INTIMACY WITH GOD JOURNAL

 FEBRUARY 2012

Written by Linda Schreurs

   I’m sure many of you are aware of the popular phrase, “Give it up for so and so,” and everyone applauds.  I’m not sure I like it.  I’ve not gotten used to it and wonder how it got started.   Maybe it’s a Hip Hop phrase?  What are we supposed to be giving up?  Perhaps we’re giving UP our hands or our energy?  All this certainly gives way to my age!  At any rate, it has made me think about a few things I feel the Lord would want to bring to our attention.
   Every time I hear this phrase on TV my heart gravitates to how AMERICA really should ‘give it up!’  ‘Let go and let God’ is another phrase that used to remind many of us to stop trying to control our own lives and surrender everything to the Lord Jesus.   Sadly, the old song, ‘I Surrender All,’ is not sung much these days in churches.   Much of our population in the United States, or even around the world, are lost in a world of things, money, fame, fashion, goofy reality shows, fantasies and fakeness.  What’s being given up? 
   Why not give up dishonesty, immorality, lying, cheating, greediness, revenge, back-biting, gossip, slander, and a host of other debilitating things that tear people down?   Self-focus seems to have taken hold of far too many of the American people.  Just listening to the presidential debates will reveal that!  There’s a biased applause for the candidate who is perceived as giving ME the MOST that I want.

It’s simple 

   It’s all about me isn’t it?   No.  It is not.  It’s all about giving glory and honor to our Most High God, who gave us everything we could ever need in this journey through planet earth.  (Heb. 13:21)  Have we forgotten Philippians 4:19?  “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  Can we just give it up for Jesus!  Can we just give up our worries, our anxieties, our stress, addictions, doubts, fears, pains – all of it?!  Can we simply applaud Him who gave us His all, His everything, His very life for us that we would lack nothing?  Can we praise Him, adore Him, worship Him, glorify Him and see where it takes us?
   I sense the Holy Spirit has been quickening this phrase to me for ‘a time such as this’ because we’re in another Esther time.  Government is changing and it’s changing fast as society is hurling more and more ungodly things before us such as abortion and gay marriage, etc.   Believers in the Lord Jesus are here by divine appointment to bring salvation to a nation and beyond!  Esther had no self-focus when she said, “If I die, I die,” as she purposed to go into the King and ask for LIFE for her people.
   I believe it’s the Holy Spirit’s desire that this is the hour, this is the time that we need to truly give up self interest and self focus and just follow Jesus.  It’s so simple.  Why do we complicate it?   Just say what Jesus says.  Just do what Jesus does.
   Where are the sacrifices of oneself to live purely, totally and wholly for God Most High?  

Pride before the fall

   Another phrase we should consider is the one that says, “Pride goes before a fall.”  I’m sure you’ve heard it and you’ve probably seen it.   This couldn’t be more true especially where God’s Word is cherished.  It’s a sobering admonition for those who take so much pride in their titles, their stuff, their things.   James 4:6 says God opposes the proud.  (See also Prov. 16:5; Prov. 18:12; 1 Cor. 13:4; 1 Pet. 5:5)  Who wants to have the Living God oppose them?  Yikes!  That’s an extremely dangerous place to be.  Then again, the Divine Scriptures declare in many places that ‘he who humbles himself will be exalted.’  (1 Sam. 2:7; Matt. 23: 12; Luke 18:14 among many references)
   Humbling oneself is a rewarding experience.  It refreshes your soul and lifts you into the presence and power of God.  So I believe it is time for the Body of Christ to really give it up for Jesus!  Each one of us needs to redirect our attention from ourselves to our Holy Redeemer.  His desire is to take us from the pit of compromised worldly society and place us in the palace of the Kingdom of God. 

Finally…

   Let’s purpose in our hearts to feel the warmth and comfort of God’s holy Breath as declared in Psalm 40, verses 2-5, “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.  And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord.  How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.  Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with Thee; if I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count.”
   Give it up for Jesus!   Watch your life change!

   Precious people of God, do you know this sacred act of communion with the Lord in remembrance of His Last Supper is going to a new level of intimacy and power?!  Prepare to go deeper in your walk with the Lamb of God.  We’re all going to need it in the coming days.   
   It’s time to set aside old traditions and go for fresh bread!  Jesus said in Matthew 15:3, “And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your traditions?”  The Lord goes on to say in verses 8-9:  “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.  But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.”   It’s a sad state of affairs when church consists of a lot of traditional, religious rituals and yet shun fresh perspectives when the Lord purposes to give ‘daily bread.’   Yesterday’s bread did indeed feed us.  But we’re admonished to go from glory to glory!  (2 Cor. 3:18)  Fresh manna, fresh insights, fresh understandings accompanied by the Lord’s amazing Presence and power takes you into those deeper depths of His holy heart.  Who wouldn’t want that?!
   Many people today have ‘religion’ but they don’t have ‘relationship’ with the Lord Jesus.   They participate in all the religious stuff just as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, but they lack power in their lives because they do not encounter intimacy with God.
   In my forthcoming book (this spring) titled:  ‘Holy Communion!  Holy Invasion!’ as well as my CD of communion prayers by the same title, you will personally experience the divine invasion of the Lord in this profound depth of worship.  It will change your whole paradigm and give you victories in your life you could not otherwise have had.
   Each month this year in these IWG monthly Journals, I will share with you one of my intimate Communion prayers for you to use either in your private or corporate communion times.  The ones shared in the Journals will not be the ones contained in the CD however.  Nevertheless, all of them are quite intimate and very personal as I share my deepest encounters with the Lamb of God.   
   I do have to say, many people are contacting me saying that they are also using the CD as a soaking time before the Lord and are listening to it over and over again.   May the Lamb of God be praised!

Testimonial:

“I have now listened to your CD about 3-4 times and each time I find a new, beautiful depth.  It is excellent.  We will definitely be using this CD this coming year as we celebrate the Lord’s supper as a group more times than most churches do!”  P. D., Lakewood, Calif.

The Bread
   I quiet my soul before Thee, O God.
   Holy Manna from above, how is it You gave us Your Body to eat?  And if we do not eat of this flesh, we can have no part in You!   Let us eat and eat and eat to overflowing!  For You have set a heavenly banqueting table for Your Bride that consummates the holy marriage for the Lamb of God.
   Jesus!  Jesus!  You have given your Bride Your body and blood to drink in preparation for this eternal feast before the Throne Room of God.
   Son of God, Son of man – I give You my love.  I long for Your banqueting table of heaven.  This holy manna ushers me into that festive room, where the banquet table of love has been prepared since the foundation of earth.  I stand in utter awe and amazement with a heart of eternal gratitude.   I love You!  Thank you for buying and paying for my position at this Banquet Table!   Praise You!  Praise You!

The Cup
   A cup of red wine/blood to intoxicate my heart with divine love for You!  Your gift of bread and wine at the Last Supper purchased special passageway for my entrance to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and His Bride.  Glory!  Glooorrry!
   Every sweat-drop of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane oozed with love.  Every drop of abused, battered and beaten blood that flowed was with immense and immeasurable love!  My God!  My God!  For me?!  How can this be?  Help my wandering heart to love You more!  I need and want to love You more for all the torture You went through to buy my freedom from the enemy’s clutches.  Quicken my heart and soul to ‘see’ more in what was done for me at Calvary!
   I can scarcely take it in.  My heart longs to love You more!

Scriptures references for Communion Prayer:

Must eat and drink or be lost:  John 6
Wine/blood: Ps. 104:15; 1 Tim. 5:23; Numb. 18:12; Isa. 55:1; Prov. 3:10; Song of Songs 5:1;
                     Luke 7:33-34; John 2; Matt. 9:17
Eyes to see: Ps. 119:18; Isa. 42:7; Acts 26:18
Banquet Table: Song of Songs 2:4; Rev. 19

WOMEN OF FIRE FELLOWSHIP

   Women were the first to arrive at the tomb of Jesus at His Resurrection.  They were the first evangelists as they ran back to TELL the apostles! (Those guys didn’t even believe them!)  Why is it still shocking to much of the church world that our wonderful Savior would continue using these so-called ‘weaker’ vessels to tell the world of His greatness?!   Did you know that women are still being called and used by the Lord for a ‘time such as this’ just as He used Esther, Deborah, Zipporah (Moses’ wife), and so many other holy women of God in scripture?  Women of Fire for 2012 are being called to a new level of passionate intimacy with God resulting in  amazing victory in their lives and the lives of those around them.
   Women need the camaraderie and support of each other in this hour of testing and trials.
It’s time to live divinely and powerfully in the Presence of God where He takes your breath away with His spectacular glory!     

   Beloved women of God,  if you’re truly seeking MORE in your walk with the Lord, please join me and all the fiery, passionate women in this area on Thursday evenings at 7 PM at the Strategic America  (SA) office complex, Suite 100, 6600 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Ia., 50266.  Warning!  Do not come if you’re expecting anything normal!  This is a call to be ‘off the charts’ with the Lord!

   Directions: Take I 80 W to the Jordan Creek exit (at night, from I 80, you can see a big SA sign on the bldg.) Turn right (north) onto Jordan Creek Pkwy. Go to the first stop light and turn right (east) on Westown Pkwy. Go several blocks and SA is to your right. There is a circular drive way in front.  Enter through the foyer.

   Things to expect:

     -   Fresh and different music/worship

     -   Challenging study of God's Word and being pregnant with huge promises that God will deliver!

     -   Healings and deliverances

     -   Encouragement and support

     -   Passionate Prayer

     -   Bring your saved and unsaved sisters to encounter the Lord

     -   Spiritual Medals of Valor and Courage will be given by our Commander in Chief, Jesus! He rewards those who seek him. (Heb. 11:6)

     -   Scheduled fellowships in homes with delightful dishes and fun will also be held.

RSVP to Linda Schreurs, Intimacy With God Ministries at:  www.intimacy-with-God.com and click on WFF to sign up immediately!

WOMEN’S HERMITAGES FOR 2012:  May 17-20 and Oct. 4-7.  Make arrangements now to partake of these life changing times alone with God in the privacy of your own cabin!  Contact Linda for details.

LINDA’S COMMUNION CD AND BOOKS:

Holy Communion!  Holy Invasion!  A CD of intimate Communion prayers by Linda with soft and tender music in the background.  $15 plus $3 shipping and handling. 

Armageddon Bride - It’s about the moral status of our times.  The Lord is coming back for a Bride without spot or wrinkle.  So what does that look like?  $14, plus $5 for shipping and handling.

Words Aptly Spoken - This book is about our ministry’s prophetic prayer journey to all 99 Iowa County Courthouses.  This is the state where the road to the White House begins.   Governmental authority is the saints’ heritage.   $19, plus $5 shipping and handling.

  - Contact IWG Ministries to place your order or buy on line at:  www.intimacy-with-God.com -