Monthly Archives: January 2011

Enfold Me Lord

Posted on January 30, 2011 by mcalmond

James 1:12 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

When walking through a time in the desert, for me there are no more comforting words than to hear that the Lord Jesus Christ is there with me, gracing me, strengthening me and faithfully seeing me through this trial of life. This is especially true when I feel or sense His presence the least. My father has written a wonderful song called “Enfold Me” that speaks to this time and seasons of life. We all face them every now and again. Some of us face them more than others and yes, even more negatively and destructively than others.

These words below, in my father’s song, indeed speak of the trials of life and living, yet also of the hope and promise. He who is our very life and breath is our very hope and promise. His strong arms of love, His strength of loving faithfulness and sensitivity to the very depths of our hearts cry, all add up to tremendous comfort and encouragement, especially in these seasons of trial and deserts. I would pray that I could provide this music for you, so that you could hear it for yourself as well. But, alas, I know not how, therefore the words will have to speak for themselves.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Belief System, Breaking Forth, Communion, Core Values, Covering, Dad's Songs, Dependency, Encouragement, Faith, Father, Foundations, God's Faithfulness, Grace, His Chosen, Hope, Humility, illumination, Intimacy, Isolation, Light, Lost and Alone, Mercy, Perseverance, Prayer, Promises, Protection, Rest, Simplicity, Songs, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, True Love, Vulnerability, Waiting on the Lord | Leave a comment

Life Isn’t Always What We Want, But…

Posted on January 30, 2011 by mcalmond

How do we in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, live out the lives we have in this world and before our living Lord and Savior? The Word of the Lord says we are to live them out in faith, to which I say a hearty Amen! But what exactly does this mean, really, truly? How do we put this into a practical yet simple understanding that doesn’t bind us up religiously or loose us irreverently into something that is not genuinely of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Written and Revealed Word?

That is the question isn’t it? I can only share what I have discovered in this regard and pray that it is a reflection of my Lord and Saviors heart, wisdom and truth. My life has been and even still is, not easy. While almost all of us can say this, I believe there are purposes hidden in these, all too familiar aspects of life and living, that we too often fail to see or over look, simply because we do not want our lives to continue as they are. We want to be happy, free of life’s stress, pain, difficulties, complications and enter into a lifestyle that better reflects an eternity now dimension.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Belief System, Believer, Calling, Character, Church, Confidence, Encouragement, Faith, Following Through, Grace, Growing in Faith, Hope, Humility, In Spirit and In Truth, Lost and Alone, Obedience, Paradigm Shift, Perseverance, Prayer, Priorities, Prophetic, Repentance, Spirit of Truth, Steadfastness, Surrender, Tenaciousness, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, True Love, Vulnerability, Waiting on the Lord, Word of God, Work of God | Leave a comment

In Quietness and Rest, Drawing Near

Posted on January 23, 2011 by mcalmond

How do I write that which is upon my heart and soul at this time? I am often at a loss for words when seeking to express what lies deep within me during these days of waiting upon the Lord Jesus Christ. We wait and continue to wait upon our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, as we have for what will soon be six and a half years.

We have had to wait upon the Lord Jesus Christ before and yes even for a couple of years at a time but not this long, no, not ever this long. However, waiting upon Him is what we have been called for this season to do. It has changed us, stretched us, humbled us and continues to have an impact upon us as a family in ways that we do not yet even understand.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Abiding, Awakening, Body of Christ, Calling, Character, Church, Communion, Covering, Dependency, Empowerment, Fields of Ministry, Grace, His Chosen, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, Hope, Humility, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Intimacy, Isolation, Loving One Another, Ministry, Ministry Motivation, Noise and Distractions, Obedience, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Priorities, Quietness, Rest, Revelation, Sacrifice, Salvation, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Simplicity, Songs, Steadfastness, Surrender, Training, Truth, Waiting on the Lord, Word of God, Worship | 8 Comments

All Creation Worships The Lord

Posted on January 23, 2011 by mcalmond

I wrote the article below, along with several others, shortly after returning home from my last trip Scotland in 2007. I was re-reading this article and was so reminded of this time in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ that I thought I would re-post it. I have edited it only very little, so it is very much as when I first wrote it. I pray that it is a blessing and maybe even a little stretching for you.

*****

Where does one begin to write about a trip such as I have had to the beautiful land of Scotland. There were so many things that took place along with such wonderful revelations of the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. All I know is that this trip was important for more reasons than I am in touch with at the moment.

I saw in the Spirit things that I have never beheld before. I heard things in the Spirit that I have never heard before. I came to understand things in the Spirit that I have never understood before. I can give witness to the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ in newer ways than I have been enabled to do so before. Yet, as I ponder what I have seen, heard, and have come to know and understand, I am at a loss for the words to aptly describe all or even any of these realities fully.

For one example of what I experienced, let me relate a fresh reality of the Lord’s creative Word of life that was revealed to me with such visible clarity that I can no longer look at creation the same way. When the wind blows, even as it is now, outside of my home, I cannot listen to it the same as I ever have before. When I look at the trees, the grass, the beauty of God’s creation all around, I can no longer see it all as I once had, for it is alive to me in ways that I have never imagined before. I am not a tree hugger. My hope is not in the things called green. However, creation is not as it once was for me, no, not at all Beloved, as strange as it may seem or sound to you, the Lord opened my eyes and ears to hear and see His creation in praise and worship unto Him, literally.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Angels, Anointing, Awakening, Calling, Communion, Covering, Darkness, Death, Dependency, Empowerment, Faith, God's Faithfulness, Grace, Growing in Faith, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, illumination, Inspiration, Intimacy, Prayer, Prayer Walks, Prophetic, Prophetic Revelation, Resurrection Life, Stirrings, Surrender, The Lord Jesus, Transformation, Visions, Worship | Leave a comment

It All Happened in the Midst of Worship

Posted on January 16, 2011 by mcalmond

Revelation 4:9-11 (NKJV) Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

It wasn’t like any other Sunday evening service. It was a Sunday evening that would remain apart from all of the rest we had known prior to this. It was a God Service and a God time. As soon as I walked into the sanctuary there was the manifest presence of the Lord all around. I was immediately drawn into a spirit of worship and praise. So much was I being called to worship that I didn’t even wait for all of the people to come in and get seated in the sanctuary. We didn’t open up with prayer, or welcome any visitors we just entered into His worship.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Abiding, Anointing, Breaking Forth, Calling, Church, Communion, Core Values, Covering, Dependency, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Father, Fields of Ministry, Following Through, God's Faithfulness, Grace, Growing in Faith, illumination, Intimacy, Ministry, Obedience, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Openness, Prayer, Priorities, Prophetic Revelation, Repentance, Resurrection Life, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, Stirrings, Surrender, The Power of God, Worship | 1 Comment

Just a Brief Thought for Today

Posted on January 15, 2011 by mcalmond

Genesis 1:1 (NKJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I love that the Word of God doesn’t start out defining or defending God and that which He is or  even has done in creating the world and universe. The scriptures simply state as fact that God is and that it is and was God who created all that is. He, the Lord God, created all, sustains all, and fills all.

We serve a God who is all powerful, all knowing and everywhere present. The encouragement in all of this is simply that we are not called to serve a God that is seen simply as a little more than we are, No! We are called to serve a God who is so very much more than we are or ever could be. He, the Lord God, is, period. He, the Lord God has created all things, period. He, the Lord God, has and is, upholding all things for His purposes, period.

Hebrews 1:1-4 (NKJV) God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Even as He is, even as He has created, even as He has and is upholding all things, He has, is, and will, uphold us. Let me challenge you that when you get up each and everyday, look around and take notice of His handiwork. As you do, give thanks that He who has created all things, upholds all things and fills all things, has created you, will uphold you. and keep you until that time which is our joyous homecoming. As a child of God, He will fill you with all that is Christ in you the Hope of Glory. Recognize that as each day dawns faithfully and each spring, summer, fall and winter faithfully come every year as they were purposed to do so, even so will that which the Lord God Almighty has purposed for you, come in His chosen season.

Be encouraged, keep your eyes fixed upon Him, knowing that He who is the source of all, is faithful in all and unto all those who are His. For in Spirit and Truth, He who is all powerful, is forever and ever trustworthy, and forever unfailing in His Love, goodness and glory. Therefore, be blessed in that He who is, has called and chosen you to be His, forever and ever more. May the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternally living alive Word of God, remain your hope as He continues to uphold you and yours forevermore. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, forever and ever, Amen!

Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Belief System, Calling, Confidence, Core Values, Encouragement, Foundations, God's Faithfulness, Grace, His Chosen, Hope, In Spirit and In Truth, Mercy, Now Word, Protection, Rock, Steadfastness, Surrender, Tenaciousness, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Power of God, True Love, Waiting on the Lord, Word of God, Worship | Leave a comment

To the Tent of Meeting

Posted on January 10, 2011 by mcalmond

I remember so vividly the frustration I experienced when I wanted to develop a disciplined word life. To have a consistent time in the scriptures seemed to be beyond my grasp. I would try and fail and try and fail and quit only to try again and fail. I can not tell you how hard this really seemed for me.

I would cry out to the Lord about this often. I knew that I needed to get some kind of breakthrough with this and I occasionally thought I had the faith for this breakthrough, yet to no real avail. There finally came point when I decided that no matter what, I would read the scriptures, regardless whether there was life in them for me or not. I would just do it. So I did. I read and read. The scriptures seemed like sawdust. They were boring, lifeless, yet I continued to read them. Some time later, I cannot really explain exactly what happened next except as a wonderful work of the Lord Jesus, there was a very real breakthrough. The scriptures suddenly came alive to me, they really did. It was as if I crossed a line, broke through whatever the barrier was and literally found that the scriptures were alive. There was a life that I could experience and come to know in God’s Word that I had never before understood.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Abiding, Awakening, Communion, Confidence, Core Values, Dependency, Empowerment, Faith, Foundations, God's Righteousness, Grace, Growing in Faith, illumination, Intimacy, Light, Now Word, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Paradigm Shift, Prayer, Prophetic Revelation, Revelation, Rhema, Righteousness, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Simplicity, Standing in Faith, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, Transformation, Waiting on the Lord, Word of God, Work of God | 2 Comments

“Until Christ is Formed in You!”

Posted on January 7, 2011 by mcalmond

Gal 4:19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! ESV

Most of the Apostle Paul’s letters were written to correct or clarify issues as they arose within the church he had planted and oversaw. We see that the Epistle of Galatians is no exception to this.

When this epistle was written, Paul had not too much earlier left behind in Galatia a young body of believers, young in their understanding and experience of what it meant to be “in Christ Jesus”. A concerted effort from those in Jerusalem, Judaizers, most probably Christ professing Pharisees, was being made to undo the work that Paul had seen accomplished through Christ Jesus in Galatia. They wanted to bind the Galatians to living out their faith according to the Torah/Law. Their hope was to affirm their faith in Christ Jesus but also to call them into obedience unto the Torah, the Law. It was to be a faith in Christ Jesus plus an adherence to the Torah/Law that sealed their salvation in and before God Almighty.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Awakening, Belief System, Believer, Confidence, Covering, Darkness, Death, Dependency, Empowerment, Faith, Family, Father, Fields of Ministry, Flesh, Following Through, Foundations, Grace, Growing in Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Lies, Loving One Another, Ministry, Now Word, Obedience, Protection, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Source, Spirit, Spirit of Truth, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teaching, The Lord Jesus, Truth, Victory, Vulnerability, Word of God, Worship | Leave a comment

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