understandable for you, His child. It’s all yours! For the Lord of Heaven and Earth is your Double Portion always!

He loves you beloved, forever! And He’s going to keep you spiritually fed and well cared for all the days of your life!

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

Psalm 31:19 How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (NAS)

Psalm 24:5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. KJV