Loving Kindness

I was talking with my friend and we were discussing Loving Kindness. She actually called to say how much she enjoyed yesterday's post.  And one of her comments just confirmed to me that I was to write a post for today about Loving Kindness!  

Today is her birthday, and I pray that God's 
loving kindness is showered on her all 
day long in tangible, and measurable ways! :-)

Did you know that Loving-kindness is mentioned directly and indirectly by use of the same Hebrew Word 248 times in the Bible? Twenty-seven of those times are found in the Book of Psalms!

David was well acquainted with God's Loving Kindness and loved to extoll the fact that God is Loving and Kind. After all, he had experienced God's loving kindness and mercy in many different situations. 

If you look at the word in Strong's Concordance you will find that it is also used as "Mercy" in other verses like Lamentations 3:22-23  
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

King Solomon makes an unusual comparison between the righteous man and the unrighteous one's concept of "tender mercy" (ie: compassion) in Proverbs 12:10  A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. This comparison shows that without God, there can be no such thing as loving kindness or tender mercies!

Loving Kindness is from God. He embodies Love in every fashion and expression. It is an intrinsic part of His nature.  Yet, it was impressed upon the hearts of the writers to repeat this over and over, either by way of giving Praise and Honor to God, or by way of reminding us their fellow human beings that God IS good and His thoughts towards us are honorable, loving and kind! (Jeremiah 29:11)  

His Loving Kindness endures for ever!  
Believe it!  Receive it!

Psalm 106:1  Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalm 136:4  To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.   

Mercy is the same word that is used for Loving Kindness elsewhere. It is also translated as: 
goodness, kindness, faithfulness,deeds of devotion(2), devotion(1), devout(1), faithfulness(1), favor(2), good(1), kindly(7), kindness(32), kindnesses(1), loveliness(1), lovingkindness(176), lovingkindnesses(7), loyal deeds(1), loyalty(6),mercies(1), merciful(2), mercy(1), righteousness(1), unchanging love(2). 

Hosea 2:16  And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; [your Husband and Champion] and shalt call me no more Baali. [Master.] {Strong's definition}
Hosea 2:17  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
Hosea 2:18  And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
Hosea 2:19  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
Hosea 2:20  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know {Yada-intimate knowledge by relationship} the LORD. {Strongs 3045}

Do you see by this verse, and all the many references that God has put into the Bible, that He is looking for a Love relationship, built on trust and fidelity? 

He wants to assure us of His intentions!  Loving Kindness, Mercy, Favour, Faithfulness, Unchanging Love...this is a Lover, wooing His Love.  This is One who is Love-sick and so in love with His intended!  This is our Lovely Jesus, drawing us with cords of Kindness and everlasting love and mercy, reaching to where we were and some still are, in degradation, sin, filth, squalor, self righteous rags covering the festering wounds brought about by the sinful world we live in!

With tender loving gentle hands and eyes of compassion, He speaks "Peace" and "Healing."  He wipes away the the stench, and lifts us from the dunghill, he cleanses us with His own Blood and the Water of His Word, and puts on us clothing that befits Royalty;  Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses.

He gazes tenderly at us, and speaking adoringly to us," You are My Beloved. My Eternal Prize Possession and Desire!  I Love you more than you can ever imagine. I Cherish you beyond your comprehension. I have not come to condemn and reproach you, but to release you from the heavy chains and shackles that have weighed you down for so long.  I have come to bring lightness to your step, songs of joy to your heart, new life to be lived in a new way, in the Kingdom that I have Prepared and have longed to share with you! 

Will you Trust Me?  Will you let Me into those hurt places, those dark places, those places that you shield so fiercely, to avoid being discovered and exposed?  I know they are there.  Try as you might, you cannot hide those broken areas from My gaze.  But will you allow Me to undress you and be exposed to the healing rays of My Love?  For unless you will allow Me, I shall be forever relegated outside the door, to continue knocking and asking for entrance into those private, shameful, distressful areas that you are so afraid of anyone ever seeing.
  
But I do not look with the same kind of eyes that men look with.  I look with Eternal Eyes, that see through the portals of time to where you will be, when you come to Me and let Me set you free.  I see the beauty hidden deep within, beneath all the layers of pain and sin. Living in this world brings sting and stain, but I have come to give you Life again!  I know your faults and failings better than you, and I have pledged to see you through... to completion in Me. Complete and Restored and Celebrated in Me! Fully Free! Living Life Abundantly! 
For there is an abundance of My Grace for thee.

So, now come! Take My hand. 
Do not be shy- look me in the eye. 
Listen not to the enemy's lies.  
Let all those things melt away, 
underneath the gaze of My Loving Eyes.

What will you answer?  What will you say? 

Will you close the door and run away? 

Or will you be brave and let Me in, 

to pierce the darkness and route the sin?

Love is calling, and kindness too.  

My tender mercies are waiting for you..."

Your Lovingkindness
Psa 86:5; 63:3; 130:6
Lord You are good to me,
Ready to forgive
Abundant in mercy,
To those who call upon You.
(Chorus)
Lord Your lovingkindness is better than life, (2x)
(Bridge)
As the watchman waits for the morning,
My soul waits for You. (2x)

Another Version about God's Loving Kindness:

Thy Loving Kindness

          C                       G7
 Thy loving kindness is better than life
                                   C
 Thy loving kindness is better than life
                          C7            F
 My lips shall praise Thee, Thus will I bless Thee
         C         G7             C
 I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name

           C                 G7
 I lift my hands up unto Thy Name
                             C
 I lift my hands up unto Thy Name
                          C7            F
 My lips shall praise Thee, Thus will I bless Thee
         C         G7             C
 I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name

© 1962 Singspiriation Music
Words and Music by Hugh Mitchell

References: for loving kindness:
 
References: for loving kindness: 

http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/2617.html

AV - mercy 149, kindness 40, lovingkindness 30, goodness 12, kindly 5,

merciful 4, favour 3, good 1, goodliness 1, pity 1, reproach 1,  wicked thing 1; 248

favour  Esther 2:17. Job 10:12. Daniel 1:9.

good   Nehemiah 13:14.

goodliness  Isaiah 40:6.

goodness   Exodus 34:6. 2 Chronicles 32:32; 35:26. Psalms 33:5; 52:1; 107:8, 15, 21, 31; 144:2. Proverbs 20:6. Hosea 6:4.

kindly  Genesis 24:49; 47:29. Joshua 2:14. Ruth 1:8. 1 Samuel 20:8.

kindness  Genesis 20:13; 21:23; 24:12, 14; 40:14. Joshua 2:12, 12. Judges 8:35. Ruth 2:20; 3:10. 1 Samuel 15:6; 20:14, 15. 2 Samuel 2:5, 6; 3:8; 9:1, 3, 7; 10:2, 2; 16:17. 1 Kings 2:7; 3:6. 1 Chronicles 19:2, 2. 2 Chronicles 24:22. Nehemiah 9:17. Esther 2:9. Psalms 31:21; 117:2; 119:76; 141:5. Proverbs 19:22; 31:26. Isaiah 54:8, 10. Jeremiah 2:2. Joel 2:13. Jonah 4:2.

lovingkindness   Psalms 17:7; 26:3; 36:7, 10; 40:10, 11; 42:8; 48:9; 51:1; 63:3; 69:16; 88:11; 89:33; 92:2; 103:4; 107:43; 119:88, 149, 159; 138:2; 143:8. Jeremiah 9:24; 16:5; 31:3; 32:18. Hosea 2:19.

lovingkindnesses  Psalms 25:6; 89:49. Isaiah 63:7, 7.

mercies   Genesis 32:10. 2 Chronicles 6:42. Psalms 89:1; 106:7, 45; 119:41. Isaiah 55:3. Lamentations 3:22, 32.

mercies'   Psalms 6:4; 31:16; 44:26.

merciful   1 Kings 20:31. Psalms 117:2. Proverbs 11:17. Isaiah 57:1.

mercy  Genesis 19:19; 24:27; 39:21. Exodus 15:13; 20:6; 34:7. Numbers 14:18, 19. Deuteronomy 5:10; 7:9, 12. Judges 1:24. 2 Samuel 7:15; 15:20; 22:51. 1 Kings 3:6; 8:23. 1 Chronicles 16:34, 41; 17:13. 2 Chronicles 1:8; 5:13; 6:14; 7:3, 6; 20:21. Ezra 3:11; 7:28; 9:9. Nehemiah 1:5; 9:32; 13:22. Job 37:13. Psalms 5:7; 13:5; 18:50; 21:7; 23:6; 25:7, 10; 31:7; 32:10; 33:18, 22; 36:5; 52:8; 57:3, 10; 59:10, 16, 17; 61:7; 62:12; 66:20; 69:13; 77:8; 85:7, 10; 86:5, 13, 15; 89:2, 14, 24, 28; 90:14; 94:18; 98:3; 100:5; 101:1; 103:8, 11, 17; 106:1; 107:1; 108:4; 109:12, 16, 21, 26; 115:1; 118:1, 2, 3, 4, 29; 119:64, 124; 130:7; 136:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26; 138:8; 143:12; 145:8; 147:11. Proverbs 3:3; 14:22; 16:6; 20:28, 28; 21:21. Isaiah 16:5. Jeremiah 33:11. Daniel 9:4. Hosea 4:1; 6:6; 10:12; 12:6. Jonah 2:8. Micah 6:8; 7:18, 20. 

Zechariah 7:9.

pity  Job 6:14.

reproach  Proverbs 14:34.

thing Leviticus 20:17.

—Exhaustive Concordance (KJV Translation Frequency & Location)

Bible Dictionary Strong's Concordance H2616

Deep Things In YOUR Life

There are two kinds of deep things. One is in your life laced there at conception . These are things that are intrinsically part of who you are!  We may explore these later, but let me tell you they are waiting to be pulled on and pulled out of you and manifested and walked out in your life.

The other kind of deep things are things that life and the enemy tries to plant into your life.  

During Worship service today God impressed on me to minister to you in this area.  He has sent His Spirit to seek out those things in your life that HE has not planted there, and to uproot them and destroy their presence, so they cannot hold you hostage any longer.

Will you give Him permission to do so?  That may sound like a strange question to you.  I can hear you say, Of course He can set me free anytime He wants!  I want those things out of my life.  

The truth is HE has WANTED to set you free all along, but HE has waited for YOU to give HIM permission to enter into those places of deep pain, regret, sorrow, anger, betrayal, rejection, insecurity, and fear.  You have to be willing to 
LET For Him to do that, YOU have to be willing to confront some things within and to recognize that you also have a role to play.   

It was not until I was willing to allow God to turn my world upside down (that is what it felt like emotionally) and shake the garbage out of it, was I set free from things in my past that held me hostage. So I do not speak these words to you lightly, nor without compassion.  HE does not speak them through me, without Great LOVE and DESIRE for you to be whole and wholly free to live again, live anew without the shadow that always follows you and hangs over and wraps itself around every area of your life.  

I know you want to be free of that dull ache inside.  You want to feel the warmth of the sunshine in your heart again.  You want your laughter to not sound hollow in your own ears... and to your own heart.  It's okay.  You can let the walls down, and take off the mask, HE already knows what is behind them anyway!  He is not shocked, nor is He disgusted, or impatient with you. Instead He is tender and kind and with the gentlest of care, He wants to take you to where you can walk free every day.  Trust HIM!  Open your heart and allow the healing to come in.  

Now, stick with me, when I say this next thing, I am not going to just stick you and run, ok?  

Forgive those who have wronged you, because your unforgiveness only holds you captive, to torment you over and over again, with nightmares, anger, even poor health.  It is not denying your feelings of betrayal or being wronged, or hurt or abused.  It is just denying that incident to keep you from a future of happiness and wholeness.  Let His LOVE wash over you, wash you clean, make you whole.  Let HIS forgiveness restore new life to you.  

To forgive horrendous wrongs, is not something we can do in our flesh and emotions.  However, we can do it by faith, and through the power of The Cross.  I am NOT implying that this is easy, or without turmoil, but it IS worth it!  It may feel like yu are free falling with nothing to hold onto, but you are very safely within HIS HANDS, and He is holding, even though you may not feel it.

Now here is how to walk this out.  As each bad memory comes into your mind, verbally say something like this: 

" I thank you Father God for hearing my prayer, forgive my unforgiveness of this incident (name it), and thank you for setting me free!  As an act of my will, I choose to forgive (name the person or people involved) by the Blood of Jesus and the Power of the Cross, with the same forgiveness that Christ gave to me.  I thank you that this is now under the Blood of Jesus and it's power to hurt or torment me is broken.  I command my feelings to line up with the Word of God. The Love of God has been shed abroad in my heart and I walk in Love and in the TRUTH of the Word and I am therefore free indeed!  Hallelujah. Thank you Lord.  Thank you Jesus for your Blood and the Victory that You gave to me!  I receive it and with the same comfort you have given to me, I will comfort others. In Jesus Mighty Name. AMEN!

When bad feelings or memories arise concerning things that you have chosen to forgive, reassert and speak again the forgiveness and your own freedom from it, because it is just the enemy trying to trick you into thinking you really are not free.   "NO! I chose to forgive that and put it behind me, so satan, take your thoughts and get out of here.  I will not entertain those thoughts or feelings anymore. I belong to Christ, and so does my emotions, HE is the Shepherd and Great Bishop of my soul. So GO in Jesus Name! "  You may have to do this a few times to enforce your victory and freedom, but just remember, Whom the SON sets free IS free indeed!  It belongs to you, so walk in it!

Be at peace dear one, and KNOW you are so Loved and God has GOOD plans for you and your life.  God BLESS You.

Seeds of Abuse being uprooted

A young woman in my church that God often gives "Holy Ghost" nuggets to, texted this to me Sunday morning.  God showed her this while in prayer. Receive the revelation and the release from any of this in Jesus Name!  He showed it so you can be free!

"The spirit of abuse has the church in a choke hold. Attached to it is fear, pain, unforgiveness, anger, revenge and contentment. This morning we need to take authority over the spirit of abuse.  I was shown a pomegranate cut in half. 

The spirit of abuse lays many seeds that become deep rooted in our hearts, minds and soul.  It has become a splinter in our side as we work to bring souls to the kingdom.  The spirit of abuse has erased childhoods and destroyed families, but it ends today!

In the name of Jesus allow families to be released from the bondage of abuse.  Give them the understanding of the effects of abuse and the strength to cast it out along with any spirit attached to it.  Father, I ask that you begin the healing process within them right now.  Break the barriers that abuse has built around their heart.  Renew their minds and take the blinders from their eyes Lord.  It is time to live the abundant life. In Jesus Name. AMEN!!!!!"

I answered her immediately:

"Yes!  Abuse takes MANY forms.  It robs and steals and destroys; potential, confidence,  dreams, identity.  Indeed, I have seen entire childhoods erased and memory GONE, and tangled, painful, confused emotions left in their place.

But God!  Indeed Jesus came to set the captive(s) free.  And He gave the task to you and me to Speak the NAME and to Proclaim the Good News!  What an Awesome GOD we serve!  Be Bold and Strong in the Power of His Might. Tell the World that Jesus has come to bring them sight and put an end to their endless night.  Amen."
~~~
Abuse does take many forms, from constant put down and belittling, or control and manipulation, to physical and sexual abuse.  It may be happening in your home, your school or in your church.  DO NOT LET IT CONTINUE!  You are not alone!  Nor, do you "DESERVE" this. Nor is it "YOUR FAULT."  Get out, get away, tell some one who is in a position to help.

***( The word contentment- is not a typo.  When you resign yourself to a situation, you gain a "false contentment" thinking it can never change. Don't buy that lie!)***

God created you to be loved, to be respected and have the dignity befitting a Child of the King!  You are wonderfully created and greatly adored by a LOVING Heavenly Father, who will help you walk through the ashes in your life and PROMISES to RESTORE,  REDEEM and MAKE YOU WHOLE.  HE gives Beauty for Ashes.  Receive Hope this day, and not only Hope, but the Wisdom and Courage to walk out of those situations that have had you bound and be set free.
In Jesus Name. AMEN.

Isaiah 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

And Jesus said:  Luke 4:18 (Amp)  The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],
Luke 4:19  To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound. [Isaiah 61:1-2]