The Mustard Seed

The Lord kept bringing that verse to my mind about if I only "had faith as a grain of mustard see". Usually when the Lord places a verse or subject on my heart and it stays with me for a while I know that there is something there the Lord is really wanting to show me. So I decided to do a study on the mustard seed. I found out some really fascinating things about the mustard seed. Most people think that the mustard seed of the Bible is yellow but during that time it was black.

Below is my notes on the mustard seed with my own thoughts inserted between parentheses ().

The plant itself can grow from two to eight feet tall, with racemes of small yellow flowers. These flowers are usually up to 1/3" across, with four petals each. The leaves are covered in small hairs; they can wilt on hot days, but recover at night. (Through the trying of our faith we may wilt some but we will recover.)

Since the 1950's black mustard has become less popular as compared to India mustard because some cultivars of India mustard have seeds that can be mechanically harvested in a more efficient manner.

Black mustard is thought to be the seed mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 13:31,32

Black Mustard (Brassica nigra) - Black mustard is a many-branched, aromatic, weedy annual plant, growing up to 4 meters in height. (Our faith produces fruit (Rom. 5:1-5) and is a sweet pleasing aroma (Heb. 11:6) to God. Our faith grows more and more everyday that we serve God.) It has showy, smallish yellow flowers. Its seeds grow in long, slender pods. (Our faith is increased with others (Heb. 10:25)). Each pod contains 10-12 brown or black seeds.

History: Ancient Sanskrit writings, dating back about 5,000 years, mention mustard seeds. The New Testament compares the mustard seed to our faith when we first start using it. When we keep using our faith, then it grows like a mustard seed. "and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches." Ancient Greeks held the mustard plant in very high esteem for its medicinal values. The ancient physician Hippocrates used mustard seeds to heal many ailments. (Our faith can heal many ailments!! James 5:15, Matthew 9:29).

Rich in: Mustard seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids; essential oils; the minerals selenium, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, and zinc; vitamins A, B-complex, and C; dietary fiber, protein, and phytonutrients. (Mustard seed faith is an essential nutrient that our spiritual man needs & cannot live without.)

Internal Use: Both mustard seeds and mustard leaves are edible. ( Our mustard seed faith produces edible substance. (Our faith will be our sight or end in sight)). Black mustard contains diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, and stimulant properties. Mustard seeds help reduce the severity of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine attacks, and some symptoms of menopause. They are helpful in preventing heart attack in those suffering from arteriosclerosis and diabetic heart disease and help lower high blood pressure. Mustard seeds contain substances that protect cells against cancer and inhibit growth of exciting cancer cells. (Mustard seed faith can help heal cancer!). Tea, prepared of bruised mustard seeds and boiling water and left to cool, is used as a gargle in case of throat aches and tumors and as a mouthwash in case of mouth tumors. Black mustard seed has been used also for snakebite and epilepsy. (Mustard seed faith can save you from the snakebites of Satan!!).

To prepare a sure emetic, add mustard flour to a glass of tepid water and gulp it down. To get relief from hiccough, add a teaspoonful of mustard flour to a teacupful of boiling water and drink it. If necessary, repeat the procedure in ten minutes. To clear the voice, mix black mustard seed powder with honey and take every morning. (Mustard seed faith will help us to talk positively and clear our throat from negativity).

Also a mustard seed powder mixture can be used to clear away black and blue spots of bruises. (Mustard seed faith will cure the black and blue spots of what the enemy has thrown at us).

I know this may seem like just a big list of nothing but when I done my study on mustard seed faith and I read the above article...I just began reading and it was like the Lord was right there showing me these spiritual meanings behind the natural use of the mustard seed. I now know that if we just have a little faith that God can use it. I guess that is why in the Bible Jesus said if you have faith like a grain of a mustard seed, so many times. That is really all it takes and who knew that such a small thing could be used to cure illnesses and do all that amazing stuff.

We may start out small in the Lord but when he gets finished with us we will "....be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Psalm 1:3

What Did Moses See In The Clift of The Rock?

When I would open my Bible and begin to read about the life and journey that Moses made, I would always draw myself to one particular passage in the Scriptures. In Exodus 33:18 it says,

"Moses asked the Lord to show him, His glory."

And also if you read on it goes on to say in the same chapter in verses 19 through 23,

"And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass; while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."

Here we have Moses speaking with God, asking the Lord to show Moses, His glory. The Lord told Moses that no man could look upon His face and live. He did tell Moses that He would allow him to see His back parts.

The Lord gave Moses instructions on what to do. The Lord said, "there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock."

I believe the place by God was on Mt. Horeb (Ex 33:6 said they were "...by the mount Ho-reb.") The children of Israel were commanded, to take off all their ornaments, by God and verse six says by Mt. Horeb. Then afterward Moses began to speak to the Lord in the tabernacle.

Then the Lord told Moses, He would put him in the clift (cleft) of the rock as His glory passed by, and God would cover him with His hand as He passed by.

***clift - neqarah (nek-aw-raw') from 5365; a fissure: -cleft, clift. naqar (naw-kar); to bore (penetrate, quarry): -dig, pickout, pierce, put (thrust) out.)***

I believe the Lord told Moses to go to a place upon Mt. Horeb and this certain place had a cave or some type of crevice for Moses to get in.

Then the Lord said as He went by He would take away His hand and allow Moses to see His back parts: but His face would not be seen.

***Back - achowr (aw-khore') or achor (aw-khore'); the hinder part; hence (adv) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West: -after (-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-) hind (-er part), time to come, without.***

***Parts - yad (yawd); a prim word; a hand (the open one [indicating power, means direction, etc]...mine, ministry, near, x of, x order, ordinance, x with (him, me, you), parts, pain, power.***

I do believe that the back parts that the Lord showed Moses and the glory Moses seen was that of Jesus Christ. The Lord showed Moses of a time of ministry that was to come or what would happen "hereafter". The hereafter I am referring to is of Moses' time.

1 Kings 19:8-12

Elijah had traveled to Mt. Horeb (Sinai) the mount of God.

verse 9 "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

Elijah goes on to be full of pity and explain to God what was wrong. He had the woe as me mentality because they wanted him dead (Jezebel wanted Elijah dead).

verse 11 "And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake;"

verse 12 "And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."

We here have Elijah on Mt. Horeb (Sinai) the mountain of God. Verse 9 says he came to a cave. I believe this cave is the cleft of the rock on Mt. Horeb that Moses was also in when the Lord showed Moses His glory. Verse 12 said there was a still small voice that Elijah heard. It doesn't say what the voice told Elijah but after he heard it he wrapped his face in his mantle.
(After Moses was in the presence of God he had to place a veil over his face because of the brightness of God's glory.)
I believe just as Moses had seen the glory of God, something had happened to Elijah here as well. I believe he got a future glimpse or vision of things to come.

Matthew 17:1-3
".....and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him."

Mark 9:2-4
".....and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus."

I believe this was the moment that Moses and Elijah had experienced when they were in that cave on Mt. Horeb.

It said Jesus' raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow. This would be the reason why when Moses and Elijah had been in the presence of God, Himself, they had to cover their face because they beamed with radiance. You are not going to get into the presence of God and not glow!!! And in Exodus 33:19 it said God would proclaim the name of the Lord. I believe Moses and Elijah became aware of the name of Jesus. If not His name at least of His person. They beheld the glory of God.

John 1:14
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

I just thought I would share what I came across while studying. I welcome comments or discussions on this.

"Why God Hates Pride"

In Ezekiel chapter 28, it talks about the fall of the Prince of Tyrus. It talks about him lifting himself up to call himself a god. Making himself out to be more than he is, exalting himself higher than God.

From verses 1 through 19 there are "hidden" descriptions of Satan. Verse two says, "...Because thine heart is lifted up (Proud), & thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas;...."

This is exactly the reason why Satan was cast out of Heaven. He began to have self-pride & boasting of himself. He allowed proudness to consume his heart. He exalted himself above all that was and is God.

Verse 13 through 15 describes just how beautiful God had created Lucifer. Verse 13 says, "...every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius (ruby), topaz, & the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, & the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, & the carbuncle (turquoise), & gold." It continues on in the same verse by saying that in the day that he was created, God gave him (Lucifer), a beautiful voice to sing. "...the workmanship of thy tabrets (timbrels) of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created."

In Bible times a tabret was the principal musical instrument of percussion. In other words it was the chief or most important element in worship. So based upon this information Lucifer was the highest ranking angel who lead musical worship in Heaven. He had been given a beautiful voice solely for the purpose of glorifying God. His voice when he sang was awesome. Until he began to allow pride into his heart. Verse 15, "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee" (evil was found in him). Verse 17 tells us that his heart was lifted up because of his beauty. It says he corrupted his wisdom by reason of his brightness.

Can you imagine this? God creates Lucifer, the most beautiful angel, & gives him a voice that is so beautiful that every step he took it poured out beautiful praises to God. He then decides to get arrogant & puffed up in himself, thinking he no longer needed God or was better than God. So he decides to try and raise himself up as God to sit on the throne of God.

How stupid was that? He threw away everything that God had given him for a season of self-indulgence. He had power and authority given to him by God. He got power hungry & decided he no longer needed the Almighty.

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:25 that the pleasures of sin are for a season. Lucifer traded a life of joy & contentment for eternity, for the pleasures of sin for only a short while. He gave up EVERYTHING!!!

We are nothing in ourself. Without God we cannot do anything. It take Him working in us and for us. (Galatians 6:3)

In Proverbs 8:13 it says that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. And it says that God hates pride, arrogancy, the evil way, and a froward (perverse) mouth.

Psalm 10:4 "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." (Or all his thoughts are, There is no God.)

We can see from what happened to Lucifer that pride does come before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18,19)

In Isaiah 14:12-15 it also talks about how Lucifer exalted himself but God brought him down. God hates pride because pride is giving ourself the credit for something that God has accomplished.

God wants to exalt us & to shine mightily through us but we have to allow Him to do it. It shouldn't be by anything we do because in ourself we really are nothing. Through our prayers, fasting, reading our Bible, sacrifices, obedience, and our love of God; He will in His due time reward us for our hard work & dedication to Him.

I would much rather be humbled and receive nothing in this life & be rewarded in Heaven than to be like Lucifer and lose it all for a few moments of sin and pleasure that is going to be punished for eternity.

Out With The Old & In With The New

In order to receive a gift from someone we must stretch forth our arms and grab it with our hands. But if our arms are full of stuff then we wouldn't be able to reach out & take the gift. Our arms would be so full we wouldn't have room to accept anything else. We, in order to accept the gift, would have to either lay down the stuff that we already have in our arms. Or we can just hang on to what we already have and pass on the gift that is being given to us.

The Lord has been speaking to me today about this. He says that in order for us to receive the gifts & blessings He has for us, we must first make room for them & get rid of the stuff (junk) that we are still holding onto.

The Bible says to "....let us lay aside every weight, & the sin which doth so easily beset us, & let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)
How are we gonna run any race with a bunch of weights on us? That would make no sense to carry a bunch of heavy rocks aroudn if we were to run in a race. We would want to be as light & free feeling as possible. And that is the same way with the Lord. How can He give us something if we are refusing to let go of all the junk? If we are still carrying around "weights", we can't accept anything else.

We need to do an inventory of what we are "collecting" or "carrying" in our house. We need to regularly go through & do a sweep of ourself. We should take out a spiritual mirror & really evaluate ourself. Are we lining up with God? Or are we in our flesh? Are we holding onto guilt, pain, sadness, worries, & frustrations? If we are carrying around unnecessary "stuff" we can't move forward into what God has for us. Philippians 3:13,14 says, ".....forgetting those things which are behind, & reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

It says to forget the things that are behind us & reach forward! It tells us to press toward, which means keep going ahead and not to look back! Why would we even wanna look back at our past? Sometimes it is good to look back and see how far God has brought us but as far as looking back and wanting to dwell in the past, or wanting to hold grudges and hurt feelings from the people of our past, we shouldn't be doing that.
The devil is going to try to keep you from what God wants you to have. He is going to try & get your emotions & mind in such a mess that we don't know if up is down & down is up. The devil is our adversary, his job is to destroy your life. He is going to try & lay all kinds of junk on you. That is why we need to do a regular check on where we are at.

When Satan comes to us to try to fill our mind with junk we need to get our minds on Jesus & what He wants to give us. Keep our heart, mind, & sight on the Lord. Set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).

Jesus wants to take out all of the "old" stuff out of us and fill us with "new" things. Jesus doesn't want us to look back, He wants us to look forward. We can't do that when we are holding stuff from our past and refusing to give it up. All we have to do is lay it down at His feet.

Isaiah 43:18,19

God wants to do a new thing. He wants to trade things that we are holding & exchange them for blessings. He wants to work inside of us to empty us of everything the world has formed us to be. He wants to completely empty us & then fill us up with His goodness, mercy, and love.

O LORD, HOW FRAIL I AM!

For a little over a month now, I feel as though the Lord has placed me in a fiery furnace of testing & trials. I feel that the heat has been cranked way up and I am trapped with no escape. There for a few days I was beginning to think that this was getting too rough, I am not sure I can go on. I was feeling like a failure because I was allowing things to get to me very easily.

The Lord has really showed me a lot. I see now that everything man does or everything man says is nothing but vanity. The only things that will account for anything in this life is what we do for Jesus. Nothing else matters. The bible says in Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf;...." This bible verse speaks volumes. Man is so frail and anything that we do outside of God is nothing but vanity. If we are not saying or doing something that will uplift, encourage, exhort, magnify, and glorify God, then it does not matter. Our best efforts are nothing but dust in the wind.

I had a dream a while back about a package that arrived to my dad and me. Inside the package was a blank, white sheet of paper, a book, & a white blanket. On the blanket was writing. Some of the writing I couldn't read but in the bottom right hand corner of the blanket it was addressed to me. It said:
"Angie,
Can a good man goeth to heaven?
Can the grass or flowers liveth forever?"

Of course, the answer to both questions is no. I think this was the beginning of God showing me that man is nothing in himself. It takes God in everything we do. We cannot go to heaven just because we are "good". Even on our best day we are never really good. The only good thing within us is the Lord. And that is the only way any man can get to heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, & the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) It takes us coming to the realization that we have all have sinned. There is no way of getting out of it. We all have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) The time we have on this earth is short. Man will not live forever except that he be born again of the water & the spirit (John 3:5). Once we are born of the water & the spirit we then can enter the kingdom of God through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He has done on Calvary.

The Lord has been "uprooting" things in my heart that I didn't even know were there. When the Lord goes through this process of digging out all the deep roots of fleshly things in our lives, it hurts severely. I tell you first hand it is very painful & you just wish it would already be over. I was to the point that I was feeling like I was going crazy. I was all emotional & touchy. I had no idea right away what I was going through. I noticed too that the Lord took down His "hedge" that He had put up around me. But there was a reason & a purpose for it. He allowed it to uncover things that were still inside me that needed to be taken out. If we want to truly be used of the Lord we have to have all lust & desires of the flesh totally emptied out of us. The Bible says in James 3:11 "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water & bitter?" If we truly want to be sold out to God & have His perfect will in our lives we must completely die out to flesh. Not that we won't still make mistakes but ultimately the love of God will reign within us. We won't have outburst of anger, jealousy, hatred, envying, strife or any other fleshly action.

I truly do want everything that is inside me to be "uprooted" and "cast into the flame" to be burnt up forever more. In the beginning I was questioning the Lord. I was saying "Why me God?" But He reminded me that I said that I loved Him and I wanted to be used by Him in a great way. When you talk to the Lord be sure to watch what you say. Cause you will get everything you ask for. There is pain in the offering that we bring. If there was no pain, there would be no offering.

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10) I now see that I should be thankful that I am accounted worthy to be tried in the fire. This means that the Lord is working on me & that He is going to use me. It is a painful process & it seems very lonely too. However, even though I feel lonely, I know that my feelings can lead me astray, I know that my Lord & my Best Friend is always there in my time of need. Just like the 3 Hebrew boys, although their faith was being tested, Jesus was right in the furnace with them. Today He is in the same furnace of trials & afflictions with us.

High Time!!

On June 2, 2010 I was getting ready to pray before I went to bed as I always do. I got down on my knees & began to pray. I thought this was going to be just like any other time I prayed. But it wasn't, it was far from it.

I had just gotten off of a 7 day fast & I believe this was the reason I had this awesome encounter with the Lord. I could hear His voice so clearly. I mean it was like He was in the same room with me, sitting right next to me. He had given me a vision while praying of Him standing behind me & placing His right hand on my left shoulder. In my vision as He was placing His hand on my shoulder I actually felt a hand on my shoulder. This sort of freaked me out in the beginning. If you have ever had an encounter similar to this you know what I am talking about. You shouldn't be scared of the Lord but I guess there is a fear of the unknown. We are human after all & God is a Spirit.
Anyways, I began speaking in tongues & the Lord began to speak through me. He began to say "I am coming. It will not be too much longer. I am about to return." Then I had a vision of Jesus coming in the clouds, with His arms stretched open wide. In my vision I could not see His face. He kept repeating, it is High time!
He began to speak to me again and said, "My people have got comfortable. Too long have they sat down. It is time for them to get up & stand for the day draweth nigh. Satan has only a short while & he is working overtime. This means My people must work even harder in these few final hours. You have the power in you & with you. My Word is power, truth, & life. With My Word you can do all things." After this I just felt a love that I have never in my life felt before. My heart was consumed with love for God. I mean all I could do for a while was just tell Him how much I loved Him. He then let me feel just a tad bit of love that He had for us. If He had of let me feel anymore my heart would of burst. He is longing for His children, He wants us to come home.
Without the Word, we are nothing in ourself. The devil laughs & mocks when we try to do things in ourself. But when the Word is used he puts his tail between his legs & runs off like a scalded dog. The Word is sharper than any two-edged sword.
The Lord has given me many things in just the past 6 months on His return. I have had dreams about the seals, visions of His return, & this latest dream about the clock & the candle. I know that the Lord is giving me all this for a reason. I pray that God's will be done & that I can deliver what He has given me to His people the way He wants it delivered.

The Storm Might Be Big But My God Is Bigger!!

Storm - A violent weather condition with heavy winds, precipitation, and thunder & lightening.

What causes a storm?
A storm is produced when a center of low pressure develops with a system of high pressure surrounding it. In other words when hot air & cold air meet in an atmosphere.

The dictionary also says that a storm can be - a direct & violent assault on a stronghold.

What is a stronghold?
Stronghold - A fortress; a place of refuge, safety, & survival.

Could it be that some or all of the storms we face, are a direct attack from Satan on our stronghold, which is Jesus?

Think about it....We pray for things in our lives & the lives of others. We encounter a storm & what is the first thing the enemy will say? Jesus isn't listening to you or Jesus is not going to answer our prayers.
Ancient fortified cities in Old Testament times were built with a wall around the outside, at that time it was a powerful defense. Such walls were strong enough to keep out all but the most determined invader, but the inhabitants would also build a secondary defence in the center of the city in the shape of a tower. This was called a 'stronghoId", and couId be defended by just a few soldiers, so that if an attack came, the people of the city could crowd in for protection, confident that the tower could be easily defended. Jesus is our stronghold in this day & time. He is everything that keeps us safe from harm & evil's way.
The enemy is directly attacking the person in whom all of our trust is in. Satan knows that if he can get us to doubt the Lord that our defenses in the Lord will be broken or tore down. That is when the storms will over power us or over take us, when we quit believing or trusting in Jesus.
After thinking about natural storms, I began then to think about spiritual storms.
Don't allow storms in life make you doubt the Lord.
Spiritual storms can be caused by faith & hope colliding with fear & doubt. Those being hot air are faith & hope and cold air being fear & doubt. Fear and doubt will cause a disturbance in the atmosphere anytime they are present. Faith and hope will stand their ground as well & thats when a storm begins. Neither side wants to back down.
But the spiritual storm you are in...I have a question for you...What manner of man is this? You do not serve a God who can be measured! You do not serve a God who has no power!
Matthew 8:26,27
"And he (Jesus) saith unto them, why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, & rebuked the winds & the sea; & there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds & the sea obey him!"
What manner of man is this? The one who spoke to Moses in a burning bush! The one who parted the Red Sea! The one who turned water into wine! The one who healed the blind, made the lame to walk & the deaf to hear! The one who said let there be light & there was light! The one who was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, & received up in glory! The one who made all things & without Him was not anything made that was made.
He is the One who commands something & it happens. When the Word comes from His mouth it happens. His Word does not return unto Him void.
He created the storm, He created Satan, and He created you & me. So what makes us believe that our storm or situation or whatever it is that we're facing, is too big for God? Is the creation created by the Creator? Does not the artist hold the paintbrush in His hand & make the paintbrush do what He wants it to? How much more do you think that God doesn't know what we all go through & need?
Satan wants us to worry & fret. When we do, we take our eyes off of Jesus & begin to look at our problems & situations. This is for me but I feel this is for others too. I hope this message from the Lord will encourage and uplift someone else.
Jesus told me in a dream, "We all go through pain but there is a certain amount of pain that is appointed unto man." He said, "We do not have to go through pain that is not appointed to us." That is because He (Jesus) has already went through the worst possible pain that anyone could ever go through. He died on the cross so that we could be victorious through Him & His resurrection. He died so that we could live an abundant life full of joy and peace. From the dream I learned that sometimes we cause ourselves more pain by not listening, believing, or trusting in the Lord.
Jesus spoke to the storm & said Peace be still, & the wind ceased, & there was a great calm.
This same Jesus has given you & me power.
Mark 28:18
Jesus said: "All power is given unto me in heaven & in earth."
Jesus has given us authority through & by His name. Let us start speaking to those storms & mountains and proclaim the victory.