Author: Iris Godfrey

I am a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who is also the President of a non-profit Christian ministry. I am ordained through Elim Fellowship and enjoy a very diverse interdenominational fellowship.

Forgot?

Iris Godfrey

My reading this morning was in Jeremiah and the end of 50:6 caught my heart. It says in the King James (unusual translation for me) “…they have forgotten their resting place.” The entire context is about Israel prior to the Babylonian captivity, and the Lord through the prophet was describing them.

“…they have forgotten their resting place.” Have we be come as they were? Are we so busy in the day-in and day-out exercises necessary for our lives, guilty of simply forgetting that He is the place of solace. He is the place of comfort, He is the abiding presence that dispells all lonliness. He is.

We have so very much available to us to distract us from Him; even the many books we buy, programs to watch, even teachings, or preparations to teach. Yet, have we forgotten that we need to take His book and be quiet with Him in stillness for a bit. He does long to speak and to dwell intimately with us.

Have we in all our efforts to please Him, forgotten our resting place? It is easy to do. Sometimes I get so caught up in my teaching schedule and the needs that that brings, that I forget to remember what is the most important part. To teach out of a stressed life will not do what the Lord wants me to be doing, no matter how “anointed” that teaching is.

Let us return and rest. Today is truly Sabbath. Let’s let it be one, not in legalism of rules and law, but in relaxed, receptive relationship in our Lord Jesus!

Sabbath

Iris Godfrey

This is not the scene in Central NY on this date. It is below freezing and snow covers everything right now. However, I took this picture a number of years ago not far from where I live. When I think of “Sabbath” I think of a scene like this one. Wouldn’t it be wonderful just to sit in the swing and enjoy the lake below on a warm summer’s day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful not to have appointments to make, lessons to develop, papers to grade, and writing to be done. Wouldn’t it be wonderful not to have the cell phone ring with the office needing your attention. Wouldn’t it….. I am certain most of you would say “yes,” to some, if not all the above questions. However, Sabbath is what we try to make happen in the middle of all that.

Most of the Christian’s I know do not have any concept of Sabbath at all. We usually think that all went away with the Law, and therefore in grace we do not need to keep Sabbath. Well, I think the majority of us may be right in reference to a specific day (I think Paul thought so too in Colossians), however, I see the concept of Sabbath everywhere in the New Testament.

Jesus Christ is the Sabbath of God. “Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest…” describes Sabbath very well. Matthew 6 with all its “Do not be anxious…” commandments, was also describing what Sabbath is to mean. Sabbath must be kept. We keep it through obedience and faith. Faith that truly is faith — the trust of the Lord that allows one to rest in the middle of everything flying everywhere. Jesus is rest for the weary soul.

However, I think we cut short the Sabbath understanding if this is how we think it is now. If we do not literally take time to rest a day, let everything wait, carve out not just small spaces, but a nice big “day” space, then we will miss what it really means to keep Sabbath. I am finding that if the body doesn’t find its rest, then the soul can’t rest. It is a whole; they are connected. So most of us, I think, need to re-think the ordering of our lives and find Him in rest, allow Him to renew us in rest, and learn to embrace Him and His Word through rest. Not a legalistic keeping of a day and its rules, but a purposeful time of resting in order to delight in Him.

Just some thoughts.

With. . .

Iris Godfrey

This picture will remind many of what it will truly be like when the Lord Jesus greets them in Heaven. That is a wonderful, peaceful sentiment to hold. However, for a few minutes will you consider with me that it is not just then…but is now. Now when the Lord awakens you in the morning; now when He shares with your devotional time; now when He goes to work with you; now when He enjoys meals with you; now when He shares your family, friends, co-workers, and the person who cut you off in traffic; now when He wraps Himself around you before you sleep. NOW!

He is sharing with you, if indeed you are His. He longs for us to wake up and know that this is happening. There is not one moment, day, month or year, not one incident, not one person in our lives but what He is sharing that moment, etc… with us. When we have chosen Him, He does not just disappear while the rest of our life is happening. Instead, He is sharing in it all. He is doing it “with” us. I believe that is his heart-cry today. “Let me share in this with you.” If we can begin to envision this, then the comfort of the picture becomes an everyday comfort. The commission for my life today, becomes a act being shared with Him. Everything shared. There is no loneliness in that, no left-out in that, no lack of belonging in that.

He does not need us doing anything “for Him.” Instead, He desires us to do “with…” whatever that may be. He empowers and He guides; He just wants you (me too) with Him as He works His will through our lives and the lives of others.

Friend, look again at the picture, and let the comfort permeate your life, and let His presence be the presence you are aware of, every moment. How He loves us.

“Don’t you know you are the temple of the Holy Spirit?” “I will never leave you or forsake you…I am with you always.” True words from the one who is truth.

But in Humility. . .

Iris Godfrey

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 NIV

This simple little verse is rather non-descript at the beginning of this second chapter, and is easily overlooked as we anticipate the glorious truths of the humility of Christ in the next few verses. However, it gives rich and very important instructions for us as we live in this world, and especially as we live among other Christians. Look at those words gain — “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.”

In other words, I must not do what I do in competition with others. This is also addressed in James 3:14-16 “But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

WOW! Selfish ambition, jealousy and envy are very evident in competition. The person who is competitive always must come out on top, they must continually be or do something “better” than another, they must know more, be right, and be the best. This kind of interior does not work the work of God, no matter how seemingly “good” it is. In fact, James says it is demonic. Now if I am trying to do as the Lord is leading me and I am doing it in a “competitive spirit,” then it does not do what I intend, it instead furthers the wrong kingdom. I will find myself participating in the works of darkness.

The attitude of humility, requires the death of all competition. Every time we feel it rise, we need to get to our prayer closets and begin to humble ourselves before God. Competition can only be conquered by time with the Lord Jesus Christ, purposely humbling and emptying until our interior attitudes are sweet and loving and receiving.

Competing with others will have me putting others down anyway I can in order to be seen better than they appear. It will make it impossible for me to encourage those who need encouragement, because in the long run, my encouragement will not be able to sincerely build them up — they might, just might, — be getting better than I am at a particular task.

Competing with others will have me mocking others (politically as well as personally) for the convictions they have — because I must appear superior.

I pray we begin to see this in the body of Christ. I see it all over the blogs I read (and I read some really good blogs). I also read some very delightful blogs where there is no competitive spirit and genuine differences are expressed and received. For that I am grateful, but quite frankly they are in the minority of those I come across. I see and read that people literally “vie” for the last word or the most authoritative word. Brethren, we can express all sorts of differences, and still loving receive one another.

I see this in local churches where I am allowed to minister. I see it in Bible teachers, in Sunday School teachers (I am sad to say there is a difference in those two jobs, but there really should not be). I see it expressed in the preaching, on and on it goes.

I believe the Bible speaks directly to the problem. We need to “see” it.

Lord, thank you for loving us and receiving us and for teaching us true humility. Help us as we individually work with you to submit our hearts and emotions for training in righteousness.

To More Than I Can Be

Iris Godfrey

I am listening to a very precious song by Selah, You Raise Me Up. The phrase that captures me is “You raise me up to more than I can be.” I am not often so captivated by a phrase, but this one is profound. It is true. Our Lord raises us up, to more than we can be. The phrase speaks of spiritual vision. Such vision is not something we mature into, nor is it something we gain as we know more. When the Lord grants vision, it consumes us. Whatever that vision is, it becomes us.

Years ago, when I became responsible for “the vision” that Psalm 19 Ministries would follow, I was overwhelmed. I purchased and read all the current (at the time) books on spiritual vision. Surely these books would tell me how to get such a vision from God. I did not think I had a vision that would be called one. You know the kind that tells the leader how much to do what, and when and where. I prayed, read, sought the Lord. I fasted, prayed more, and listened with all of me. No vision seemed to come.

Then (there is that wonderful word), then I saw and knew! It was not the kind of vision I thought I needed. It was already in me and deeply a part of me — never to let go. Something so deep that it had consumed me for years. “It” dawned on me when I was reading the verse of Scripture that has governed my life for most of my life. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra 7:10 NASB That was the vision and that is the vision. I have known I was to study, live, and teach the Word throughout the church of my Lord Jesus. It is my mission, my commission, my passion, and my purpose. What I found out that day, is that it is also my vision.

How this has worked through the years through Psalm 19 Ministries is miracle upon miracle, open door upon open door. I have never asked to be invited anywhere, yet I am allowed to proclaim the truths of our Lord throughout the church. Even those places seemingly closed, have opened and without my effort. The vision is big and wide and endless — it goes on and on. It is fulfilled each time one of our teachers teaches the Word. Just opens the Bible and lets it talk. It is fulfilled each time our Worship Ensemble leads a group in worship through the Words of Scripture and response. It is fulfilled each time our Singers minister anywhere — the word in song is still the word.

Our Lord is so very faithful. The point that rises in me, is that He makes us all more than we can be. The vision He gives in each of His is always more than one can be. He makes us full of Himself and releases us on a dark and desperate world. He does all of it. He gives the vision (the books were of no help at all; I finally gave them away) and we just follow. The vision will always flow in faith. Faith is always required. The vision does not grow old with time, nor grow old with me. It just grows and grows me with it and in Him. He has stood me on His shoulders and made me more than I can be. Thank you Selah for such a beautiful and true phrase, and thank you Lord for doing what only You can do.

Alleluia!

Iris Godfrey
Lord to You we sing —
May all our alleluia’s when spoken or heard
be heart felts thanks to you Dear Lord
And not just empty words.
And with each passing moment
till the ending of our days
be filled to overflowing
with our never ending praise.
Alleluia
Alleluia
by the Gatling Brothers

Merry Christmas !!!

I pray you enjoy our Lord in this beautiful season! All who know my family will recognize the above lyrics. My husband, Joe, son Kreg, daughter Lauren, and I began singing together as the children were born. When they both lived nearby, we sang together as an A Capella quartet. We have a precious gift in that “ensemble.” When we get together, we must sing. So this season when we look forward in hope to what our Lord has in mind for the coming year, we celebrate Him as we lift our voices together (even when apart — there is a togetherness in the voice for the “ensemble” never leaves) to praise Him and bring Him glory. Such is the delightful purpose in our lives.

Lord, as we celebrate Your coming to us and for us, we give ourselves to you once again. I pray our lives become the reality of the Alleluia — in You, to You, and for You! Thank you!

For Me

Iris Godfrey

FOR ME!!! I realize this is an unusual picture to put on my blog at this season of the year. But I am so deeply grateful for my Lord Jesus Christ. I love to celebrate Christmas and all the arguments about His birth being a different time of the year do not really impress me, nor do they deter me. I know about all that stuff, but I am overwhelmingly thankful that He came and He came because He loved me. It is not a pagan holiday in my heart. It is the celebration of His coming and all the dimensions of that coming pile into me and out of me in praise and wonder.

As we gaze at the babe in the manger this season, let us remember that He will come again, and this time He will come as our Victorious King. For that is what He is. Read Revelation 1:9-20 and let that image fill your soul.

1. He is One like the a son of man — One like me. I am included in Him — He came like me, He is like me — only better. So when I see those words, I know He has included me and is for me.

2. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet – He is wearing the linen robe of the High Priest. Glory! He is my Intercessor, never sleeping, day and night, keeping vigil for me and over me and mine. What absolute wonder! He is the One who takes care of my affairs. He doesn’t make mistakes in those matters. I do, but He straightens the things I have made crooked and takes care of it all. He came for this.

3. He wore a wide golden belt around His chest – He is King, but not just any earthly king, He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He rules in all the affairs of men. They may or may not be aware of His Lordship, but He nonetheless is ruling. In Psalm 2, the Holy Spirit tells us that even though the nations of the earth gather against Him, He laughs at them. How very pitiable our preparations for safety and for government must seem in the light of His all powerful nature.

4. His head and His hair are as white as wool, even as white as snow . All the knowledge and wisdom that exists are His. He knows. He just knows. Whatever it is, He knows and He knows what is best in each and every situation. “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously to all men…” What a wonderful gift you are Lord!

5. His eyes are like a fiery flame. He sees. That is probably enough to say — He sees. Whatever, whenever, He sees. To be able to know, perceive, and see. Nothing hidden –everything out in the open. He sees.

6. His feet are like polished bronze refined in a furnace. In the Old Testament, bronze is always symbolic of judgment. So here we have the picture of our Lord Jesus with feet as polished bronze. Letting us know that whatever judgment was ours to reap, He has already stood in it, taken, it and pronounced it done. His feet are like bronze — He stands in judgment for me.

7. His voice is like the roar of many waters. Like Niagara Falls. Oh what a sound. I love to get as close to the Falls as possible and just let the sound of the roar invade my being. That is what His voice is like. Many Christians make the mistake of thinking (and saying) that they do not hear God speak to them. Lie! That is a lie. At least according to the word of the Lord, it is a lie. You see, when this Son of Man speaks — He sounds like roaring water — Niagara Falls. In order to miss it you have to be deaf (spiritually deaf), if you are one of His. Now if you do not have the Lord as your Savior and do not have the Holy Spirit inside, then it will be quiet for you. You will not hear. But beloved Christian, you do hear at least according to John 10:27. If you are His, you hear.

8. A sharp double-edge sword extends out of His mouth. We know from Hebrews 4:12, that this two edge-sword is the Word of God. This is indeed the agent that is used to create, to bring life, to deliver, to restore, and to kill. John 3:16 is a double-edge sword. To all who receive — eternal life; but to all who do not believe, the sword of His love brings the “perishing.” He speaks and He has spoken. We have the privilege of reading the utterances of Almighty God, and of knowing His heart as He has written to us. So in voice, and in page. He is amazingly thorough.

9. His face shines like the sun shining at full strength. We do not look at our natural sun for it would literally blind us. Our Lord shines more brightly than any physical sun. Yet in His light we see and know light. If we get energy and life from the physical sun, then how much more from the One who created it all and shines more brightly than any of the creation. In His presence we become healed and restored through the light of that presence. It is better than any earthly day on the beach.

This is a brief summary of the One who describes Himself as “I am the First and the Last, and the One who was dead, but look, now I am alive — forever and ever — and I hold the keys of death and of Hades.” This is Who we celebrate this season! Let us lift our eyes beyond the babe and greet our conquering King who lives forever more. Soon we will see Him as He is! Now that will really be Christmas!

Iris Godfrey
Grant me most sweet and loving Jesus
to rest in You above every other creature
above all health and beauty
above all glory and honor
above all power and dignity
above all fame and praise
above all sweetness snd consolation
above all hope and promise
above all merit and desire
above all gifts and favors You give and shower upon me
above all happiness and joy that the mind can understand and feel
and finally above all angels and archangels
above all the hosts of heaven
above all things visible and invisible
and above all that is not You my God.
(Thomas `a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)

Faith Not Circumstance

Iris Godfrey

We are all aware of our circumstances. Much of what we do day in and day out is determined by our circumstances. That is because we are physical and live in a physical world.
We, as Christians, are called to live by faith. Faith is the seeing of things we expect and the knowing of what we cannot comprehend. (That is my own translation — but I think you will agree it is the substance of Hebrews 11:1) Faith and circumstances seem disconnected most of the time. Most of the teaching we receive on faith is trying by hook or by crook to re-arrange our circumstances. Now it is true that the Word does teach us that does occur. However, I fear most of us get lost in “trying to get something from God” with our faith, instead of resting in what it really is for.
Faith is our “sight” into the realm of the unseen. Today I had the joy of presenting the Word to a group of women in a nearby church. They were having a Ladies Day and in addition to breakfast and the Word and Worship, they included a time of shopping as they had brought their crafts. It was a wonderful time to get some Christmas shopping done. Anyway, the lesson in the Word that the Lord had for us is that faith is the ability to see the finished project when all you have in front of you is the raw material. Regardless of the work of our hands, we all “see” a different arrangement of what we plan. Whether it be housecleaning or car repair, or whatever. We have inside an ability to “know” what we want to occur when we apply our creativity to the raw materials. This simple ability in the natural realm, gives us insight into our “faith ability” in the spirit realm. We do have, in Christ Jesus, the ability to “see” what He has spoken and then wonder of all wonders, He has empowered us with the ability to accomplish what is “seen” regardless of the circumstances in our lives.
He is truly awesome!!!
“For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Wisdom and the Word

Iris Godfrey

How very faithful our Lord is!!! After three week-ends of ministry away from home, I am delighted to be “at home” this morning and able to put some thoughts on my blog. I want to share just a bit of what I taught in our ministry’s Fall Conference a couple of week-ends ago. The entire conference was on receiving the wisdom of God.

We must always keep in mind that wisdom is always available for the asking, for those who ask in faith. (James 1:5-6) That being understood, there is a wisdom that is developed and given as we spend time with our Lord in His Word. We generally think of wisdom as the ability to use our knowledge correctly and appropriately. (First image) However, when we go to Proverbs 2:1-5 we find it coming out differently. (Second image)

We find that wisdom is given as a gift for those who receive, treasure, listen, cry, shout, dig our Lord’s Word, insight, discernment. As we receive His Word and intensify our search and “dig” through it, treasuring it and listening, wisdom is given as a gift. The fear of the Lord is also given. It is as if these are by-products of the treasuring of the Word. (I was first introduced to this concept through a very fine article by Michael Rodhouse at www.biblical-life.com. It is a good place to start looking at this concept).

To discover that wisdom is a gift for loving His word is a wonderful discovery. When I was 9 years old, my Dad told me to begin reading my New Testament through by reading one chapter each evening when I went to bed. He said, “You won’t understand a lot of it, and many times the names will be too hard for you to say, but read it anyway. Then by the end of the year you will have read your New Testament completely through.” My Dad was very precious to me, and his word was law in my heart. So I began my journey, and I am still on that journey with the Word. I have for most of my adult years read Bible through as my “daily manna.” Dad knew something I am just discovering.
If we will diligently read, study, and mediate on the Word, we will have a precious fear of the Lord in our persons, and the wisdom of God has an opportunity to lead and to guide. The Scriptures do say that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, that the Lord is our teacher, and on and on. This kind of “knowledge” does not lead to arrogrance (1 Cor. 8:1) but instead provides guidance for a life in Him. The knowledge that comes first through the brain, is a a part of the transformation process of that very vital and ever to be used tool of the mind. However, it is not the main part of our journey. No matter how “old” we become by His grace in Him, we must always be open to what others in the body have learned — always be willing to expose the mind to good books and training. However, we have far too long made that the important part of our learning.
I am beginning to be convinced, that the preacher and teacher of the word are basically giving words to things the people should already “know” but not yet have words to express. This is a bit tough to explain in this expression, but I pray you will take Proverbs 2 and let the Lord show you the truth that I am trying to express. It is so encouraging!
I encourage you to read His word. We have for so long stumbled over what we do not understand. Receiving this understanding on the Word, means that we are given of Him on the basis of our choosing to treasure Him through His word. Now how awesome is that! Even when I do not “understand,” still He ministers Himself and His wisdom to me.

Grace, grace, grace — may we breathe it deeply as we read, study, meditate.