mLL 23 “Our Endless Source”

“He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.”
—Psalm 23: 2-3

While talking this Living Lesson over with the Lord, He spoke to me about changing things up a bit—quite a bit. I’d been asking Him to show me ways to “go before me and make my crooked path straight” 

“I will go before you, and make the crooked path straight: I will break in pieces the gates of bronze, and cut asunder the bars of iron: And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” Isaiah 45:2 KJ2V

If asking Him about anything and everything isn't something you do on a regular basis— out of habit—you need to start today! Not just to make it through your Restoration Journey but more importantly—once you are restored you must continually walk side-by-side your Best Friend, the Lord, sticking closer to Him than a brother. 

The moment He showed me, I saw that He’d completely turned everything upside-down. I saw things from an entirely different vantage point. Rather than having to rewrite or modify the original living lesson that I wrote for women. What He reminded me of is the need for you to be able to live with your wife in an understanding way.

“You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”  1 Peter 3:7

What better way to understand your wife now and when she’s home than from a spiritual perspective. After all, you were called to be her spiritual leader, right? How else will you be able to encourage her? And when she returns she will need an endless supply of encouragement because returning from living in sin is very difficult. So she will need an endless supply of patience and encouragement from you. So what better of understanding than by reading what we've prepared for the women? 

In the women’s “The Source of your Strength” you’ll see it ends by referring to the Proverbs 31 woman: “Strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future.” In another version it says, “Clothed in strength and dignity, with nothing to fear, she smiles when she thinks about the future.” And the New Living Translation says, “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” (Proverbs 31:25).

What I love to sit still and ponder is that our Source is endless. When we hear so much about how resources are running out, aren’t we able to smile about it because we know His resources never run out? No matter what we need, whether it’s love or comfort, or even when it’s monetary needs—He has an endless supply that He will happily give when it’s in our best interest.

That’s the point, isn’t it? When for some “odd” reason we find ourselves in short supply of what we really need—why do we believe He’s withholding from us what we “need”? All I know for certain is that whatever it is, it IS, it has to be, for our good, for our safety, for our protection—something and in some way that not giving it to us means a greater GOOD for us!

Just today I read a journal where someone mentioned still having financial struggles she was sure would clear up once she began tithing. Then I moved onto reading a praise report from one of our ministers who realized her busyness was leaving her exhausted, BUT it was what He had used to keep her from a lot of mess she could have been involved and entangled in Once He revealed this to our minister, she said, she immediately lost the “weariness” she had felt, even though she was still just as busy.

Personally, I have had struggles understanding why He’d been withholding restoring my health. Yet, more and more, almost daily, I have to admit I am beginning to understand and see how it’s meant for my good.

First of all, I see how much my life would be so much different without so many blessings I’ve experienced due to my poor health. And, in a way that none of us would choose, due to my health, He’s giving me so many almost forgotten desires of my heart. For instance, if I were fully well, there’s no doubt I’d be going, going, going. Yet for the most part, I don’t go out much, and because by nature I’m a homebody, preferring to live quietly and not go out, this is really a lovely cherished blessing.

Amazing too is His timing. When I personally (and our ministry) came under a recent attack, it was at the exact time when He chose to bless me with something I’d dreamed about for so many years! And had it not been for my poor, but improving health, this longtime, unimaginable blessing would never have happened.

Another desire I’ve had for a very long time, which I can be less discreet about, is not having to travel as much. Without having good health, I’m really not traveling and so here again is another desire of my heart. Yet, this particular blessing isn’t as much for me as much as it also *spills over to my daughter, Tara. Due to my health, she is the one who began traveling internationally for me and for our ministry.

I know without a doubt if I had traveled with Tara (or more accurately she with me), the dynamic would have been entirely different. Without me, she has become the spiritually strong younger wise woman that is catching the attention of so many. She has had so many rare and special opportunities to share about RMI and my 14-year restoration "it is finished" "it is finished", which has resulted in the most precious of fruits, Tara

While traveling Tara says that after she shares about the ministry, she then often is asked and has the opportunity to share her own testimony, sharing with her listeners how she remained morally, emotionally and physically pure for her husband, Gentry

Tara was taught this from a young age just like her older siblings—my sons who also saved themselves for their wives!! It began with the two books you’ll find on His Prince and Princess HomeGrown page. So if you have young children, be sure you use this as a resource to instill the truth at an early age. Begin with the "Wedding Clothes" and then the "River of Life."

Because remaining morally pure is something so rare these days— it’s like finding a 10-carat diamond ring just as Proverbs says for a young woman and probably more rare for a young man. However, it’s not impossible and it means, too, a faithful man not bound to immoral strongholds that you, yourself, are probably battling on a daily, moment-by-moment basis! Don’t pass this curse to your children, your sons or daughters!

In addition, and the way this is also possible is not being exposed to peers. Now like never before, Homeschooling is both common and the only option for a Believer!

Homeschooled from the beginning, Tara also chose and was encouraged not to study the ways of the world. Rather than going to college or a university, Tara, instead, invested her time into studying His ways, through His Word. A favorite book of Tara’s was A Wise Woman and then she began helping me revise the book for young Women in Waiting like herself!

In the beginning, many people (even family) ridiculed, mocked, and harassed her about this decision to not attend college or a university—but now they stand in awe at how God gave her the reward of experiencing 22 countries and people and life around the world!

Where is your Source? Do you fear it may be running out or it has run out? Is it your health, or finances, or relationships? No matter what, if you take the time to sit with Him often enough, just to talk and listen, when the subject comes up, immediately your mind will flood with HIS answers. You’ll begin to realize that He does have an endless supply of everything, which He will happily give you when it’s in your best interest.

Often after you wait, and though being without or not having quite enough has you concerned, the truth is, He is withholding whatever it is, to instead, give you and bring about many forgotten desires of your heart. It simply takes asking Him to show you. 🙂

P.S. *spills over. A marvelous spiritual principle is this: When you give, you aren’t the only one blessed. You will discover, as I do almost daily, that those who are close to you also are blessed, the “running over” is spilling over. The closest to you, the more they, too, become drenched with blessings. “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:38 

P.P.S.

Men, for those of you who are restored, or sense you will soon be, remember the women’s “The Source of your Strength” of this Living Lesson that would be an amazing way to introduce your “bride” to these topics. Often it's in the midst of a crisis, such as something having to do with one of your children (or health or finances) that the door will open—just TRUST GOD to provide the opportunity and don't let fear cause you to pull back when you should simply share it with her. But be sure this is HIS leading and not what you want, which will cause more issues. If He is your Best Friend and you've conditioned yourself to follow His lead—He will open this door for you—it will happen!!