the offense...

      Day 7. I'm feeling weak and strong at the same time. I haven't been getting real deep sleep. Sleep seems like I dip just under consciousness. My spirit feels really strong. Stronger than ever, in fact. Paul said, " I must decrease so He can increase." I am feeling that the weaker I get in my own strength, the more my spirit comes alive and depends on Him. I am definitely feeling the Lord giving me strength to my inner man. 
       Jesus is not seeker friendly, like a lot of churches in America. Jesus brings an offense. Just the name of Jesus Christ is offensive to many. Jesus the Anointed One, the Messiah, Savior to a lost and dying world. All have sinned and fallen short. The question is what do we do with the offense? I've heard you can't give an offense, we can only pick them up. Bill Johnson says, "Some times God offends our minds to reveal whats in our hearts." Here is a great example in the bible.
   "And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” 23But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” 24But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once. "Matthew 15:22-28
      This word has been coming alive in me. Jesus said something very offensive. He referred to her being a non-Jew as a "dog". She reached past the offense, because she wanted the healing for her daughter more, and in doing so, revealed the great faith in her heart and received the miracle she was crying out for. This, also, shows that those who are desperate for God (seeking a touch or an encounter of God's presence in their lives) can look past what others say or think. Passivity says,"If God wants to heal me then He'll do it." The Bible says, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6. "So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the person who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9-10
     What keeps us from pursuing God with all of our hearts? Maybe fear...fear of man, fear of failure? Perfect Love cast out, destroys, crushes, annihilates, stands on the throat of fear.  Or maybe offense? What do we do when things don't go according to our plans? What I'm seeing is, there's always an offense on the table. Do we pick it up and carry it? It's our choice to look past it, and find what's really in our hearts. Both of these options stem from hurt/disappointment. Sometimes we don't even realize we are carrying pain from our past.  If we can't feel love, it's an indicator that there is hurt being walled off in our heart. Where do we turn when we are faced with hurt and disappointment? A good place to start is,"Jesus, show me area's in my heart that are walled off to love." This is His specialty...healing hearts. Thank you, Jesus, for Your healing power. Come and bless everyone who reads this.