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Fresh Bread # 101
 
Good morning folks.
Well the yeast continues to rise. I don’t know what I am
suppose to do with this “More Fresh Bread.” I think it is only for a few but I
am sincerely trying to hear from the Lord, who those few are. I know they are
for those who are truly hungry, perhaps some young ones the Lord would have me
teach, or for those who Have Ears to Hear. Some of you have such strong
discernment, that your response becomes like important confirmations that end
up teaching me. I value your counsel. The Lord may have shown you something
that would help me find the answer. I have no desire to take up your valuable
time, or private time with your Lord, by causing you to read something that is
not relevant to your hunger. I cherish your prayers on this issue and know
that at the appointed time, our Father will let me know. Thanks, Gwen.
HEARTS GROWN
COLD
How do hearts grow
cold, Lord? I’ve read that this is a sign of the end-times. (Matthew
24:12b). It’s been my personal concern that this not happen to me. For a
moment this morning the Lord let me feel what it would it be like to have a
heart that has grown cold. It was such a vacant, lifeless atmosphere.
It frightened me
enough to begin a strong examination of my heart as I recognized a slackening
in my concern for others. If my heart was growing cold, I knew I must draw
close to God to get warm again. The Holy Spirit was getting ready to teach me
something.
♫Others, Lord, Yes, others,
Let
this my motto be.
Help
me to live for others,
That
I might live like Thee.♫
This song had been
my motto since childhood. I sincerely tried to live by it.
The day of
awareness came, however, when I realized I had been drinking a type of mixed
wine. So much of my loving others was a desire to be loved by them. The pure
wine which only seems to come with age; the best wine saved until the last, is
to love others so they will love Jesus. Mixed wine…(Isaiah 1:22).
Although I have
never wanted to hurt anyone or embarrass them, as I began to place people in
the Lord’s hands and release them from any control on my part, I found a
freedom for myself. This was good for me and for them in many ways.
However, in my
newly found freedom, I left out a very essential ingredient…”Sensitivity to
Others.” Neither was I sensitive and alert to the wiles of Satan who will
twist our words and even our foolish jesting, to hurt someone else. Just
because we are walking in peace, doesn’t mean that everyone around us is
experiencing that same fullness on that given day.
I’ve noticed how
many (not all) people with worldly wealth, seldom think about the people who live
under the bridge. When the desires of the wealthy (physical or spiritual) are
met, they seldom think of those who have yet to have their needs met.|
Recently, at a
family gathering, I was experiencing great peace because our Lord had
encouraged me to pray ahead for this event. Also, I was standing on His Word
that said, “Surely, the hand of the Lord hath done this…and no other.” (Isaiah
41:20). I saw His Hand at work as His love and peace abounded. I was very
content in what I saw God doing.
But, in His
Graciousness, He was to teach me one more important lesson. It had been my
desire not to “mutter, murmur, or meddle”, and with God’s Hand moving so
strongly over each event, I relaxed.
It was only later
that the Holy Spirit brought it to my attention that I had used careless words
that Satan readily used to hurt someone. I was shocked when I realized what I
had said, but it was too late. In my own frivolous, carefree mood, I had
become insensitive to someone whom I dearly love.
The Bible tells us
what to do when we have done something that offends our brother or sister.
First we ask God to forgive us. Then we ask our friend to forgive us. With
repentance, we desire not to repeat this trespass.
Being human, we may
do it again, but if our hearts are right before God and man, we sincerely plan
to become more sensitive to other people’s feelings.
“Lord, help us not
to be so wrapped up in our own happiness that we become insensitiveto
those around us.”
Perhaps weare learning to forget about ourselves and are trusting God for all our needs.
Perhaps weare learning not to take things too seriously, as forms of
rejection. But, we don’t always know when someone else is having a “bad hair
day” unless we remain alert and sensitive to each other.
Yes, I think lack
of sensitivity is one of the ways our hearts grow cold in the end times. It’s
no longer so much what we do with our hands for each other, but that we are
truly listening to each other’s heart beat. That is “sensitivity” and it will
keep our hearts soft…and warm.
Thank you Holy Spirit
for bringing this to my attention. I will try to do better. And, with Your
reminders, I believe I can.
May I encourage
those who are reading this, to return to the Great Love Chapter, I Corinthians
13, and see how “Sensitivity towards others” is a major step toward True Love.
In many of these scriptures, we can use the word “sensitivity” in the same
place as the word “Love.”
I Corinthians 14:4b reminds us how to use our words, sensitivity, and actions: “Let all things be
done unto edifying.”
I Corinthians
13:12b says, “…Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
Only God knows each of us completely. As humans, we assume too much. We think
we know each other, but often do not. That is why it is so important to:
REMAIN
SENSITIVE!
(Not only to the voice of the Holy Spirit, but to each
other.)
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